“Make of the world one family”
Xaverian Mission Volume 61 - No. 2 | May 2013
Newsletter
www.xaviermissionaries.org • Mission Blog: www.global-catholic.org
Protecting All God’s Children...............2 20 Years and Growing ........................3 US Province Mission and Vision ...........5 Pope Francis and American Catholics ..6 St. Guido in the Year of Faith .............8 World Mission & US Province News .....10
Protecting Our Children
Protecting All God’s Children X averian Missionaries
T
he Provincial and Council approved two new sets of guidelines and policies that are required of us. The first is the Guide for Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse. The Institute will require any confrere with direct knowledge to immediately report to civil authorities known or suspected sexual abuse of a victim who is currently a minor or an adult who was abused in the past. These will be distributed to the confreres with a letter of instruction soon.
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:
The second set of policies is the internet use of confreres, including use of social media such as Facebook, Twitter, and the like. Technology offers an effective and important means to retrieve and share information. Yet, the use of technology requires judgment, discretion, and prudence to ensure that a confrere maintains proper boundaries, adheres to basic moral principles, avoids situations that may question his integrity as a religious, and respects others at all times.
franklin@xaviermissionaries.org
Global Youth Mission Services (theGYM) Fatima Shrine 101 Summer Street P.O. Box 5857 Holliston, MA 01746-5857 Tel.: (508) 429-2144 Fax: (508) 429-4793 Email:
Both of these instruments will be part of an ongoing formation session in our upcoming Spring Assembly in Wisconsin.
holliston@xaviermissionaries.org
Xaverian Mission Newsletter
Official publication of the Xaverian Missionaries of the United States
Xaverians strive to defend the lives and rights of children around the world. We will continue to maintain the highest national standards for the protection of children.
Publisher Fr. Carl Chudy Communications Board Fr. Carl Chudy SX Fr. Tony Lalli SX Fr. Rocco Puopolo SX Fr. Aniello Salicone SX
Fr. Carl Chudy, SX
Editor Mary Aktay Printing AlphaGraphics, Totowa, NJ Email & Web:
Cover: Philippines: Photo by Tony Magdaraog, Shutter Stock Photos this page from top: Bangladesh, Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Amazon, Philippines
missionmedia@xaviermissionaries.org website: www.xaviermissionaries.org St. Guido site: www.guidoconforti.com mission blog: www.global-catholic.org www.facebook.com/catholicmissionaries www.twitter.con/worldcatholic
Donation: $5.00 per year
Help the Xaverians Bring the Light of Christ to the World. Increa Contact: impact se your ployer ! If your em Fr. Frank Grappoli, SX ha s Gift” P a “Matching 12 Helene Court rogram contrib y ution c our Wayne, NJ 07470 an b e d o ubled. Tel: 973-942-2975 Or visit: www.xaviermissionaries.org for online donations
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Xaverian Mission Newsletter • May 2013
Xaverian Missionaries in the World
20 Years and Growing.... posted by the Philippine Theologate on their website: http://theologasia.ph/who-we-are/
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n 1979, a small group of determined residents of the Maligaya Park Subdivision of Quezon City, Philippines began planning for the construction of a small chapel. With the blessing of Rev Fr. Walter de Vilder, CICM, former parish priest of The Ascension of Our Lord Parish, the makeshift chapel located at the corner of Atrium Street under a Sampaloc tree was built and named as St. Joseph the Worker-Sub Parish. The first mass was held on February 11, 1979. On September 17, 1980 Mr. Paul Sycip, President of Biyaya Corporation, the owner-developer of Maligaya Park Subdivision, donated a parcel of land for a chapel on Champaca Street. Having a permanent site for the building, construction was made with the assistance of the Ascension of Our Lord Parish.
