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Relics of the Past
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| Bro. David Eubank, M.S., holds one of his first-class relics from his personal collection. |
As the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette in Attleboro celebrates its 60th anniversary under the theme of “60 Years of Serving God’s People,” this year’s Festival of Lights will see the return of Father André “Pat” Patenaude and his Christmas concerts, Clopper “heehawing” every night next to the outdoor Nativity set, a new synchronized light display set to music — and for the first time, relics of saints will be on exhibit for the many faithful who make the shrine an annual visit during the Christmas season.
Collecting relics is a passion for La Salette Brother David Eubank, shrine publicist and young adult ministry coordinator, who says those who know of his collection of 102 first-, second- and third-class relics have jokingly referred to him as “Brother Relic.”
Some names of the blessed and the saints listed in his vast collection can be easily recognized: St. Bernadette Soubirous; St. Stanislaus Kostka; St. Vincent de Paul; St. Marguerite d’Youville; St. John Bosco; St. Dominic Savio; Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati; and Blessed John Paul II are just a few.
His collection also includes a gift from a vicar in Rome: a piece of the Holy Sepulchre, a piece of the crown of thorns (or something near to it, said Brother Eubank) and a piece of the scourging post; “Even though they’re things, anything from Jesus Christ is consider first-class, and I do have the certificate for that,” said Brother Eubank.
His collection began in the form of a couple of relics he received as gifts a few years ago, including a relic of Blessed Pier Giorgio. As Brother Eubank began to study his history, he got to know who Pier Giorgio was and who his patron saints were — SS. Peter and Paul. Upon inquiring through a friend, Brother Eubank was able to procure SS. Peter and Paul relics, and from there his collection has continued to grow.
An Attleboro Christmas – Some Tidbits
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| First Sunday pilgrimage in 1952, gathering in prayer around the façade of the castle. |
The years 2013-2014 are anniversary years for the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette in Attleboro, MA. We are celebrating sixty years of our Shrine Ministry – and the Christmas Festival of Lights – as well as the fiftieth anniversary of our Retreat Center Ministry.
A Truly Grand Opening
Of course, our Christmas Festival of Lights had its fledgling beginnings on Tuesday, December 8, 1953, the official opening of the Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette in Attleboro. This coincided with the beginning of the Marian Year promulgated by Pope Pius XII to mark the centenary of the proclamation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception (declared on Dec. 8, 1854 by Pope Pius IX). On this occasion, there was the first Christmas light display – some 5,000 Christmas lights – along with a splendid fireworks display, and outdoor nativity scene. About 5,000 people were present to witness this grand opening.
Fr. Pat – Sing, Sing, Sing!
When Fr. André Patenaude, M.S., – known to many as Fr. Pat – was Shrine Director, he realized that at Christmas time the buses that carried senior groups and those that came from afar generally arrived early. Since the lights did not go on until 5:00 PM, he decided that something should be provided for our visitors. Fr. Pat took out his guitar and began strumming. That was in 1982.
La Salette Sisters in Vancouver
How were the La Salette Sisters invited to serve in Vancouver?
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| The Installation of the SNDS Canada Community at Holy Trinity Parish was celebrated on Nov. 18, 2012 during Mass; (L to R) Sr. Marilyn Antonio, Fr. James Comey (pastor),Sr. Minerva Boado, Sr. Marijo Valenton, Sr. Margaret (Mimi) Ei May Kyin, and Fr. Rey. |
In 2009, a General Council Member, Sr. Sonia Silverio, SNDS, while visiting her relatives in Vancouver had the occasion to meet J. Michael Miller, CSB, Archbishop of Vancouver. The Archbishop mentioned that he was open to welcoming the La Salette Sisters into his archdiocese.
In August of 2011, Sr. Elisabeth Guiboux, SNDS, and Sr. Marilyn J. Antonio, SNDS, spent twelve days visiting the different parishes that requested our presence and ministry. The welcoming spirit of the people and helpful assistance of the hosting priests and the Archbishop were simply wonderful.
