Xaverian Mission Newsletter May 2009

Xaverian MissionNewsletterVolume 57 - No. 2 | May 2009

Maria’s three children were barely teenagers when the family fled home to escape the growing violence in

Caqueta, a coca-growing region of south-ern Colombia.

Maria is just one of more than 3 million people forced to flee their homes because of vio-lence and threats by right-wing paramili-tary forces, left-wing guerillas forces and the resulting conflict with Colombia’s army. The coun-try is enduring one of the worst humanitarian crises in the hemisphere today. Forty years of internal conflict fueled by an array of armed groups has created a population of refugees second only to Sudan’s.

Saying “NO” to Violence

Communities throughout Colombia are saying “NO” to the violent conflict, and “YES” to creating a lasting peace for all Colombians.

More than forty years of violent conflict has caused great suffering for millions of Colombians, especially poor and marginal-ized communities, but has also inspired amazing efforts in Colombia to create a new vision for peace. Catholic Relief Services of the USA is organizing The Days of Prayer and Action for Colombia as an opportunity for Catholics in the United States to support our Colombian brothers and sisters in this vision.

Church’s Commitment with the Poor

We, the Xaverian Missionaries who are working in Colombia and 18 other coun-tries world-wide, feel deeply that our mission cannot ignore the cries of entire popu-lations who suf-fer the direct consequences of horrible injustices and armed con-flicts. Faithful to the example of Christ and his teaching expressed in

the social doc-trine of the Church, we must act.

The United States, which has provided in excess of $4.5 billion in foreign aid to Colombia over the last seven years, can con-tribute to long-term peace and stability in the country by shifting its focus to social development. Currently, 80 percent of U.S. aid to Colombia goes to the military for counter-narcotic and counterinsurgency activities. The remaining 20 percent is spent on economic and social development.

The Colombian and U.S. bishops’ confer-ences have repeatedly called for a greater portion of aid to Colombia to be dedicated to investment in sustainable development, the defense of human rights and humanitari-an support that has as its first priority long-term solutions for the displaced.

“Make of the world one family”

Days of Prayer and Action for Colombia

(continued on page 2)

These are Bogota's Recyclers (Los Recicladores), people who earn just enough money to live by sorting out trash in junkyards and selling clothes and metal scraps.

2 Xaverian Mission Newsletter • May 2009

Days of Prayer and Action for Colombia

Xaverian Missionaries

Provincial Headquarters12 Helene CourtWayne, NJ 07470-2813Tel.: (973) 942-2975Fax: (973) 942-5012Email: [email protected]

Xavier Knoll Pre-Novitiate House4500 Xavier DriveFranklin, WI 53132-9066Tel.: (414) 421-0831Fax: (414) 421-9108E-mail: [email protected]

Mission Center & Fatima Shrine101 Summer StreetP.O. Box 5857Holliston, MA 01746-5857Tel.: (508) 429-2144Fax: (508) 429-4793E-mail: [email protected]

International Theology House1347 East Hyde Park Blvd.Chicago, IL 60615-2924Tel. (773) 643-5745E-mail: [email protected]

St. Therese Catholic Chinese Mission218 West Alexander StreetChicago, IL 60608-0000Tel. (312) 842-6777E-mail: [email protected]

Xaverian Mission Newsletter

Official publication of theXaverian Missionaries of the United States

Coordinating EditorFr. Carl Chudy

Editorial TeamFr. Tony LalliFr. Joseph MatteucigFr. Alfredo Turco

Layout ConsultantDiamand Design Wrentham, MA

Printing Rea-Craft Press, Inc. Foxboro, MA

E-mail & Web:[email protected]

Donation:$15.00 per year

In the face of violence, Maria remains defiant and hopeful. Recently, she was approached by a member of an armed group, who offered her a sewing machine and a stable income making uniforms. She refused — again.

“I prefer to live this way with my kids, dealing with what comes to me — the good and the bad — because I have the Church and I have the good hearts of people I don’t even know and because I have my freedom,” she says.