His Eminence Jaime Cardinal Sin established through a decree the chapel of St. Francis Xavier on June 8, 1992. It was inaugurated on December 3, 1992 with St. Joseph as second patron. The parish was entrusted to the care of the Xaverian Missionaries. Under the stewardship of Rev. Fr. Vincent Salis SX the first pastor, together with Rev. Fr. J. Jorge Rosales SX as parochial vicar, and Rev. Fr. Peter Venturini SX as Local Superior, the parish underwent the following activities: partial construction of the church and corresponding facilities (social hall & office). formation and preparation of the Parish Youth Council for the World Youth Day 1995, formation of Volunteer Catechists, and the Parish Renewal Experience (PREX). On December 16, 1995, Rev. Fr. Juan Jorge Rosales became the second pastor with Rev. Fr. Rodrigo Vasquez as the Parochial Vicar. During Fr. Jorge’s term, a census & survey of the whole parish jurisdiction was made to determine the needs of the parish and its parishioners. This endeavor helped to formulate the Vision & Mission of the parish. Various projects were initiated such as the Land & Housing project, Scholarship program, Medical & Dental Outreach and the Maligaya Park Library which was inaugurated on February 11, 1996. These gave way to the construction of the St. Francis Xavier Parochial School that would offer a quality Catholic education to the poor families of the parish. The four-story building was blessed by His Eminence Jaime Cardinal Sin on June 15, 1999. In July 2002, Rev. Fr. Gabriel Zavala was appointed as the third pastor with Rev. Fr. Carl Chudy SX as parochial vicar. Fr. Gabriel continued the projects that Fr. Jorge had started and also founded the St. Francis Xavier Clinic. (continued)
Photos form top: The humble chapel in the Philippines; Hillside Mass; Fr. Carl baptizing at St. Francis Xavier Parish
Xaverian Mission Newsletter • May 2013
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Xaverian Missionaries in the World
20 Years and Growing... continued from page 3
The Church’s new altar, as it stands today, was made possible through the efforts of Rev. Fr. Rodrigo Vasquez, the fourth pastor with Rev. Fr. Polash Gomes SX and Rev. Fr. Everaldo dos Santos SX as parochial vicars. Fr. Rorro rearranged the formation building putting the Library on the second floor, giving a larger space for the parish office and added a gate to the church canopy. He also develop programs and facilities for the parish. With the help of Fr. Polash and Fr. Ignatius Basic Ecclesial Communities (BEC) were strengthened. The parish celebrated the 500th Anniversary of the birth of St. Francis Xavier with the blessing of tricycles and a marathon fun run. Five hundred fish were then cooked and shared during the celebration. In January 2011 Rev. Fr. Sandro Barchiesi SX was assigned as the fifth pastor with Rev. Fr. Potash Gomes SX and Rev Fr. Ignatius Zaluchu SX as parochial Vicars. Fr. Sandro initiated the formation and leadership training of the pastoral council and the youth council. His priority has been to strengthen the different ministries to answer to the needs of the parishioners. He also has taken charge of the re-construction of the parish office and acquiring lot for another chapel of the area of the Zone 4. After the new assignments given to Fr. Polash and Fr. Zaluchu, Rev. Fr. Michael Davitti was assigned as the new Parochial Vicar focusing on the formation of the volunteer catechist. We marked another milestone in history and celebrated our 20th anniversary with our parish church moving forward. New initiatives are always on the horizon that seek to answer the needs of the parish community through the enthusiasm of the new evangelization. The St. Francis Xavier Parish Council
Photos From Top by Fr. Michael Davitti SX: St. Francis Xavier Church altar, Parishioners pack the church, Last Supper reenactment, Fr. Michael baptizes a new parishioner.
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Xaverian Mission Newsletter • May 2013
Xaverian Missionaries in the USA
Mission and Vision of the USA Region We are grateful to the communities in the process of our provincial planning that extended over the last several months. Here is the mission and vision of our region:
Mission Statement:
I
nspired by St. Guido Conforti and St. Francis Xavier, we, Xaverian Missionaries, serve to keep the local Church aware of, engaged with and connected to the missionary mandate of the universal Church, principally by witnessing Jesus to those who have yet to know Him.
Vision Statement:
W
e are one of the missionary communities in and of the Church that minister exclusively as Missio Ad Gentes, serve as her missionary memory and strive to inspire a new generation to the Missio Ad Gentes of the Church. We understand Missio Ad Gentes to be the proclamation of Jesus Christ through: The intercultural and interfaith dialogue, be it formal or informal, through dialogue of life and experience; The advocacy for and solidarity with the poor; The sharing the legacy of our founder, St. Guido Conforti; The telling the story and witness of our missionaries in the variety of ministries and countries where we serve.
As a community of brothers among brothers from a variety of cultural and continental backgrounds, we are messengers of God’s love, witnesses of hope, and builders of God’s Kingdom, together becoming an example to the wider Church and world community that it is possible to be one as Jesus wills.
