We Would Love
to Keep in Touch!
Argentina Parish Life
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| Fr. Jim Weeks, M.S. |
Editor’s note: Father Jim Weeks, M.S., ministers in Las Termas de Rio Hondo, Argentina. He wrote about his ministry there. With the addition of Brother Adrian, one of our Bolivian seminarians who recently took his perpetual vows, they now have four La Salettes on their pastoral team. The parishioners in the parish of St. Oliver’s in Snellville, GA., twin with their parish:
Our team consists of the following La Salettes: Padre Alfredo Velarde, a native of Argentina who is 57 years old; Padre Juan Miguel "Jack" Garvey, an American Missionary who is 85; myself another American and I am 77; and Bro. Adrian Fernandez Gallardo, just 40 years of age. Our parish ministry takes in a whole county and in some ways it’s like a whole diocese. There are two different realities to the parish: the city and the campo or countryside. In the campo we serve 127 chapels and 76 schools. In the city we have one main parish, which has 11 neighborhood chapels or faith communities attached.
Sharing the Gift of Song
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| Fr. Pat singing in concert |
Over my many years as a La Salette, I have been sharing my gift of song with many people all over the world. I recently had the opportunity to visit our La Salettes in India for three and a half weeks. My original purpose was to bring my songs and my ministry to India, primarily to places where our La Salettes minister but also in other places as well.
It’s interesting to note that “…Christianity was introduced to India by St. Thomas the Apostle , who visited Muziris in Kerala in 52 CE to spread the gospel among Kerala's Jewish settlements. Although the exact origins of Christianity in India remain unclear, it is generally agreed that Christianity in India is almost as old as Christianity itself and it spread in India even before it spread to many of the predominantly Christian nations of Europe.”
I began my visit in Parakadavu, Kerala in southern India, the most Catholic of states in India. Remarkably, Kerala is 60% Catholic versus the rest of the states in India which are just 3% Catholic. I offered an evening of song and prayer at
One Mind and One Heart
Our Provincial Superior, Fr. Joe Bachand, M.S. began his recent letter with: “‘This is a historic moment.’ …We were able to feel our interdependence as members of the same Congregation.” Fr. Joe realizes full well the import of the recent meeting of the three La Salette Councils of Brazil, North America and Argentina as they met in Curitiba, Brazil, on March 21-25, 2011.
As with any worldwide religious order, leaders of the order meet every year or so to catch up the “goings on” in various parts of the congregation. However, it was the first time for the three councils of the Americas (North and South) to meet and share what is happening in their Provinces and Region, to dream of new possibilities, and to assume some common commitments – that was an important step and a truly reconciliation moment!
Our Mission in Haiti
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Frs. Evariste, Baris, Sr. Christine, a Sister of Charity of Ottawa , Frs. Hervé and Gosselin |
I went to Haiti accompanied by some of my parishioners for a week in February 2011. During our time there, we went to visit the new La Salette parish and mission in Bayonnais. This is a village about an hour north of Dessalines and east of Gonaïves. We took a shortcut around the mountains to get there. I have never seen such a terrible road. It's impossible to use this road during the rainy season because we have to cross two rivers that don't have bridges. At this time of year, the water is only about 12 inches deep so we are able to cross it.
Once there at St. Augustine & St. Monica's (that's the name of the new parish), we were welcomed warmly.
On Sunday, February 13th, the Bishop of Gonaïves celebrated Mass there, officially establishing the new parish, entrusting the pastoral care of the parish to the Missionaries of La Salette and installing Father Evariste Ralohotsy, M.S., as the first La Salette pastor. The new parish will be staffed with two La Salettes from Madagascar. The other La Salette priest is Father Hervé Rafalimanantsoa. The mission will be financially supported by the La Salettes of North America.
There is a large church in Bayonnais which was well built several years ago. There also existed a rectory building which unfortunately needed to be torn down because termites had eaten all the wood structural beams. We visited the new rectory which was under construction.
An Oasis of Hope
In the midst of this violent world, the Missionaries of La Salette of Brazil on Monday, Feb. 14, 2011, took over responsibility of Taizé Center, comprising a Retreat House and a Center of Christian Formation in Alagoinhas, Bahia, Brazil.
The famous ecumenical community of Taizé in France has had a branch in Bahia, Brazil for forty years, but the four monks that work here have no strength to continue their work. When they looked for help, the Missionaries of La Salette from the Brazil Province responded.
Various aspects of this new mission are interesting. It’s a ministry not a parish. It’s an ecumenical collaborative work since of the four monks there, only one is Catholic. Besides, the work is a collaboration between two communities of faith. And what a service in the midst of a violent world!
