By Fr. William Kaliyadan, M.S.
We often say, “It’s a small world,” especially when an unexpected connection makes the world feel a little more intimate. But maybe it’s not that the world is small; maybe it’s that our God is big.
I recently experienced a moment that affirmed just how far God’s reach truly extends. Alongside Fr. Joe Everton, M.S., I attended the Conference of Major Superiors of Men (CMSM) in Baltimore, Maryland. As a member of the CMSM Board, I was honored to lead morning prayer during one of the conference days.
Later that same day, at the conclusion of Mass, celebrated with over 175 leaders from various religious congregations, Fr. Frank Donio, Executive Director of CMSM, after introducing me as the Provincial Superior of Missionaries of La Salette, publicly thanked me for leading the prayer and for my service on the Board. It was a meaningful gesture. But what happened next was truly extraordinary.
Cardinal Christophe Pierre, the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States and the principal celebrant of the Mass, responded to the mention of the Missionaries of La Salette by sharing something deeply personal:
“La Salette has a special place in my heart,” he said.
He went on to explain that he grew up in a La Salette parish in Antsirabe, Madagascar. It was there, during his childhood, that his vocation was first nurtured, thanks to the presence and pastoral care of the La Salette Missionaries. His words moved everyone in the room, which erupted in warm and heartfelt applause.
For Fr. Joe and me, it was a proud and emotional moment to stand among so many religious leaders and witness how the La Salette charism had made such a profound and lasting impact, even in the early life of a future cardinal.
Clearly, the seeds of his vocation were planted and nurtured through his early encounters with the Missionaries of La Salette.
So maybe it’s not just that the world is small. More importantly – our God is big.
(Note: Cardinal Pierre, originally from France, moved with his family to Madagascar at the age of three and completed his primary education there. Ordained a priest in 1970, he has served the Church across the globe, including in France, New Zealand, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Cuba, Brazil, Haiti, Uganda, Mexico, and the United States. He also served as the Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations in Geneva.)
