We Would Love
to Keep in Touch!
Myanmar Celebrates
As the news was spreading about the 75th anniversary celebration of the presence of La Salette in Burma in November of 2012, I was already dreaming and praying to be part of this historical event. Very Rev. Fr. Silvano Marisa, the General Superior and two of his councilors, Fr. Joe Bachand and Fr. Efren Musnji, represented the Generalate of the Missionaries of La Salette from Rome to take part in this solemn celebration. Frs. Jack Nuelle, Pete Kohler, Bill Slight and myself travelled to Myanmar from the United States. Frs. Rosanno Sorriano and Sal Pico came from the Philippines. Then there was a group of about twnety Filippino friends of Fr. Bernie Taylor, the first Burmese La Salette that came from Manila and Santiago City, Isabela to witness this remarkable event.
Fr. Thomas Vellappallil, M.S.,
being welcomed to the
Myanmar celebrations
A Burmese Vocation Story
We participated in the celebration of Fr. Bernie Taylor’s anniversary of priesthood and witnessed seven young Burmese men professing their temporary vows in religious life. We were able to visit three major cities; Yangon, Mandalay and Bagan. I would like to share with you some of the highlights of our visit to Myanmar.
Rice in Burma
 |
| man plowing the rice fields |
Fr. Jack Nuelle, M.S.: As we celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the La Salette Missionaries beginning our ministry in Burma (Myanmar), we dip into our archives to republish an article which Fr. Charles Gendron wrote in Burma in 1973. He explains to friends and family how rice is planted and harvested. Over one-half of the world’s population has rice as a main diet, and among them are several countries where La Salette Missionaries live and work – Myanmar, Madagascar, India and the Philippines. In these countries rice production by small farmers still seems to be basically done the same today as it was when Fr. Charles wrote his letter.
Fr. Charles Gendron, M.S.: Rice is a very good basic food, but it is strange in a way. It needs so much water – and needs it at the right time! Here in Burma, from the last part of May much rain is needed for plowing the fields. Plowing is done with bullocks or water buffaloes right in the water and mud. Small rice beds are plowed first. These become nurseries where rice grains sprout into small plants. Meanwhile the rest of the fields are plowed.
When the plowing is finished, each field must be divided by small mud dikes into manageable paddies whose size and shape vary according to the contour of the land. Now abundant rain is needed to flood the rice paddies. The system of small dikes allows water to flow evenly and be channeled from one paddy to another.
France to the Philippines
"Well, my children, you will make this known to all my people." When the Blessed Virgin spoke these words to the shepherd children on the mountain she knew well that the simple children could only begin the work of telling her story to the world. Though no one then realized it, in all her wisdom she looked far across the mountains, over the vast seas, seeing scores of dedicated servants carrying her timeless message to all peoples everywhere – the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette.Since the Virgin first spoke to the shepherd children in 1846, it was not long until, at the end of the century, France was swept by an antireligious uprising striking at all Religious Orders. The relatively new community did not have the numbers, houses or strength to withstand the persecution of governmental legislation and the ensuing violence.
The La Salette Superiors and the priests moved to the friendlier countries of Belgium, Switzerland and Italy. They left their beloved France not to abandon her but to preserve their strength so they could help her again when the time came to return. Meanwhile, the move turned the community's eyes toward other lands where they could bring the La Salette message to countless more of “her children” and in turn draw new strength for the community.
Burmese Farmers
 |
| Fr. Bernie Taylor (U Mya Thein), M.S. visits with children from the village of Hmawbi, who suffered much from Cyclone Nargis |
At the moment, besides Anton in the Philippines, Valentine is assigned to the Shrine at La Salette, France, and Nicodemus in Georgia (United States). With the seven newly professed members, our District of Myanmar can boast of twenty La Salettes. One is locally assigned as the secretary of the Episcopal Commission on Peace and Justice; one is head of the Catechetical Renewal Program in Myitkyina and Bhamo; one is the Curator (Director) of the Shrine of the Holy Cross in Alam, Myitkyina diocese, plus we have the Shrine in Chanthagone and five small near-by parishes.
After much prayer and reflection, I thought it was time to let the younger La Salettes take leadership roles in our life and ministry. Not wanting to be a hindrance to their grwth, I asked permission to get involved with the farmers in Kundaing, Pyapon, Myanmar, whom I had been helping since the tropical cyclone Nargis, that left hundreds of thousands dead and many orphaned and homeless. Nargis was the worst natural disaster in the recorded history of of our country!
To All My People
 |
| A German interpretation of Our Lady of La Salette |
"Keep talking, because I’m here in this city, among these many people." This is the invitation that Paul received from Christ in a dream when he was faced with the opposition of the Jews to whom he spoke. They wondered what he was still doing in Corinth. This is where Paul will turn to the true people of God, those human beings whom Paul will awaken, helping them believe, spreading the seeds of the Gospel that God sows from all eternity.
Concerning Mary’s manner of engagement with her young witnesses, what first struck Melanie and Maximin, after they have overcome their initial fear, was the tenderness that emanated from “this mother (whom they supposed) was taking refuge in the mountains to weep because she was beaten by her own children."
