“Make of the world one family”
Xaverian Mission Volume 58 - No. 1 |
February 2010
Newsletter
Website: xaviermissionaries.org • MissionBlog: xaverianmissionaries.blogspot.com
The Global Mission of the Church:
Gateway to Solidarity
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peaking from the Vatican on Christmas, Pope Benedict XVI warned that the world was heading towards ruin if selfishness were to prevail over solidarity during tough economic times for rich and poor nations. “If people look only to their own interests, our world will certainly fall apart,” he told tens of thousands of worshippers gathered in St. Peter’s Square.
This issue of XMN seeks to share some extraordinary efforts in selflessness and a deep, ardent desire to share Jesus Christ with the world. Some contemporary challenges to our work in Japan, celebrating faith among young adults in the USA, a unique way to act in solidarity with Africa, and more are ways to pray and celebrate the cultural diversity of the American Catholic Church. All of these are exceptional acts of solidarity.
John Paul II said: “Peoples everywhere, open the doors to Christ! His Gospel in no way detracts from the human person’s freedom, from the respect that is owed to every culture and to whatever is good in each religion. By accepting Christ, you open yourselves to the definitive Word of God, to the One in whom God has made himself fully known and has shown us the path to himself.” U – Redeeming Mission, #3
Catholic in a World of Many Faiths
Mission in Japan:
Challenges of a New Century X averian Missionaries Provincial Headquarters 12 Helene Court Wayne, NJ 07470-2813 Tel.: (973) 942-2975 Fax: (973) 942-5012 E-mail: 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:
Xaverian Missionaries in Japan, together with the Superior General, Fr. Rino Benzoni (center front with the glasses)
holliston.sx@gmail.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 www.xaverianmissionaries.blogspot.com
Donation: $5.00 per year
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he Xaverian Missionaries arrived in Japan in the Fall of 1949. Ever since, we have worked in about 25 centers, giving witness, proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ to non-Christians, providing dialogue and charity. Our area of activity is quite extensive indeed. Some teach in Universities, while others are involved in schools for children; some assist the sick and lepers, while others direct parishes. Some are engaged in dialogue with Buddhists, while others are respected for their artistic contribution.
We educate preschool children, high school and University students in the values of the Gospel. Our educational criteria, methods and goals are inspired by clearly defined spiritual values. We are particularly involved in a qualified dialogue with Buddhism, in the form of mutual knowledge and cooperation in activities.
The priorities in our missionary work are collaboration with the local dioceses where we work, education, grounding faith in the Japanese culture, and dialogue with Buddhism. At the present time, these goals can be summed up as follows:
Fr. Franco Sottocornola, one of our missionaries in Japan recently has answered this question:
We are committed to the growth of the local Church: to its becoming a more mission-oriented Church. We cooperate with all peoples in dealing with the most urgent human and social problems, giving our own contribution to bringing faith to the Japanese people.
Xaverian Mission Newsletter • February 2010
Today we are 39 Xaverian Fathers and 16 Xaverian Sisters serving in Japan. In the local Church we have been entrusted with the care of 25 faith communities, some of which have nursery schools attached.
What does a missionary do in Japan? “Japan is a leading economy in the world. It goes against the idea that missionaries just go to poor countries to alleviate suffering, addressing the problems of hunger, combating poverty, relieving situations of social injustice. All this is true. The missionary, continuing the mission of Jesus, is called to do this. He must start from the proclamation of Christ’s compassion through
Xaverian Missionaries in the World
The Shrine of the twenty-six Martyrs of Japan refers to a group of Christians who were executed by crucifixion in 1597 in Nagasaki.
“The real task of the missionary in Japan is to its 128 million inhabitants where fewer than one million are actually Christian.”
his life in order to be a credible and authentic sign of God’s Kingdom.”
