The Newsletter of the Mission Office of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati

Spring 2015

The Pontifical Mission Societies: The Society for the Propagation of the Faith * The Missionary Childhood Association *

The Society of St. Peter the Apostle * The Pontifical Missionary Union

These are the words of our missionary Pope Francis after meeting 12 year-old Glyzelle Palomar, (photo right), during his visit to the Philippines this past January. Like so many other children who suffered tremendous loss after last year’s typhoon, she asked the Holy Father while sobbing, “Why does God let this happen to us? Why are there only very few people helping us?”

The Holy Father did not respond with a complicated answer to the mystery of evil. Rather, he affirmed her tears, saying, “Only when we are able to weep about the things you lived can we understand something and answer something. Only when the heart is able to ask the question (about suffering children) and weep can we understand something. It was only when Christ wept and was able to weep that he understood our dramas.” Francis noted that Jesus himself wept for his dead friend, for the poor widow who was taking her son to be buried and so on.

Pope Francis then asked the huge audience in Manila, “Have you learned to weep when you see a hungry child, a drugged child in the street, a homeless child, an abused child, a child used as a slave by society?” And he added, “If you don't learn how to weep, you're not a good Christian.”

With so many marginalized, scorned, sick, and hungry people left aside, Francis maintained that today’s world needs to respond to these victims with aid and money. But he also noted that, at the same time, we ought to learn to weep since many of us in wealthy nations with few real needs don’t know how to weep. “Certain realities of life are only seen with eyes cleansed by tears,” noted the Holy Father.

He concluded, “When we are asked, ‘Why do children suffer?’ ‘Why does this or that happen, this tragic thing in my life?’ May our answer either be silence or a word born of tears. Be courageous; don’t be afraid to cry.”

Pope Francis: "Today’s World Needs to Learn to Weep” …Good Advice for Lent. by Dr. Mike Gable

This Lent then the Holy Father’s Pontifical Mission Societies invite us to support the vital efforts of 1,150 mission dioceses located mostly in Africa and Asia. Your donation enables our fellow Catholics to build and staff hundreds of clinics, orphanages, schools, and churches that provide hope to millions who weep. With your support our Holy Father can help his bishops train thousands of lay catechists, seminari-ans and women religious to follow the example of Jesus who wept and responded with love.

Your Lenten gift can be sent to Pontifical Mission Societies, c/o Mission Office, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, 100 E. 8th St., Cincinnati, OH 45202 or

www.missiongivingswo.org.

Please see below and inside for the many wonderful examples of others from our archdiocese who have wept and now respond with the love of Christ.

Precious Blood Sisters Maria Luisa Miller and Edna Hess (both from the Archdiocese of Cincinnati) serving with Chilean Sister Rita

Manriquez in Chile. See page 5

We have not had anyone set off for adventure since our last edition of Transmissions… So, we thought we’d share a photo from recent travels to Chile:

Ted and Maruja Gutmann-Gonzalez have long served as lay missioners to the people in central Chile. Ted is originally from Piqua, Ohio, and

Maruja is from Chile. Besides raising three daughters in mission, they have improved the lives of many through effective self-sustaining ecological and agricultural projects and spiritual renewal programs. If you wish to learn more about their ministry and support or connect with them, contact the Mission Office.

The Mission Office would like to acknowledge the service of Sr. Joan Krimm, SNDdeN. Many years a missionary in Brazil, Sr. Joan (front right) returned to the US and continued her work right here in the Archdiocese; the least of which was as a member of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati Mission Office Advisory Board for many years. This past November, Joan moved on from the Board. Even though we know our collaboration on other projects will continue, we will miss her presence on the board very much. Thank you Sr. Joan for sharing your passion for the mission of Jesus and for your years of wisdom and guidance.

Create a Legacy of Faith

The Archdiocese of Cincinnati Mission Office can help you create a legacy of faith that reaches around the world and continues well beyond your lifetime.