Photos: Top and Center: Xaverian Fathers at 2012 US Provincial Chapter Bottom: US Provincial Council: (from left) Xaverian Frs. Joe Matteucig, Tony Lalli, Carl Chudy, Rocco Puopolo, Mark Marangone,
Xaverian Mission Newsletter • May 2013
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A m e r i c a n C at h o l i cs L o o k t o Po p e F ra n c i s w i t h H o p e
P
ope Francis has drawn much attention for being the first pope to come from the ranks of the Americas and the Jesuits, as well as take the name Francis. A Jesuit scholar, he seems to be a humble man who lives simply, choosing to live in a small apartment instead of the archbishop’s palace, and travel on buses and trams instead of in the church limousine. His initial concerns for the poorest, the environment, and renewal of the institutional church ring well among Catholic Americans generally, as well across faith lines among nonCatholics and non-Christians.
At a large Catholic parish in Clifton New Jersey, Fr. Kevin Flanagan said, “The unorthodox and humble ways of the new pope have caught the attention of lapsed Catholics” who have ‘renewed’ faith.” In the early days of his papacy, Pope Francis is viewed favorably by an overwhelming majority of U.S. Catholics.
American Catholics: “What Should the Pope’s Priorities Be?” The fervent support and regard for Pope Francis among Americans also sets high standards in the minds of people of what his priorities should entail. The clergy abuse scandal in the Catholic Church remains a major concern among U.S. Catholics. Seven-in-ten (70%) say addressing the scandal should be “a top priority” for Pope Francis. Catholics who attend Mass at least once a week also see standing up for traditional moral values as “a top priority” for the new pope. Catholics who attend Mass less often are not as concerned with this. There also is a generation gap on this issue. Six-in-ten Catholics age 50 and older say standing up for traditional moral values should be a top priority for the new pope, but only four-inten Catholics under 50 (39%) express this view.
and Co nce r ns Perceptions of the New Pope Outside the US Catholic Church Roman Catholics in the United States are about 25% of the overall population at little more than 74 million. Thus the religious diversity which is represented by the remaining 75% of the population also looks to the new Pope as a new opportunity to build stronger relationships with the Roman Catholic Church in the USA. For many non-Catholics and non-Christians, the most interesting thing about Argentine Pope Francis may become the Church’s biggest champion of interfaith dialogue ever. His book, About Heaven and Earth, which he co-authored in 2010 with Argentine Rabbi Abraham Skorka, speaks volumes about the new pope’s commitment to not only talk about interfaith dialogue, but to do something about it. Leith Anderson, president of the National Association of Evangelicals says of the new pope: “Though the pope doesn’t speak for Protestant Christians, he holds an important role as one of the most public faces of Christianity.” Around the world, there are millions of people who don’t grasp the differences between Protestants and Catholics,” he said. “To them, Christians are Christians and the pope speaks for Christians.” However, American evangelicals will benefit from Francis’s conservative stance on issues such as abortion and gay marriage, said Anderson. Meanwhile, the new pope’s focus on poverty and his ascetic personal habits could also start a needed discussion about the global poor. Maha Elgenaidi, founder of the Islamic Networks Group (ING) said: “As an American Muslim activist, it may shock you to find out that I’m absolutely enthralled with the appointment of the new pope. Pope Francis recently stated it was important to strengthen dialogue between different religions, “particularly dialogue with Islam.” Then on Holy Thursday he made history by washing the feet of juvenile prisoners, including a young Muslim woman, walking the talk of serving outside the faith community. This gives us much hope for the future of Catholic-Muslim relations.
Fr. Carl Chudy SX
The Global Mission Spirituality of Saint Guido Conforti
From the Profession of Faith To a Life of Faith Excerpts from
“GUIDO MARIA CONFORTI - ANTHOLOGY”
by Alfiero Ceresoli and Ermanno Ferro”
“Faith is the reverberation of the first light that is God.”
O
n his deathbed, the last word pronounced by Saint Guido M. Conforti was Faith, the Credo, which he expressed with the invocations: “… Videbo Deum salvatorem meum! ...Lord, save the faith of my people!” Faith was one of the dearest topics to Conforti: it was the constant and daily light and guide of his ascetic and mystical life.
