"All around we have crucifixes as symbols of Jesus' sacrifice for us, but this is the True Cross. This is part of the actual cross he died on," Rodriguez said. "I am overcome with emotions when I think about what he did for me. I cannot thank him enough. This was a humbling experience." In celebration of the feast, the faithful of the parish had the opportunity to venerate a relic after the midmorning English and the evening Spanish Masses.
Good Shepherd Parish is blessed to have four relics of the True Cross on its premises. One relic, housed in an ornate reliquary, was donated to the parish by the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette, the religious order of the priests serving the parish, when the new church building was dedicated last year. The remaining relics, housed in simple reliquaries, were entrusted to La Salette Father Joseph O'Neil, pastor, by two dear friends: Brother Raymond Aubin, M.S., and Brother Peter Collins, M.S., of the religious order, upon their deaths.
This is my personal testimony as an active La Salette Missionary and pastoral minister, working for Peace and Social Justice.
As I write this testimony, I remember many people who have been with me on this journey and have given me the privilege of sharing their stories, dreams, struggles and desires.
I thank those who, in particular, have experienced the painfulness of living with a broken heart because of the lack of justice in their lives and yet have had the courage to share their lives and stories with me and others. Over and above this, I am also grateful for their commitment in the struggle for truth and for a more just society.
I believe that it is in their tears and their faithful commitment to the search for justice that we find the hope that “another world is possible”. Also they help us to commit ourselves to the struggle for justice and the restoration of the relationship between God, the people of the Kingdom and the Earth.
Thinking of all these people and their precious gifts that I have received in my lifetime, I remember a poem by Pedro Casaldaliga:
At the end of the road I will be asked:
Have you lived? Have you loved?
And I, not saying anything,
will open my heart full of names.
Born in Nova Fatima, Bahia, Brazil and fluent in several languages, Bishop da Cunha’s native vernacular is Portuguese, so it was appropriate that one of his first public appearances was a celebration among one of the most predominant ethnic groups in the diocese at its largest shrine.
“We are so blessed to have Bishop da Cunha here just a few days after his installation,” Fr. Cyriac Mattathilanickal, M.S., director at La Salette Shrine, told The Anchor. “I was totally surprised when he responded to our invitation saying he would be happy to come and join our celebration. I thought he would want more time to settle in, but he was so gracious to accept the invitation and it means a lot to the Portuguese community because this is our 40th anniversary of having the pilgrimage here at the shrine and with the bishop coming, it makes for an extra special celebration.”
Three Leaders of Brazilian La Salette Laity, attending the 2011 La Salette International Lay Encounter in France |
Several years ago, in November of 2008, the participants in the International Encounter of La Salette Missionaries in Brazil met at the La Salette Institute in Curitiba, Brazil. These included Brazilian La Salette Laity who explained and discussed their desired involvement in La Salette ministry in the spirit of Our Lady of La Salette.
Since 2003, according to their agreement with the members of the La Salette Province in Brazil, laity have developed their group of La Salette Laity, including their charter with the Province, and have published a booklet of principles of La Salette spirituality and a common La Salette hymn. A member of the La Salette Laity said: "We want to be a missionary movement involved in concrete action for solidarity, reconciliation and peace. And we desire to be an arm of (or connected to) the La Salette Province in Brazil.
"Our present ministry is most often related to the La Salette MIssionaries by sharing in giving Shrine or Parish Missions (retreats). The La Salette Laity have felt the need to organize themselves together and be, as Catholic laity, a vibrant part of the La Salette Family and their common mission of reconciliation.
(L to R) Rev. James M. Weeks, M.S., Rev. John P. Bradford, M.S., Rev. Stephen J. Krisanda, M.S., preparing to leave for their new mission in Argentina. |
Editor: In the Spring of 1965, Fr. Jack Toner, M.S., Director of the La Salette Mission Office in Hartford, CT, announced in his monthly newsletter about the La Salettes from North America formally taking their place in the mission of Argentina. North American La Salettes had already volunteered in the missions of
Burma (Myanmar), Magadascar, the Philippines and assisted informally in Argentina. In his article we see the first steps made by our first three La Salettes from North America in embracing their new mission in “the Argentine,” as he described it.
