“Make of the world one family”
Xaverian Mission Volume 56 - No. 4 | November 2008
Newsletter
“Humanity is in Need of Liberation”
H
umanity needs to be liberated and redeemed. Creation itself - as St Paul says - suffers and nurtures the hope that it will share in the freedom of the children of God (cf. Rm 8: 19-22). These words are true in today’s world too. Creation is suffering. Creation is suffering and waiting for real freedom; it is waiting for a different, better world; it is waiting for “redemption”. And deep down it knows that this new world that is awaited supposes a new humanity; it supposes “children of God”. These are the words of Pope Benedict XVI in his message for the 82nd World Mission Sunday which was celebrated last October 19. As you read the stories we present in this issue from such farflung places as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, India, to Wall Street, you will catch a glimpse of some grave problems and of the need for some radical solution. The Holy Father wisely interjects: “Before this scenario, “buffeted between hope and anxiety... and burdened down with uneasiness” Gaudium et Spes, n. 4), with concern we ask ourselves: What will become of humanity and creation?“ For us the Pope’s
answer is clear: “Christ is our future, and as I wrote in the Encyclical Letter Spe Salvi, his Gospel is a “life-changing” communication that gives hope, throws open the dark door of time and illuminates the future of humanity and the university (cf. n. 2). Whether we face the greed that spurned the calamitous events of the Wall Street Crisis and its ripple affects worldwide, war and violence, and discrimination, there are always those who say that this kind of world does not have to last. We introduced our founder of the Xaverian Missionaries as one of those people, Blessed Guido Maria Conforti, as well as two Xaverian priests and a lay volunteer in Burundi, Africa, Frs. Marchiol, Maule and Mrs. Gatina.
“Their common bond lies in lives unconditionally dedicated to sharing Jesus Christ worldwide, healing wounds long suffered, no matter what the cost.” Their common bond lies in lives unconditionally dedicated to sharing Jesus Christ worldwide, healing wounds long suffered, no matter what the cost. In light of this, the Pope offers this advice: “Dear faithful laity, you who act in the different areas of society are all called to take part in an increasingly important way in spreading the Gospel, give witness with your lives that Christians “belong to a new society.” We are all part of the solution. U
– CC
Catholics in a World of Many Faiths
Holocaust of Indian Christians X averian Missionaries Provincial Headquarters 12 Helene Court Wayne, NJ 07470-2813 Tel.: (973) 942-2975 Fax: (973) 942-5012 Email: xavwayne@optonline.net Xavier Knoll Pre-Novitiate House 4500 Xavier Drive Franklin, WI 53132-9066 Tel.: (414) 421-0831 Fax: (414) 421-9108 E-mail: xavmissionswi@hotmail. com
Mission Center & Fatima Shrine 101 Summer Street P.O. Box 5857 Holliston, MA 01746-5857 Tel.: (508) 429-2144 Fax: (508) 429-4793 E-mail:
xaverianmissionnewsletter@gmail.com
International Theology House 1347 East Hyde Park Blvd. Chicago, IL 60615-2924 Tel. (773) 643-5745 E-mail: xavformation@hotmail.com St. Therese Catholic Chinese Mission 218 West Alexander Street Chicago, IL 60608-0000 Tel. (312) 842-6777 E-mail:
info_church@sttheresechinatown.org
Xaverian Mission Newsletter Official publication of the Xaverian Missionaries of the United States
Coordinating Editor Fr. Carl Chudy Editorial Team Fr. Tony Lalli Fr. Joseph Matteucig Fr. Alfredo Turco Layout Consultant Diamand Design Wrentham, MA Printing Rea-Craft Press, Inc. Foxboro, MA E-mail & Web:
xaverianmissionnewsletter@gmail.com www.xaviermissionaries.org
T
housands of men, women, and children dragged from churches and slashed. This has been India’s reality for the last couple of months. The genocide of the Christian minority in the country once called the world’s greatest democracy has been as much brutal as neglected by the international community. Hinduism is believed to be one of the most tolerant religions in the world. But stirred in nationalism and traditionalism, it could produce an explosive mixture, similar to one that has so far claimed over 100,000 Christian lives in India. Earlier the same fate befell Muslims that comprised around 13 percent of the entire population, and who were forced to flee their homes and seek refuge in neighboring Pakistan. The problem that Indian Christians are facing is even more perilous as they have nowhere to go. The 20 million people who admit to believing in Jesus Christ are on the brink of physical extermination.