“It is not enough to believe, we must also live in compliance with the faith, refer to it in all our encounters, in all the circumstances of our life and discipline ourselves, not according to the fashions of the times or the demands of the disordered passions, but according to the teachings of faith, convinced that we are following the truth and practicing justice. The just person must live by faith because faith must shape all our actions just as blood flows to all the parts of our body... It is not enough to have a speculative faith; our faith must also be practical, in other words, we must never blush before skeptics and non-believers and we must authenticate our faith with our deeds, which must never contradict it.” (1924, 1 January, Parma - Cathedral, Homily on New Year’s Day “Christianus sum”)
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Xaverian Mission Newsletter • May 2013
in the Year of Faith Missionary Stories of Courage
“F
aith must animate my spirit, my heart and my will. My spirit shall live by faith if, through recollection, I think habitually of God, Jesus Christ and the Christian mysteries, and if I appeal to Christian norms in judging people and events. My heart shall live by faith if, caught up in the greatness of God and the wonder of Jesus Christ, I open it to the sentiment of love; if, through a tender and living piety, I establish an intimate relationship with the God who lives in me through Jesus Christ. My will shall live by faith if, not content with religious emotions, I resolve to live well to honor my God and use the moral energies that His grace has bestowed upon me; if I consider religion as a power that desires to sanctify my deeds.” (1920-1929, Inspiring thoughts written during Retreats).
“Faith is the most precious of treasures.” (1923, 27 January, Parma - Istituto Missioni, monthly retreat)
“Faith is the daughter of the heart.” (1910, 15 August, Parma - Cathedral, Homily on the Feast of the Assumption)
Artwork of significant places in St. Guido’s life: : Opposite page from top: Panorama of the city of Parma; The parish church in Berceto where St. Guido was born; The Church of the Fontenellato; Interior; The Cathedral of Parma; Close-up of the Xaverian Motherhouse. This page from top: The Parma Seminary and Baptistery; The Steccata of Parma, the Xaverian Motherhouse, St. Guido’s Church in Ravenna
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World Mission News Digest
World Mission News Digest VATICAN The missionary world celebrates the election of Francis, a Pope close to the poor
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - “Pope Francis is a man of great pastoral ability of strong faith, a man of prayer and very close to the priests, the elderly, the poor; and above all, a man who emphasized the missionary commitment of the Church in our community and in our city”: This is what the General Vicar of the Archdiocese of Buenos Aires, Msgr. Joaquín Sucunza, who worked at the side of the Cardinal Bergoglio for 13 years. He states: “The election is a joy and a huge gift,” for the Catholic community in Argentina, but also for the universal faith of the whole Catholic community, noting the joy in the missionary world, in the young churches. [On] March 13, at 7.06 p.m., a long white smoke from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel followed by the ringing bells announced to the many faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square and to those around the world, via radio, television and the Internet, the election of the new Pope, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who took the name of Francis.
AFRICA/SIERRA LEONE More than 3,000 children forced to work in caves to pay for college and help families
From Top: Pope Francis on the night of his election. Stone quarries in Sierra Leone. Life “on the tracks” in the Philippines.
Thousands of children in Sierra Leone are forced to break rocks with a hammer to pay for their studies and to help their families make ends meet. It is the sad reality, quite usual in the country that many children live and are engaged for hours in this hard work every day and risk accidents and injuries. In Sierra Leone, education and child labor are often closely linked, and the school is yet another economic challenge. Although basic schools are free, families must provide for the purchase of uniforms, books, pens, pay transportation and sometimes must also contribute to the teachers’ salaries. Therefore, to be able to send their children to school, many parents are forced to send them to work. In 2007, thanks to a private initiative, a school in the village of Adonkia
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was founded, completely free, a few kilometers away from the capital Freetown, with the aim of bringing the children out of the cave. It currently has 380 students.
ASIA: PHILIPPINES Association of Major Superiors: “Government insufficient on ecology, human rights, corruption, land reform”
Manila (Agenzia Fides) - The government of Benigno Aquino Jr. has not given satisfactory results to the population on important issues such as human rights, corruption, impunity, land reform, ecology. This was stated by the Association of Major Superiors in the Philippines, which brings together leaders of all the congregations and religious orders, male and female, which are present in the Philippines. In the third year of the mandate of the government, the Catholic religious leaders note that “much remains to be done in the nation,” and that the expectations that the people reposed on the government have been disappointing. “Whose side is this government on? We are saddened because corruption and misuse of public funds continue…” Meanwhile, relevant issues “oppressive poverty, peasants’ protests, human trafficking” remain without response. One of the criticisms to the government is “the constant violence and impunity,” with daily murders and “victims of extrajudicial executions that increase every day.” “Do law and legality still exist in this country?” The religious ask, noting the degradation of respect for human rights in the Philippines and remembering the many unsolved murders, such as that of Fr. Fausto Tentorio. A sore point is the “agrarian reform” for decades invoked and never fulfilled. Defined as “the most important social justice program of the government,” the reform involves the distribution of lands. Regarding the natural heritage of the nation, the religious note that the devastation of mountains, sea and rivers, indiscriminate mining, industrial poisoning, trace “a sore picture.” “This assault on creation is also an attack on our faith,” given that God has entrusted to humanity, care for creation. The Major Superiors ask the government to protect this heritage.
