July 2010
AFW Ghana Liberia Nigeria Sierra Leone
Homily Funeral Mass and Burial of
Br William Regner SDB Saturday 3rd July 2010, Lungi – Sierra Leone
Fr. George Crisafulli S.D.B. - Provincial
Br William Regner
Born 26th March 1932 First Profession - 8 September 1957 Perpetual Profession - 24 August 1963 Died 27th June 2010 - Freetown Sierra Leone
“Death for the Salesian is made bright by the hope of entering into the joy of his Lord and when it happens that a Salesian dies working for souls the Congregation has won a great triumph” (C 54) Br Bill was a man of prayer. As busy as he always was, he was the first to arrive in the chapel. Like a contemporary Artemide Zatti, he used to animate for his confreres morning and evening prayer and the rosary. He lived poverty to the fullest. He never preached or talked about poverty but he lived it. For example, he was never heard complaining about food, or accommodation or the hardships of missionary life. His simplicity and humility were outstanding; he was a man of few words and much work. His hands were the hands of a worker, always dirty with engine oil or the dust of building materials. You can find his “touch” behind all Salesian buildings in Lungi and Freetown. He had such a great love for the Church, for Don Bosco and the Salesian Congregation. He was always sensitive to the needs of poor children, always kind and welcoming with the poor, never bossy with his workers. Br Bill had recently celebrated his 50th anniversary as a Salesian Brother. What a beautiful example of Salesian life in the Brother Vocation and dedication to God and to the young he leaves us!
“Br Bill is no more, he is dead”. With these words I received the sad news of the unexpected departure of Br Bill on the 27th June. His sickness was very short and that is why we were all shocked when we heard that he had passed away. It is certainly painful to speak about Br Bill in past tense; “Br Bill said…”; “Br Bill built that house or that Church”; “Br Bill taught me catechism…” The past tense reminds us that a beloved person belongs no more to us, to the present. Now he belongs to the past. He doesn’t live with us any more. It will be hard for all of us to see his empty chair in the Salesian Chapel in California. It will be painful to see his empty place at table or feel his absence in the workshops or in the playgrounds. We shall certainly miss this Salesian Brother, a true genius of Salesian consecrated life. We are so deeply human in our approach to death that the temptation of discouragement is always there. The temptation to ask God why: “Why have you permitted his death? Why didn’t you take away the evil ones?” In Is 55
we read: “Your ways are not my ways and your thoughts are not my thoughts”. No, we don’t ask God why. He knows why and what is the best for us. Our mission is to embrace his Will: “Not our will, your Will be done, O Lord”.
In our Constitutions no. 54 we read: “Death for the Salesian is made bright by the hope of entering into the joy of his Lord, and when it happens that a Salesian dies working for souls, the Congregation has won a great triumph”. Br Bill has finished the good race. He has reached his final destination and now rests in God. He has won the prize that all of us are longing for - that is, eternal life. Looking at Br Bill’s life, one can discover a spiritual giant, a holy man who left us an unwritten testament on faithful Christian living and Salesian life. He left us very practical lessons or secrets that become for us an invitation to live a “high standard of Christian living”, an invitation to be holy: 1) The first secret is PRAYER: I heard once from Fr Vito, a Xaverian priest, that, in the beginning, they used to call Br Bill “the trappist” due to his ascetic and prayerful approach to life. Indeed, Br Bill was always the first to arrive and the last to leave the community chapel. For him prayer was the foundation stone of all that he built in his spiritual life. Prayer was the guarantee of his daily fidelity to God, to Don Bosco, to his Community, to the children and young people he served. He was the soul of the Community in prayer: never late (despite all he had to do!), never absent. He was the main animator of morning and evening prayer, conducting the rosary, preparing himself to proclaim the first reading and the psalm in the daily community Eucharist. This spirit of prayer was at the root of his 52 years of consecrated life as a Brother in the Salesian Congregation.