Colombia has the second largest number of internally displaced people in the world. Since the mid 1990s more than 3 million Colombians have been forced from their homes as a result of violence and threats by armed actors and efforts to forcibly gain control of land and resources from marginal-ized communities. Afro-Colombian and indig-enous communities have disproportionately been targeted in this ongoing tragedy.

Bishop Thomas Wenski of the Committee on International Policy for the US Catholic Bishops wrote to the Bishops of Colombia: “Such moments remind us of the on-going suffering of so many Colombians who yearn for justice and peace. I join you in praying for the end of all violence in Colombia and

the restitution of a just peace for all Colombians. That those who continue to be held will know the freedom that belongs to them and that hearts of violence will be turned to peace and reconciliation.”

Many other people of faith across the United States, Canada and Colombia joined in the ecumenical Days of Prayer and Action for Colombia on April 19-20, 2009. This act of missionary faith continues beyond these days. Take a look at the following resources: U

The Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception of Bogotá, Colombia’s First Church is a Roman Catholic cathedral of worship dedicated to the Immaculate Conception, is a neoclassical building located in Plaza de Bolivar in Bogota, the capital city. This cathedral is the seat of the Archdiocese of Bogota. It is the largest Catholic church in Colombia and one of the largest in Latin America.

L earn more about the Colombian and International Church’s’ efforts and

background on the Colombian conflict.

Hold a vigil for peace in Colombia. Gather friends, community, church members or students to remember those who have been victimized by the Colombian conflict and to reflect on the United States’ role as a Church. You may use candles, join in moments of silence or prayer, and/or combine the vigil with a “walk for peace.”

Catholic Relief Services Resources: http://crs.org/public-policy/prayer-action.cfm

(continued from cover)

3Xaverian Mission Newsletter • May 2009

Xaverian Missionaries in the World

Music is one of the most beau-

tiful expressions of any culture.

The Colombian cul-ture contains a vari-

ety of music genres. Song and dance accom-

pany the special events of common man’s life. Cumbia, one of the genres of

Colombian music, is a blend of the African and the Spanish music. Salsa, born in Puerto Rico and Cuba, became popular in Colombia. The Colombian music of the present times includes hip-hop, pop and rock music.

The BeginningThe Xaverian Missionaries find them-

selves in this rich culture. Arriving in Colombia in 1975, we began our activity in the city of Buenaventura along the

coast, accompanying the people suffering from dis-crimination, poverty, nar-cotics, and violence. At the beginning, our pres-ence was totally dedicated to and organized around parish pastoral activity. In Cali we worked in the out-skirts of the city; while in Bogota we work on voca-tion activity among the youth, and global mission awareness and involve-ment within the church in Colombia. Today we are clearly oriented towards encouraging global mission vocations, even beyond the borders of Colombia.

Ever Newer Challenges

We recently handed the parish of the Sacred Heart back to the diocese of

Buenaventura (this was the first parish entrusted to the Xaverians upon our arrival in Colombia) because it had reached a sufficient degree of autono-my and organization. We set out to look for other areas of work, more on the outskirts where shantytowns have sprung up: this is where biggest chal-lenges to the evangelization are locat-ed.

At this moment, we are committed in various ministries: in parish work, accompanying the Christian community in its growth and its mission commit-ment to be a missionary family open to the world, open to the missionary reli-gious life, and open to the service of the church; vocation work, with its many meetings of youth who are yearn-ing to serve God in this service as priests, sisters, and missionaries; mis-sion education, especially with the newly founded Xaverian associations of lay people inspired by Blessed Guido M. Conforti, our Founder: they pray for us, and involve themselves in mission and vocation activities.

We hope to be that “good seed that brings good fruit” according to God’s will, and hope that many more youth will involve themselves in the special vocation call of missionary life, follow-ing Jesus, bringing the message of a Loving Father who cares for us, so that “all may be one.” U

The Xaverian Missionaries in Colombia

Xaverian Missionary leading Palm Sunday Celebratiions in a Barrio.

