Passion for Christ Passion for Humanity

XAVERIAN MISSION
Volume 59No 3 August 2011

Newsletter

Website: xaviermissionaries.org Mission Blog: xaverianmissionaries.blogspot.com

THE LOVE OF CHRIST IMPELS US!

You

ng pilgrims from all over the world are meeting in Madrid this month to celebrate their faith at World Youth Day. Many of them participated in the Camino de Santiago de Compostela (Way of St James), a collection of pilgrimage routes which cover all Europe and have the

Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in northwest Spain as their final destination. For more than one thousand years pilgrims have been walking along the Camino de Santiago. It is a spiritual as well as a physical path, one that is embraced with an open heart and tired feet. Stories and lives are shared along the way with pilgrims from

all over the globe giving a visible expression of the unity of the world as one family. Our lives are also journeys. We can choose the paths we will take and where they will lead. These young people have chosen to follow Christ and to embrace the mission to which we all are called. Their enthusiasm is contagious.

Honoring Blessed Guido Maria Conforti's Canonization

Xaverian Missionaries
Provincial Headquarters 12 Helene Court Wayne, NJ 07470-2813 Tel.: (973) 942-2975 Fax: (973) 942-5012 Email: missionmedia@xaviermissionaries.org Xavier Knoll Mission Center 4500 Xavier Drive Franklin, WI 53132-9066 Tel.: (414) 421-0831 Fax: (414) 421-9108 Email: Franklin@xaviermissionaries.org Mission Center & Fatima Shrine 101 Summer Street P.O. Box 5857 Holliston, MA 01746-5857 Tel.: (508) 429-2144 Fax: (508) 429-4793 Email: Holliston@xaviermissionaries.org

With his canonization, the human, Christian and missionary life of Blessed Bishop Conforti is proposed as a model to every Christian, priest and bishop. To make him known and honored is a service to the mission and an opportunity for a profound missionary animation, including concrete initiatives and gestures of solidarity. Fr. Rino Benzoni, SX - Superior General In view of this, three projects have been chosen: St. Guido Pilgrimage Organization Project At the celebrations in Rome and Parma, we would like to see the participation of people from our various missions who work in evangelization, instruction of catechumens and assistance to the needy. We are aware, though, that for these brothers and sisters it may be difficult to meet the costs of the pilgrimage. Can you sponsor one of these lay leaders? St. Guido Church Project The densely populated area of Marikina, a very poor district, on the outskirts of Manila (Philippines - Asia) is still recovering from the terrible typhoon - Katsana - which raked through the area in September 2009, turning most of the houses to rubble and leaving the majority of the people homeless. Will you join us in helping rebuild our Xaverian mission of Manila-Marikina? St. Guido Social Project The tragic scenes of Fukushima (Japan, March 2011) are still before our eyes. Perhaps we have forgotten those of Yogyakarta (Indonesia, November 2010). Following the devastating eruption of the volcano Merapi the Xaverian Missionaries working in the area have set up an assistance center. They now want to expand it into a small professional training center, providing young people with much needed skills such as carpentry, construction, electrical, sewing, crafts, etc. As we honor St. Guido Maria Conforti, join us in making these three projects a concrete answer to our brothers and sisters in need. Fraternally, Fr. Luigi Zucchinelli, SX

Xaverian Mission Newsletter

Official publication of the Xaverian Missionaries of the United States Publisher Fr. Carl Chudy,SX Editorial Team Fr. Tony Lalli, SX Fr. Joseph Matteucig, SX Fr. Alfredo Turco, SX Editor Mary Aktay Printing Alpha Graphics, Totowa, NJ Email & Web:
missionmedia@xaviermissionaries.org www.xaviermissionaries.org http:xaviermissionaries.blogspot.com http://www.facebook.com/ catholicmissionaries http://www.twitter.com/worldcatholic

Donation: $5.00 per year

WOULD YOU LIKE TO JOIN US AND HELP WITH ONE OF THESE PROJECTS? HERE'S HOW. CONTACT:

Fr. Frank Grappoli, SX 12 Helene Court Wayne, NJ 07470 Tel: 973-942-2975 or visit: www.xaviermissionaries.org for online donations

Xaverian Mission Newsletter August 2011

Xaverian Missionaries in the World

AFRICA/DR CONGO - The first hospital in Kamanyola has been inaugurated; a gift from the family of the missionary who had planned it.

