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La Salette and the Family – Togetherness and Fruitfulness
In her conversation with Mélanie and Maximin, the Beautiful Lady of La Salette refers to the families of their own time, and to their difficulties in life: famine, the death of small children, parents’ worries about feeding their family.
“Come near, children.”
Did Mélanie ever think of her house affectionately as her home? We do not know. As for Maximin, we are better informed, since the Beautiful Lady reminded him of a past conversation with his father, “Here, my child, eat some bread this year at least; I don't know who will eat any next year.” The wheelwright Giraud feared that his family soon would have no bread to eat, because the wheat harvest had gone bad. For the family of Mélanie, it was permanent misery. Her father did not have regular job. Mélanie had to leave the family home in early childhood, placed as a shepherd in farms of the surrounding villages. When one is in trying circumstances, even one less mouth to feed counts!
"In his own image he made them, male and female he created them.”
In her message, Mary speaks about the "six days” that God has given to us to work. At the ages of Maximin and Mélanie, Mary understood that they had learned in their catechism that God has created the world in six days, and, on the sixth day, God had endowed humankind with an intelligence and the ability to work. Such gifts could only give rise to feelings of gratefulness thanksgiving!
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Cooperation in Bolivia
Cooperation has always been the Mission of the Church. After all, it is Christ’s mission handed over to us, the baptized, to bring to fulfillment. At times it seemed that the mission was coming to a close. The “world” consisted of the Mediterranean basin and adjoining lands in Asia, Africa and Europe. Then they learned that the world was much bigger than previously thought. And the scope of Christ’s mission was enlarged to include the “new world.”
Inspired by the Spirit that opened the hearts of the Apostles at Pentecost, various missionary groups sprang up in the Church. Many had the burning desire to dedicate their lives while reaching out to save the “pagans” who knew nothing about Christ. Even though certain missionary congregations were give specific territories to evangelize, the prevailing attitude was that this is Christ’s work.
Serving Our Pilgrims – in France and Attleboro
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| In France, Fr. Marcel Schlewer, M.S. (right) and a few La Salette priests sit with their guests |
The La Salette Missionaries have Shrines all over the world. Two in particular, our main Shrine at the Holy Mountain in France and the National Shrine in Attleboro, MA., depend a great deal on volunteers in order to provide many services.
In France on the Holy Mountain:
At our La Salette Shrine on the Holy Mountain in France, a smile, a kind word and the meal can become a pleasant respite. All this thanks to our service team. They, along with the kitchen and dishwashing crews, are but the tip of the iceberg where the food service of the pilgrims is concerned. A kind smile and impeccable attentiveness go a long way to make for a relaxing meal.
During the summer a team of sixteen to eighteen people work with Laurance, the woman in charge of our Shrine food service. The volunteers and four of the salaried team members rotate serving the three daily meals. They are quite efficient at setting out the food, opening the doors for the pilgrims, helping those who might need assistance, selling drinks, managing the food carts, and finally cleaning the dining room.
Praiseworthy Language
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| Reaching out to poor children and transforming their lives is one way the La Salettes participate in the work done so selflessly by Sr. Stephany |
Reaching out to poor children and transforming their lives is one way the La Salettes participate in the work done so selflessly by Sr. Stephany
A few times over the years I have written about Fr. Norman Butler’s outreach to street kids. When we received special gifts for needy children, his was the first name that came to mind, and the money was sent to him to help the work he was involved with in Bolivia. A few years ago, together with Norman, I assisted at the graduation from high school of a teenager whom Norman had encouraged to continue his education. Some of the money we had received was used to help put this youth through school. At other times the money was given to a sister who worked closely with poor kids. In a recent letter I found out who that sister was, and about her unique way of witnessing to the Gospel in her neighborhood. She exemplified well what Pope Benedict wrote about in his first encyclical “God is love” : Anyone who needs me, and whom I can help, is my neighbor [15]. Here is Father Norman’s eulogy – in the original Greek sense of the word, meaning “praisworthy language” – of how Sister Stephany was a neighbor to the street kids she found in Cochabamba.
Links in a Chain
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| Similar to the mighty Mississippi which traverses North America, this Irrawaddy River snakes through and is a lifeline for the country of Myanmar. |
Similar to the mighty Mississippi which traverses North America, this Irrawaddy River snakes through and is a lifeline for the country of Myanmar.
Living on an island – Madagascar – for many years, it was natural to think of the water surrounding the island as something that separated me from family and friends here in the States. One day I was discussing the idea of “Mission” with a group of teenagers. One mentioned that he would find it difficult to leave home and go “over the waters” – an-dafy in Malagasy – to preach the Gospel. Then someone said: “Water is not an element that separates us from others. Rather, all those drops of water are like links of a chain that join us together.”
I recalled this as I stood on the banks of the Irrawaddy River in Myanmar several years ago. In 1937 the first five La Salette Missionaries sailed down the waters of the Hudson River to end up on the banks of the Irrawaddy. As I crossed the waters of the Irrawaddy on my way to the parish, leper colony and orphanage in Thayet Myo, I thought of how all those tiny droplets of water joined the Fathers in Burma with their families and friends here in the States, inviting all to be part of the Mission.