“The other incident is when crowds who followed Jesus became so taken with him that they thought to acclaim “Here in Japan, although most peohim king. They thought this in part ple are not poor economically, they because they saw him multiply bread have another kind of poverty. This povand fish and feed a crowd of five thouerty is a life lived without God and his sand men. However, he begins to talk to Son, Jesus Christ. The Scripture reminds them about a us: ‘man does new ‘food’, not live by bread which is in fact alone, but by himself, and every word that Jesus says: ‘I comes from God’ tell you the (Mt 4:4).” truth, you are looking for me, “There are not because two incidences in you saw miracthe gospels that ulous signs but help us underbecause you stand this. The ate the loaves first is the and had your Samaritan fill. Do not Catholics and Protestants reach out to the woman who work for food homeless like this man in Tokyo, a growing came to the well that spoils, but reality in Japanese cities. to draw water. for food that However, through further probing with endures to eternal life, which the Son of Jesus, she discovers that she is “thirsty” Man will give you.’ (Jn 6, 26-27).” for a water much more significant than H2O. ... There she finds that Jesus The real task of the Missionary in speaks of more than just water: ‘If you Japan is to its 128 million inhabitants knew the gift of God and who it is that where fewer than one million are actuasks you for a drink, you would have ally Christian. Few have known Christ asked him and he would have given you and have found in him ‘the water wellliving water.’ (Jn 4:10).” ing up to eternal life, the bread that gives life to the world.’ Japan, there-
Thomas Kozaki was one of the Twenty-six Martyrs of Japan who were crucified in 1597 in Nagasaki.
(continued on next page)
Xaverian Mission Newsletter • February 2010
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Xaverian Missionaries in the World
In Japan Buddhist thought runs deep. Lucky charms called “Omamori,” (literally “protectors”) are said to work by being a decoyself (“migawari”) that attracts bad luck. Hence, any impurity or bad luck is collected in the charm instead of in the person. The charm is then thrown out.
A Protestant street preacher sings hymns in Japanese, Korean, and Chinese. (continued from page 3)
fore, needs missionaries, sharers of the ‘Good News’ that God so loved the world that He gave His Son. “In Japan, the mission of the Church is restored to its original purpose and is indeed indispensable: to be ‘salt of the earth’ and ‘light the world’ (Mt 5, 13-14) with preaching the gospel and the prophetic witness of its faithful. That’s why we want missionaries in Japan, and in the whole world!
Japan Needs More Missionaries According to a February 2005 report of the Commission for Migrants, Refugees and People on the Move, for the first time in history there are more than one million Catholics living in Japan. More than half of them come from outside the country. The Daruma Buddha spent many years in a cave until his arms and legs dropped off (hence the roundness of this figure)! But eventually he reached enlightenment. These little “Daruma” figures are used to indicate hopes, goals or aspirations. When one buys a daruma, neither of the eyes is blacked in (as in this picture). suggesting that one has not yet set one’s goal.
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In an interview with Archbishop Jun Ikenagaa, lamented that.. “As Catholics we have to appeal more to the Japanese mind. The Catholic Church in Japan is stagnating and growing old.” The number of foreign Catholics is growing with the influx of foreign workers, but the number of Japanese Catholics has remained largely unchanged over the last few decades.
Xaverian Mission Newsletter • February 2010
At a conference, Archbishop Ikenaga called on fellow Asian Churches to send missionaries to Japan and other places in Asia where the local Church has few vocations. Foreign missioners working in his archdiocese, some 400 kilometers southwest of Tokyo, include members of the Columban Fathers, Paris Foreign Missions, Salesian and Xaverian Foreign Mission Societies. In the Archbishop’s analysis, the big challenge is changing the mind-set that Christianity is a “foreign religion” in this insular country. His call for Asian missioners reflects his desire for the Church to appeal to the Japanese mind in its evangelization efforts, rather than just import Western cultural practices. The reduced number of missionaries coming from places like the USA and Europe, the Church in Japan is calling for missionaries where they are becoming more numerous, especially from Asia. U – Fr. Carl Chudy, SX
Xaverian Missionaries in the USA
More than 4000 Catholic College Students gather during the Christmas Break
Xaverian Seminarian Renato Yapaulo (far right) with two attendees of the Focus Conference in Florida.
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n December 30th, 2009 – January 3rd, 2010, five Xaverians: Fr. Carl Chudy, Fr. Victor Mosele, Francois Noah, Tyler Hagan and I, attended the 2010 Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS) National Conference held at the Marriott World Center Resort in Orlando, Florida. Briefly, FOCUS is a Catholic campus ministry organization established in 1997 and it holds a biannual national conference like the one we attended. This time, the Xaverians were privileged to be one of the sponsors for the event and hence, to have a chance to interact with the student attendees which numbered more than 4000 college students from all across campuses in the United States. This was my first time to attend a FOCUS conference and it was a very positive experience. Here are a few highlights from the conference. As soon as we arrived at the conference, I was overwhelmed by the presence of many students who were obviously very enthusiastic about the conference and their faith. I was able
to meet many new friends from colleges nationwide and I was able to hear their stories. In fact, it was very encouraging to hear a number of students expressing their interest in pursuing religious life. I was also really thrilled to discover that my favorite Catholic artist, Matt Maher and the band were at the conference. During their concert, I had a chance to relive the praise and worship experience that I had in my undergraduate college years. Undoubtedly, Matt Maher and his band really spiced up the event, particularly during the New Year celebration. It was nice to be able to worship our God even with people whom I did not even know.