"T

he Diocese of Uvira, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, inaugurated on May 30, in joy, in cheerfulness and thanksgiving to the Lord, its first hospital, don Etienne Esube, SecretaryChancellor of the diocese, told the Vaticans Fides News Agency. "The new structure, said don Esube, the first of its kind, is located in the parish of Mater Ecclesiae Kamanyola. The hospital is a free gift from Fr. Giuseppe Crippa`s Downtown Kamanyola family. Father Crippa was a Xaverian Missionary who died in October 2009, at the start of work on building the future hospital. The inauguration ceremony was attended by His Excellency Mgr. FranoisFather Crippa was a Xaverian MisXavier Maroy Rusengo, Archbishop of Bukavu and Apostolic Administrator of Uvira. Father Crippa's sister, the General Superior sionary who died in October 2009, of the Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of the Mount was also in attendance. She returned to Uvira after being forced to leave at the start of work on building the because of the war in 1996, and now ministers in the hospital. The regional Superior of the Xaverian Missionaries of Parma, sevfuture hospital. eral priests of Uvira and Bukavu and civil authorities joined in the celebration. The hospital consists of five main buildings and seven secondary structures. It is located at the junction between the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Burundi. Given its importance, the hospital received numerous donations. In particular, the Congolese government provided medicines, X-ray and ultrasound equipment, and several wheelchairs. The president offered a contribution to create a fund to support the healthcare structure. After the opening ceremony, the delegations traveled 17 km from Kamanyola to visit the Center for the Community Development of Kiringye, another work of the Diocese of Uvira, where rice and peanuts are processed. It also provides the electricity to the workshop for the production of oil, and has recently resumed its activities after the losses suffered in the wars of 1996 and 1998. "These events will form part of the rebirth that gradually affects the Diocese of Uvira, which is preparing to celebrate the golden jubilee in April 2012," concluded don Esube.

The Ruzzi River near Kamanyola defines the border between the DR Congo and Rwanda.

Xaverian Mission Newsletter August 2011

Xaverian Missionaries in the World

Mission to El Salvador
Fr. Adolph Menndez, SX (right) Director of Vocation and Campus Ministry in Champlain, IL, who had worked in Japan and Mexico, accompanied a group of college students to El Salvador for a mission experience. This program is organized through FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students), a campus ministry program. www.focusonline.org

IN MEMORIAM

Talk about hands on experience! FOCUS members help build a better world...in this case, with cement and cinder blocks.

We commend our Xaverian missionary Fr. Vasco J. Milani, SX into the loving embrace of God. Fr. Vasco died on May 28, 2011 at the Motherhouse in Parma, Italy where he was cared for acute diabetes since 2009. He was 69 years old. Many knew Fr. Vasco while he served at Xavier Knoll, Franklin and remember his sense of humor, his joy in meeting people and his willingness to serve the Lord as priest and missionary. He was an untiring worker in the vineyard of the Lord. Born on Nov. 4, 1941 he was ordained a priest at Cittadella, Padua on Oct. 14, 1967. Soon after ordination, he served in the USA as Treasurer of Franklin (1968-76 and 198286) and Superior of Franklin (19942002). He eliminated the debt of the Xaverian Seminary and land at Xavier Knoll. In Brazil, Fr. Vasco worked as a parish priest at Tom Au (1978-1982 1986-1994); and at Belem at St. Francis Xavier Parish (2003-2006). After his mission ministry, Fr. Vasco was assigned to offer assistance in the infirmary of the Motherhouse in Parma from 2006 to 2010.

You
can help build a better world with a click! Visit www.xaviermissionaries.org
We now accept PayPal and credit card donations online.

In all of these years of service to the global church, Fr. Vasco shined as an untiring worker for the Gospel, bringing joy, hope and laughter to those he met. We thank God for the gift of Fr. Vasco to our congregation.

