The Catholic Church in Japan rushed to support victims of the earthquake and tsunami with prayer, solidarity and practical aid; read articles by Fr. Piergiorgio Manni and Mike De Rocha. Also, the Dignity of Work based on Catholic Social Teaching; Saint of our Time on Bishop Guido Maria Conforti, and Test your Religious IQ. Xaverian Mission Newsletter, a publication of the Xaverian Missionaries - an international Roman Catholic Mission community
Newsletter Newsletter Newsletter XAVERIAN MISSION XAVERIAN AVERIAN AVERIAN MISSION ISSION ISSION Passion for Christ — Passion for Humanity Volume 59—No 2 May 2011 Website: xaviermissionaries.org ● MissionBlog: xaverianmissionaries.blogspot.com T he Catholic Church in Japan rushed to support victims of the earthquake and tsunami with prayer, solidarity and practical aid. Japanese bishops established an emergency center to coordinate humanitarian aid operations in Sendai, the area most devastated by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. The center is managed by Caritas Japan and draws on the resources of numerous Catholic vo- lunteers who have come forward in the wake of the disaster. "The biggest buildings withstood the very strong earthquake. The greatest damage was caused by the tsunami. The panorama of destruction is striking. Now we'll have to roll up our shirt sleeves. People are expecting our help," said Fr. Daisuke Narui, executive director of Caritas Japan. "The biggest concern is the nuclear power plant in Fukushima. It is a ghost from Japanese history coming back to haunt us. But it must be said that the people are not indulging in panic; instead, they are reacting with poise and dignity." He said, "in the worst-affected areas the main problem is the lack of food and fuel. People are left feeling powerless in the face of this tragedy." Fr. Narui said: “Our work is to show love and solidarity especially to the people most vulnerable, such as the elderly, migrants and homeless. We are working with NGOs. We are called to give a testimony to unity and closeness to all human suffering. We know that the response by the faithful to our appeal will be very generous. It is a terrible disaster, one of the worst in the country's history. In the northern area most affected, there are already more than 7,000 recorded deaths, hundreds of casualties and internally displaced persons.” Fr. Narui said he was encouraged by the enthusiasm of Japanese youth offering to help the displaced. "Young people are continually coming to Caritas from all the dioceses to offer their availability as volunteers to bring aid to the areas most affected by the disaster. This is an important sign that gives us hope for the future." By Fr. Mike De Rocha, SX HOPE FOR THE FUTURE Fr. Mike works in Miyazaki, Japan A Japan civil defense officer holds a 4-month-old baby who was rescued along with her fami- ly from their home in Ishimaki, Japan, (CNS/Yomiuri Shimbun/Reuters)
T he Catholic Church in Japanrushed to support victims of
the earthquake and tsunami withprayer, solidarity and practical aid.Japanese bishops established anemergency center to coordinate humanitarian aid operations in Sendai, the area most devastated by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. The center is managed by Caritas Japan and draws on the resources of numerous Catholic vo-lunteers who have come forward in the wake of the disaster.
"The biggest buildings withstood thevery strong earthquake. The greatestdamage was caused by the tsunami.
The panorama of destruction is striking. Now we'll have to roll up our shirt sleeves. People are expecting our help,"said Fr. Daisuke Narui, executive director of Caritas Japan.
"The biggest concern is the nuclear power plant in Fukushima. It is a ghost from Japanese history coming back to hauntus. But it must be said that the people are not indulging in panic; instead, they are reacting with poise and dignity."He said, "in the worst-affected areas the main problem is the lack of food and fuel. People are left feeling powerlessin the face of this tragedy." Fr. Narui said: “Our work is to show love and solidarity especially to the people most vulnerable, such as the elderly, migrants and homeless. We are working with NGOs. We are called to give a testimony to unity and closeness to all human suffering. We know that the response by the faithful to our appeal will be very generous. It is a terrible disaster, one of the worst in the country's history. In the northern area most affected, there are already more than 7,000 recorded deaths, hundreds of casualties and internally displaced persons.”