From our USA Communities
News from our USA Communities HOLLISTON SPONSORS INTERFAITH EVENT Faith that Moves Us to the Common Good
Fr. Rocco Puopolo reports: On April 14th Fatima Shrine, Holliston, MA, had an inspiring Interreligious panel and dialogue event, with sharing and challenging next steps. What I learned was that each tradition represented, Sikh, Islam and Christianity, approach the threat of violence among people in the same way: through prayer, community, tradition (experience) and action beyond oneself to the other. Prayer provides perspective. Community holds us together. Tradition and experience guide us from the shared past to a preferred future. Thanks to Sunny of the Sikh Study Center of Milford, Shaheen of the Islamic Study Center of Boston at Wayland and Svea of St. John’s Catholic Community in Wellesley. The evening was sponsored by the Xaverian Missionaries and Pax Christi Metro West. We hope to sponsor more events such as this, both here at the Shrine and beyond. Journalist, Frank Mazzaglia, writes in the MetroWest Daily News: The day before the Boston Marathon, a Christian, a Muslim, and a Sikh came together to discuss violence at the Fatima Shrine in Holliston at a special event cosponsored by the Xaverian Missionaries and Pax Christi Metrowest. Perhaps, had the perpetrators of such needless violence at the Marathon been in the audience, they might have thought twice before planting bombs. Moderated by Xaverian Fr. Rocco Puopolo, the panel consisted of Shaheen Akhtar of the Islamic Center of Boston, Svea Fraser, of St. John the Evangelist in Wellesley, and Sarbjit Singh Thiara of the New England Sikh Study Circle in Milford.
In the end, the interreligious dialogue approached violence the same way. While faith and prayer put things in perspective, community holds us together while the richness of our traditions and experiences guide us from a shared past to a preferred future. Indeed, had the individuals responsible for so much pain and anguish at the Marathon listened closely they might have been moved by prophetic voices from each of these traditions. For Sikhs, who trace their teachings as far back as the sixteenth century from Guru Nanak, “No one is my enemy. No one is a foreigner. With all I am at
peace.” For Muslims, the Arabic word ‘salaam’ or ‘peace’ has the same root as the word Islam. Indeed Muhammad is reported to have said, “Not one of you believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.” Muslim scholars are generally agreed that the word ‘brother’ means any person irrespective of faith. Christians, of course, agree that Jesus taught and lived pacifism while calling for a life of non-violence. For these and all the other great faiths, violence is the option only after the last option.
FRANKLIN FAMILY TIES Fr. Mark Marangone (standing center) sent pictures of Fr. Aniello Salicone’s (seated center) birthday celebration in Franklin. It coincided with the visit of the Sisters of St. Joan Antida, who were invited to share dinner with the Xaverians to show our gratitude to them for all their help to our community. Fr. Mark remarks, “We spent a couple of hours like family sharing a few laughs, reminiscing while going “down memory lane,” sharing about the present and hopes for the future...”
COMMUNICATIONS BOARD MEETS IN WAYNE The Council appointed Frs. Aniello Salicone (right), Tony Lalli (left), Rocco Puopolo (second left), Carl Chudy (third right), and our Communications Director Mary Aktay to form the new Communications Board of the region. This board will oversee our use of media and find ways to reach out to a growing audience through the internet and social media as well as improve our print projects. The first meeting took place on April 2 at our Provincial House. The Goal of the Communications Board is to monitor, review and insure the implementation of the Communication Action Plan for the United States Province of the Xaverian Missionaries Xaverian Mission Newsletter • May 2013
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Xaverian Mission Newsletter • May 2013
The Xaverian Missionaries Mission Statement: Inspired by St. Guido Conforti and St. Francis Xavier, we, Xaverian Missionaries, serve to keep the local Church aware of, engaged with and connected to the missionary mandate of the universal Church, principally by witnessing Jesus to those who have yet to know Him. Are you inspired to join us? contact:
Fr. Rocco Puopolo at theGYM
Photo: Philippines: Tony Magdaraog, Shutter Stock
frrocco@xaviermissionaries.org 508-429-2144
Xaverian Missionaries Serve In: Bangladesh • Brazil • Burundi • Cameroon • Chad • Colombia • Democratic Republic of Congo • France Indonesia • Italy • Japan • Mexico • Mozambique • Philippines • Sierra Leone • Spain • Taiwan • Thailand • UK • USA
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