We Would Love
to Keep in Touch!
Madagascar – Learning About Community
The La Salette Formation Residence of Fenomanana opened in October 1983. On April 25, 1984 it was inaugurated. In an article for Les Annales de La Salette, Fr. Dominique Rakotondrazaka, M.S., the first director of this scholasticate, wrote:
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| Fr. Dominique Rakotondrazaka, M.S. (1938-1999) |
"Now we face the task of building our religious and community life. Little by little we are learning to recognize our hunger for prayer, silence and community sharing. Fortunately our resources contain more than mere human qualities. Our unity stems from our La Salette vocation, which is to follow Christ in the spirit of Our Lady. The real differences that exist among us become the source of mutual enrichment. Our charism as reconcilers is lived in the nitty-gritty of everyday life."
These prophetic words continue to direct and inspire our young men in formation. We see our community life as a growing process tirelessly pursued. Ours is a community life in which each professed is co-responsible for specific areas of service wherein he ministers to the community: the liturgical committee, organizing and animating our prayer life, especially in our simple, modern and tastefully decorated chapel; the library (we are always in need of books!) and health services; the house stewardship ministry whereby everyone becomes acutely aware of the price of our daily subsistence; the maintenance crew for upkeep and decorating of common rooms; the recreation committee for sports and fun times; and the welcoming committee (we are pleased to have our fathers and brothers from active ministries visit and share with us).
La Salette and Pope Francis
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| Bp. Angelo Roncalli – eventually elected as Pope John XXIII in 1958 – visited the Holy Mountain and addresses the pilgrims from the entrance of the Basilica |
As Catholics, we are part of the Church Universal and we have connections.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that we can call up the Pope any time we want. Although recently Pope Francis has shown himself to be quite approachable, even to the point of his making personal phone calls to some people who wrote to him about certain personal matters. Just imagine – receiving a telephone call and the person calling us says he is Pope Francis! This certainly shows that the Pope is sincerely interested in his people.
It is not a commonly known fact that within the Catholic Church, the veracity of special events such as apparitions are not decided upon by the Roman Pontiff but rather by the local bishop of the area in which the apparition happened. That is the way the La Salette Apparition was accepted by the Catholic Church – through the final approbation of Bp. Philippe de Bruillard on Sept. 19, 1851.
The next significant connection of the La Salette Apparition with “official Rome” was on April 18, 1879, when the La Salette Congregation was given Pontifical status “ad experimentum”, thus listing it in the officially accepted Catholic Congregations.
In that same year, on August 20, our Church on the Holy Mountain in France was consecrated and raised to the dignity of a Minor Basilica. The following day, Hippolyte Guibert, OMI, Archbishop of parish and Papal Legate, solemnly crowned the statue of the Virgin Reconciler in the newly consecrated Basilica.
What’s in a Name?
Something that has always intrigued me as I traveled in various countries is the meaning of the name of towns, cities, rivers and areas. Often we don’t bother to understand their meaning. For example, over several years I have lived in Connecticut – which is a word in the Algonquin language for “place of the long river.”
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| Piroque on the Tsiribihina River. Apparently is river is actually crossable! |
Bishop Donald Pelletier sent me some reflections on the names of various places in Madagascar:
“To give a word a negative meaning in the Malagasy language, the word “tsi” is used. A number of towns, villages, rivers and locations are given a negative name using this “tsi.”
“At times it is easy to understand why a negative connotation would be given, while at other times the exact reason for doing so isn’t really clear. The largest river in this area is the Tsiribihina – meaning “not crossable” – probably because of the large number of crocodiles inhabiting its river and banks.
La Salette Shrine – Trambileno, Italy
Our Superior General, Fr. Silvano Marisa, M.S., was very impressed as a child by his yearly visit to the nearby La Salette Shrine in Trambileno, nestled in the mountains of the Trentino area of northern Italy. The lasting devotion to Our Lady of La Salette and the celebration of the 100th anniversary in 1956 of the apparition impressed him and led him to enter the La Salette Minor Seminary in Salmata, near Assisi, soon afterward.
Aerial view of Shrine in Tramileno, Italy
Over a century and half ago, the population of the area was composed of many former emigrants who had repeatedly travelled to southeastern France for work during the summers, thus being close to the La Salette Shrine in France.
A nobleman named Rovereto wanted to express his undying gratitude to Our Lady for the care and hospitality that was given his son, who fled the area to escape the cholera epidemic and grew up strong and healthy. Urged by the deep devotion to Our Lady of La Salette in this area, he decided to build a Shrine in her honor on a nearby mountaintop.
Ten Years in Australia
Remembering is a mental exercise but in the later stages of life, it is can be more challenging. Remembering, however, is not simply recalling past experiences. It can become a movement of the heart, a journey of the soul. For we do not only ask the “what’s, “when’s”, and “how’s” of life but also seek the “why’s”.
The great philosopher Socrates once said, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” Some agree that all that has happened in the past – no matter how seemingly insignificant, good or bad, happy or sad – has happened for a reason. Everything has a meaning and purpose.