Fr. Narui said he was encouraged by the enthusiasm of Japanese youth offering to help the displaced. "Young peopleare continually coming to Caritas from all the dioceses to offer their availability as volunteers to bring aid to the areasmost affected by the disaster. This is an important sign that gives us hope for the future."
By Fr. Mike De Rocha, SX
HOPE FOR THE FUTURE
Fr. Mike works in Miyazaki, Japan
A Japan civil defense officer holds a 4-month-old baby who was rescued along with her fami-
ly from their home in Ishimaki, Japan, (CNS/Yomiuri Shimbun/Reuters)
2
Xaverian Mission Newsletter ▪ May 2011 Xaverian Mission Newsletter ▪ May 2011
Blessed Guido Maria Conforti
Xaverian Missionaries
Provincial Headquarters
12 Helene Court Wayne, NJ 07470-2813 Tel.: (973) 942-2975 Fax: (973) 942-5012 Email: [email protected] Xavier Knoll Mission Center
W hen thinking about saints, a movie cam-era seldom comes to
mind. In the case of Blessed Guido Maria Conforti, however, it should. He embraced new technology and advised his followers to use every means possible, including movie cameras, to not only spread the Gospel of Christ but also to share in the cultures of the people the Xa-verians served. “Our founder was among the first to use modern means of mass commu-nication in the service of the Gos-pel. The new technological possibili-ties we have today offer previously unheard of possibilities and we should take advantage of them; nevertheless, we must never forget that they should never substitute an authentic life witness.” (60: RMX) And “life witness” is what he gave. Blessed Conforti was a man of joy and action, visiting parishes in his home dioceses, his missions in Chi-na, supporting clergy, promoting religious education and lay involve-ment in the Church. Although his life spanned the 19th and 20th cen-turies, Blessed Conforti would be right at home in this age of commu-
nication innovations. He would use the internet, mobile devices and every aspect of social net-working to “make of the world, one family.” His vision of “connecting” continues to inspire Xaverians around the world today. You can just imagine him texting: “See, Seek and Love God in All!” Now, that has to be one of the greatest „tweets‟ of all time!
Bishop Conforti on a pastoral visit sur-
rounding Berceto, Italy in July 1931
Join in the missionary
activities of the Xaverians
with your tax deductible
contributions:
Contact: Fr. Frank Grappoli, SX 12 Helene Court Wayne, NJ 07470 Tel: 973.942.2975
3 Xaverian Mission Newsletter ▪ May 2011
Xaverian Mission Newsletter ▪ May 2011
Xaverian Missionaries in the World
March 15, 2011
To Our Supporters,
Thank you for your interest, and your prayers.
The affected area is the northern part of
Japan, particularly the Pacific coast, which
extends for over 500 kilometers from Tokyo
to Hokkaidô Island. The earthquake was
tremendous, but most of the damage was
caused by the tsunami waves, as you could
see from television and newspaper
coverage.
The Media has transmitted shocking
images and sad news laced with cries of
pain and fear from so many of our brothers
and sisters who live in those areas.
The latest figures of loss are as follows:
1. dead: 4,851, but the figures are not complete
2. missing: more than 15,000 (most likely due to the tsunamis
washing away homes)
3. displaced persons gathered in emergency accommodation:
at least 523,288
The distress caused by the lack of communications, water,
electricity and gas, lack of blankets and food (it is very difficult
to reach places affected because of missing or impaired
roadways) in addition to the massive damage to fisheries,
agriculture and industries, is compounded by the danger and
terror due to the serious harm to, and now caused by, nuclear
power stations.
It is too early to give an exact account, and most likely the news
around the world will describe better than I, the tragedy of the
situation. Fortunately, the mutual aid, government involvement
and organization, and public and private agencies are apparently
efficient and collaboration of the population is
worthy of praise.
As missionaries we share the suffering of the
people and ask also your prayers that the
people and places afflicted may soon return to
flourishing life, serenity and peace.