The Missionary Call belongs to all Catholics by virtue of our very baptism. Baptism is the doorway to discipleship and mission. Baptism calls us to “hear the cry of the poor.” Mission experiences touch us, whether we ‘go’ to mission or simply hear the stories of those who have ‘gone’ in our stead. Crossing borders, both physical and cultural, transforms both host and visitor. It is through financial gifts that we can continue to educate others to their mission call as well as tell the stories of our brothers and sisters across the world.

Bequests and estate gifts are an important way to help. People leave bequests in their will for many reasons:

In thanksgiving for the blessings of life and love

To honor a deceased parent, spouse or child

In praise of God for the gift of faith

As an act of spiritual and social justice

As an example of Catholic charity for the next generation

Touch the lives of others with the Gospel message of Christ by helping us build bridges of grace, faith and solidarity with your brothers and sisters around the world. Pease consider adding the Mission Office to your will or trust. This will be a lasting hymn of praise to our most Awesome God.

Call us with questions: Dr. Mike Gable 513-421-3131 ext 2630 mission@catholiccincinnati.org

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Current Mission Office Advisory Board

Tips to TransformYour Mission/Immersion Trips for Lasting Effects By Dr. Mike Gable, Mission Office Director

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According to Dr. Robert Priest, who has studied short term mission, about two million North Americans are involved in mission/immersion trips annually, costing well over one billion dollars. With those numbers, we need to ask if these trips are the most responsible way to spend precious mission donations, especially if these endeavors do not lead to long term equitable relationships. Also, sadly, his research shows that a year after returning, numerous participants admitted that it didn’t have lasting effects on them and that many of their well-intentioned projects failed.

What about the waste of donations for projects that simply make work for mission groups? In Toxic Charity: How Churches and Charities Hurt Those They Help, Robert B. Lupton’s writes about a church group that built a well for a village. When the group returned a year later, they found the pump broken and villagers again carrying water. The group fixed it and left. This happened year after year. The village waited for their benefactors to fix the well as they had no knowledge or resources to do it.

Before we leave, we need to ask: What is our attitude toward those we visit? How can we go as humble pil-grims? How will we make time for prayer and dialogue to listen to the spiritual/cultural wisdom of our hosts?

So, what to do? Here are some tips for transforming your mission/

immersion trips:

Use What about Short-Term Mission? A Guide for Leaders and Participants of Short-term Mission Experiences from Mission to Mis-sion (www.missiontomission.org). It will help participants understand the goals and motivations for Catholic mission based on mutuality. It provides suggestions and discussion questions to prepare for your trip and what to do during and after your experi-ence in order to remain faithful to long-term efforts of solidarity.

Learn to listen and dialogue well. Pope Francis has said, “Dialogue is very important for one’s maturity, because in developing relationships with other people, cultures, religions, one grows and matures. Do this with meekness. Learn to listen, to formulate intelli-gent question, and then talk.” Read his The Joy of the Gospel and go to: www.scarboromissions.ca/Interfaith_dialogue/guidelines_interfaith.php And, instead of jumping from one place to another, consider developing a long term parish twining relation-ship. For more on parish twinning, go to: www.catholiccincinnati.org/mission

Reflect on the life of Jesus who spent most of his first 30 years praying, reflecting, listening and learning/analyzing his culture before setting off for his “mission trip” to build God’s reign. Before your trip, invite local people who are originally from the place you will be visiting to explain key aspects of their culture. Ask them to share their faith journey and how they celebrate and practice their faith. Study with your parish/group, Building Intercultural Com-petence for Ministers, from our U.S. Catholic Bishops at: www.usccbpulishing.org

Study the political/economic issues affecting your hosts. Arch-bishop Oscar Romero of San Salvador challenged North Ameri-cans to transform the purposes of their mission trips into efforts of solidarity: to meet with women and labor/peasant organizations, local parish/school members, religious orders committed to the poor, and civic leaders. The archbishop wanted U.S. citizens to under-stand and help eliminate causes of poverty, oppression and war. Romero didn’t ask for building projects as much as he wanted us to LISTEN to and build lasting relationships with his tortured people. On our trips then, we want to ask our hosts what influences our government and companies have on their community/nation. Many of our twining parishes are now working with their local congresspersons to reform immigration policies.