Mary’s attitude, her clothing, the crucifix, the blinding globe of light, the ornamental roses and chains – all contribute to reveal the nearness of a God who weeps over his children. As humans we certainly can empathize with that situation and her gentle loving presence.
So should we limit the message only to the words of the Beautiful Lady? Indeed, Mary of La Salette mentions the lack of response from Christians to the practices associated with the respect for God’s name, the need for daily prayer, observing Sunday rest, attendance at Sunday Mass, and the observance of Lenten practices. But she certainly does not promote a superficial observance of religious practices like the Pharisees...
Planting the Seed
 |
| La Salette statue from Angola |
To be a La Salette Missionary serving in other lands brings with it definite challenges and sacrifices. We need only think of our ministry in Burma (Myanmar) during WWII when all La Salette Missionaries refused to leave their people and as a consequence were captured, tortured and imprisoned in Japanese concentration camps.
Or in Angola – even when other Religious Congregations voluntarily exited when the war for independence erupted, we La Salette Missionaries stayed to minister to the people at the supreme cost of the lives of La Salette Frs. Emil Frick (1938-1988) and Leandre Volken (1940-1983) along with the novitiate class of 1983.
Or in Argentina – during the military dictatorship of the 1970s when Fr. Jim Weeks, M.S., and the whole novitiate class – there were four from Argentina and one from Chile – were accused of being terrorists, arrested, beaten, held incommunicado, tortured and imprisoned. All this was because they dared preach the Gospel to the poor and minister to them.
75th Anniversary in Burma
The members of the La Salette District in Mayanmar, together with the whole La Salette congregation, have gratefully celebrated the 75th Anniversary of the Arrival of the first American La Salette Missionaries in Myanmar.
Humble Beginnings
Five La Salette Missionaries from the United States of America, with Fr. Thomas Newman as the leader, arrived in Akyab (now Sittwe), Burma, on November 9,1937. The Holy Cross Fathers, who were in the area earlier, handed them the mission territory of Arakan District in the Southwestern section of Burma along the costal area.
A Martyr Saint for Madagascar
Editor: The people of Madagascar along with our own La Salette Missionaries who minister on this vast and beautiful island, rejoice with the universal church that Fr. Jacques Berthieu, S.J., a longtime missionary in their country, has been canonized in Rome.
The La Salette Connection
 |
| St. Jacques Berthieu, a French Jesuit martyr and missionary to Madagascar |
The retinue from Madagascar included five other bishops, thirty priests and 315 other Madagascar natives. After the ceremony in St. Peter’s Square, they were invited by the Jesuits to their own Belarmino College, near the Vatican, for a celebratory meal and joyful celebration with Malagasy singing and dancing.
Fr. Dick Landry, M.S., who ministered to Native Americans for several years in the U.S., went to celebrate the canonization of St. Kateri Tekakwitha (1656–1680), informally known as Lily of the Mohawks, the first Native American to be made a saint. Many Filipino Catholics also gathered for the canonization of St. Pedro Calungsod, a 17th-century Filipino martyr, supported by a large contingent of Italy’s Filipino community that also came out to celebrate.
We therefore offer a brief overview of the life and ministry of Fr. Jacques Berthieu, S.J., in honor of the many La Salettes who have served and are presently serving in Madagascar.
La Salette Missions and Inculturation
 |
| Jesus seen sitting in an Indian lotus position |
One life-giving aspect of the process of “inculturation” in missiology is that it gives us a process by which the light of Scripture helps uncover elements within any culture that are consonant with the Gospel. Then, building on those elements, it helps root the Gospel message more deeply in the life of that culture. As Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette, we use that same methodology when entering into a new culture. We put our charism of Reconciliation at the service of that same Gospel, but within this new cultural context.
My Return to Burma
 |
| Original header for La Salette Missions Newsletter |
Editor: Fr. John Blumm, M.S., wrote this article in 1996, having returned to Burma (Myanmar) after a 20-year absence.
From the time of the preparation for the celebration of my fiftieth Anniversary of Ordination, I had been hoping to make one more trip to our former La Salette mission in Burma. I longed to see again those I had known, lived with and ministered to as a priest for some thirty years. This was a tremendous blessing and a dream come true.
Though we had left the mission some twenty years ago, the mutual love and affection was, and is, still there. Fr. Steve Dressell and I visited all the centers of the mission we hoped to reach. Also we made stops in the Philippines to and from Burma where our La Salette Fathers are so active and are educating and training young seminarians from Burma. Hopefully these will go back to reopen a La Salette presence in Burma.
After a long journey from the United States in 1996, I was again happily in the presence of a people I had lived with, labored for, and loved for 30 years. The vitality, the zeal and the joy in their ministry of the young Bishops, Priests, Sisters and Brothers was about the greatest boost I have ever had. But, I think, looking into the faces of the older members of that particular “vineyard” of the Lord we'd worked in, brought home to me how deeply I loved and appreciated them.