We Would Love
to Keep in Touch!
Retirement Fund Gift
 |
| Fr. Thomas A. Reilly, M. S. is presented with a check for $4,000 to benefit the La Salette Missionaries Retirement Fund |
Having just celebrated the “Year of the Priest”, many of our La Salette parishes had special ways of honoring their priests.
On Saturday, June 5, 2010, the Catholic Church of St. Ann in Marietta, GA, celebrated the conclusion of this special year with a dinner and a “Roast of the Priests of the Parish.” The evening concluded with a toast to each individual priest, mentioning the qualities they bring to their priestly ministry.
This event was sponsored by the Knights of Columbus and was a great success. The past Grand Knight, Frank Daniels, and present Grand Knight, Larry Moyer, presented Fr. Thomas A. Reilly, M. S., Pastor of St. Ann’s, with a check for $4,000 to benefit the La Salette Missionaries Retirement Fund. Holding the microphone is Chris Arra who was the Master of Ceremonies for the event. About 180 people attended the event.
Cardinal O’Malley visits Attleboro Shrine
 |
| Cardinal O'Malley with priests and Vietnamese children |
On Sat., July 31, 2010, Cardinal Sean O’Malley of the Archdiocese of Boston celebrated a Pontifical Mass in honor of Our Lady of Lavang to conclude a Vietnamese Pilgrimage to the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette in Attleboro, MA. About 3,500-4,000 Vietnamese Catholics spent the day from 10AM-6:30PM in honor of Our Lady of Lavang and the relics of the Vietnamese Martyrs. The day was filled with opportunities to relax, pray, attend conferences, celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation, process and worship.
Cardinal O’Malley mentioned in his homily his deep appreciation for and gratitude to the Catholic Vietnamese people – their deep faith and courage, their devotion to Mary and their strong cultural values that strengthen the
My Sabbatical: A Renewal of My Faith
 |
| Fr. Manuel Pereira, M.S. (right) in Vatican Palm Sunday Procession |
My feelings are summarized well in the words of Psalm 117: “Praise the LORD, all you nations! Give glory, all you peoples! The LORD’S love for us is strong; the LORD is faithful forever. Hallelujah! (Ps 117:1-2)”
It is with a heart filled with joy and thanksgiving that I share these words with you. I was ordained in September of 1995 and for a long time I have been thinking about taking a sabbatical to learn, reflect and deepen my relationship with the Lord. After praying to the Holy Spirit for guidance and consulting with our Provincial Administration, who were very encouraging, I was granted permission to go on a 3-month sabbatical.
A Full Program of Renewal
La Salette Ordination and Profession
On the weekend of July 17-18, 2010, the La Salette Missionaries gathered at the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette in Attleboro, Ma. to celebrate two wonderful occasions – the Ordination to the Priesthood of Fr. Joseph Lamartine Eliscar, M.S. and the Perpetual Profession of Bro. David Eubank, M.S. Hundreds of people came for both celebrations. The following are brief descriptions of their journey to become La Salette Missionaries.
Very Rev. Joseph Bachand, M.S., receives the
perpetual vows of Bro. David Eubank, M.S.
Bro. David Eubank, M.S.
Born: Sept. 12, 1969; First Profession: July 22, 2007; Perpetual Profession: July 18, 2010; Present Ministry: Recently assigned to the Shrine and Retreat Center Ministries, Attleboro, MA., specializing in youth programs.
My vocation to religious life has been a long and joyous journey with my conversion to Catholicism in 1991. During the Easter Vigil at Christ the King Chapel in Buffalo, New York, I received the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation with my family and fellow students looking on. I knew God was calling me to something special but it took time to realize it.
When I met with the La Salette Vocation Director, Father Pete Kohler, M.S., in Massachusetts, I found a sense of community, my sense of home. After a period of time in prayer and discernment, I believed that my thoughts and actions were leading me on the road to joining the La Salette Community.
U.S. Bishops Launch Immigration Website
The topic of immigration is so important to the Catholic Church in America that the U.S. Bishops have recently launched a new website totally dedicated to this crucial area of life in our country:
As La Salettes involved in the ministry of reconciliation, we have been discussing at our regional meetings what we can do for justice in this area.
This website gives basic background information including the fact that “Americans have historically limited migration due to a range of ethnic, religious, and national prejudices. The documents here offer insights into the ways the U.S. has historically limited newcomers, as well as the ways such limits, perceived as acceptable in one era, became unacceptable in another.”