Xaverian Mission Newsletter • May 20094

Xaverian Missionaries in the World

Father Enzo Tonini, a Xaverian Missionary from Udine, Italy, is working in our center in Bogota,

Colombia. Fr. Tonini studied in Chicago, along with his fellow missionary priests, Frs. Mark Marangone and Mauro Loda who work with Fr. Enzo in Bogota.

Missionary Life Can be Complicated

Fr. Enzo writes: “They say that those who go to Latin America for a month, return from the experi-ence speaking about it for an entire year. Those who go there for a year, speak about it for a month. Those who remain for ten years, pre-fer not to say any-thing. I find myself in this last group. The reality is com-plex and cannot be put into a few words.

The Bishops in Latin America have gathered in Aparecida, Brazil and reflected on a catchy theme: “Disciples and Missionaries.” As the discussion developed, the conjunction “and” was removed, and the title was changed to “Missionary Disciples.”

Encouraging Missionary Vocations in Colombia

Every true disciple is a missionary, and every true missionary continues to be a disciple. This seems to be the case in Latin America, whose enormous growth and passion for Christ seems to give it an eminent position in the future of the Church globally. This is the vision that defines my missionary work in

Colombia. It is not an easy one, but Jesus never promised the work would be easy.

Colombian Missionaries

Whenever I meet young people in Colombia and I have the opportunity to speak about the importance of the mis-

sionary vocation, they respond with great interest. Many of these young people wish to look further into that interest and see if they may be called to such a challenging life choice. And some of them decide to take the leap and enter our seminary in Medellin. “

The Colombian Church to the World

To tackle the challenging situa-

tion on the Colombia-Ecuador border, an area plagued with narcotics traffic and illegal arms trade, the Colombian Catholic Church formed the Border Ministry Project. This project, which includes four dioceses each in Ecuador and Colombia, encourages displaced people, refugees and marginalized eth-nic groups to participate in the social, economic and political aspects of their communities.

In this and many other ways, the mission of the Colombian Catholic Church beyond its borders is growing. Fr. Enzo helps to encourage the growth of this mission of the Colombian Church to the world. U

In part by Fr. Enzo Tonini, SX

My MISSIONAry LIFE IN COLOMBIA

A Xaverian Missionary from Mexico with children in one of our parishes

in Colombia.

“Rata” is slang for “thief” in some Latin American countries and pointing at these

business men symbolize the rampant corruption in Colombia.

Fr. Giovani Zampini, on his rounds in pastoral work. Fr. Enzo Tonini

Xaverian Mission Newsletter • May 2009 5

Xaverian Missionaries in the USA

INTErFAITH DIALOguE AND SErVICE AMONg yOuNg PEOPLE IN THE uSA

Fr. Carl Chudy on Corregidor Island in Manilla Bay, Philippines

On a brisk fall day in 2007 in the big, beautiful city of Chicago I attended a national conference

of college students entitled, “Crossing the Faith Line,” organized by the Interfaith Youth Core based in Chicago www.ifyc.org. I just had returned from 13 years of missionary work in the

Philippines at that time, reassigned back to the USA, and searching how we could share our missionary charism with young people in this country today.

The reality of religious Pluralism among the young

There are millions of religious young peo-ple in the world, and in particular in this country, interacting with greater frequen-cy. Instead of focusing a dialogue on political or theological differ-ences, our mission is to build relationships on the values that we share, such as hospi-tality and caring for

the Earth, and how we can live out those values together to contribute to the betterment of our community. Even spiritual values of our common hunger for God come to the fore.

A Taste of Mission in the uSA

As Xaverian Missionaries, a crucial part of our pur-pose is interreligious dia-logue. This is part of our mission ad gentes, ad extra, which means we reach beyond the borders of faith and cultures. It goes further than mere tol-erance for diversity. It is a state in which we respect one another’s religious identity, develop mutually enriching relationships with each other and work together to make this world a better place.