Invite your local diocesan mission and/or social action office, experi-enced college professors, a Bread For the World representative, or returned missionaries to educate your mission group and develop questions for your hosts. Offer a Justfaith course to improve motivations for trips based on Catholic Social Teachings. (www.justfaith.org). Join the efforts of your social justice or mission organization in your parish and diocese. Or, become members of Bread For the World (www.Bread.org). If not, your commitment to solidarity will fade.

As Australian Aboriginal Elder Lilla Watson best sums up: “If you've come here to help me, you're wasting your time. But if you've come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us

work together.”

Twinning partners: Janelle Buffalo of Navajo Reservation, St. Mary Mission, New Mexico and Beth Pettigrew of Sts. Peter & Paul Parish, Reading, Ohio.

The Archdiocese Mission Office once again celebrated a World Mission Sunday

Mass, October 19, 2014, with several Asian Catholic Communities in the Archdi-

ocese. Stephen T Badin High School was our most gracious host. Members of

the Vietnamese Catholic Community, the Filipino Catholic Community, the Syro-

Malabar Indian Community and St. Andrew Kim Korean Catholic Community

joined together to pray and celebrate other local Catholics. Our main celebrant

was Fr. Len Wenke, Director of the Pastoral Services Department in the

Archdiocese of Cincinnati. For more photos and captions, go to:

www.catholiccincinnati.org/mission and click on World Mission Sunday.

Sharing Spirituality Across Cultures

Attention DREs, Teachers, Catechists and Homeschoolers:

National Prayer and Penny Week is March 8—15

The Missionary Childhood Association’s National Prayer and Penny Week is a mission-focused prayer and giving program for Lent. The program honors the legacy of Pauline Jaricot who encouraged prayers and help for the Missions through her “Circles of 10.” This program is offered for students in grades kinder-garten through 8 in a class-room, homeschool or religious education context. A Leader's Guide, prayer poster and response card are provided. Age appropri-ate activities, prayers, Scripture reflections and reproducible art work are included in the program. This program is available in English and Spanish. Most schools should receive a packet in the mail automati-cally. If you are not sure if you are on the list, contact: mission@catholiccincinnati.org

Educator’s Corner

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Pauline Jaricot, Founder MCA

We Celebrate the Missionaries of the Precious Blood

villages in the Chilean Andes.

The rural parishes similarly cover a lot of territory and minister to many people. Pastors spend many hours driving from one small rural chapel to another along the curving roads of the mountain-ous regions. In places where there are no chapels, the pastor presides at Mass in a home or school.

The Missionaries of the Precious Blood are

celebrating their bicentennial August 15, 2015.

The Missionaries are marking their bicentennial with a

jubilee year that includes service projects, blood

drives, and an increase in the congregation’s annual

Brunner grants that fund peace and justice projects.

The culmination of the bicentennial celebration in the

Missionaries’ Cincinnati Province will be an outdoor

Mass on August 15, 2015 (their actual anniversary)

at St. Charles Center in Carthagena, Ohio.

Archbishop Dennis Schnurr will officiate. All are

welcome at the 4:30 p.m. Mass, which will be

followed by a picnic.

Also on that day, the Mission Office is

co-sponsoring a mini-symposium with the

Missionaries on the theme of mission. Mission

commission members from several parishes in the

archdiocese will be invited to share their experiences.

The keynote speaker will be Fr. Barry Fischer,

C.PP.S., a former moderator general of the congrega-

tion who also served as a missionary to Chile and

Guatemala. The symposium will begin at 1 p.m. at St.

Charles and conclude in time for participants to attend

the outdoor Mass.

Archbishop Schnurr, all the past and present members

of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, as well as the Mis-

sion Office, are grateful to God for the many Precious

Blood Priests, Brothers and Sisters who have served

us and their mission areas these many decades.

In recent years, the Mission Office has been blessed to have the collaborative support of Precious Blood Fathers who are originally from our archdiocese such as, Fr. William Nordenbrock who is now the world-wide Congregation Moderator General; Fr. Larry Hemmelgarn, Provincial Director; and Fr. Tom Hemm.