United in prayer,
Fr. Pier Giorgio Manni, SX
Provincial Superior Xaverian Missionaries
Japan
Parish Volunteers in Sendai, photo: Caritas, Japan
4
Xaverian Mission Newsletter ▪ May 2011 Xaverian Mission Newsletter ▪ May 2011
Xaverian Missionaries in the World
IN MEMORIAM FATHER BRUNO
On March 31, 2011,Father Bruno Orrù died at the Mother House in Parma af-ter battling cancer. He was 75 years old. He began his studies with the Xaverian Missionaries in 1949, completed the last three years of theology and was ordained a priest in Milwaukee on September 29, 1963. After his ordination he was engaged in teaching in Hol-liston, MA and from 1972 to 1976 he assisted our mis-sions through our office in Wayne, New Jersey. From 1977 to 2011 he worked tirelessly in Indone-sia, involved in pastoral care (pastor Bagansiapi-Api, the Padang Cathedral, and Jakarta): training of semi-narians (Master of novices, 90-06) and as Regional Councilor for five terms.
May he rest in peace!
Fr. Carl Chudy, SX
Father Bruno Orrù, SX
BRAZIL
Bibles For Everyone!
After the publication of the first book, The Bible Available to Everyone, we are on the second vol-ume. The first book was well received and used by many priests, catechists, religious and laity. It is contributing to the formation of the biblical Christian communities, especially where there are Xaverians. The second volume deals with the events of bibli-cal history that range from the prophet Elisha to the exile of the people of Israel in Babylon. The structure and method are to actualize the word of God for our life of today and for the life of our Christian communities.
Project leader: Father Gianni Martoccia, SX
PHILIPPINES
The district of Tu-man, a suburb of Manila, is home to more than 50 thou-sand inhabitants. The poorest area is "Palay", a place abandoned to the mercy of funda-mentalist sects. We want to offer a sig-nificant religious presence and cele-brate Mass on Sun-day. We don’t have a church yet.
So far the altar is under a mango tree. A yellow sheet is spread every time we celebrate, to defend us from the hot sun or rain. These people are so poor, but so close to the Gospel; we would like to offer a more decent space for meeting with the Lord.
A church roof with brick and galva-nized sheets, dedicated to Saint Gui-do Conforti, could become a beauti-ful reality, where the holy missionary bishop and apostle of the Gospel is revered by the all with love. Speaking of the project with Mr. Diwata, pas-toral associate of this area, I noticed
the emotion on his face: "With the help of God, we could put a large crucifix, because we know that many children will go next door and stand here for a pray-er."
This reminded me of the story of Blessed Guido Conforti, who as a child on his way to school, paused before a large crucifix to pray. He taught us to look up, he showed us the way and brought us even closer to God. Thank you Guido, you're a saint for the whole world, and the Filipino people wait for you with joy.
Father Emanuele Borelli, SX
The Xaverian Community in Brazil
5 Xaverian Mission Newsletter ▪ May 2011
Xaverian Mission Newsletter ▪ May 2011
few years. They came looking for work so they can better the situation of their families in Bra-zil. Many times they have various problems, legal or visas, difficult family or marriage situ-ations. I try to be un-derstanding and help-ful.”
Fr. Tony has worked with Brazilians for over thirty-five years, first as a missionary in Brazil, so he knows the conditions both in their former country and their new adopted one. “Among themselves they are very united, but I don’t think they find much acceptance here. The two communities of Americans and Brazilians are separate. Even with the Portuguese, they have little in common except the language. They do not share much. This for me is very worrisome.”
“It is like they are second class Catholics. They have so much to contribute. They can certainly contribute to more lively celebrations, and a sense of community. They are very close. But they do not feel close to the American community here.”
A moving example of the Brazilian “sense of community” is that they took up collections for the people of Japan on their own even before there was an official Church re-sponse. “They made a raffle. They made a festival. All the money gath-ered was sent to the relief cam-paign. I suggested that they send it to CRS. They did it on their own,” says Fr. Tony. “Our American com-munity can learn from the Brazili-ans. They can teach us a lot about being Catholic, being Christian, be-ing a Christian community.”