This year we La Salettes gathered in Australia not only because we wanted to commemorate the Philippines’ Independence Day (June 12) but also to celebrate our decade of La Salette presence in Armidale. Our celebrations drew us to reflect and see the hand of God working in all the events of our life and ministry in this vast and beautiful land with its warm and energetic people. We realize that nothing has ever happened on our journey without God’s knowledge of them.
Our coming together became a moving spiritual exercise when we looked at the events of the past ten years within the context of our faith. Those moments when we wept, laughed, learned, grew, smiled, felt frustrated or sad – all were “God moments”. We just have to be able to see them with the eyes of God.
La Salette Congregations Collaborate
Our Common Heritage, Mission and Charism
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| Members of the General Administration of the Sisters of Our Lady of La Salette |
On July 2-3, 2013, a meeting was held between the General Councils (the top organizational groups) of each congregation to explore our connections and discuss where closer collaboration is possible. The discussions produced an array of agreements which express how much we have in common and what steps they see as advantageous to both our congregations.
As Fr. Silvano Marisa, M.S., Superior General of the La Salette Missionaries, stated: “We pray that the collaboration between our two Salettine families will continue to grow in order to become a more apparent sign of reconciliation, which is the common patrimony to both our Congregation. We pray that such a collaboration be not only a desirable objective, but that it becomes a reality in the pursuit of our common mission.”
Marriage Customs in India
Marriages in India are culturally and regionally diverse. A South Indian marriage is a simple and sober day-long event. In contrast, a North Indian marriage can be a rambunctious and lively event, lasting anywhere from two to seven days.
I am a native of Southern India – a State called Kerala, which means “the land of coconuts.” Because of its tropical beauty and 100% literacy rate, it is also called “God’s own country.”
In South India the wedding date is fixed almost at the drop of a hat. No dating and no courting! No telephone calls or no online chats before marriage! Surprise! Surprise! Surprise! One of my cousins, who is planning to get married, is a registered nurse and has obtained a green card for United States. She plans to leave for Florida in as few months and so she wanted to get married before her departure for the U.S. This opened the door for proposals from young men who are seeking a wife.
Marriage is truly a Family Affair
One Sows, Another Reaps
Each year we invite missionaries from various countries where we serve to be part of our preaching team in North America to ask support for our many La Salette Missions around the world. They share with many parishes here in North America their own missionary experiences – the way the Gospel is preached, understood and lived in a variety of cultures.
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| Fr. Eugene Flores, M.S. |
Several years ago we were pleased to have with us Fr. Eugene Flores, M.S., from the Philippines. Ordained in 2004, this was his first foray into another culture. He fared very well and was able to see a good portion of the U.S. while driving to his assignments. He is very likable and had no difficulty staying in a parish near Buffalo, NY, for a week to replace the vacationing pastor. The people loved him.
I believe one of the things that helped him feel at home very quickly was the fact that he was staying with Fr. Richard Lavoie, M.S., who was a missioner in the Philippines as a young priest. So they were able to share stories of places and adventures, also taking time to cook and enjoy eating some Filipino dishes. Fr. Gene has returned home now. Before leaving he wrote these words of appreciation:
“I am one of the fruits of your missionary labor in the Philippines.” That is what I said to Fr. Dick Lavoie, M.S., after realizing that he worked in the northern part of the Philippines in the early years of the La Salette Missionary presence in my homeland.
“For the last three years I have been working as Coordinator of the Vocation Promotion and Recruitment Program for the Filipino Province. Most of our seminarians are alumni of our La Salette School system in Isabela that was put in place by the first La Salette Missionaries who came here. I am confident that our continued presence in those elementary and high schools – as well as the University of La Salette – will be a source of grace for our Congregation and the Church.
Longsuffering Angolans
Editor: This is a republication of an article originally written in 1991, but which explains well the continuing efforts and challenges of our La Salettes ministering in Angola. In May, 2013, the La Salettes in Angola finally became a Province, a separate but connected part of the La Salette Mission worldwide. Their country has survived the long war and is working toward true peace.
The La Salette mission in Angola was begun by two La Salette Missionaries from Switzerland in 1946. Today, half the La Salettes there are Swiss and half native Angolans.
A Portuguese Colony
Angola was already a region of Africa occupied by the Portuguese at the time these same discovered Brazil. From Angola, they sent many slaves to Brazil. After World War II, the majority of the African Countries gained there independence, but the Portuguese resisted this trend, keeping their colonies until 1975.
La Salette Devotion in Paraguay
At the end of April, 2013, for the community of Brazilian immigrants living in Paraguay, it is time to pray and receive the blessings of Our Lady of La Salette. After a record harvest was experienced in the region, the people felt that the best thing to do was to thank Our Lady of La Salette, seen by Brazilians as the Patroness of Farmers.
Pilgrims in Paraguay
make their way to
a local Marian Shrine
This year the preparation of the Pilgrimage featured presentations by two La Salette Missionaries, Frs. Claudino Lise and Daniel Aguirre. They visited three parishes and over ten communities to celebrate the Eucharist, pray for the coordinators as well as the subscribers to the La Salette Magazine, Revista Salette.
The theme for this year's pilgrimage in connection with the Year of Faith and the parish theme was “Mary: Strength for the Faith of Family and Youth.”