Fr. Alfredo Turco, SX

Xaverian Mission Newsletter August 2011

Xaverian Missionaries Milestones

Rudder of the Boat

Father Rocco Puopolo, SX, is leaving his position as Executive Director of AFJN in Washington, DC to start together with Father Adolph Menndez, SX, an Office for Youth Evangelization in Boston this fall .
The Africa Faith and Justice Network is a coalition of individuals and institutions that have ministries in various African countries. In 1983 religious communities saw the need to have a presence in Washington DC in order to bring our missionary experience and perspective framed by Catholic social teaching to those who shape official government policy on Africa. There are now 39 religious communities including the Xaverian Missionaries and 2,000 individual members along with parishes and dioceses that twin with Africa, members of the Africa Diaspora now here in the USA and individuals who have worked in Africa with other NonGovernment Agencies. AFJN serves as a voice for missionaries who serve in Africa and wish to educate and advocate for justice. It is the last remaining faith based pan African education and advocacy network in Washington. When I returned from Sierra Leone for the second time in 1984 I heard about this new network so I joined as an individual member. I became more active in the 1990s and worked in the DC office while on sabbatical in 1995. Through the help of AFJN in 1997 and 1999 I was able to bring the plight of Sierra Leone to many staffers on the Hill and in the State Department and other agencies in DC who were willing to have firsthand information on how to bring peace to that country. I have been the executive director of AFJN since 2006. Together with the staff and interns we generate the information provided for the members, attend coalition meetings on common concerns, and organize our annual conferences. Recently we have developed regional Africa Summits in various parts of the US. I represent AFJN at a number of national conferences for the Church and for Religious Communities. I believe that we continued the quality analysis and research for which AFJN is known. We also increased outreach to the African Diaspora and offered regional meetings beyond the Beltway to engage more people in our

work. Related to this was the outreach to college and university students, many of whom are from Africa and Africa Studies programs. We also initiated a lecture series in DC honoring a former director who passed away. We invite Africans who live or study here to speak and help us see particular challenges for Africa through their eyes. Membership appreciated the new life that we gave AFJN over these past five years. But I have to say, it is the younger staff and interns that generate that energy. I see myself as the rudder of the boat, steering it in the direction we needed to go as a voice for justice and fair relations with Africa.

Fr. Rocco Puopolo, SX

25th Jubilee
Fr. Carl Chudy, provincial of the USA Xaverian Missionaries celebrates 25 years of priesthood this year. Commenting on his vocation, Fr. Carl states: What power can propel a human heart 25 years and more in the mission of the Church? The answer is found in the Feast of Pentecost! Any commitment that involves love and dedication is a work of the Spirit. Our founder, soon to be Saint Guido Maria Conforti, often cited the words of St. Paul: The love of Christ impels us. Its the power of the Spirit that is involved here and I try to cooperate.

Xaverian Mission Newsletter August 2011

A Filipino Youths Personal Reflection

aith is a way of life for me. Faith gives me the security that when everything else fades, faith will remain firm. In my daily living, it is faith in God that allows me to see the beauty in my blissful and not-so-happy moments: It helps me to see that God has His own purpose and that He has his greater plans for me. "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for good, and not for evil; to give you a future with hope."-Jeremiah 29:11 And it is faith which allows me to inspire other people in a very special way. Church plays a big role in forming and boosting my faith in God. It serves an educator, for it teaches me of how to live my life in accordance with the Church teachings and what is pleasing to Him. Moreover, it allows me to personally unite with God and talk to Him in a very personal way. It is where I can rest with God peacefully. To all my fellow youths: We are in our own struggle to stand firm in our faith in God. There will be arrows of temptations and sins that will hit us but it is the shield of faith that surely will lead us to our victory. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith.-Ephesians 6:16 Let us take initiative to have a personal relationship with God and let faith be our strength in every downfall we will encounter. Let His will be done and for all of this, may God be praised!

Jane A. Balmores

Xaverian Mission Newsletter August 2011

Planted and Built Up in Jesus Christ, Firm in the Faith

Saint Paul

Jane is a young college student in the Philippines. Her parents are very involved in the Couples for Christ, an extraparochial organization with a large impact on the local church. Janes faith has deepened enormously over the years. She is an active member of Youth for Christ.

Xaverian Mission Newsletter August 2011

World Mission Spirituality

THE REDEEMERS MISSION

The Beatification of His Holiness Pope John Paul II reminds us of his teachings on Mission. The following is excerpted from his 1990 Encyclical On the permanent validity of the Church's missionary mandate.

How can we enter into dialogue and cooperation with other Christian churches and other religions?

he Mission of Christ our Redeemer, which is entrusted to the Church, is still very far from completion. ...It is the Spirit who impels us to proclaim the great works of God: "For if I preach the Gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel!" 1 Cor 9:16 In the name of the whole Church, I sense an urgent duty to repeat this cry of St. Paul.