After much prayer, we selected Holy Trinity Parish in North Vancouver, British Columbia because it offered a convenient complex, including a convent with a large chapel, a school and the parish church. We spoke with Archbishop Miller, requesting ministry at Holy Trinity and offered to open the School in September of 2012.
With the decisions being made in July 2012, our Superior General, Sr. Elisabeth Guiboux, SNDS, gave the mandate to me as Sister in charge of the Canadian Mission. The Province of the Philippines also sent Sr. Minerva I. Boado, SNDS, to be a member of the new community.
On August 19, 2012, the two La Salette Sisters from the Philippines arrived and were welcomed warmly. On October 19, 2012, Sr. Margaret Ei May Kyin, SNDS arrived from Myanmar. On November 18, 2012, we were formally established in the Archdiocese by Archbishop J. Michael Miller, CSB through a letter read during the celebration of the Holy Eucharist by Rev. James Patrick Comey, Pastor of Holy Trinity Parish in the presence of Sr. Maria Josephine Valenton, SNDS, Delegate of Sr. Elisabeth Guiboux, SNDS.
Lay Fast for Priests
ATTLEBORO, MA. — It was eight years ago that Anna Rae-Kelly, a parishioner at St. John the Evangelist Parish in Attleboro, was first inspired to do something to support the Catholic priesthood, which had been coming under constant attack since the clergy abuse scandals broke in 2001.
“Just after the priest abuse scandal hit Boston, as Catholics we all felt drawn to pray much more intensely for the priesthood which seemed to be under such tremendous attack at the time,” Rae-Kelly said. “Being aware that without priests we have no Eucharist, we have no sacrament of reconciliation, and we have no one to administer the last rites, I felt compelled to pray for them.”
Knowing how priests make tremendous sacrifices of their own for the faithful and the Church to fulfill their ministry, Rae-Kelly didn’t feel like simple prayers were enough. So she decided to take a cue from Jesus and embark on a personal fast of her own.
Prayer and Fasting – Powerful Tools
La Salette Feast – California Style
In our parish of St. Christopher’s in Moreno Valley, California, the story of the Apparition of Our Lady of La Salette was not very well known by our parishioners. However over the last three years, through our persistent efforts as Lay La Salettes, the message and mission of Our Lady of La Salette is fortunately becoming more familiar to our people.
2011 – An Intercultural La Salette Liturgy for All Her People
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| Outdoor Candlelight Procession |
We invited two younger children, a girl and a boy, to be Readers; the General Intercessions and Mass music were multilingual and our celebrations were applauded by our parish community.
2012 and 2013 – Making Our Intercultural Experience Better
Reasons to Celebrate
The wonderful song, The Circle of Life, from the movie, The Lion King, says it well:
It's the Circle of Life and it moves us all
Through despair and hope, through faith and love
Till we find our place on the path unwinding
In the Circle – the Circle of Life.
As La Salette Missionaries, we can be very proud that Mary’s mission to make her message known to all her people is still be carried out in more than twenty-three countries around the world. In our Province of Mary, Mother of the Americas, we have recently celebrated several events for which we should thank God.
We recently celebrated the renewal of vows of Bro. Paul Jussen, M.S., who is istudying at Chicago Theological Union. He renewed his vows at the La Salette Shrine Church in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin. On below left, he renews his vows before Fr. Phil Negley, our Provincial Superior; on right Bro. Paul (center in black) is joined by (L to R) Fr. Jim Stajkowski, M.S., Fr. Ray Cadran, M.S. (Paul’s Director in Chicago), Fr. Phil Negley, M.S., Fr. Gerry Lebanowski, M.S. and Bro. Tony Sepanik, M.S.
More Than Just Lights
ATTLEBORO, Mass. — A man quietly sits in the Chapel of Light, head bowed while praying with a Rosary in his hand. Frogs call to each other as the fountains in the Rosary Pond add the soothing sound of rushing water to the picturesque scene. Best known for its Festival of Lights at Christmas time, the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette in Attleboro is open year-round to offer more than just a celebration of lights — the shrine offers respite for those looking for personal reflection, solitude and prayer.