Fr. Emery DesRochers, M.S. |
What does the homeless person have to do with reconciliation? I think we can safely say that the general definition of Christian reconciliation is the bringing of God to human beings as well as bringing humanity back to God. To the homeless person, the caring stranger brings God’s love, God’s abiding presence.
The Old Testament taught the importance of concern for the poor and the homeless. From Isaiah we hear:
This, rather, is the fasting that I wish: releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke; Setting free the oppressed, breaking every yoke; Sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless; Clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own (Isaiah 58:6-7).
St. Paul reminds us of the source of his message and mission:
Now I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel preached by me is not of human origin. For I did not receive it from a human being, nor was I taught it, but it came through a revelation of Jesus Christ (Gal 1:11-12).
My husband, Richard, and I have been members of the La Salette Faith Community since 1970. From that time until 1996 when the property was finally sold, we celebrated Liturgy each Sunday at the La Salette Shrine in Ipswich, Massachusetts with our family.
La Salette Shrine Church, Ipswich MA.: (left, façade; right interior) |
In 1981, at a meal in our home one evening, Fr. Tom Reilly, MS, who was Superior of the La Salette Shrine, spoke to us about a woman, named Elizabeth Buckley, who was coming to look at an empty house on the Shrine property in order to establish a home for adults with developmental disabilities. He then related that she had been the founder and director of a L’Arche home in Inverness, Scotland. This information, at the time, meant little to us because we had never heard of L’Arche. I asked him to let me know if she decided to accept the offer from the La Salettes because I would certainly want to welcome her to this area.
Later I learned more about L’Arche. Jean Vanier, a Canadian by birth, is the founder of the L’Arche movement which was established in Trosly-Breuil, France in 1964. The community began when Jean invited two men with developmental disabilities, who had been living in an institution, to come and live with him in his home. His name for their home, L’Arche, has its origin in the book of Genesis — L’Arche being French for ark. Just as Noah invited all God’s creatures into the ark, L’Arche likewise became a symbol for refuge and hope for those with developmental disabilities.
The Federation of L’Arche has grown to over 135 communities in 20 countries throughout the world—spread through Europe, the United States, Canada, South and Central America, the Caribbean, Africa, Asia and Australia. There is usually more than one home in a community and in each home, the core members live with assistants in a family-like environment.
Fr. Alfredo Velarde, M.S., with a young parishioner |
My name is Jenifer Truitt, and I am the Coordinator of Religious Education for St. Oliver Plunkett Catholic Church, a La Salette parish in Snellville, Georgia. In June of 2007, which was the middle of winter in South America, I had the privilege of joining the St. Oliver’s mission team on a two-week trip to Las Termas de Rio Hondo, Argentina to visit our sister parish, Nuestra Señora de Perpetuo Socorro at the invitation of Fr. Alfredo Velarde, M.S., the pastor.
It is in the north central part of Argentina, popular with tourists for its thermal springs. Our parish consists of mostly poor people and includes about 27,000 parishioners; that is, the entire city and its surrounding barrios. The purpose of our trip was to visit our sister parish to learn more about the parishioners, how they live, and with what needs we might be able to help them.
In 2003, our pastor, Fr. Jim Henault, M.S., entered into an agreement on behalf of our parishioners with Fr. Alfredo. It is not uncommon for parishes to “twin” like this, and it was something our parish community was interested in pursuing. We chose the church in Las Termas because Fr. Jim had spent approximately two months living there, immersing himself learning Spanish and getting to know the people and their customs. He saw their financial needs and he felt our parish could help them. The agreement was initially a five-year commitment and we have just renewed it for another five years.