Donation: $5.00 per year
2
Xaverian Mission Newsletter • November 2008
The massacre was triggered by the assassination of Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati on August 23. Saraswati played a leading role in a chauvinistic organization that lobbies to eradicate all foreign influence in India, including non-Hindu religions. Although Maoist rebels quickly issued a letter in which they claimed responsibility for the murder, the nationalists shifted the blame onto Christians, who comprised a third of the population of the Orissa district where Saraswati was killed. “Christians will do anything to spread Christianity and convert more and more people,” read one comment published hours after the assassination. On the same day, the first Christians were butchered. The massacre of Indian Christians in Orissa and other districts has sunk in the sea of other conflicts that recent months have abounded in: Georgia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq - to name only the few. Words will not resurrect the lives that are already lost. But they may stop further killing. U
Xaverian Missionaries in the World
The Xaverian Missionaries
in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
T
here are around 30 million Catholics in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, representing about half of the total population. The impact of the Roman Catholic Church in the DRC is difficult to overestimate. The Church has been called the country’s “only truly national institution apart from the state.” Besides involving over 40 percent of the population in its religious services, its schools have educated over 60 percent of the nation’s primary school students and more than 40 percent of its secondary students. The church owns and manages an extensive network of hospitals, schools, and clinics, as well as many diocesan economic enterprises, including farms, ranches, stores, and artisans’ shops. The Xaverian came to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1958, when the country worked toward their independence from Belgium. The Xaverians were the founders of the mission of Uvira where the Church developed and grew in enormous number of mission stations, new local missionaries, built schools, developed new Christian lay leaders and spawned many new Christian communities. The Xaverians are especially involved with the younger generation, forming young people to a great sense of justice, the dignity of work and opening their hearts and hands to others in mercy and love. In one of the difficult moments of the mission, during the War of 1964, three Xaverians, Fr. Luigi Carrara, Fr. Giovanni Didone and Bro. Vittorio Faccin paid with their lives as martyrs in their fidelity to Christ.
tered around the world, deeply involved in the mission of the Church today. To date, There are 28 Xaverian Congolese, of which 13 are already working in the missions and 15 are preparing for the apostolate in the international community of theology. One of them, Father Katindi Ramazani is now on our General Direction in Rome as he assists to oversee the work of the Xaverian Missionaries worldwide.
Fr. Emilio, a Xaverian Missionary, in a nearby village.
As the Congolese look to the future, in a history fraught with war and struggle on one side, and the determination to search for peace on the other, the Xaverian Missionaries continue together with the Church, their Bishops, local clergy and lay leadership. Please pray for the Church of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the many fruits it bears today and into the future. U
Xaverians are now operating in the Dioceses of Bukavu, Goma, Kasongo, Kinshasa and Uvira. In this work, they have left many local clergy to take responsibility of worship services and ministry development. Within the more recent past, local men have become Xaverians and are now scat-
Xaverian Mission Newsletter • November 2008
3
Xaverian Missionaries in the World
Africa’s World War
“By 2008 the war and its aftermath killed 5.4 million people, the deadliest war since WWII”
T
he Second Congo War, also known as Africa’s World War and the Great War of Africa, began in August 1998 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly called Zaire), and officially ended in July 2003 when the Transitional Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo took power (though hostilities continue to this day). The largest war in modern African history, it directly involved eight African nations, as well as about 25 armed groups. By 2008 the war and its aftermath had killed 5.4 million people, mostly from disease and starvation, making the Second Congo War the deadliest conflict worldwide since World War II. Millions more were displaced from their homes or sought asylum in neighboring countries. As of today, the Congolese Army and the Rebel Army of the National Congress for People’s Defense (CNDP) are fighting on several fronts, among them the towns of Minova, Kirotshe, Bweremana, Kibirizi, Kikuku, and more. Once again, the Congolese government and the Congolese people have been stabbed in the back by the
4
Xaverian Mission Newsletter • November 2008
pro-Rwanda rebel group CNDP of Laurent Nkunda. The rebel forces are reported to have taken many of the positions previously held by the Congolese army. On the diplomatic front, the Congolese government, a full member of the United Nations, feels that it has been treated by the international community the same way as the CNDP, a rebel group. Denouncing such treatment, the Congolese government is asking the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC), to impose peace militarily by fighting against the rebel forces of CNDP.