To learn more and to support the Missionaries of the Precious Blood, contact them at: 431 East Sec-ond Street, Dayton, Ohio 45402, phone 937-228-9263

or mission@cpps-preciousblood.org Pg 5

Founded in 1815 in Italy by St. Gaspar del Bufalo, the Missionaries of the Precious Blood minister in 20 countries around the world, including in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, where they were invited to minister to German-speaking Catholics on Ohio’s western border by Bishop Purcell in 1844.

With great conviction, the Missionaries of the Precious Blood state, “We believe in the power of the blood of Jesus, shed for all, to change the world. We are pastors, teachers and preachers involved in many kinds of ministries, where we encourage reconcilia-tion in our homes, churches, workplaces, towns and cities. We seek to help bring God's healing grace to the world. Through our priests, brothers and lay associates we seek out God's people who are suffering from loneliness and despair, poverty and violence.” These missioners assert that, “Every person is a child of God. Every one.” The Archdiocese of Cincinnati has been long blessed to have them and the Sisters of the Precious Blood carry out their mission in our parishes. We are a better archdiocese be-cause of them.

At the end of World War II, the Missionaries of the Precious Blood in what was then their American Province were looking outward. Due to their successful ministry in the U.S., they took on the pastoral care of several parishes in Santiago, Chili as well as rural parishes in southern Chile which continue today. Some of the members from our archdiocese who served in mission in Chili were Fathers Paul Beuhler, Ernest Ranly, Richard Beischel, Daniel Mangen, and Joseph Deardorff, who is now in Colombia. The Missionaries also have missions in Peru and Guatemala, along with an experimental mission in Colombia.

The last U.S.-born Missionary, Fr. Donald Thieman, C.PP.S., returned to the US in 2012, but the vital work of the Chilean Vicariate of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood goes on. The Missionaries are active in parish ministry, both urban and rural. The parish in Santiago, Our Lady of the Precious Blood, covers four regions of a sprawling, economically-challenged area of the city.

Throughout much of their time in Chile, the Missionaries worked in collaboration with the Sisters of the Precious Blood, who continue to have a presence in the country. Currently in Santiago from our archdiocese are Sr. Edna Hess, C.PP.S., who arrived in 1977 and has long served in retreat ministry and now with senior citizens; and Sr. Maria Luisa Miller, C.PP.S. who trained many for catechetical minis-try and formed local Precious Blood groups among the laity. (Pictured on page 1.) They have both been impressed by the patience and warmth of the Chileans with whom they serve.

Also in Santiago, the Missionaries administer a large school that has gained a national reputation for excellence in Chile. At San Gaspar College students are educated with an eye for mission: they know that whatever gifts they are given are meant to be shared among God’s people. Central to the school is a mission trip taken every year to visit remote

Fr. Antonio Baus, C.PP.S. Principal of San Gaspar School in Santiago with his

mission trip students.

Dorothy Mae Stang, a native of Dayton OH and a Sister of Notre Dame de Namur, was murdered in Anapu, in the state of Pará, in the Amazon Basin of Brazil in February 2005. She was outspoken in her efforts on behalf of the poor and the environment.

Sister Dorothy was sent to Brazil nearly 50 years ago along with four other Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. In 1966 the Sisters established a new convent at Coroatá in the state of Maranhão. As the Sisters learned about the oppression of the farmers at the hands of landowners, they began to teach the people about their rights as human beings.

In the early 1970s, the Brazilian government offered land in the Amazon region to farmers who wished to move there. They were given land if they could develop it in a sustainable way. It was the beginning of a new life that the poor farmers embraced. As they moved into the interi-or, Sister Dorothy followed, teaching them ways to live from the land while recycling the resources of the forest. Her ultimate dream was to have a certain area of the land designated as a federal reserve where small farmers would always be safe; where they could till the soil and establish their own income-producing businesses through sound, sustainable development; and where the farmers and their families could always live in peace and with dignity. It was a simple dream with op-posing consequences: while she was recognized globally for her work in defending the human rights of the farmers, she became a target for those who wanted her work stopped.