Xaverian Missionaries in the USA
A Celebratory People
“I feel enlivened when I work with them. They add
life to the celebration,” says Fa-ther Tony Lalli, SX, commenting on his ministry to the New England Brazilian community. “They are a very celebratory people.”
Our Lady of Fatima Shrine in Hol-liston, MA, has been a magnet for Brazilian immigrants since arriving here in the last few decades. Fa-ther Francis Signorelli, SX, Direc-tor of the Shrine, describes the pilgrimage of thousands of Brazili-ans to the shrine each year. “They begin with a candlelight procession that is outside and then they have dinner with their tradi-tional foods, folklore dances, and liturgies.”
“It has become a national day for the Brazilians, says Fr. Tony, “and they do a whole day of celebra-tion, religious and national.”
Fr. Francis is available for the community in many ways. “They make an appointment to come to see me for confession or spiritual direction. They seem to be in search of assistance because they feel kind of alone and neglected, particularly the Brazilians of re-cent immigration. They look to priests for assistance. They are very dedicated and high-minded, very religious and very creative in the expression of their faith.”
Fr. Tony ministers in parishes in the surrounding towns of Milford, Framingham, Marlborough and especially in Hudson, MA. He states, “They have no priest. The one that they had went back to Brazil. Some Sundays I say 3 or 4 Masses, one or two in English, one for the Portuguese and one or two for the Brazilians.”
“Besides liturgical celebrations, I also do a lot of personal contact,” Fr. Tony continues. “These are young people who came the last
Xaverian Outreach to the Brazilian Community in America
Father Tony Lalli in Brazil
Brazilian community at Our Lady of Fatima Shrine
Xaverian Mission Newsletter ▪ May 2011 6
The The DignityDignityDignity of Workof Work
O ften called the “best kept secret of the Church,”
Catholic Social Teaching has shaped our faith and empowered our members for centuries. With media attention on worker’s rights, it’s a good time to revisit this bed-rock principle of human rights.
Bishop Stephen E. Blaire, chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops wrote to Archbish-op Jerome E. Listecki of Milwaukee on February 23 of this year:
“Catholic teaching and your statement remind us these are not just political con-flicts or economic choices; they are moral choices with enormous human dimensions. The debates over worker representation and collective bargaining are not simply matters of ideology or pow-er, but involve principles of justice, participation and how workers can have a voice in the workplace and econo-my.”
So, just what is this Catholic Teaching? We can find it in the famous 1891 encyclical of Pope Leo XIII, Rerum Novarum (Of New Things). Pope Leo strongly defend-ed the poor and stressed human rights and dignity. In his comments on the Encyclical’s 50th anniversary in 1961, the much beloved Blessed Pope John XX111 stated:
…the question of work, which must be regarded not merely as a com-modity, but as a specifically hu-man activity. In the majority of
cases a man's work is his sole means of livelihood. Its remunera-tion, therefore, cannot be made to depend on the state of the mar-ket. It must be determined by the laws of justice and equity.
Pope John showed how Rerum No-varum respected unionization:
Pope Leo XIII also defended the worker's natural right to enter into association with his fellows. Such associations may consist either of workers alone or of workers and employers, and should be struc-tured in a way best calculated to safeguard the workers' legitimate professional interest. It is the natural right of the workers to work without hindrance, freely, and on their own initiative within these associations for the achievement of these ends.
Gaudium et Spes, the Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World from the Second Vatican Council in 1965 pro-claimed:
Among the basic rights of the hu-man person is to be numbered the right of freely founding unions for working people. They should be able truly to represent them and to contribute to the organizing of economic life in the right way. Included is the right of freely tak-ing part in the activity of these unions without risk of reprisal.