Child Soldiers All the forces and all the armed groups have extensively used children (boys and girls) as soldiers or combatants or even as sexual slaves. In 2004, the forces and armed groups declared, in Kinshasa, that they have used more than 30,000 children for the war (including 40% girls)! These “By 2008 the war and its aftermath killed 5.4 million people, the deadliest war since WWII” Xaverian Missionaries in the
Xaverian Missionaries in the World
World shameful statistics unfortunately did not include the children who died on the battlefield, or the thousands of children held as sexual slaves by foreign armed groups (Rwanda, Uganda, and Burundi) currently active in the East of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Rape as a Weapon of War Rape was used as a weapon of war throughout the conflict. In October 2004 the human rights group Amnesty International reported that 40,000 cases of rape had been reported over the previous six years, the majority occurring in South Kivu. This is an incomplete count as the humanitarian and international organizations compiling the figures do not have access to much of the conflict area and only women who have reported for treatment are included. The actual number of women raped is thus assumed to be much higher. All armed forces in the conflict are guilty of rape, though the militia and various insurgent groups have been most culpable. Of particular medical concern is the abnormally high proportion of women suffering vaginal fistulae, usually as a result of being gang raped. The nature of rape in the conflict has, beyond the physical and psychological trauma to the individual women, contributed to the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV, in the region.
The Role of the Church and the Xaverian Missionaries Last year Pope Benedict XVI praised the courage and dedication shown by priests and religious who continued to stay close to citizens of the Democratic Republic of Congo during the country’s civil strife. But he called on the priests and bishops to heal any divisions that may have erupted among them as a result of the conflict. The president of the Congolese bishops’ conference,
Archbishop Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya of Kisangani, said the church has sought to mend the rifts among the Congolese by emphasizing their country’s common Christian roots. There are Congolese priests, sisters and lay leaders who sacrificed their lives in this struggle for peace. Some are: Archbishop Christophe Munzihirwa, Fr. Buhendwa JeanClaude, the Marist Brothers Miguel Angel and Julio Rodriguez, Fernando De La Fluent, Servando Mayor, Fr. Kakuja George, as well as others. The Xaverians from Bukavu and other neighboring dioceses, live with and accompany the people who suffer much humiliation through the efforts of various peace initiatives. Some of the Xaverian missions have been ransacked, and other places had to be abandoned because of the ever present dangers. In the diocese of Bukavu, the mission of Bunyakiri, the Xaverians were forced to flee together with the people on two occasions (in 1996 and 1998). In cities, the Xaverians remain watchful, even during the most tragic events. The Roman Catholic Church and other churches are an important part of the social and political structure within DRC. As a result of their role in civil society, the churches and mosques’ involvement and support of the elections invokes trust among the people of the DRC.
“The Church has sought to mend the rifts among the Congolese by emphasizing their country’s common Christian roots.”
The Catholic Church plays an important role, both in terms of the provision of basic services to the Congolese people (particularly in the east where official government presence is minimal), and also building the capacity of local civil society groups. The Pope went on to say that the decades of conflict in the Congo have sometimes had a negative effect on church unity by “aiding the development of tribalism and harmful power struggles.” The Church must unite all.