Our La Salette Seminary in Milford, Iowa
Since the coming of the La Salette Missionaries to North America, we have served as Missionaries in several places across this continent. One such place was rural Milford, Iowa. Recently an alumnus asked about our ministry there. The following history is given in response to his question.
The climax of our Midwestern foundations was witnessed in September 1941 with the opening of the new La Salette Missionary College, at Milford, Iowa, in the Sioux City diocese. The Seminary was situated on the shores of West Okoboji Lake, a beautiful blue water lake in one of the most picturesque regions of the Midwest. The spot was formerly known as the Casino Terrace Park. The building and adjoining property of 27 acres were presented to the La Salette Fathers by the late Dr. H. O. Green of Spencer, Iowa.
Fr. Phil Salois, M.S., On A National Truth Commission
 |
| Fr. Phil Salois, M.S. |
Fr. Phil Salois, M.S., was selected to be one of 70 Commissioners on the Truth Commission for Conscience in War Conference which took place on March 21-22, 2010 at the Riverside Church in New York City.
This gathering was designed to launch a major nationwide conversation about freedom of conscience for members of our nation's armed forces. As the program flier states: “We owe this to our service members and their families, to our faith communities, and to our nation.”
On that site is the list of Witnesses and Subject Matter Experts from whom they heard testimonies. Then began a six-month national conversation which will result in the publishing of a White Paper for the Department of Defense on the subject of morality of war and Conscientious Objection to wars deemed immoral. As Fr. Phil says, “It was an interesting mix of people attending. I am looking forward to this ongoing experience.”
Read more Fr. Phil Salois, M.S., On A National Truth Commission
An Eye-Opening Experience
Fr. Ted leads a yearly student-week to work for the poor in Mexico
We had a great day looking at the topic of homelessness and housing and spending a second day at Mercy Center. Our morning consisted of heading to Valley Lodge which sounds like a place you go to ski, but is actually a home for those over 50 who find themselves homeless. Laura Jergenson who is the home’s director covered several aspects of the city’s policies, several of which aren’t exactly helpful to the plight of the homeless.
Later that same theme was reiterated by Laura Jervis, a Presbyterian Minister who is the executive director for the West Side Federation for the Homeless. She builds “permanent affordable housing” for the aged poor and started the federation herself.
In the evening we met Fr. Ted Brown, M.S., from Long Island University who led us on our venture “into the streets.” We saw much of the statistics that our earlier site leaders spoke of, namely:
Hopeful Haitians Persevering With Faith
 |
| St Claire of Assisi School_some of 350 refugee students from Port-au-Prince |
Returned from his April 7 to 14 pilgrimage to Port-au-Prince in Haiti after experiencing first-hand the
widespread devastation wrought by the January 12 earthquake. La Salette Father Bernard Baris, pastor of Our Lady of the Cape Parish in Brewster, writes in his latest "Haiti Journal 2010".
“It's Sunday, April 18. It's cloudy on the Cape (Cod) and cool — about 50 degrees. But everything is bright and green. The forsythia and daffodils are still in bloom as when I left. The tulips are about to bloom in their varied colors. It seems that the images I carry in my head of Haiti are but a dream — some, a very bad dream. But as I type these reflections, I know all is real. I know that our brothers and sisters in Haiti depend on us and we on them to teach important lessons in life.”
Fr. Eduardo Nevares: New Auxiliary Bishop for Phoenix
Former La Salette, Fr. Eduardo Nevares, to become Auxiliary Bishop of Phoenix
 |
| Bishop-elect Eduardo Nevares |
The Phoenix Diocesan newspaper, The Catholic Sun, quotes Fr. Nevares as saying: “With just one phone call, your life changes. In the seminary, I’m surrounded by all sorts of doctors of theology. I never expected to be named a bishop.” While Bishop-elect Nevares is Hispanic and grew up speaking both English and Spanish, Bishop Olmsted stressed that he will be “a bishop for everyone.” “I’m the baby of five,” Bishop-elect Nevares said. “My parents would speak to us in Spanish. But among us kids, we’d always speak English.”
Fr. Eduardo Nevares is well-known to the La Salette Missionaries since he was a member of our community for twenty-five years, having been educated in our seminaries in Jefferson City, MO, Belleville, IL, Altamont, NY and Ipswich, MA. He entered the La Salette novitiate in 1976, professing his first vows in 1977 and his final vows in 1980. He completed his theological studies at Kenrick Seminary in St. Louis, MO, in 1981.
Read more Fr. Eduardo Nevares: New Auxiliary Bishop for Phoenix