We Would Love
to Keep in Touch!
Meet Fr. Fernando, M.S.
 |
| Fr. Fernando Altamiranda, M.S. |
I was born on March 7, 1969, in Tucuman, in the Northern part of Argentina. My father’s name is Julio César and he worked as an electrician. My mother, María Argentina, worked in our home. I have two sisters, Patricia and Daniela, and one brother, named Ariel.
My sister, Patricia, began to volunteer in our parish with youth and teach catechism as well. She then invited me to help her with the youth group and then I taught in our religious education classes for First Communion and Confirmation (ages 9-17). This was my first experience in teaching and began for me a lifelong call as a teacher who strengthens others in their faith.
In this same experience, I worked alongside Fr. Alfredo Velarde, a La Salette priest in our parish. I also worked with him in another group consisting of about 60 youth. We worked in our city and countryside barrios to help our people celebrate their faith. We also drew our youth into working in the summer in soup kitchens with very poor children, teaching them how to keep clean and healthy including delousing practices. We also helped the children with remedial studies and well as appreciation of their faith, and the importance of Jesus and Mary in their lives.
What drew you to the priesthood and the La Salette Community?
Meet Indian Novices II
 |
| The novices gathered in their classroom |
As a worldwide community of men, by the grace of God we welcome new members each year into our community from our ten provinces. After their Novitiate year of training, they take their first vows. After three of more years of renewing their vows, they may, if accepted, they may take their perpetual vows at a special celebration.
At my request, Fr. Sibi Kunninu, M.S., Novice Master for the La Salette Indian Province, was kind enough to send me information on this year’s Novitiate Class who recently took their first vows. I hope you enjoy meeting these young devoted men who will, by the grace of God, spend their lives making Mary’s message known as priests in India and elsewhere in God’s world.
Meet Indian Novices I
Editor: The La Salette Missionaries are a worldwide order of religious men. From Mary’s own words, “You will make this (message) known to all my people”, we are happy to serve in about 25 countries. Each year, new members enter our religious order when they complete their novitiate. Our La Salette Rule describes the purpose of the novitiate:
Fr. Sibi Kunninu, M.S., Novice Master for the Indian
La Salette Province, with his latest class of novices
The novitiate increases the candidate's understanding of the mystery of Christ and the role of Mary so that his whole life may be imbued with the spirit of the Gospel. It leads the candidate to appreciate and live the religious life and to be penetrated by the mystery of reconciliation and the relevance of the teaching put forth in the La Salette event.
It provides a setting for prayer, reflection and study, an intensive experience of community life and formative apostolic activity. Thus the candidate will be equipped to commit himself freely and maturely to the life and mission of the Congregation. (La Salette Rule, #34)
At my request, Fr. Sibi Kunninu, M.S., Novice Master for the La Salette Indian Province, was kind enough to send me information on this year’s Novitiate Class who recently took their first vows. I hope you enjoy meeting these young devoted men who will, by the grace of God, spend their lives making Mary’s message known as priests in India and elsewhere in God’s world.
This is the first of two sets of profiles for your enjoyment.
Meet Pierrot, Associate
What is your family and personal background?
 |
| (from left) the town of Sundgau, Alsace, France and the Church of Our Lady of the Snows |
At the age of twelve, I made a pilgrimage with my mother to the La Salette Shrine. I remember well the site of the Apparition with its three statues of Our Lady. I also remember the stunningly beautiful surroundings, and the singing the refrain of the La Salette Hymn: "Virgin of La Salette, our hearts belong to you. On this, your holy feast day, send blessings from above..." I often hum this lovely melody in my heart. And I vowed to return one day to that most beautiful place.
Sisters in Algeria
 |
| A meeting in Ghardaïa, Algeria, of Salesian Missionaries of Mary Immaculate, with (right)Sr. Lalaina, a La Salette Sister |
Editor: Recently three La Salette Sisters – (from left: Srs. Anna, Bernadette, and Sr. Lalaina) arrived in Ghardaïa, Algeria, at the invitation of Bishop Claude Rault of Laghouat. The following article gives a brief overview of his ideas and his ministry.
AFRICA / ALGERIA (from Rome, Agenzia Fides) – According to Claude Jean Narcisse Rault, M. Afr. (White Fathers), the Catholic Bishop of Laghouat, Algeria, "Friendship is the key to overcome mutual fear between Christians and Muslims. In fact we must learn and not take everything that is proposed by the press and television as an accurate representation of the Muslim world.”
"As we passed through Rome recently I noticed that whenever we come back to Europe, we feel a certain distrust of Muslims. Unfortunately, there is a lot of ignorance in both communities ignorance that fuels mutual fear. Instead, we must reach out to each other to create bonds of friendship and through them, to form another image of the other," said the Bishop.
Bp. Yves-Marie Pean, C.S.C., of Haiti
Where were you born and raised?
I was born in northern Haiti in Pilate, in Cap Haitian. We are three boys and one girl in our family and I’m the second oldest. My father, Dacius, worked in commerce (buying and selling); my mother, Carmelie Sylne was an industrious worker and dedicated full-time mother in the home.
How did you discover your vocation?
 |
| Bp. Pean with a Haitian deacon and ministers including two La Salette Missionaries, at the La Salette National Shrine, Attleboro |
Meet Fr. Leslaw Panczak, M.S.
 |
| Fr. Leslaw Panczak, M.S. |
Where were you born and raised?
The La Salette Message in My Life and My Prison Ministry
I first heard about the Apparition of Our Lady of La Salette when I was just twelve years old. At that time I was a student at La Salette of Aurora, a Catholic High School run by the La Salette Missionaries in Isabela, a province in the northern part of the Philippines. My father enrolled me in this school because he wanted me to be close to God.Read more The La Salette Message in My Life and My Prison Ministry
In Solidarity with the Mother Who Weeps
Sister Mary Yun Ja, SNDS, a La Salette vocation from Myanmar (formerly Burma), who serves now in her native land. The recent tragic events happening in Myanmar have highlighted what is happening in her native land: peaceful demonstrations by Buddhist monks opposing their repressive government; and, more recently, the destructive effects of the cyclone, Nargis. However, there are also notable positive developments with native religious communities and the new foundation of the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette, sisters as well as fathers and brothers.Where did you come from?
La Salette Sisters Celebrate Life
 |
| 25th Anniversary of Profession of Sr. Ma. Milagros dela Cruz, SNDS with other La Salette Sisters |