Personally involved in the Polish Solidarity Movement in the 1980’s, Blessed Pope John Paul II weighed in with his Laborem Exercens (The Rights of Labor):
In order to achieve social justice in the various parts of the world, in the various countries, and in the relationships between them, there is a need for ever new movements
Philippine miner, photo: Wall Street Journal
Crushing stone by hand in Burundi
7
Xaverian Mission Newsletter ▪ May 2011
“…for the laborer is worthy of his wages” Luke 10:7
of solidarity of the workers and with the workers. This solidarity must be present whenever it is called for by the social degrading of the subject of work, by exploita-tion of the workers, and by the growing areas of poverty and even hunger. The Church is firmly com-mitted to this cause, for she con-siders it her mission, her service, a proof of her fidelity to Christ, so that she can truly be the "Church of the poor."
In 1986 the U.S Catholic Bishops issued their Pastoral Letter on Catholic Social Teaching and the U.S. Economy, Economic Justice
for All. The letter stresses the Church’s support of the right of workers to form unions or other associations to secure their rights to fair wages and work-ing conditions: Unions may also legitimately resort to strikes where this is
the only available means to the justice owed to workers. No one may deny the right to organize without attacking human dignity itself. Therefore, we firmly oppose organized efforts, such as those regrettably now seen in this coun-try, to break existing unions and
prevent workers from organizing.
But it also about accountability:
Along with the rights of workers and unions go a number of im-portant responsibilities. Individual
workers have obligations to their employers, and trade unions also have duties to society as a whole.
Union manage-ment in particu-lar carries a strong responsi-bility for the good name of the entire union movement. Work-ers must use their collective power to contribute to the well-being of the whole com-munity and should avoid pressing demands whose fulfillment
would damage the common good and the rights of more vulnerable mem-bers of society.
The official teaching of the Catholic Church as found in the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the
Church (2004) holds that labor unions exert a “positive influence for social order and solidarity,
and are therefore an indispensable element of social life.”
In 2008, the USCCB published The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers, once again calling for jus-tice in the workplace.
The economy must serve people, not the other way around. Work is more than a way to make a living; it is a form of continuing participation in God‟s creation. If the dignity of work is to be protected, then the basic rights of workers must be re-spected—the right to productive work, to decent and fair wages, to the organization and joining of un-ions, to private property, and to economic initiative. Migrant workers, photo: Catholic Legal Immigration Network
“The economy must serve people,
not the other way around.”
Picking cotton in Brazil
8
Xaverian Mission Newsletter ▪ May 2011
World Mission Spirituality
Are you religiously literate? The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life did a recent survey on Americans knowledge of beliefs and practices of the world’s major religions. The results were in a word, “dismaying,” considering that the majority of Americans view religion as “very important” and roughly half said they attend worship services regularly. So, how do you think you would score? Take the test and find out...
Religious Knowledge Quiz
1. Which Bible figure is most closely associated with leading the exodus from Egypt? Job Elijah Moses Abraham 2. What was Mother Teresa’s religion? Catholic Jewish Buddhist Mormon Hindu 3. Which of the following is NOT one of the Ten Commandments? Do not commit adultery Do unto others as you would have them do unto you Do not steal Keep the Sabbath holy 4. When does the Jewish Sabbath begin? Friday Saturday Sunday 5. Is Ramadan…? The Hindu festival of lights A Jewish day of atonement The Islamic holy month 6. Which of the following best describes the Catholic teaching about the bread and wine used for Communion? The bread and wine actually become the body and blood of Jesus Christ. The bread and wine are symbols of the body and blood of Jesus Christ. 7. In which religion are Vishnu and Shiva central figures? Islam Hinduism Taoism 8. Which Bible figure is most closely associated with remaining obedient to God despite suffering? Job Elijah Moses Abraham 9. What was Joseph Smith’s religion? Catholic Jewish Buddhist Mormon Hindu
10. According to rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court, is a public school teacher permitted to lead a class in prayer, or not? Yes, permitted No, not permitted 11. According to rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court, is a public school teacher permitted to read from the Bible as an example of literature, or not? Yes, permitted No, not permitted 12 What religion do most people in Pakistan consider themselves? Buddhist Hindu Muslim Christian 13. What was the name of the person whose writings and actions inspired the Protestant Reformation? Martin Luther Thomas Aquinas John Wesley 14. Which of these religions aims at nirvana, the state of being free from suffering? Islam Buddhism Hinduism 15. Which of these preachers participated in the period of religious activity known as the First Great Awakening? Jonathan Edwards Charles Finney Billy Graham Read the full survey report at http://pewforum.org/Other-Beliefs-and-Practices/U-S-Religious-Knowledge-Survey.aspx. To see how you perform on these questions compared with the national average and different religious groups, visit http://features.pewforum.org/quiz/us-religious-knowledge/.