Helping the Poor Children of Naples
Editor’s note: We share with you an article written by Fr. Angelo Avitabile, M.S., on the occasion of his parish’s 25th anniversary. His commitment to the people of his parish, Our Lady of La Salette, Reconciler, in Naples, Italy, in the poorest section of the city, was remarkable. His intelligence, dedication and seemingly endless enthusiasm and ongoing outreach to the poor, estranged and helpless of his area was extraordinary, as is evidenced by the program he outlines for us.
Over the last few years, Fr. Angelo developed cancer and finally went home to God on August 1, 2010, at the age of 50. The grace of his ministry will last forever in the hearts of the countless people he touched. May God grant him eternal rest.
As the Universal Church is preparing for the Jubilee Year 2000 ...our parish in Naples is celebrating its Silver Jubilee. In the past, it has administered the sacraments, undertaken projects, and organized many events; yet what the parishioners, and God, treasure most is that we have all tried to love one another sincerely and honestly.
Two Lourdes Shrines in Myanmar
Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine in Nyaunglaybin
The National Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in Nyaunglaybin, Yangon Diocese, attracts about a hundred thousand pilgrims every year. Many flock there, coming by train, bus or private vehicles.
More than 40,000 people come from thirteen dioceses in Myanmar to gather in Nyaunglebin, 145 km north of Yangon, to mark the 104th anniversary of a shrine dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes. Present for the three-day celebrations, from 17 to 19 February, They were joined by more than 50 priests and members of religious orders.
The program of celebrations included daily Mass, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, confession, meditation and hymns to the Blessed Mother. This feast was marked for the first time here in Nyaunglebin, Bago division, in 1902.
Now that the National Shrine has been open for over one hundred years, they welcome pilgrims from New York City, USA to Perth, Australia. Even though it is open throughout the year, there are only a few days
A One Room Schoolhouse
Bishop Donald Pelletier wrote about how a Missionary’s life and work continue to follow after him, even though he is no longer working in the mission field.
Anyone who ever knew the late Father Joe Shea, MS would never forget his contagious enthusiasm, his overpowering impulsiveness, his stubborn determination to overcome all obstacles. Needless to say he was a man of vision and therefore of surprises. Once that vision was clear to him he never backed down – not only did he make his point but saw to it that others would go along. It was good that he never let a title – even the title of Bishop – scare him or derail him when discussing his plans and ideas with the late Bishop Bernard or with me.
Ordination at Twilight
From our La Salette History: In a letter written from Prome, Father John O’Reilly, M.S., describes the triumph and the joy that were felt on the occasion of the ordination of the first priest from their mission. After thirty years of difficult, unrewarding labor, this event underscores the patience and devotion with which our Fathers in Burma have given themselves to the task. The ordination that took place in the afternoon of March 18, 1967, is laden with meaning for our group of missionaries. Now that work of the Spirit which demands the witness of an apostle will be pursued by the firstborn of a critically-needed native clergy—the first of a long line we hope. (From our present-day Editor: Since our recent reimplantation in Myanmar on Nov. 18, 2005, we now have several La Salette priests working in a new area of Myanmar.)
The headwaters of the Irrawaddy River which flows from
north to south through Myanmar and is the country's
largest river and most important commercial waterway.
From the La Salette Publication,
Reconciliare, May 1967
“As long as the day lasts I must carry out the
work of the one who sent me.” (John 9:4)
The problems connected with the coming ordination gathered around these central points: the place for the celebration, the feeding of the guests, the training of the clergy and servers and the choir. We had applied for permission from the District Educational Committee (which had “nationalized,” that is, confiscated everything on “our” property outside of the cathedral and the Bishop’s house) to use the property and the buildings, that is the school and the boarding buildings. That application was sent up in January.
Sisters Take Vows in Myanmar
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| Novice Margaret Emaygin, Novice Monica Sine Aung and Novice Angela Sote Khine take their vows for the first time as La Salette Sisters |
Sisters Take Vows in Myanmar
“We love because God first loved us.” (1 Jn 4:19) After a few years of the presence of La Salette Sisters in Myanmar, Novice Margaret Emaygin, Novice Monica Sine Aung and Novice Angela Sote Khine took their first profession of three vows of Evangelical Councils on the 2nd of February, 2010. Fr. Bernie, MS, Fr. Jerome, MS, Fr. Valentine, MS, Fr. Robert, MS, Fr. William, MS and Bro. Nicholas, MS attended to witness the profession in Myintkyina despite a day trip by train from Mandalay.
Sr. Mariejo Valenton, SNDS represented the Mother General and accepted the vows. Some members of the Missionaries of Faith joined in the celebration. Angela was once a novice of the congregation. With many priests and the Bishop Francis’ presence, it was a very solemn occasion; with a lot of food too.