As threats to her life became more frequent and brazenly open, some suggest-ed that it might be time for Sister Dorothy to leave Brazil. She disagreed. “I am grateful to Notre Dame for not asking me to leave,” she once wrote. “This shows we are aware of the needs of the poor. The Sisters

have said they are worried about my safety. It is not my safety, but that of the people which matters.” For Sister Dorothy it was always about the people. Through the

people, her spirit and hope will forever live on.

Dot, as she was called by her family, friends and most locals in Brazil, is often pictured wearing a t-shirt with the slogan, "A Morte da floresta é o fim da nossa vida" which is Portuguese for "The death of the forest is the end of our life."

In a letter home Dorothy stated, “I don't want to flee, nor do I want to abandon the battle of these farmers who live without any protection in the forest. They have the sacrosanct right to aspire to a better life on land where they can live and work with dignity while respecting the environment”

On the morning of February 12, 2005, Dorothy and her friend Ciero, woke up early to walk to a community meeting to speak about the rights for the Amazon. Ciero, was de-layed and was walking a bit behind Dot. As Dot walked, she was blocked by two armed men. They asked if she had any weapons, and she told them that the only

weapon she had was her bible. She then read a passage from the Beatitudes, "Blessed are the poor in spirit..." Dot was murdered that day in that forest by those men, while she read to them from the Holy Gospel.

At her memorial Mass, Archbishop Daniel E Pilarczyk said, “We celebrate often Masses for martyrs from the past. But today, we are celebrating Mass for a martyr whose blood is still warm.” Today, her spirit continues to inspire the poor and vulnerable of Brazil to fight for their own dignity and to safeguard God’s creation. Sr. Dot’s life is an example for all of us of Christ’s good news proclaimed in the 21st century.

2015 is the tenth year after Dot’s death and the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur want to celebrate her life and legacy is a special way this year. Please see the enclosed flyer for ways they ask us to remember Sr. Dorothy Stang and her work on behalf of the people of God.

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Tenth Anniversary is a Call to Action By Teresa Phillips, Associate Director

Also note, nominations for the 6th annual Spirit of Sister Dorothy Stang Awards are now being accepted. Forms can be found on our website:

www.catholiccincinnati.org/mission

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The Archdiocese of Cincinnati Mission Office has enjoyed a connection to a wonderful organization: The

Africa Faith and Justice Network. This connection is an out-growth of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati’s

five year Solidarity Outreach to local African Catholic Communities in the Archdiocese.

The Africa Faith and Justice Network (AFJN) is a community of advocates for responsible U.S. relations

with Africa. AFJN stresses issues of peacebuilding, human rights and social justice that tie directly into

Catholic social teaching. AFJN works closely with Catholic missionary congregations and numerous

Africa-focused coalitions to advocate for U.S. economic and political policies that will benefit Africa's poor majority, facilitate an end

to armed conflict, establish equitable trade and investment with Africa and promote sustainable development.

AFJN works primarily with the executive and legislative branches of the U.S. government to advance our message of social

justice. They are also registered as a United Nations-Department of Public Information (UN-DPI) organization.

AFJN's support base is primarily built on the Catholic missionary community in the USA and in Africa. AFJN is an extension of

missionary witness in the difficult yet important arena of USA political decisions that affect African people.

Most recently AFJN has advocated on issues such as land grabbing, militarization and restorative justice. We are working to

enable people in Nigeria, the Congo and Sierra Leone to stand firm against large mining operations who wish to destroy the land

and leave the people with nothing, There is so much more that AFJN does. See their website at www.afjn.org

AFJN is a membership organization whose organizational members include 30+ Catholic religious communities, parishes and

dioceses. This list and more information can be found on their website. Please contact them for more information. And, if you are

so moved, like all small organizations fighting for the rights of those with no voice, AJFN can use your support. Go to their website

and become an annual member!