The following year, in Holliston, Massachusetts, Fr. Joe Matteucig and I teamed with local Muslim Leaders to lead 150 Catholic teens, preparing for Confirmation, in an exploration of what it means to be Catholic in the religious-ly pluralistic world they live in. The message was that the 21st-century parish is to reach out to other faith communities in dialogue and service. U

Christian and Muslim young people come together in Chicago

Christians, Muslims and Jews in a service project in Chicago.

Interfaith education program among children in Florida.

Xaverian Mission Newsletter • May 20096

When she was 13-years old and working as a waitress near Vera Cruz, Mexico, Rosa was offered

an opportunity to make more money as a waitress in the United States by a man acquainted with her family. The man insisted that it was a no-lose situ-ation-–Rosa could change jobs if she were not satisfied or even return home at any time if she wished.

The young girl was quickly trans-ported to a loca-tion near the Mexican-American border, where she met up with many more girls and their male com-panions. They walked together for four days through the desert before being smuggled across the Rio Grande to Brownsville, Texas. At this point, they were picked up again, traf-ficked all the way to a secluded area in Florida and left off near a collection of trailers.

Rosa’s new life began here. She was immediately informed that she had been “bought,” and that the only way she could gain her freedom was to work as a prostitute. The trailers would serve as the makeshift brothels.

Human Slavery Today

Tragically, Rosa’s story is an all-too-common one both here in the United States and around the world. The prac-tice of slavery still exists, it simply goes by a different, more antiseptic name: human trafficking.

According to the United Nations, human trafficking specifically entails: “The recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of per-sons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of

abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiv-ing of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation.”

Sex trafficking is not limited to for-eign-born individuals. The U.S. Department of Justice estimates that 293,000 American youth are currently at risk of commercial sexual exploita-tion.

Human Trafficking from Three Xaverian Missions

Japan

Japan is a destination and transit country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of commer-cial sexual exploitation and forced labor. Women and children trafficked to Japan for commercial sexual exploi-tation come from the People’s Republic of China, South Korea, Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, Russia, and, to a lesser extent, Latin America. Japan is a tran-sit country for persons trafficked from East Asia to North America. The major-ity of identified trafficking victims are foreign women who migrate to Japan seeking work, but are subjected upon arrival to debt bondage and forced prostitution.

MODErN DAy SLAVEry: THE CATHOLIC rESPONSE TO END HuMAN TrAFFICKINg

Pope Benedict XVI

deplored the

“trafficking of human

beings- especially

women- which flourishes

where opportunities to

improve their standard

of living or even to

survive are limited.”


Mexico

Mexico is a large source, transit, and destination country for persons trafficked for the purposes of com-mercial sexual exploitation and forced labor. A significant number of Mexican women, girls, and boys are trafficked within the country for sexual exploita-tion, often lured from poor rural regions to urban, border, and tourist areas through false offers of employ-ment; upon arrival, many are beaten, threatened, and forced into prostitu-tion. According to the Mexican gov-ernment, up to 20,000 children are victimized in commercial sexual exploitation in Mexico every year, especially in tourist and border areas.

Cameroon, Africa

Cameroon is a source, transit, and destination country for women and chil-dren trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation. Most victims are chil-dren trafficked within the country, with girls primarily trafficked for domestic servitude and sexual exploita-tion. Both boys and girls are also traf-ficked within Cameroon for forced labor in sweatshops, bars, restau-rants, and on tea and cocoa planta-tions. Children are trafficked to Cameroon from Nigeria, Chad, the Central African Republic, Congo, Benin, and Niger for forced labor in agriculture, fishing, street vending, and spare-parts shops. Cameroon is a transit country for children trafficked between Gabon and Nigeria, and from Nigeria to Saudi Arabia. It is a source country for women transported by sex trafficking rings to Europe, primarily France, Germany, and Switzerland.