U Xaverian Mission Newsletter • November 2008
5
THE CATHOLIC VIEW OF THE
C
atholic Social Teaching has gradually moved to embrace the market system but recognizes its limits and remains vigilant in its critique because the human person should be at the center of the equation. When the market becomes too powerful or takes on a role that has little concern for human flourishing, Catholic Social Teaching is clear in its critique; the economy must serve the human person. Moral Response to Financial Crisis On September 26, 2008 the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a statement calling on Congress and the White House to find a moral response to the financial crisis. In the letter to Congress, Bishop William Murphy of Rockville Centre, New York, chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, highlighted the following considerations based on the social teaching that should guide the bailout plan:
Human and Moral Dimensions: Economic arrangements, structures and remedies should have as a fundamental purpose safeguarding human life and dignity. The scandalous search for excessive economic rewards even to the point of dangerous speculation that exacerbates the pain and losses of the more vulnerable are egregious examples of an economic ethic that places economic gain above all other values. This ignores the impact of economic decisions on the lives of real people as well as the ethical dimension of the choices we make and the moral responsibility we have for their effect on people.
6
Xaverian Mission Newsletter • November 2008
Responsibility and Accountability: Clearly, effective measures are required which address and alter the behaviors, practices and misjudgments that led to this crisis. Sadly, greed, speculation, exploitation of vulnerable people and dishonest practices helped to bring about this serious situation. Many blameless and vulnerable people have been and will be harmed. Those who directly contributed to this crisis or profited from it should not be rewarded or escape accountability for the harm they have done. Any response of government ought to seek greater responsibility, accountability and transparency in both economic and public life.
Advantages and Limitations of the Market: Pope John Paul II pointed out that the free market is the most efficient instrument for utilizing resources and effectively responding to needs. But there are many human needs which find no place on the market. It is a strict duty of justice and truth not to allow fundamental human needs to remain unsatisfied. Both public and private institutions have failed in responding to fundamental human needs. A new sense of responsibility on the part of all should include a renewal of instruments of monitoring and correction within economic institutions and the financial industry as well as effective public regulation and protection to the extent this may be clearly necessary.
WALL STREET FINANCIAL CRISIS Solidarity and the Common Good: The principle of solidarity reminds us that we are in this together and warns us that concern for narrow interests alone can make things worse. The principle of solidarity commits us to the pursuit of the common good, not the search for partisan gain or economic advantage. Protection of the vulnerable workers, business owners, homeowners, renters, and stockholders must be included in the commitment to protect economic institutions. As Church leaders we ask that you give proper priority to the poor and the most vulnerable.
grated in international economy, as is the case with Asia and Europe. Moreover, the Western governors worried about their own credit institutions and guaranteeing savings for their citizens will be less willing to finance programs for African development. The African Development Bank, for example, is mainly financed by sources outside the continent. “It was already difficult enough trying to get Western countries to keep their promises, let alone in times of crisis,” one expert on Africa commented.
“There are collective and qualitative needs which cannot be satisfied by market mechanisms… Certainly the mechanisms of the market offer secure advantages. Nevertheless, these mechanisms carry the risk of an “idolatry” of the market.” Subsidiarity: This places responsibility on the private actors and institutions to accept their own obligations. If they do not do so, then the larger entities, including the government, will have to step in to do what private institutions will have failed to do.
Consequences for African countries? According to experts, the continent is also suffering a financial crisis, in spite of the fact that the majority of the African nations are not fully inte-
There is also the case of the African immigrants living in the United States, whose income is vital source of sustenance for their families. One department manager at the Ethiopian Central Bank told of his concern for the fate of Ethiopian immigrants working in the US. These people send 1,200 million dollars to their families in Ethiopia each year. If these immigrants lose their jobs, as a result of the crisis, the consequences for that African nation could be disastrous. U
-John Paul II, Centesimus Annus, #40
Xaverian Mission Newsletter • November 2008
7
World Mission Spirituality For more on the Founder to our website at www.xaviermissionaries.org and click Founder on the sidebar
Blessed Guido Maria Conforti
Founder of the Xaverian Missionaries and Missionary for China
E
very November 5th the Xaverian Missionaries celebrate on the anniversary of the death of our Founder and Spiritual Father, Blessed Guido Maria Conforti. It is a feast of thanksgiving and a renewal of the missionary spirit for our contemporary world.