ANSWERS: 1. Moses 2. Catholic 3. Do unto others as you
would have them do unto you 4. Friday 5. The Islamic holy month 6. The bread and wine actually become the body and blood of Jesus Christ. 7. Hinduism 8. Job 9. Mormon 10. No, not permitted 11. Yes, permitted 12. Muslim 13. Martin Luther 14. Buddhism 15. Jonathan Edwards
“As far as local churches are concerned, they must commit themselves in this direction, helping all the faithful to
respect and to esteem the values, traditions and convictions of other believers.” Blessed Pope John Paul II
TEST YOUR RELIGIOUS IQ
9
Xaverian Mission Newsletter ▪ May 2011
Become a Partner in Global Mission
I n The Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, we read, “The joys and the hopes,
the grief and the anxieties of our age, especially those who are poor or in any way afflicted; these are the joys and hopes, the grief and anxie-ties of the followers of Christ.” What does it really mean to be “followers of Christ”? It is not merely that we are “nice people.” We are tied to each other and to all of humanity through the blood of Christ. That “grief and anxiety” is an outpouring of compassion which flowed from the blood of the cross. Justice in the World, the 40th Anni-versary of which we celebrate this year, brought the Church's social ministry from the “fringe” to the very center of what it means to be Christian as part of the renewal of Vatican II. A wide variety of justice and peace initiatives as well as advo-
An Integral Part of Love
Justice is the
primary way
of charity
cacy offices were formed to attend to the many issues raised by the Synod. We realized the need to be with the poor and oppressed with our presence, support and solidari-ty to help with immediate needs and also to ask the bigger question: Why? With the answer that injus-tice is both a personal and struc-tural sin. Mission is primarily witness and proclamation, but the work of jus-tice has become an integral part of the evangelization of the Church. Blessed John Paul II, in his encycli-cal on mission reminds us: “The Church contributes to humanity's pilgrimage of conversion to God's plan through her witness and through such activities as dialogue, human promotion, commitment to justice and peace...” Redemptoris Missio #20 Justice is not extraneous to chari-ty. It is not an alternative or paral-lel path to charity. Justice is insep-arable from charity, and intrinsic to it. Justice is the primary way of charity or, in Pope Paul VI's words, “the minimum measure” of it. St. John tells us justice is an integral part of love “in deed and in truth.”
(1 Jn 3:18)
Fr. Carl Chudy, SX
(excerpted from a talk to the Sisters of St. John the Baptist in Bronx, NY on April 2)
Mother and Child in the Amazon
Good Friday Way of the Cross in Bangladesh
10
Xaverian Mission Newsletter ▪ May 2011
World Mission News Digest
Egypt
There was tremendous Muslim-Christian support and solidarity in the non-violent protests against, and ultimate overthrow of, the Mubarak regime. Muslims protected Coptic Christians in their churches and Christians formed human chains around Muslim worshipers during their prayer services.
Democratic Republic of the
Congo
Catholic Relief Services’ expert on sexual
and gender-based violence, Francisca
Vigaud-Walsh, testified before the House
Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa,
Global Health, and Human Rights in
March. The hearing, The Democratic
Republic of the Congo: Securing Peace in
the Midst of Tragedy, took place as rape
continued to be used as a weapon of war
in eastern DRC in a conflict that has by
some estimates killed more than 3 million
people since 1998.