“In fact, it was very encouraging to hear a number of students expressing their interest in pursuing religious life.”
All in all, it was an amazing 5-day conference. As we drove back from Florida, I thanked the Lord for the good experience, for the chance to be refreshed and renewed in faith in so many ways. U – Renato Yapaulo, Xaverian Seminarian
Xaverian Mission Newsletter • February 2010
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Conflict Minerals: The with the Democratic
“The Catholic Bishops of the DRC have identified conflict minerals as a critical issue and traveled to the United States to focus attention to the causes of the crisis.”
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he Catholic Bishops of the United States are beseeching American Catholics, in our solidarity with the African Church, to urge our representatives to help stop the violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) by cosponsoring H.R. 4128, the Conflict Minerals Trade Act, and ensuring that the bill moves forward quickly.
Eighty percent of the world’s coltan is found in the DRC. When coltan is refined it becomes a heat resistant powder that is a vital element in a vast array of small electronic devices, especially in mobile phones, laptop computers, pagers, and other electronic devices. Local militias, backed by Uganda, Rwanda and mining multinationals, get supplies of food, money, and military hardware in exchange for smuggled natural resources. In October 2003, a UN panel of experts released a report accusing Rwanda, Uganda and Zimbabwe of systematically exploiting Congolese resources and recommended the Security Council impose sanctions. Doubtless due to powerful political and economic interests, the UN never followed up on the report’s recommendations.
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Xaverian Mission Newsletter • February 2010
In a September 2005 resolution on conflict prevention, the Security Council acknowledged for the first time the link between natural resources and armed conflict, vowing to take action against illegal exploitation and trafficking of natural resources, particularly in Africa. In January 2006, the Council took one step further and adopted Resolution 1653 on the dimensions of peace and security in the Great Lakes region of Africa. The resolution calls on the governments of DRC, as well as of Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi to promote lawful and transparent use of natural resources among themselves and in the region.
Why is action important now? The violent conflict in eastern DRC has killed more than five million people - most from malnutrition, disease, and lack of access to health care - and forced more than 1.25 million people from their homes. Related to the conflict, an estimated 400,000 women and girls have been raped in eastern DRC in the past ten years. Humanitarian assistance is vitally needed to support the DRC’s victims of violence and displacement, but it is not enough. We must also address the causes of these conflicts.
Solidarity of the USA Catholics Republic of the Congo, Africa Much of the instability, displacement, conflict, and sexual violence in the eastern DRC is financed by armed groups’ control over lucrative mines and mineral trade routes. One of several such “conflict minerals” is coltan, a critical component for the production of cell phones, laptops, and other electronics. Much of the DRC’s coltan is being illicitly mined in conflict zones and illegally exported through neighboring countries. We can help the people of the DRC by reducing the use of illicitly mined conflict minerals to finance violence.
eastern DRC. We believe that this bill can be strengthened by including expanded U.S. State Department efforts towards a peaceful resolution of the conflict.
What does this have to do with my Catholic faith? Our Catholic faith calls on us to uphold the life and dignity of the human person by alleviating human suffering and promoting justice and solidarity worldwide. Therefore we must work to assure that the potential benefits of natural resource extraction are
What does the Conflict Minerals Trade Act seek to accomplish? This bipartisan bill requires those who import goods into the U.S. that contain tin, tungsten or tantalum (from coltan) to declare on their customs forms whether the metals in their products are from facilities that process minerals that finance human rights abuses, or “conflict minerals.” Products containing metals from facilities that do not process conflict minerals can be labeled as “conflict mineral free,” allowing consumers to choose products that do not finance human right abuses. It also requires on-going documentation of the links between mining and human rights violations in the region, including maps of mines and mineral trading routes that finance conflict. Finally, it promotes more humanitarian and development assistance for affected communities in the DRC. Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) expressed in a recent letter to its principal cosponsors that H.R. 4128 is an important step towards improving the lives of millions of people affected by horrific violence in the
For more information contact: Fr. Juan Molina O.Ss.T., PhD, Foreign Policy Advisor, International Justice and Peace, USCCB realized. The Catholic Bishops of the DRC have identified conflict minerals as a critical issue and traveled to the United States to focus attention to the causes of the crisis. Our Holy Father, Benedict XVI, stated in his encyclical letter, Charity in Truth: “The stockpiling of natural resources, which in many cases are found in the poor countries themselves, gives rise to exploitation and frequent conflicts between and within nations. These conflicts are often fought on the soil of those same countries, with a heavy toll of death, destruction and further decay. The international community has an urgent duty to find institutional means of regulating the exploitation of non-renewable resources…” U
202-541-3153 jmolina@usccb.org
Check the US Bishop’s website for more: www.usccb.org/sdwp/international. Click AFRICA.