The Founder buttoned up for the cold weather of China.
Fr. Turci baptizing in China 1940
Br. Gemma and Fr. Capra hit the road during flooding in China
Fr. Pozzobon teaching children in China in the early years
8
of my unworthiness, I won’t back down from the difficulties ahead, trusting in the Sacred Heart of Jesus who suffered for the salvation of all people of the earth.” Before the start of this adventure, Conforti wanted
Christi Urget Nos,” the Love of Christ urges us on. One last significant event in Conforti’s life was his journey to China almost thirty years later where his first missionaries were already established.
China gave him a new On March sense of the 9th, 1894, the vastness of its Founder wrote territory: “We a letter to don’t need Cardinal 3,000 missionLedokowsky, aries in China, prefect of the but 50,000!… Propagation of I’ll look forFaith in Rome. ward to that In his letter, day when the Conforti whole of China shared, for will be called a the first time, Christian his plans for nation!” the founding Before leaving of the misChina, Bishop sionary conConforti gregation. He In the seminary of Zengzhou. The Xaverians in the front are addressed his wrote: “The Fr. Gazza, Bishop Calza, Bishop Conforti and Fr. Bonardi. missionaries by foremost missaying, “I hope sion of this comto receive the blessings of that my visit will bring munity is to preach the the Church, and the great good, deepen our Gospel among those who answer of the Cardinal was love, and give all of us still do not know it… I wish in favor and encouraging. greater encouragement to to ask, as a preference, the work willingly and conlands of Asia for its On the feast of St. stantly for the missions… immense territory with Francis Xavier, Dec. 3, I’m amazed at what you millions of peoples who 1895, Conforti opened the have accomplished for the have not yet heard the doors to the Seminary in good of these Chinese peoGospel. Asia was the field Borgo Leon d’Oro, a humple. How I would like to be of apostolic work of St. ble apartment close to the young again, and dedicate Francis Xavier, and I wish Cathedral of Parma. On the all my energies to them!” to dedicate the future conwalls of that small building gregation to this great miswhich hosted the first 14 Conforti’s missionary sionary… I wish to put all Xaverian students, was plan was rooted in the figof myself and my resources engraved this phrase as a ure of Christ on the cross to this holy project… Aware life project: “Caritas to “form one single family suffered an attempt on their lives. U
Xaverian Mission Newsletter • November 2008
Become a Partner in Global Mission
Xaverian Martyrs of Burundi, Africa
Frs. Aldo Marchiol, Ottorino Maule, and Ms. Catina Gubert
Fr. Ottorino Maule
Fr. Marchiol with a friend in Burundi.
O
n September 30, 1995 at Buyengero, Burundi Ms. Catina Gubert (75 years old), a lay volunteer who worked many years in Burundi, Fr. Aldo Marchiol (65), and Fr. Ottorino Maule (54) were killed in the mission house with one gunshot in the head. The three missionaries who had worked many years in Burundi, were ordered to kneel down and then were executed. These missionaries received threats many times by the government army, for speaking on behalf of local people, and for the way army officers reported the killings in Burundi. Mr. Bagaza, the president of the country, resumed his personal war against the Church after return from exile: priests, nuns and seminarians were put to death,
and two bishops suffered an attempt on their lives. On September 3, Fr. Maule celebrated the 25th anniversary of his first departure for Burundi: “How time flies! Catina says that I never finish anything, that I should do one thing at a time, but it is impossible. How can we do anything else but follow the rhythm of our poor people, and do as much as possible while we can”; “In the last couple of weeks, I have been so busy in all kinds of work, pastoral and material. I am exhausted”. When the situation of the country seemed to take a turn for the worse, he encouraged people to keep on hoping. His last letter to the family is dated September 22. His apprehension was palpable: “Life proceeds with the usual many
activities and the unexpected often happens, and usually it is something bad. We place our hope in the Lord. I send you all my love and best wishes”. This was his farewell to his loved ones; the letter arrived in Gambellara on September 30, 1995, the day on which he was killed. Archbishop Bernard Bududira, the Bishop of Bururi sent a message: “The murder of Fathers Ottorino, Aldo and Catina Gubert cast shame upon us. But we must not fall victim to hatred and division; Fathers Maule and Marchiol have always encouraged us not to follow the logic of conflict. I invite you to pray that God our Father will help us imitate the example of our friends who have just been cruelly murdered”. U
Fr. Aldo Marchiol
Ms. Catina Gubert
Xaverian Mission Newsletter • November 2008
9
World Mission News Digest
World Mission News Digest
VATICAN