The Response of the Catholic Church

The Catholic Church has assumed a pastoral responsibility to promote the human dignity of persons exploited through trafficking and slavery and to advocate for their liberation and eco-nomic, educational, and formative support.

During Vatican II, the Catholic Church reaffirmed its historic concern about forced labor, stating that “slav-ery, prostitution, the selling of women and children, [and] disgraceful work-ing conditions where [people] are treated as mere tools for profit, rath-er than as free and responsible per-

sons” are “infamies” and “an affront to fundamental values . . . values rooted in the very nature of the human person.”

Pope Benedict XVI deplored the “trafficking of human beings—espe-cially women—which flourishes where opportunities to improve their stan-dard of living or even to survive are limited.” Similarly the Holy See emphasized related concerns in a recent address at the United Nations, stating that treating a woman “not as a human person with rights on an equal basis with others, but as an object to be exploited, very often underlies violence against women.”

U

MODErN DAy SLAVEry: THE CATHOLIC rESPONSE TO END HuMAN TrAFFICKINg

Photos from Parc Cruz and Unicef

What you Can Do

Here are some resources to look further into human trafficking and what you can do about it.

uS Catholic Bishopswww.usccb.org/mrs/trafficking/

Human Trafficking Search

www.humantraffickingsearch.net

Polaris Project: For a World without Slavery

www.polarisproject.org/

Human Trafficking: A resource

www.humantrafficking.org

Latest Statement from the uS Catholic Bishops

www.usccb.org/mrs/OnHumanTrafficking.pdf


“A new century, a new millenni-um are open-

ing in the light of Christ. It is in this con-text that we should consider the great chal-lenge of inter-religious dialogue to which we shall still be committed in the new millennium. In the climate of increased cultural and religious pluralism which is expected to mark the society of the new millennium, it is obvious that this dia-logue will be especially important in establishing a sure basis for peace and warding off the dread specter of those wars of religion which have so often bloodied human history. The name of the one God must become increasingly what it is: a name of peace and a summons to peace.” (54-55 At the Beginning of the Third Millennium, John Paul II)

Catholics for the 21st CenturyPope John Paul II called our attention to a crucial aspect of the mission of Christ in the world today where we as Catholics live side by side with our brothers and sisters of other faiths. In doing so, we seek to understand the common ground of all faiths, particularly of the Abrahamic faiths of Christianity, Judaism and Islam. These are our efforts toward peace.

Catholics and the KoranThe Koran is the holy book of all Muslims. Muslims believe the Koran to be the book of divine guidance and

direction for humanity, and consider the original Arabic text to be the final revela-tion of God. The Koran also refers to many events from Jewish and Christian scrip-tures, some of which are retold in comparatively dis-tinctive ways from the Bible and the Torah, while obliquely referring to other events described explicitly in those texts.

Submission to godFor Muslims, faith in One God and one’s total surren-der to God is called “Islam.” Only one life is valid, and this is submission to God (Koran 3:19). Catholics, like other Christians, also stress the central importance of faith as reception of God’s revelation and submission to God. Jesus taught his disci-ples to pray to God, “Your will be done” (Mt 6:10).

Catholics see the core of this submission as a relationship of love. The chief command

according to Jesus is to love God with one’s whole heart and soul and mind and strength (Mk 12:30, cf. Koran 3:31). Catholics can agree with the Koran that Jesus and the prophets of ancient Israel could be called “Muslims” in the sense of being persons who submitted themselves to God, and called on others to do the same.

Catholics also agree with the Koran on the importance of both justice and mercy (Koran 57:25, 76:8). The Bible repeatedly calls for justice in both personal and societal relationships. The Koran calls Muslims to for-give those who have wronged them (3:134). Jesus made his follower’s willing-ness to forgive others the measure for God’s forgive-ness for them. We all stand on common ground in God.