Xaverian Mission Newsletter • February 2010
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World Mission Spirituality
A Reflection on Faith through Art: Filipino Artist,
Jaime Gubaton B
J
aime says, “Metro Manila is home to ten million texting (or twelve million if you count all those living under bridges) people who collectively wake up, take a bath, consume water and commute to work everyday. We all live in this continuously unplanned metropolis we both love and hate at the same time.” It is in this urban web that the artist brings images that speak of hope, struggle, and in that unwavering Filipino spirit. We present some from scriptures of his works on the ordinary urban images of Manila together with a passage from Scripture that allows us to see with new eyes.
God’s Grace
But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! – Romans 5:15
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May Pag-asa means “to have hope.”
For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you.When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart, I will let you find me... – Jeremiah 29:11-13
Devotion to the Black Nazarene
Daily Bread
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 8:38
My feet have closely followed his steps; I have kept to his way without turning aside. I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread. U
Xaverian Mission Newsletter • February 2010
– Job 23:11-12
Following Jesus in Global Mission
Celebrating our Cultural Diversity as an American Catholic Church
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enewing Hope, Seeking Justice is the theme of the 2010 National Migration Week, held in the first week of January. The observance began over 25 years ago by the bishops to be a moment for Catholics to take stock of the wide diversity of the Church and the ministries serving them. As the face of the local churches continue to change, it becomes even more necessary to bring this message home to all Catholics. It provides an important educational opportunity that can be used by individuals, families, schools, and parishes to learn about the complex issues surrounding the migration phenomena. Following the lead of Pope Benedict, who is focusing on “Minor Migrants and Refugees” for the 2010 World Day of Migrants and Refugees, the Church is focusing on migrant children this year. Additionally, the bishops are launching a National Migration Week Small Grants Program that will provide funding for small projects related to migrant or refugee children, which are launched by parishes, schools and local Catholic organizations. In coordination with The Catholic University of America, a new educational website will focus on the important role that the Catholic Church has played in the immigration debate throughout Twentieth Century America.
Lord Jesus, today you call us to welcome the members of God’s family who come to our land to escape oppression, poverty, persecution, violence, and war. http://www.usccb.org/ mrs/nmw/index.shtml
Finally, we are highlighting a fantastic new curriculum that was created by Jesuit Refugee Services. We hope that both educational sites will be a great resource for teachers, directors of religious education and others interested in this issue. The care of immigrants and refugees is one of the activities that runs like a golden thread throughout the history of the collective concerns of the United States Catholic bishops. Today one third of the refugees coming to this country are re-settled under Catholic auspices, many of them Catholics themselves. In addition, approximately 43% of the immigrants legally admitted are members of our Catholic family of faith. Care for aliens and newcomers, whether legal or not, is a fundamental requirement of our
faith as demonstrated in the Old Testament, in the teachings of Christ himself and in the Church’s social teaching. Justice for immigrants, moreover, is an essential component of a culture of life, an ethical demand in defense of human life, especially when it is on the margin. U Fr. Allan Figueroa Deck, SJ
Below: Ellis Island, by Laverrue on Flikr.
Xaverian Mission Newsletter • February 2010
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World Mission News Digest
World Mission News Digest
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BRAZIL
CHINA
CHAD, AFRICA
A group of Brazilian Bishops has rejected several points of the National Program on Human Rights decreed by President Luiz Lula da Silva. The program on human rights, implemented by the Minister in that area, Paulo Vanucci, provides for the establishment of the National Commission for the Truth about the crimes of the dictatorship, some aspects regarding conflicts over land, the decriminalization of abortion, and civil unions between homosexuals. The program had already been questioned by some military leaders who oppose the investigation of crimes committed by the dictatorship between 1964 and 1985. Moreover, the economic groups linked to agricultural production, have opposed the initiative that includes 27 bills that would be turned into law within the next 11 months.