The Second Vatican Council emphasized the Church's "missionary nature," basing it in a dynamic way on the Trinitarian mission itself. The missionary thrust therefore belongs to the very nature of the Christian life, and is also the inspiration behind ecumenism: "that they may all be one...so that the world may believe that you have sent me." Jn 17:21 The Council has already borne much fruit in the realm of missionary activity. There has been an increase of local churches with their own bishops, clergy and workers in the apostolate. The presence of Christian communities is more evident in the life of nations, and communion between the churches has led to a lively exchange of spiritual benefits and gifts. The commitment of the laity to the work of evangelization is changing ecclesial life, while particular churches are more willing to meet with the members of other Christian churches and other religions, and to enter into dialogue and cooperation with them. Above all, there is a new awareness that missionary activity is a matter for all Christians, for all dioceses and parishes, Church

institutions and associations. Nevertheless, Missionary activity specifically directed "to the nations" (ad gentes) appears to be waning, and this tendency is certainly not in line with the directives of the Council and of subsequent statements of the Magisterium. ... For in the Church's history, missionary drive has always been a sign of vitality, just as its lessening is a sign of a crisis of faith. I wish to invite the Church to renew her missionary commitment. For missionary activity renews the Church, revitalizes faith and Christian identity, and offers fresh enthusiasm and new incentive. Faith is strengthened when it is given to others! God is opening before the Church the horizons of a humanity more fully prepared for the sowing of the Gospel. I sense that the moment has come to commit all of the Church's energies to a new evangelization and to the mission ad gentes. No believer in Christ, no institution of the Church can avoid this supreme duty: to proclaim Christ to all peoples.

Fr. Luigi Brioni, who spent more than 40 years in Sierra Leone, West Africa, shares God's Word in Africa.

Xaverian Mission Newsletter August 2011

Commemorating 9/11

The Conversation We Never Had

ponsored by Odyssey Networks, a media consortium of 27 major faith groups including the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 9/11: The Conversation We Never Had was the lead initiative of New Yorks interfaith community to shift the emphasis from one of fear and mistrust to that of respect for religious diversity and freedom. The event began the conversation we must have about why now more than ever, ten years later, faith needs to be seen not as the inciting incident; the problem, and the divide but as the voice, the fulcrum and the solution. Much of the hatred and permission to do violence against groups is galvanized by a God view that suggests that whatever I hate, God must hate also, said United Church of Christ Bishop Yvette Flunder as she called upon the interfaith community to do the divine work of bringing reconciliation and healing to a post 9/11 world. Rabbi David Saperstein, Director of the Religious Action Center of Reformed Judaism spoke of many needed conversations. These include a reassessment of the Just War Theory in light of civilian casualties inflicted by modern warfare; the economic and human cost of the two longest wars in United States history; and religions acquiescence to politics. What do religious com-

munities have to say about indefinite detention, about torture, about profiling? He appealed to faith communities to be the shapers of a better future for all Gods children. The world needs that now. Our children need that now. And God is waiting for us to respond! Eboo Patel, Ph.D., Founder and President of the Interfaith Youth Core, used the social science magic triangle methodology of increasing knowledge and inclusive behavior to achieve Social Cohesion so that the bonds of our society cant be broken by radical elements from any group. Nineteen people, when they drive planes into a building, praying in Arabicwe view them as extremists, not as representatives of Islam. Thats what Social Cohesion is about. Men and women of all faith traditions shared a meal and stories of diversity and dedication. Rabbis, imams, priests and ministers mingled and socialized. A Buddhist nun from New York and a Lutheran pastor from Berlin planned events to commemorate 9/11 and were able to learn new ideas from each other. Rabbi Burt Visotzky of The Jewish Theological

Seminary told of his school joining with the 96th Street Mosque to work together in the soup kitchen of the Presbyterian Church on 114th Street. Standing side by side, shoulder to shoulder, we did something we knew that Islam, Judaism and Christianity all think of as Gods workwe fed the hungry. Now, thats something to talk about!