In the summer the fresh sound of the fountains of the Rosary
Pond give a calming effect to a tour of the National Shrine
(photo: Becky Arbut)
“This is one of the best-kept secrets in Attleboro,” said Brother David Eubank, MS. “People tell me that they come to this property and they’re in such turmoil; then they come to the property and it’s almost like coming home. They leave in total serenity; just to be around and sense the presence of the Blessed Mother, Jesus and the Eternal Father in all His glory.”
Learning To Read Brings Hope
Editor: This article describes part of the project that is being financed by the "project money" that the Parish of Our Lady of La
Salette in Cordoba, Yofre Norte, Argentina is running.
Paulo Reglus Neves Freire,
Ph.D (1921–1997) was best
known for his influential work,
“Pedagogy of the Oppressed,”
which is considered one of
the foundational texts of the
critical pedagogy movement.
Doctor Paulo Freire, a noted Brazilian educator and philosopher, a champion of empowerment and transformation, said: "We all know something, we all ignore something, so we always learn…” In another place he said: “The oppressed must be their own example in the struggle for their redemption.”
Literacy Meetings in Villa Esquiú and El Quebrachal
In the parishes of Our Lady of Valle in Villa Esquiú and Our Lady of Guadalupe in the Quebrachal in the "Something Different” Cooperative, there is a program for beginning catechists, provided for by the Parish Project with the support of the Team for Mental Health, under the support and supervision of the priests and parishioners. It has begun to establish “literacy spaces” for people in these communities.
For some time there has been a need for many youth and adults to be able to complete their primary level education. In particular this is a need for those women working and living in the poorer area of our cities, who have school children but themselves need to attend an adult school.
Pope Francis with Youth
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| Pope Francis enthusiastically waves at the crown at World Youth Day in Brazil |
Thousands of Argentinian youth in Rio for World Youth Day met with the Holy Father yesterday afternoon. Pope Francis had personally requested that his schedule be rearranged to have a moment to meet with them. The meeting was held in the Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro.
The Holy Father began his address by expressing his hope that the World Youth Day would bring about a “mess” in their dioceses, a term he used to describe a call to action in announcing the Gospel.
“I want people to go out!” he explained. “I want the Church to go out to the street! I want us to defend ourselves against everything that is worldliness, that is installation, that is comfortableness, that is clericalism, that is being shut-in in ourselves. The parishes, the schools, the institutions, exist to go out! If they don’t go out, they become NGOs (non-governmental organization of citizens involved in humanitarian causes), and the Church can’t be an NGO.”
The 76 year old Pontiff went on to speak of the rising exclusion of both young people and the elderly, or as he described as “the two poles of life.” The elderly are often uncared for and unheard in today’s society, while the youth are excluded from having a stable employment.
Creches Find a Home
Editor: A carved, wood-stained nativity set from Germany is part of the new International Nativity Sets Display at the Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette in Enfield. It is among more than 450 sets donated by the Rev. Msgr. Charles DesRuisseaux, a retired priest of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Manchester.
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| Bro. Claude Rheaume, M.S., marvels at the Christmas Crèche collection he helped to display. |
ENFIELD — This summer, the Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette opened a permanent exhibit of more than 450 nativity sets from more than 50 countries. "We're wondering if it isn't the largest collection in New England, 450 is a good number," said Shrine Director Fr. René J. Butler.
The entire collection was donated to the shrine by the Rev. Msgr. Charles DesRuisseaux, a retired priest of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Manchester, who lives in Manchester. He started the collection in 1973 when his aunt made him a nativity set using unique materials such as old spools from Manchester's Amoskeag Mill as well as egg shells.
Then in 1980 while on a trip to Acapulco, Mexico, he was charmed by the Mexican interpretation of the crèche with St. Joseph wearing a sombrero and bought the nativity. "I love to travel so I've been to many places all over the world, Africa and Asia and Europe and Latin America," he said, of the places he bought nativity sets. "I'd have to have at least 15 or 20 news ones each year. I'd always have to buy a suitcase to bring all my nativities home."