We are exploring briefly the life of the Venerable Jean Berthier, Missionary of Our Lady of La Salette, and Founder of the Congregation of the Missionaries of the Holy Family. Why do we call him “Venerable? Because he lived his life in a spirit of holiness, zeal, dedication, and love, and Pope Francis declared him Venerable on May 19, 2018.
He was the eldest of six children, born into a devout Catholic Family in the village of Chatonnay, France on February 24, 1840. Chatonnay is still today just a small town in the southeastern part of France, thirty-two miles west of Grenoble.
When Jean was just six years old, his grandmother whispered into his ear one evening, telling him about a wonderful event that had taken place just a few weeks earlier. Our Blessed Mother had appeared in the mountains at La Salette, just fifty miles from where their live. Two small children saw her. She came, seated, in tears, surrounded by a very bright globe of light. She was crying all the while as she spoke.
The reality of the words of the Beautiful Lady of La Salette would touch even the life of the Berthier family; four of Jean’s sisters and brothers. who would die very young? The evil of sin is contagious and harms even the innocent. Jean’s health was fragile all his life and would cause him to suffer greatly; but he would live.
At an early age, Jean decided he wanted to become a priest. His parents supported his decision and enrolled him in schools where he could get good education. Even though Jean’s health was not robust, he studied diligently and excelled. Later he entered the seminary.
Read more Fr. Jean Berthier, M.S. – a Leader, Writer and Founder
On June 5th, 2022, I will celebrate my first year of the priesthood as a La Salette Missionary. Reflecting upon my first year as a priest brings me great joy as I can serve the people of God through my priestly ministry. As a La Salette Missionary, I can connect the message of La Salette with the church's sacramental life.
The core of the La Salette message is reconciliation. Each sacrament provides an opportunity to invite others into the reconciling love of God. Especially the sacrament of penance as a person encounters the reconciliatory grace and forgiveness of God's mercy and love. Being a priest allows me to be a vehicle of God's grace to others.
Accompanying others to experience the grace of reconciliation between God, themselves, and others is the apostolic work of a La Salette Missionary: “Our congregation is called to be a sign and instrument of the work of Reconciliation accomplished by Christ and with which Mary” (La Salette Rule of Life). It is a great joy to witness the transformational effect of the sacrament of penance in another person's life as they find the healing they need to live a robust faith.
Becoming a La Salette Missionary is a process of formation and education. The formation process of a La Salette Missionary prepares the person to develop their La Salette identity as one learns the congregations’ history, spirituality, and apostolic ministries. A La Salette Missionary's formation is ongoing as we continually grow in our lives and faith.
As a new priest, I am learning how to merge my La Salette identity into the life of the priesthood. I must constantly learn how to live out my vocation to religious life and the priesthood each day. My vocation to the priesthood and religious life is not for myself but for others. Therefore, I must develop an attitude of selflessness as I live out the call of my vocation. Self-giving can seem exhausting, but I receive back what I give to those I serve the care and support I need to rejuvenate me within my first year as a priest.
Read more The Joys and Hopes of My First Year as a La Salette Priest
The campus minister works in an environment that is rich with possibility and serendipity. To me, this ministry is a call to be present, be aware, believe that God is at work through me and in spite of me.
This God tale is one that recounts the story of David Eubank. Like his biblical counterpart, David is small of stature, the good kid, a youth unnoticed, pursuing his interest in environmental science on a campus located in the inner city.
I came to know David when some of his science club friends suggested that I be one of the advisors on their whale watch excursion to Cape Cod in 1990. I was personally excited about the idea of whale watching, so I packed my bag and joined this group of budding scientists. We returned enriched by our experience at sea and our new-found friendships. This was played out by their frequent visit to the Campus Ministry Center, Room 275 of SUNY Erie Community College-City Campus in Buffalo, New York.
Read more Whales, Water, and Whitecaps – Bro. David Eubank’s vocation
Fr. Zéphirin, who is your family of origin?
My parents have had 18 children, and I am the 5th. My dad worked in a textile factory in Antsirabe. There are was not much money in our home. Many times, I waited for his return to have a little money to pay for the noon meal at school .
How did you come to know about La Salette?
Vimencio Ignacio has been a Filipino, La Salette missionary for over twenty years. From his ministry on the Holy Mountain he retraces the main stages of his vocation which led him to the four corners of the world and helped him summarize the message of Our Lady of La Salette in two words: humility and perseverance.
Fr. Vimencio Ignacio was born on Dec. 8, 1959. My father’s name is Victorino and my mother’s name is Esmelda. I lost my father in 1987. My mother was been a teacher but was the mother of four boys. of which I am the eldest . One of my brothers, an engineer and engaged in politics, died in 2007. Another brothers is an engineer, a genius in mechanics, who now lives in the United States. My youngest brother is an architect but he has chosen his area of specialty, agriculture. He is now a farmer.
I studied in a High School managed by the Missionaries of La Salette in San Mateo, Philippines, fifteen miles east of Manila. I've had Fr. Maurice Cardinal as my Director. I entered the Seminary of San Luis, in the northern Philippines. From there my class went to the University of La Salette in Santiago City in the Province of Isabela. I was then sent to Silang, Cavite, a place of pilgrimage dedicated to Our Lady of La Salette, to study the philosophy and then to Tagaytay City for my Theology. Then I was sent for my pastoral formation to three different nearby parishes.