With the retreat house and educational programs, La Salette is creating an oasis of hope, together with the monks who will continue their style of prayer, alternating silence with simple musical refrains (which we know from their popular music CDs). Facing violence, this Taizé Center will offer a setting to find oneself with God so that many – among them many youth – can find peace and return to the upside-down world, carrying the Good News of Reconciliation.
Catholic Colleges Today
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Fr. Thomas Leclerc, M.S., PhD, Associate Professor of Religious Studies and Department Chair |
Emmanuel President Sister Janet Eisner, SND, invited members of the college community to reflect upon the history and current state of Catholic higher education in America during the 19th annual Founders' Day celebration on Feb. 3rd. The event also included a panel discussion on the college's programs in Theology & Religious Studies and Philosophy.
Each year on Founders' Day, the Emmanuel community reflects upon the founding of the Sisters of Notre Dame by St. Julie Billiart and the founding of the college in 1919. Sponsored by the Center for Mission and Spirituality, Founders' Day is part of a weeklong celebration that includes prayer services, discussions and local community service opportunities for students, faculty and staff.
In her address titled “The Vibrant Mission of Catholic Colleges Today,” Sister Janet credited the philosophical basis for founding a Catholic college to 19th century Roman Catholic cardinal and author, John Henry Newman, beatified by Pope Benedict XVI in September 2010. Newman viewed the study of theology as essential to a liberal arts education and defined a Catholic college as “a place in which the intellect may safely range and speculate; sure to find its equal in some antagonist activity, and its judge in the tribunal of truth.”
Orlando Welcome Center
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Fr. Caulfield, pastor who built original Church, stands near Bp. Noonan as he blesses the Welcome Center. |
ORLANDO — The old became new again — and better. The transformation of the old Blessed Trinity Catholic Church into a welcome center and parish offices was complete, and on Jan. 16, with holy water and prayer, Bishop John Noonan offered special blessings. More than 1,000 people gathered for this special celebration that began with Mass.
“The new welcome center is a blessing to me and to my ministry as faith formation administrator,” said Carlos Bernard. “It means more productivity space to make our church community much more accessible to our parishioners. Plus, it means that everyone has a one-stop location when it comes to other needs."
A welcoming place is just what Missionaries of Our Lady or La Salette Father Roland Nadeau, pastor, envisioned. In talking about the new welcome center and parish offices, Father Nadeau said, “It is indicative of
the ministry we want to do here — open arms to all parishioners and non-parishioners alike.”
La Salette: Argentina and Bolivia
Profession Ceremony on February 2, 2010 at La Salette Parish, Cordoba, Argentina
I am thankful for the opportunity to visit Bolivia and Argentina and be a part of the Region’s Annual Assembly. Indeed this visit offered me an opportunity to get to know the members of the Region and their various ministries. I wish that I was proficient enough to communicate in Spanish. Thanks to Fr. John Higgins for his excellent translations.
Awarding Fr. Ted
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| Fr. Ted Brown, M.S. with a young Mexican girl who will benefit from their hard work |
In January 2011, Esperanza of Mexico honored Fr. Ted Brown, M.S., and Long Island University. The award was given in celebration of the 10 years of service to the families of Tijuana. They said that in these days when people are abandoning them because of the economy and reports of violence, Fr. Ted and Long Island University have remain faithful to them and their needs. Esperanza gave him a nice plaque.
Fr. Ted said: “What was most touching for me was the family which received the first home we built in 2001 attended the ceremony. Apparently their lives have been turned around because of this home. One of the children, who was about to be born 10 years ago handed me his wooden rosary beads, and his 
mom gave me a small glass statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe.”
He shared the history of this ministry: “Ten years ago I chose Esperanza because of its emphasis on creating neighborhoods and 'reconciling' people so they could work together to solve their own problems. It seemed to me to be a very good La Salette ministry.”
Fr. Ted continued: “The family receiving this year's home made a hand written award on which they wrote: How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’”
La Salette Memories: Schools and Shrines
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| Shouts of joy ring out in the Yale Payne Whitney locker room, as the Varsity and coach Fr. Lowery clutch the ball used in the winning game. |
William Faulkner once wrote: “The past is never dead, it is not even past.” That’s how I felt when we recently welcomed a small group of La Salette Alumni (some classmates) from the class of 1960’s from our High School Seminaries in Hartford and Cheshire, CT. Some brought their wives but all brought their cherished memories of days of yore.
Their appearances may have changed over the years yet their memories are as alive as if some events had happened last week. Memories do that – they can make us young again, still excited, for example, over that tremendous basketball game in the Yale Payne Whitney Gymnasium in 1974 where our small Seminary High School in Cheshire, CT., won the Connecticut State Class C Championship!
I was not surprised at all about their excitement for that game. I share it fully because I went to that great game as well and, in a sense, our lives will never be the same. That’s what memories can do – despite the passage of many years, they came make us excited, help us to laugh and bond us ever more closely to each other.