Dear Father, Thanks for your answer. Bro Bill is worthy of a biography which only those Salesians who lived with him for many years can do. What I have a better knowledge of is his spiritual world, since he used to come to me regularly for confession when I was in many ways in charge of that area. I have never met a delicate man like Bill, though during the years I was parish priest many events happened in the Salesian community that made everybody suffer because of certain situations. However there was no gossip, no accusations, no historic words from Br Bill. He had to be faithful to his spiritual way first, then he was able to understand even other people’s miseries. As a catechist he was simply fantastic in the zone assigned to him since the very beginning. He started to have care of the farthest west part of the Parish that was Tagreen. We had there only a school attended by some hundreds of students. Though he was an American with an American accent, no one had any difficulty to meet him , to share jokes, to enjoy his presence at school that he loved so much. He enlarged the building, then he asked the Salesian community to search for benefactors, in order to raise funds for the building of St. John the Baptist church. Once they entrusted the burden of new constructions to other companies arriving from Freetown, he continued beeng always reach of suggestions, doing at the main time the work of maintenance of the California and the St Augustine Secondary School that he had built “con intelleto d'amore" (Dante). The time I was re-building the Holy Cross Church in Lungi, he allowed his co-operator Andrew Conte to work for me. He realized many artistic works iron-made, admired by all the Mission visitors. During my last 3 years work in Lungi (2003-2005) before leaving the Mission, … His suggestions were wise and his co-operation precious. The rest will remain a treasure in my heart, his confident dialogues and his spiritual proposals for his perseverance. A world that he has now entrusted completely to God. May he rest in peace, Yours in Christ fr Vito Gabriele Scagliuso sx from Tiberias (Galilee).
Dear Fr. Jorge, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you very much for letting us informed about the sudden death of Rev. Br. Bill Regner. It is indeed a sad news for all confreres of the AFW Province, in particular for us who knew him and have lived with him. It is rather a shocking news to us. Ordinarily, it is hard to accept but with faith I think one can accept. It is with a great sympathy and sorrow I am writing this mail to you, I believe that at this moment our province is undergoing a great trial, pain and suffering over the loss of a great pillar in our province. Br. Bill, since I came to know him in 2000, he has always being my model and example in the religious life in general and Salesian life in particular. He thought me many religious and Salesian values. All his life was prayer and work, he indeed practiced the Salesian virtues. His love for the young especially those in Sierra Leone was worth emulating and inspiring. I know, his life among the young in Sierra Leone inspired many young people in that part of the world. He was indeed a cheerful man, quiet and simple in all what he does. He was a great builder buildings and community, intelligent and God-fearing man. He was jack of all trade, one can rightly say he was a genius in his own way. This is the man we have missed in our province. I believe that his mortal remains is not with us but I believe his spirit is with us and still continue to help us to be inspired more and more in our Salesian life. He is a true son of Don Bosco, no doubt that he is now enjoying the beatific vision which he had laboured for the past 50 years he had been with Don Bosco. Let us be comforted with his human and spiritual legacy. Let us mourn as people with faith, all is not lost. We are people of the resurrection, which is our hope and our final end. All what remain for us is the crown of glory as the 2nd Reading today from the book of Timothy says: "He has fought a good fight, he has finished the race, all what remains for him is the crown of glory", that is seeing God face to face as a true son of Don Bosco. As we remain to mourn our dear brother, let us pray fervently for his soul to have eternal rest in heaven. It also calls for more unity and love for each other in the province, so that the legacy the deceased man has left with us may not perish. We pray that the good Lord who has called him from this life to His eternal life may guide and protect him safely in His bosom. I have no doubt that Br. Bill lived a very good life here on earth, we thank God for his life well lived. Thanks also to God that He did not leave him to be corrupted. Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord, may his soul rest in peace. Amen. Daniel Libby
2) The second secret is HUMILITY: Br Bill lived his Salesian life in the background of everyday living, in silence, without making noise, without appearing. He was not a showman. He never shone, or wanted to appear before others or superiors. He lived a simple life. His deep joy was to be a Salesian Brother and to that he was an attractive witness for several youngsters who wanted to follow his example and joined the Salesian life. He had to deal with a lot of workers but he was never bossy with them. He showed respect for the rich and the poor, for the elderly and the young. I never heard him speaking harsh words of anybody.