U

US Catholic Bishops, Revelation: Catholic and Muslim Perspectives

8

World Mission Spirituality

CatholiC PersPeCtives on the Koran

The Hagia Sophia, one of the most beautiful mosques in the world, situated in Istanbul, Turkey, has the depiction of Mary and Jesus on the upper

right side dome.

Voorhees, New Jersey, United States - Wednesday February 20, 2008: Leaders of the Roman Catholic and Muslim communi-ties of Southern New Jersey assembled at the Voorhees Muslim American Association’s mosque to sign a Letter of Cooperation and Understanding between the two faith commu-nities.

“Catholics also agree with

the Koran on the importance of both justice

and mercy”


Become a Partner in Global Mission

VOLuNTEEr SErVICES—WWW.CNVS.ORG

Catholic Network of Volunteer Service (CNVS), established in 1963, is a non- profit membership organization of 200 domestic and international volunteer and lay mission programs. Currently, more than 10,000 volunteers and lay missioners serve in these programs throughout the U.S. and in 108 other countries.

LAy MISSION HELPErS—WWW.LAYMISSIONHELPERS.ORG

We are Catholic lay people, single men and women, married couples, and families, called through our baptism to mission. We seek to walk with the poor of other countries sharing our gifts, living our faith, and learning from one another. We are teachers, nurses, social workers, computer technicians, administrators, tradesman, and others who work together and strive to live a simple life close to the poor.

MAryKNOLL LAy MISSIONErS—WWW.MKLAYMISSIONERS.ORG

Maryknoll Lay Missioners is a Catholic organization inspired by the mission of Jesus to live and work with poor communities in Africa, Asia and the Americas, responding to basic needs and helping to create a more just and compassionate world.

XAVErIAN MISSIONArIES—WWW.XAVIERMISSIONARIES.ORG

The Xaverian Missionaries are an international religious congregation of priests and brothers living and working in 19 countries worldwide, from the Americas, Africa and Asia. We specifically live and work with peoples of other faiths and in cultures other than our own. Check out our blog at: www.xaverianmissionaries.blogspot.com

Change the World in His Name

“We chal-lenge young

people to consider following Christ as missionaries. There is no doubt that Jesus is calling many of you to serve the Church as priests and religious in for-eign lands. We pray that you will have the courage to respond to that call with the complete gift of yourselves. Your brothers and sisters in mission lands are counting on you to share the riches of the gospel with them. The Church is counting on you, too.

We are (also) inspired by the increase of com-mitted lay missionaries who answer the call to serve the gospel in other lands. You bring important expertise and enthusiasm into mis-

sionary activi-ties. Your grow-ing number is a sign of great hope for the future of world mission.” (US Catholic Bishops, To the Ends of the Earth, 61, 63)

The Church is here to change the world, little by little, in the name of Christ.

Be part of a project bigger than yourself, and give your life for the benefit of others. Real happiness begins there. In light of this, check out below the brief directory of opportunities in volunteer work, lay mission opportunities and religious missionary life. “Put out into the deep…” U

CATHOLIC NETWOrK OF

VISIONCATHOLIC rELIgIOuS VOCATION NETWOrK

Vocation Match

Vocation Directory

Vocation Guide Magazine

Opportunities

Blogs

and more…

www.vocation-network.org

Volunteers at helping out in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.


World Mission News Digest

World Mission News Digest

PHILIPPINES, ASIA

The police have arrested three police officers, two vil-lage leaders and two alleged Abu Sayyaf members, charg-ing them with conspiracy to kidnap three Red Cross (ICRC) workers. The suspects, says the Philippine press, are believed to have given logisti-cal support and of having given refuge to the rebels. Meanwhile, the army, police and volunteers encircling the Abu Sayyaf group have resumed their positions in Jolo to secure the release of Italian Eugenio Vagni and Swiss Andreas Notter, after Philippine Mary Jean Lacaba was released a few days ago.

SIErrA LEONE, AFrICA

Three former leaders of the the United Revolutionary Front (RUF) have been hand-ed jail sentences ranging from 25 to 52 years. In February, the Special Tribunal found them guilty of committing crimes against humanity for Sierra Leone (STSL), which handles crimes perpetrated during the war fought between 1991 and 2001. The longest sentence, 52 years, was handed to Issa Sesay, the last RUF leader. Morris Kallon, one of the most important commanders, and Augustine Gbao, ‘respon-sible’ for internal security, were given 25 years.

COLOMBIA, LATIN AMErICA

Another wave of threats has once again swept across Colombia, this time warning of an imminent ‘social cleans-ing’ of ‘undesirable’ individu-als from Colombian society. Colombian churches and oth-ers are reporting that the violence unleashed by these alleged paramilitary threats has already left three young people and seven fishermen dead in Chocó. ” We affirm that it is possible to trans-form this situation of violence through dialog and negotia-tion: The conflict that the nation is experiencing will not be solved by arms” (Archbishop Rubén Salazar, president of the Colombian Bishops’ Conference).

VATICAN, rOME

On the occasion of the feast of Vesakh, the most impor-tant of feasts for Buddhists, in which they recall the main events from Buddha’s life, the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue – as is customary – has written a congratulations message for the feast, which will be cele-brated on April 8 in Japan and Taiwan, May 2 in Korea, and May 8 in all other nations of Buddhist tradition. The theme of the Message is “Witnessing to a Spirit of Poverty: Christians & Buddhists in Dialogue.” The Message reads: “While renewing our sense of close-ness to you, Buddhists, in this period, it becomes clearer and clearer that together we are able not only to contrib-ute, in fidelity to our respec-tive spiritual traditions, to the well-being of our own

communities, but also to the human community of the world. We keenly feel the challenge before us all repre-sented, on the one hand, by the ever more extensive phe-nomenon of poverty in its various forms and, on the other hand, by the unbridled pursuit of material posses-sions and the pervasive shad-ow of consumerism.”

CHINA, ASIA

Catholics of Baoding diocese in the northern Hebei prov-ince have spent Holy Week praying for their bishop, vicar general and seven other priests who have been detained for years. The whereabouts of Bishop James Su Zhimin (Zhemin), 74, and Vicar General Father Joseph Lu Genjun, 46, are unknown. They were detained in 1997 and 2006 respectively. Both have refused to join the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association. The other Baoding priests were detained at different times and are being held without trial at Qingyuan county detention center, sources said. Church sources have described Baoding as “a stronghold of the under-ground Catholics” and that the authorities want to reduce the influence of their priests.

The Africa Faith and Justice Network [AFJN] strives to be a meaningful voice for Africa in U.S. public policy. AFJN stresses issues of human rights and social jus-tice that tie directly into Catholic social teaching. AFJN works closely with Catholic missionary congre-gations and numerous Africa-focused coalitions of all persuasions to advocate for USA economic and politi-cal policies that will benefit Africa s poor majority, facil-itate an end to armed con-flict, establish equitable trade and investment with Africa and promote ecologi-cally sound development.

The Executive Director is Xaverian Missionary, Fr. Rocco Puopolo, SX

Get Involved at:www.afjn.org

Latest News from our Missions Worldwide


From our USA Communities

News from our uSA Communities

In his “Letter Testament” of 2 July 1921, Blessed Guido Conforti , founder of the

Xaverian Missionaries, wrote: “The Lord could not have been more benevolent toward us.” On the 2nd of February, while celebrating the 50th anniversary Mass of my priestly ordination, I was taken back to the mind and heart of these words of our Founder.

My first Two Masses 1959

I took a look into the first of my four-volume diary, which records the day and place of the celebration of my masses. For my first Mass I wrote this: “February 2 1959 - ordination (between 9.45 am and 10) in the church of Saint Sebastian in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The

laying on of hands was done by Auxiliary Bishop Atkielski. It’s a very cold day.”… “February 3 : First Mass in the chapel of the community at 7:15 am, in memory of my mother and father, brother and sisters.”

The community was in the basement-chapel, heated by a wood stove that sometimes belched smoke. We had to be careful not raise the chalice too high during Mass so as not to hit the low ceiling. In the sacristy, as I was preparing for the celebration of the Mass, my heart was overwhelmed by a strong and deep emotion.

My Missionary Journey

After the novitiate, to pur-sue the missionary vocation,

together with two other con-freres I was sent to the United States to complete our studies and formation for the priest-hood. After ordination, I was assigned to the Us Province, and for fifteen years I was mission animator, teacher, treasurer, and formator of our philosophy and theology stu-dents.

In 1974 I was sent to the Amazon Region of Brazil, What a change of ‘life style’! I remember the many visits to the villages scattered throughout the forest, along many rivers, large and small. How many meetings to train catechists and community leaders, how many baptisms and marriages! In each village and community we shared frugal meals and slept on ham-mocks hung between posts in the simple mud huts, where many others also took their rest.

Then, unexpectedly, I was called upon to serve in the General Direction in Rome.

At the end of six years in a position of leadership in the congregation, my missionary journey took me back to United States where, after other assigned roles, I’m now Director of Our Lady of Fatima Shrine in Holliston, MA, where people of different countries, languages and cultures come to pray to Mary, Mother of Jesus, missionary of the Father. Still Blessed Guido Conforti reminds me: “We must be fully indifferent to any office or employment, to go to this or that mission...”

We too are grateful for the gift of Fr. Francis’ priesthood to us all. U

Fr. Joe Matteucig, pictured on the right with Fr.

Alfredo Turco, instead celebrates 25 years as a mis-sionary priest. Fr. Joe began his own missionary journey in the USA when he came to study theol-ogy in 1980. Ordained to the priesthood in June 23, 1984, for nine years he worked tirelessly fostering both awareness and involvement in the mission of the Church with youth and young adults. He left for Taiwan in October 1993 where he spent the next 13 years, seven of those years as Delegate Superior, devel-oping a new mission in Taipei and heading the Youth Ministry Office of the Diocese of Taipei. Upon his return to the USA he leads our community in Holliston, Massachusetts and continues to promote the mission of the Church in the Archdiocese of Boston.

After 25 years of priesthood, Fr. Joe quotes a famous hymn: “I have come this far by faith, leaning on the Lord, trusting in his holy word. He has never failed me yet!”

Fr. Francis Signorelli shares some thoughts as he celebrates 50

years as priest and missionary.

WisconsinJune 27-28, 2009

The Mission Festival Committee cordially

invites you to our festival which helps support

the work of the Xaverian Missionaries.

You’ll enjoy music, live entertainment, outdoor food, home cooked din-

ners, game booths,

$4,000 raffle prizes, Rummage Sale, Mission Tent, a huge Bake Sale

Come all at 4500 Xavier Drive,

(51st St. & Rawson Ave.), Franklin, Wisconsin.

Hallmarks reached in the Priesthood

Xaverian Mission Newsletter • May 2009Xaverian Missionaries

101 Summer StreetHolliston, MA 01746-5857

Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDXaverian

Missionaries

Return Service RequestedThe Xaverian Missioners Are Presently Serving In:

Bangladesh • Brazil • Burundi • Cameroon • Chad • China • Colombia • Democratic Republic of Congo • FranceGreat Britain • Indonesia • Italy • Japan • Mexico • Mozambique • Philippines • Sierra Leone • Spain • Taiwan • U.S.A.

A shop in Bogota, Colombia, selling copies of the great Colombian figurative artist, Fernando Botero Angulo.

See more of his works at www.boterosa.org/

The global Mission of the Church

remember the work of the

Xaverian Missionaries in your Will

Contact Fr. Frank Grappoli, SX for more Information

973.942.2975E-mail: usasxprocure at hotmail.com

Documents

Xaverian Mission Newsletter May 2009