In opening the sessions of the XII Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, Pope Benedict XVI’s meditation at the opening session of the Synod of Bishops: “evangelization, the proclamation of the Gospel, the mission are not a type of ecclesial colonialism, where we wish to insert others into our group. It means going beyond the individual culture into the universality that connects all, unites all, makes us all brothers.” MEXICO Bishop Enrique Glennie, Secretary General of the VI World Meeting of Families, in a press conference presented the most recent progress being made in the preparation of the Encounter scheduled to take place in Mexico City, January 13-18, 2009. Bishop Glennie recalled how the VI WMF is a great celebration that allows the Church to unite every three years to reflect on the family as the educator of human and Christian values, which the world is so in need of today. “In society, we see the fruits of what has been sown in the family. And as a result, what is not sown in the family has irreversible consequences on society,” he said. And there, we see the importance of focusing on values, which is “the part that helps not only to be what one should, but to be good parents, in every sense of the word.” DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo called for an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council to address the delicate security situation in the east of the country, theatre in the past weeks to fighting, and accusing Rwanda of an imminent attack on Goma, provincial capital of
10
Xaverian Mission Newsletter • November 2008
North Kivu. Violent fighting continued yesterday in the Rutshuru area between the CNDP and Congolese armed forces. On the humanitarian front, aid agencies are urgently calling for humanitarian corridors to bring assistance to the populations displaced by the conflict and in some cases isolated for weeks. Reports, still to be confirmed, have been circulating in the past days of deaths from starvation of some displaced in the more remote camps. Based on current estimates, over 100,000 civilians have been forced to flee by the new fighting. CHAD, AFRICA Due to wide insecurity and increasing attacks, an elevated though unspecified number of Non Government-al Organizations have “temporarily suspended” work in favour of the internally displaced and refugees from neighboring Darfur (West Sudan), living in camps in eastern Chad. The insecurity is fomented – in addition to the presence of armed antigovernment movements based in the remote eastern territories and army deployed to combat them – mainly by groups of bandits active along the border. The suspension of activities should mainly regard the UN offices and may have direct consequences for the around 37,000 displaced living in the camps of Dogdore and Ade (on border with Sudan). PHILIPPINES A 74-year-old nun, after accepting her award as one of “Ten Outstanding Elderly” Filipinos, said lessons from people she has served are enough “reward” for her. The founder of Daughters of St. Augustine, Sister Felicitas de Lima, was among 10 people the Coalition of Services of the Elderly (COSE)
awarded at St. Paul College in Quezon City, northeast of Manila, on Oct. 5. After accepting a wooden statue and her citation, she expressed embarrassment at receiving the award. She said her 54 years of service as a Religious has brought her “more than enough” in return, citing lessons she learned from people she has served. INDONESIA Youth facilitators will soon have something that has been prepared to help them offer sound political education to young Catholics. It is a new book, Pendidikan Politik Orang Muda Katolik, Bahan dan Modul untuk Fasilitator, or Political Education for Young Catholics, Materials and Modules for Facilitators. The Indonesianlanguage book will be published in November by the Indonesian Bishops’ Commission for Youth. Bishop Yustinus Harjosusanto of Tanjung Selor, the commission’s head, says he has lofty expectations for the publication. “We hope it will help encourage young Catholics take part in political life as a form of prophetic work”. As next April’s general election in Indonesia nears, he said, hopefully the book will help young Catholics under- stand politics as part of social life, and help them better understand it and respond to current political reality. ECUADOR The National Office of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Ecuador, once the celebration of the Third American Missionary Congress (CAM 3) ended, began preparing their annual campaign for World Mission Sunday, with the theme: “You are God’s voice: Preach.” What can we do? Thus, they are doing a “Missionary October” campaign for all Catholics in Ecuador, to “preach” the Good News to all Humanity. U
From our USA Communities
News from our USA Communities St. Paul and the Chinese Mission in North America
F
r. Michael Davitti, Xaverian Missionary who is pastor of our parish in Chinatown, Chicago, St. Therese Parish, was one of the participants who gathered with Chinese Catholic leadership from throughout North America, lay leaders, Religious men and women, and Priests. They sought to find ways to reach out to more Chinese Catholics in the complex reality they live in. They sought to answer the overarching question on how to be a true Christian, in the spirit and veracity of St. Paul, and authentic Chinese.