3) The third secret is WORK AND TEMPERANCE: Br Bill didn’t like to talk very much. He was a man of few but sensible words. He believed in the promise of Don Bosco to his Salesians: “Work, bread and Paradise”. That is why he was outstanding in his capacity for work, keeping himself always busy, never wasting time. That is why he never accepted a mobile phone, or a personal computer or access to the Internet. Till the end he wrote the financial reports of the house with a pen and on a sheet of paper! His hands were the hands not of a secretary in an office but those of a worker, always dirty with engine oil or the dust of building materials. You can find his “touch” behind all the Salesian buildings in Lungi and Freetown. I never heard him complaining about food, or accommodation or the hardships of missionary life. He accepted everything with love and a smile on his face. 4) The last secret is JOY: when I last spoke with him last February be shared with me his
personal plan of life. Everything in him breathed a deep supernatural and inner joy. You could sense this in the transparency of his eyes, on his face or in his words. Br Bill found his place in the world and in the Church. He felt completely fulfilled, as though nothing was lacking in his life. His will was one with the Will of God. He lived as a Salesian Brother and he died as a Salesian Brother: praying and working, surrounded by the loving kindness of his brothers and the laity who knew him so well after so many years of missionary life in Sierra Leone. St Paul wrote once that our “homeland is in Heaven”. Br Bill built many houses and schools and chapels in Sierra Leone but with his life and death he tells us that our homeland is not here but in Heaven. St John tells us in his first letter that "we are already children of God but what we are to be in the future has not yet been revealed; all we know is that when it is revealed we shall be like him because we shall see him as he really is". Br Bill reminds us that we are the children of God and that the purpose of this life is to know, love and serve God. Br Bill’s death is not the end. Today’s Preface states "Lord, for your faithful people, life is changed, not ended". Br Bill’s life is changed, not ended. We can still be close to him and he is close to us still, "life is changed not ended". We can be close to Br Bill by praying for him and he will be close to us by praying for us. The church is in three states really, the saints in heaven, the souls in purgatory being purified before entering heaven, and we, the living here on earth. We believe that we are all united, we the living, the souls in purgatory and the saints in heaven, all united around Jesus’ cross and resurrection. This is the communion of saints that we profess as our faith in the Apostles creed. Br Bill prayed his daily rosary with fidelity and prayed to Mary throughout his life 50 times a day: “pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death”. We can be certain that immediately after his death Mary, Mother of Jesus and Help of Christians took him by the hand into the presence of Jesus. And then Br Bill heard those consoling words: “Good and faithful servant come, enter and share in your Master’s joy” Amen
Dear Fr. Jorge. Greetings from Sergej. How are you? As you might know that June 16 is dedicated to African child. So this day is their day. We had very nice celebration of African Child in the youth center in Lungi. As you might see from the pictures children had a very nice time - watching 25 selected children to show their talents and also African dresses. At the end of the program prizes were given to the winners and consolation prices to other participants. With prayer and best regards - Sergej. SDB.
The International Day of the African Child has been celebrated on June 16 every year since 1991, when it was first initiated by the Organisation of African Unity. It honors those who participated in the Soweto Uprising in 1976 on that day. It also raises awareness of the continuing need for improvement of the education provided to African children.
In Soweto, South Africa, on June 16, 1976, about ten thousand black school children marched in a column more than half a mile long, protesting the poor quality of their education and demanding their right to be taught in their own language. Hundreds of young students were shot. More than a hundred people were killed in the protests of the following two weeks, and more than a thousand were injured.
Shrine of Mary Help of Christians th
Akure. 17 July 2010. The perpetual Profession of four young confreres took place, that of S Peter Morba, Br. Francis Bayode Olukanni, S Gerald Ukeme Nicholas Umoh, S Chiemeka Utazi. Presiding at Mass was his Lordship Bishop Francis Alonge, while Bishops Rt Rev Jude Ayodeji Arogundade and Rt Rev. Gabriel Ojeleke Abegunrin, bishop of Osobgo diocese participated in the Eucharist. The Provincial Fr George Crisafulli received the confreres’ vows and presented them with the profession cross and a gift of a statue of the good shepherd. Sunyani 25th July 2010. A week later Br Edmond Sintuu made his profession in the shrine of Mary Help of Christians in Sunyani. Fr George presided at the Eucharist and received Br Edmond as a perpetually professed Brother. There was a moment of remembrance for Br Philip Avuleteh, whom the Lord had called to himself at the start of his preparation for his final vows.
Fr George reciting the formula of profession on behalf of Philip at the grave side on the day of his Burial in Novitiate on the 23rd of Jan 2010. Below, Philip’s participation in the Youth Forum in Ashaiman in Dec 2009.
Br. Philip Avuleteh sdb Born: 6April 78 First Profession: 4August 04 Renewed his total dedication to God as a Consecrated Salesian Brother
18 December 2009 150th anniversary Birth of our Congregation. Born to everlasting life:
9th January 2010, during his preparation for Perpetual Profession. “Stay with me Jesus, don’t leave me alone. I cannot do without you Jesus. I gave my heart to you the day I met you. My heart is for you forever more”. The last photo taken of Philip on the 9th January 2010 at Ado, the day of his drowning.
Utume - Kenya. July 2010. Our young confreres who have just completed their first year of theology in Utume had a special programme to start their year of preparation for the perpetual profession. They had various speakers who helped them to reflect on various dimensions on their vocation and Salesian spirit. Fr Richard spent ten days with them in which he had the opportunity to share some reflections on vocation and sense of identity, and helped them to explore different dimensions of the self and their relationship with God. Fr Ambrose Anane has now joined the Formation Community in Utume and will be head of Department of Moral Theology in the new Salesian School of Theology. He attended the special course held for Formators of the different Theologates in Africa organized by Fr Chris Saldana
The aspirants form Onitsha and the Come and see in Ondo had a programme together in Onitsha. Fr Oche accompanied them for the week and together with the community a variety of animation was held to help them discern their vocation. It was great to see Don Vittorio sing with the aspirants; he played a series of classicals while the aspirants demonstrated theri skills. Overall it was a positive experience enjoyed by all.
Practical Trainees Meeting- National Level 1-
PT Meeting in Liberia/Sierra Leone: June 4th The meeting the Salesian Community in Monrovia. The coordinator of the PT meeting was Fr Riccardo Castellino and Fr Charles Uzoeto. The PT attending were: Philip Gbao from Sierra Leone, Br Solomon Gbaki, Br Robertson N. and Br Nathanael Akortsaha from Monrovia. They evaluated their PT experience and reflected on the Letter of Fr Cereda to practical trainees. The report of the various PT who attended was very positive. All of them were due to continue their studies of theology. 2PT Meeting in Ghana: the venue was the Marist Brothers in Kumasi and the coordinator was Fr Richard Ebejer. The PT attending were: Thaddeus N. from Ashaiman, Daniel A. and Frederick S. from Sunyani. They evaluated their PT experience and their growth in self identity. The experience was very positive. It was an opportunity to share in a climate of sincerity. P T Meeting in Nigeria 2nd- 4th July 2010 -
July 9th – 10th ‘Quinquenium Priests’ Meeting. -
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As part of the on-going formation Programme a two day seminar was organized for the young priests. The facilitator invited to accompany them was Rev. Fr Alphonse Amanor SVD from Ghana. He coordinated together with Fr Provincial the different sessions. The venue was the Post Novitiate in Ibadan. The priest participating were: Fr Mark Anthony and Fr Fidelis from Akure, Fr M. Ogunniyi from Ondo, Fr John Paul and Fr James from Onitsha, Fr Sergej and Fr Collins from Sierra Leone, Fr Samuel and Fr Peter Savio from Sunyani, Fr Matthew Adetiloye from Freetown. The main topic was on the priesthood – Year of the Priest; sexuality and pastoral supervision. There was a lot of opportunity of sharing. Fr Alphonse was available during breaks to meet the young priests who wanted to dialogue or consult him. The general impression was very positive. An opportunity to share the priestly experience. They were happy to have had Fr Alphonse as facilitator.
The meeting was in Akure and coordinated by Fr Isaiah Torres and Fr Richard Ebejer. The PT attending were: Samuel Agudosi and John Valentine from Onitsha, John Bankole from Ondo, Dennis Ugbo from Akure and John Osezuwa from ICP. They shared about their experience and the discovery of the self. They also shared about current issues in the church and their future roles amongst the youth. The impression of the PT and animators was very positive. They shared their different experiences in a climate of openness. The presence of John O. gave color to the meeting as he shared his unique experience of PT in Valdocco and Bra (ICP).
How to drop a hint to the Driver with your singing!!
Sign board seen at Garage COMMUNITY EXPERIENCE 2010
For your Agenda
DISTRIBUTION OF SALESIANS IN INITIAL FORMATION IN AFW COMMUNITIES FROM 17TH JULY TO 19TH SEPTEMBER
August 1-3 Provincial Council (Ashaiman, Ghana) 15
AKURE: 1TAKYI GEORGE 2IBOLEKWU BENEDICT 3ONYENAGUBOR LINUS 4OBIAKOR CALLISTUS
ONDO: 1Dn. ANTHONY EKEZIE 2OKOH ISAAC 3ESUK STEPHEN 4BLAMOH MARCUS ONITSHA: 1GERALD N. UMOH 2ACQUAYE ANTHONY 2MOGAJI VINCENT 3U-SAYEE CORNELIUS SUNYANI: 1SESAY ABRAHAM 2AMANDI EPHRAIM 3OGBADA MOSES 4EHIOGHILEN THEOPHILUS 5ANANI HIPPOLYTE 6BONNAYIRI MATTHIAS
Asumption of Mary
28/8 to 1/9 AFW Leadership course: Peer counselling (Ashaiman Ghana) 31
ASHAIMAN: A) St Francis de Sales: 1OKOLIE JOHNBOSCO 2NWUGU JOSAPHAT B) Provincial House: 3ANSO CHRISTOPHER 4EBOR MICHAEL IBADAN: 1PETER MORBA 2NNADI KENNETH 3OGUNDANA JOSEPH 4OSEZUWA JOHN
Meeting
Retreat Novices and other confreres starts (Kumasi, Ghana)
September 2-6 SYM Leadership Course continues: Social Communication (Ashaiman, Ghana)
July
3 James Acheampong 4 Silvio Roggia 6 Maximus Okoro 7 Nathaniel Akortsaha 11 Samuel Obu 19 Nichodemus Nebigwe 23 Riccardo Castellino 23 Gregory Echegwo 24 Anthony Okonkwo 24 Giovanni Patrucco 25 Peter Okeke 26 Ephraim Onwuzuru 27 Augustine Njoku AUGUST 1 Michael Smyth 3 Michael Karikunnel 3 Augustine Okeke 4 Chiemeka Utazi 5 Anthony Nzeli 9 Emmanuel Ajah 12 Thomas Annan 13 Hippolyte Anani 13 Joseph Ogundana 20 Matteo Balla 20 Bernard Enu 20 Augustine Koroma 25 Krzysztof Nizniak
1-6
Retreat Novices and others continues (Kumasi, Ghana)
8
First professions
13-16 CIVAM YM Commission (Lusaka, Zambia) 23-24 Formation Personnel Orientation 26
DOMISAL (Salesian Missionary Sunday)
27
Ibadan Opening of Academic Year
29
Ondo Prenovitiate starts
All news, photos and articles are the ones that have been sent. Please send photos and write-ups of your activities in the month of July. We encourage people to send in photos and a short write-up of the activities held over the long holidays.
It is good to forward the Newsletter to Benefactors in a particular so that they can see the good that is being achieved through their help, especially in Formation. May God reward them for their generosity.
Congratulations to Br John and Fr Giame who on the 15th August celebrate the Golden Jubilee of their Religious Profession. AD Multos Annos
Fr Roy was ordained on the 4th of August 1960 and therefore he celebrated his golden Jubilee this year. He presided at a beautiful Mass in the Morning for which the two Ashaiman communities participated together with the Youth Animators. The Missionaries of Charity also attended and presented him with a beautiful chasuble. In the evening a special supper was shared in the community. Here Fr Roy shares with a spiritual thought about a value in religious life that he cherishes so much.
"May I suggest three norms, in three words, for our practice of poverty in the contemporary world? To be relevant, and therefore sacramental in the lives of all who see us, our poverty must be sincere. We must be in fact, and not only by profession, really poor. God knows if we are poor only in name. Our poverty must be laborious by which we resemble workers in the world who have to labour often in distasteful jobs under trying conditions. Finally our poverty must be generous by which we freely devote ourselves and all we have for the service of the neighbour. Sincerity, labour and generosity may not be easy to spell out in rulebooks or constitutions, but they are not hard to determine, each one for himself, once we set our minds to it. Our poverty is sincere if we actually lack certain things we should like to have; it is laborious if we become tired in the work we perform; and it is generous if we cheerfully share.“ American Religious Life in Historical Perspective, Chapter 8 Poverty, Chastity and Prayer (Rev. John A. Hardon, S.J., Bellarmine School of Theology, Chicago, Ill.)
The Salesian Sisters will be arriving in Ghana on the 14th of August to Stay! On the 15th August, feast of the Assumption, there will be a special Mass of Thanksgiving in the Parish in Ashaiman to welcome the Sisters. The Sisters will be staying in and managing the Girl’s Hostel until they develop a new apostolate in education on the invitation of the Archbishop. We warmly welcome the sisters in English speaking west Africa. Also, the first Nigerian Salesian Sister (Sr Jestina) has made her First Profession on Thursday August 5, 2010 in Cote D' Ivoire. We accompany the Salesian Sisters with our prayers so that these seeds may bloom and give the desired fruit.