Vigaud-Walsh who oversees and
coordinates CRS’ work in the area of
sexual and gender-based violence has
made numerous trips to the DRC over the
past three years. While acknowledging
positive steps by the U.S. government in
the DRC, Vigaud-Walsh advocates that
more be done to eradicate sexual and
gender-based violence, ensure the
protection of women and girls and all
civilians, and to end the conflict.
World Mission News Digest
Get involved more in
the work of peace
and justice for Africa
with the Africa Faith
and Justice Network.
http://afjn.org/
A Muslim Imam and Coptic Priest celebrate in
Tahrir Square, Cairo
photo: Fellowship for Reconciliation
“It is a further boost to diplomacy to not give up strength and to act in a way that keeps the possibility of reconciliation alive. I think the appeal of the Holy Father, whom I offer my heartfelt thanks, is very important, because fighting does not help to create peace,” said Bish-op Giovanni Innocenzo Martinelli, Apostolic Vicar of Tripoli, comment-ing on the appeal launched by Benedict XVI for peace in Côte d'Ivoire and Libya. “Violence and hatred are always a defeat,” said Benedict XVI at his General Audience on April 4. “With great concern I continue to fol-low the dramatic events that the dear people of Côte d'Ivoire and Lib-ya are experiencing,” adding that he issues “a new and heartfelt ap-peal to all parties, that they may begin the work of peace and dia-logue and avoid further bloodshed.”
“The appeal by the Pope is encouragement not to
give up on diplomacy,” says the Apostolic Vicar of
Tripoli
Libya
March 24. At least 40 Libyan civilians were killed
as a consequence of airstrikes carried out by the
United States and other Western powers, the
leading church official in Libya said. (CNS photo/
We are happy to an-nounce the award of a $10,000.00 grant from the Koch Foundation, which will be used for a mission immersion pro-gram for youth in Sierra Leone in 2012.
Established in 1979 by Carl and Paula Koch, the Foundation supports Catholic evangelization activities .
We also received $5,000.00 from St. Francis De Sales Parish in Purcellville, VA for Xaverians in Indonesia to help the victims of the Merapi Volcano eruption. (See the Feb-ruary 2011 XMN)
US Province to Celebrate Canonization of Founder
The provincial wide celebration of the canonization of our founder, Guido Maria Conforti will be held on December 11 at St. Bridget’s Parish in Fram-ingham, MA. Cardinal O’Malley will preside and Bishop Edyvean will concel-ebrate. Plans for the celebration include the mass and a reception in a local hotel near the parish. A number of media projects are underway in-cluding prayer cards, posters, brochure, DVD project and a special icon commissioned by the province.
Holliston
Fatima Shrine Featured
on Town Website The webpage http://holliston.patch.com/ carries some nice photos of the Our Lady of Fatima Shrine. To see them, search “Our Lady of Fatima Shrine” on the site and the photos will appear.
Provincial Assembly
Every two years all Xaverians in the United States come together to study issues af-fecting their ministry and plan for the fu-ture. This year the Assembly will focus on The Restructuring and Renewal of the Province. It will take place from May 2-7 in Oconomowoc, WI.
One Family In Mission
Father Andrew Small, OMI has been named National Director of the Pontifical Mission Socie-
ties by the Vatican’s Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.
Father Small entered the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate in 1989 and holds law de-
grees from Sheffield University and Georgetown University and a doctorate in systematic
theology from The Catholic University of America. He has led the USCCB Office for the
Church in Latin America and was policy advisor on international economic development.
The Pontifical Mission Societies consist of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, the
Holy Childhood Association, the Society of St. Peter, and the Missionary Union of Priests and
Religious. Their purpose is the promotion of a universal missionary spirit among all Catho-
lics.
The Xaverian Missionaries congratulate Father Small and wish him great success in his endeavors on behalf of the mis-
sions.
The Xaverian Missionaries are presently serving in:
Bangladesh
Indonesia
Xaverian Mission Newsletter ▪ May 2011 XAVERIAN MISSIONARIES