Mary Aktay

Xaverian Mission Newsletter August 2010

World Mission News Digest

World Mission News Digest

Vatican
The Holy Father received the participants in the General Assembly of the Pontifical Missionary Works in May. In his address the Pope stated that everyone must be involved in this 'missio ad gentes': bishops, priests, religious and laity. Benedict XVI continued, It is necessary, therefore, to devote special attention to ensuring that all sectors of pastoral care, of the catechesis, of charity, are characterized by a missionary element: the Church is a mission.

Brazil
Murder, death threats, lack of health care and education, delays in the regularization of land, exploitation of natural resources: this is the picture of the violence the indigenous people of Brazil are subjected to, according to the Report of the Indigenous Missionary Council (IMIC), which was presented at the headquarters of the Episcopal Conference of Brazil (CNBB) in July. Each year the IMIC collects information on violence against indigenous people and violations of human rights. The editors of the Report note the situation of violence against these populations continues as or even worse than in the past when thousands of natives were decimated.

Colombia
"Health service in Colombia has hit rock bottom and needs to be renovated completely, said the Secretary general of the Colombian Episcopal Conference, His Exc. Mgr. Juan Vicente Cordoba, Auxiliary Bishop of Bucaramanga, recalling that health "is everyones right, which in the country is violated every day in the most infamous way." "You cannot play with people's lives, continued the spokesman of the Colombian bishops condemning corruption in the administration of public resources destined to the health of the most disadvantaged Colombians. "It is absurd that there are cures and medicines for the rich and others for the poor, said Mgr. Crdoba.

On the streets of Buenaventura, Colombia

TRADITION OF FORGIVENESS

ambul Tok (Krio for Family Talk) emerged in Sierra Leone as a face-toface community-owned program bringing together perpetrators and victims of the violence in Sierra Leones eleven-year civil war through ceremonies rooted in local traditions. It provides citizens with an opportunity to come to terms with what happened during the war, to talk, to heal, and to chart a new path forward together. Fambul Tok is built upon Sierra Leones family talk tradition of discussing and resolving issues within the security of a family circle. Through drawing on age-old traditions of confession, apology and forgiveness, Fambul Tok has revived Sierra Leoneans rightful pride in their culture.

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Xaverian Mission Newsletter August 2011

From our USA Communities

News from our USA Communities

INTERCONTINENTAL COLLABORATION

Frs

. John Convery, SX and Tom Welsh, SX of the United Kingdom Province (1st and 3rd from right) came to the USA Province to talk about practical ways our two provinces could collaborate in some important areas. These areas include an internet publication, publishing the English version of Fr. Augusto Luca's last book on the founder, sponsoring a possible youth assembly, the production of youth resources for mission animation and a possible, collaborative study center on interfaith and intercultural dialogue. Frs. Carl Chudy, Rocco Puopolo and Joseph Matteucig participated from the USA.

XAVIER KNOLL MISSION FESTIVAL

he 2011 Xaverian Mission Festival in Franklin, Wisconsin, was indeed a Rainbow of Smiles. Xaverian volunteers and friends came to Xavier Knoll for a grand family fun time, in support of the missions. You can see more photos at www.xaviermissionaries.org. From the Festival preparations, to the huge rummage sale, the mission tent, the Saturday crowds for the Doo-Wop Daddies, the polkas on Sunday, the games, dinners and sweets everyone was happy to be part of the Mission Festival. The Sunday Mass was presided by Fr. Aniello Salicone, concelebrated by Frs. Alfredo, Dominic and Fr. Mark Marangone who just joined our community after 13 years of mission work in Colombia. The Hand Bell Choir of St. Alphonsus enhanced the singing of the outdoor Congregation with their beautiful music. We thank you for your ever-faithful presence and friendship and your smiles. Frs. Alfredo, Dominic, Aniello, Larry, Mark, Victor

Xaverian Mission Newsletter August 2010

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Xaverian Mission Newsletter August 2011

Young pilgrims gather to create a human cross to transport the World Youth Day Cross to Madrid this August for the largest youth gathering in the world. The Cross is making its way through Spain and will reside in each diocese. It is known as the "Holy Year Cross," the "Jubilee Cross," the "WYD Cross" and the "Pilgrim Cross." Many call it the "Young Peoples Cross" because it has been given to young people to take across the world, to all places at all times .

Do you feel called to the religious life to proclaim Christ across the world as a missionary priest or brother?

Contact: Father Joe Matteucig, SX Holliston@xaviermissionaries.org 508-429-2144

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