Advocacy Is Social Justice by: Teresa Phillips, Associate Director

January 29 to February 4, members of St Margaret of York Parish twinning team, Seton High School and the Laudate Youth Choir, along with some Archdiocesan leadership, visited old and new friends in the archdiocese of Tegucigalpa, Hondu-ras. Jointly they prayed with AIDs patients and hosted a piñata party for students they have been sponsoring together. Some visited a nearby by parish village to consider developing a health clinic as twinning partners.

Cardinal Rodriguez had invited these members to return to help celebrate and sing at the national feast of their Patron-ess, Maria, Our Lady of Suyapa, and grow in common bonds in Christ. The cardinal made it clear to his visitors that he and Pope Francis want all parishes to go out and build these partnerships.

Reflecting on their time together, Claudia Adino a young adult leader of Santo Domingo parish in Tegucigalpa, shared, “With these trips back and forth between our archdioceses we've became a big family. When a new youth group comes, we make more brothers and sisters and this relationship is becoming stronger day by day, showing us that the love of God has no boundaries. I'm very grateful to all of you for that as God has blessed this beautiful relationship that we've built!

The young adult Honduran choir leader, Daniela Michelle Mejia, noted, "It was an honor to have worked with our parish choir partners as we felt a part of something more than just the chorus, more like how friends and brothers feel. The fact that music is such broad language allows different cultures to work together without problem. We also thank our Cincinnati friends for their mega efforts to sing in Spanish as I received many impressive comments from people outside the parish."

“Once again, for me a highlight of this trip is the opportunity for our youth to share their faith, their love of God with others and this trip certainly allowed for that,” wrote Sr. Sandy Howe, SC, Community Service Coordinator at Seton High School. "God willing the relationships they made will continue through the years;

relationships that started two years ago with our first trip to Honduras continue to this day. We are all blessed because of our time in Honduras, our learnings and our yearnings to continue to carry on the mission of our church, the mission of Jesus to love and serve others."

“This trip totally changed my perception of the immigration issues from Central America," reflected Mrs. Missy Meyer of St. Margaret of York Parish. "Before, I believed if you entered this country ille-gally, you had no right to be here. I now

understand that these people are beyond desperate to find a better life, and they should have the opportunity to pursue that. And it was impressive to see how well youth from both nations share their faith with each other. I went on this trip for my son, but gained so much for myself."

Chris Chalifoux, parish council president of St. Margaret of York, made his first visit and noted, “My wife Nancy and I both would tell you that is a life changing event due to the things that we saw, the things that we learned, and the relationships formed with the members of our twinning parish. We intend to use these experienc-es to spread the word at our parish and use our personal experiences as a catalyst to ignite greater participation in the twinning relationship. The Holy Spirit is alive within us, and the fire will not be quenched.”

“The Holy Spirit Is Alive within Us!"

Oscar Cardinal Rodriguez blesses the group.

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Archdiocese of Cincinnati

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What Can We Learn from Martyred Missionaries and How Do We Continue

Archdiocese of Cincinnati Mission Office Lenten Reflection & Workshop

Sr. Joan Krimm, SNDdeN and Anne McGuire will begin with a Lenten prayer and reflection on the lessons we learn from the lives, missions and martyrdoms of Sr. Dorothy Stang, SNDdeN and Fr. Stanley Rother. Julie Lupien of Mission to Mission will follow as our facilitator to help us evaluate new training materials developed by Maryknoll Missioners and the "3rd Wave Movement” to help parishes and schools start and improve their twinning relationships and mission/immersion trips. All are welcome; esp parish twinning teams, youth ministers and immersion/mission trip leaders

Cincinnati area: Saturday, March 14

8:30 A.M. Registration and Simple Breakfast; Program 9-12

St. Anthony in Madisonville

6104 Desmond St, Cincinnati 45227

Directions: www.stanthonychurch.net

Dayton & Northern area: Monday, March 16

5:30 P.M. Gathering & Simple Dinner; Program 7-9:30 P.M.

Maria Stein Shrine,

2291 St. John’s Rd., Maria Stein, OH 45860.

Directions: www.mariasteinshrine.org

Cost: $10

Pay in advance OR at the door.

RSVP by March 10 for a food

count.

For more information and to

register: contact the Mission

Office;

mission@catholiccincinnati.org