On December 30, 2009, Bishop Leo Yao Liang, Coadjutor Bishop of the Diocese of Siwantze (ChongliXiwanzi), Hebei Province (Mainland China), died at the age of 86. Ordained a priest on 1 August 1948, he worked as assistant pastor in several parishes of the diocese until he was prevented from exercising his priestly ministry and was forced to earn a living by growing vegetables and selling firewood. In 1956, he was sentenced to forced labor for refusing to join the movement for the Catholic Church’s independence from the Pope. Two years later he was imposed the penalty of life imprisonment for the same “crime”, namely the desire to remain faithful to Supreme Pontiff and the Universal Church. He was freed in 1984, after nearly thirty years in prison.
An invitation to all religious leaders to engage in the search for peace and national reconciliation has been made by the Bishops of Chad. “Through the Synod of Bishops for Africa, we became aware that reconciliation is a common task to be performed with others for the good of the country. Consequently, we, as Bishops of Chad, call on all religious leaders to engage in an honest search for ways and means to promote reconciliation and to ensure that areas of civil debate are not confused with areas of religious debate,” the Bishops of Chad said in their Christmas Message, which recognizes the urgency of national reconciliation: “Our recent history teaches us that Chad has not known a year of calm since its independence (1960) has been made by the Bishops of Chad.
Xaverian Mission Newsletter • February 2010
From Our our USA Communities From
News from our USA Communities The Theology House of Chicago is Sold “For all that has been, ‘Thanks!’; for all that will be,‘Yes!”
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t is a time to remember, a time to feel sad and a time to feel thankful, and hopeful. This was how we felt on Monday Dec. 21 2009 as we closed for the last time the door of the Chicago Theology on E. Hyde Park.
It is a time to remember all the pleasant memories that have been part of our 36 years in Chicago. It was a day for me to reminisce about the years spent there; whether it was learning and growing up, or teaching and remembering all that happened there. To many of us, students or formators, it had been a second home.
I remembered the faces of the many Xaverians who have lived in these rooms, some spacious, some tiny, the gatherings with other students and professors of CTU, the celebrations of Perpetual Vows, renewal, Founder’s and Patron’s day, the various meetings held on the third floor in those mixed-matched couches and chairs, or the daily Masses and Holy Hours on the second floor. I thought of the varied ways we celebrated and encouraged one another in following Christ who called us all, the styles of worship and liturgy expressed as various generations of students came from different countries and shared
their richness in songs, Lectio Divina and inspired hymns. I believe they were expressions of faith, with the hope to having shared a sign of encouragement for each other. At the end of this journey, and this adventure that the Lord has allowed us to witness in this Province, we can offer our prayer of Thanks for all that was accomplished at the Chicago Theology… It was indeed a labor of love. And we pray for the future steps, with mustard seedlike hope in our hearts. U – Fr. Alfredo Turco, SX
New Construction at our Shrine in Holliston
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he snapshot of the wintry scene to the right is a first look at the new residence and mission center of the Xaverian Missionaries in Holliston, Massachusetts. The former residence is being torn down, along with the old barn used for AA groups and housing the house chapel. We hope to make a better residence for our priests, especially our seniors. We also hope to take advantage of the increased space for additional activity as we will soon develop a new youth and young adult mission office there.
first seminary in the United States, (1947). For more than 60 years we have shared the deep need with American Catholics to participate in the global mission of the Church. By God’s blessing, we hope to continue to do so. U
This is the typical construction of the buildings in Hyde Park, Chicago, much like our Theology residence just sold.
Become a Xaverian Missionary. Bring Hope of Christ Worldwide. For information contact: Fr. Joe Matteucig 101 Summer Street Holliston, MA 01746 508.429.2144 sxholliston@gmail.com
The front of the new building is on the right and the connection to the former offices is on the left, complete with new siding.
Holliston is historical for the Xaverians as it was the site of our
Xaverian Mission Newsletter • February 2010
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Xaverian Mission Newsletter • February 2010
The Discipline of Lent: Prayer, Fasting & Almsgiving Consider a donation to the Xaverian Missionaries for the global mission of the Church as part of your Lenten experience. Contact: Fr. Frank Grappoli, SX 12 Helene Court Wayne, New Jersey 07470 973.942.2975 usasxprocure@hotmail.com
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.
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