Chinese Catholics are 1.3 million through North America, are an important part of the multicultural reality of the Catholic Church, here and elsewhere. The conference will find ways to network with newly arrived Chinese clergy, support them in their needs and
We are grateful to our friends and benefactors for their generosity and love for the missions in three Mission Banquets as their way to be in solidarity with the mission of the Church: HOLLISTON, MA MISSION BANQUET, OCTOBER 18 MILWAUKEE, WI MISSION BANQUET, OCTOBER 17
promote Chinese vocations to the Priesthood. Fr. Davitti was asked to chair the committee of vocations and the outreach efforts to Chinese Catholics to mission. U
NEW YORK, NY MISSION BANQUET, OCTOBER 5 Many thanks to all who attended and may God Bless You!
More than 30 Years of Dedication to World Mission: The Roseland Folks of New Jersey
F
or more than 33 years, a groups of women from Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish in Roseland, New Jersey have been gathering their best efforts for world mission. Anne Petrarca (bottom right of photo), who knew a Xaverian, Fr. Bruno Orru assisting in her parish, began in 1975 to look into ways she could organize a group of friends who can assist the missions. A new group was born that would work to create a positive impact through faith in people’s lives all over the world. Anne Petrarca (bottomright of photo), who knew a
Xaverian, Fr. Bruno Orru assisting in her parish, began in 1975 to look into ways she could organize a group of friends who can assist the missions. A new group was born that would work to create a positive impact through faith in people’s lives all over the world. When asked how they kept together so long, their
response was, “What has kept us together has been the inspiration from many of the Xaverian priests who have visited us and kept in touch with us over these many years. Their passion has connected with our members, and, a result, many of our members have been with us (through the years)” Their hope is to continue to help support the missions through prayer, fund-raising and mission awareness. They say, “It gives members joy to think that their efforts have a positive effect on people all over the world.” U
A dear friend to the Xaverian Missionaries, Mrs. Rose Kearns passed away in Florida this past September. Both Bill and Rose Kearns, together with their large family, originally donated their house to us in Wayne, New Jersey in 1967 which continues to serve as our Provincial Headquarters. The strong faith of Rose is an inspiration to all of us. May Our Lady of Peace carry her to the very heart of God in heaven.
Xaverian Mission Newsletter • November 2008
11
Xaverian Mission Newsletter • November 2008
Bring the Power of the Eucharist to the far flung corners of the world Help create a new leaven of unity and global solidarity through the compassion of Christ.
B Become a Xaverian Missionary Contact: Fr. Joe Matteucig 101 Summer Street Holliston, MA 01746 (508) 429-2144
The Xaverian Missioners Are Presently Serving In: Bangladesh • Brazil • Burundi • Cameroon • Chad • China • Colombia • Democratic Republic of Congo • France Great Britain • Indonesia • Italy • Japan • Mexico • Mozambique • Philippines • Sierra Leone • Spain • Taiwan • U.S.A.
Return Service Requested
Merry Christmas
& Happy New Year! Xaverian Missionaries
101 Summer Street Holliston, MA 01746-5857
X averian Missionaries
PAID Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage