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NewsVOL. 68 NO. 3 - AUGUST 2020

CELEBRATING THE JUBILEE YEAR AND HELPING TO “MAKE THE WORLD ONE FAMILY”

Photo: Fr. Thierry Kamga Kengne SX and Fr. Alessandro Brai SX distribute supplies in Thailand during the pandemic

NEWSLETTER OF THE XAVERIAN MISSIONARIES USA SUMMARY 3 Fr. Mark’s Message 4 An African Priest in Thailand 6 The Cry of the Earth

Centennial Year Reflection: 8 Excerpt from Opening Celebration Homily 9 Prayer for the Jubilee Year

10 World News 11 USA News

WORLDCATHOLIC.US News Magazine Official publication of the United States 4 Province of the Xaverian Missionaries Provincial House 12 Helene Court Wayne NJ, 07470 973-942-2975 Our Lady of Fatima Shrine 101 Summer Street Holliston, MA 01746 508-429-2144 Xavier Knoll 4500 Xavier Drive Franklin WI 414-421-0831

[email protected] worldcatholic.us Publisher Fr. Mark Marangone SX Communications Board Fr. Carl Chudy SX Fr. Tony Lalli SX Fr. Rocco Puopolo SX Fr. Alex Rodriguez SX 6 Fr. Aniello Salicone SX Editor/Design Mary Aktay Printer AlphaGraphics, Totowa NJ IN ADDITION TO BEING THE WEBSITE OF THE UNITED STATES Please consider donating to the Xaverian XAVERIAN MISSIONARIES, Missionaries through our Communities listed above or online at https://www. “WORLDCATHOLIC.US” INDICATES xaverianmissionaries.org/support/. THAT THE CATHOLIC FAMILY OF THE WORLD INCLUDES “US”! Please also consider naming the St. Francis WE INVITE YOU TO SEND YOUR Xavier Foreign Mission Society in your Will. THOUGHTS AND COMMENTS Together we can help St. Guido Conforti’s TO 12 HELEN CT., WAYNE NJ vision to “Make of the World One Family” OR POST THEM AT HTTPS:// become a reality. WWW.XAVERIANMISSIONARIES. ORG/STAY-INFORMED/PRINT- NEWSLETTER/

2 8 WORLDCATHOLIC.US NEWS Fr. Mark’s Message

IN OUR MIDST

Dear Mission Friends, You may have heard this story before. “There was a famous monastery which had fallen on very hard times. Its many buildings used to be filled with young monks… Now a handful of old monks shuffled through the cloisters and praised their God with heavy hearts. On the edge of the monastery woods, an old rabbi had built a little hut. Now and then he would spend a little time there praying and fasting. For as long as he was there the monks would feel sustained by his prayerful presence. One day the abbot decided to visit the rabbi and to open his heart to him. So that’s what he did one day after the celebration of the Eucharist. The rabbi welcomed the abbot with arms outstretched. It was as though he had been waiting for this moment for some time. They sat for a while in silence in the presence of the book of Scriptures. Then the rabbi said: “You and your brothers are serving God with heavy hearts. You have come to ask a teaching of me. I will give you a teaching, but you can only repeat it once. After that, no one must ever say it aloud again.” The rabbi looked straight at the abbot and said, “The Messiah is among you.” For a while, all was silent. Then the rabbi said: “Now you must go.” The abbot left without a word and without ever looking back. The next morning the abbot gathered the monks together and said to them: “The rabbi said that one of us is the Messiah.” The monks were startled by this saying. “What could it mean? Is Brother John the Messiah? Or Father Matthew? Am I the Messiah?” They were all deeply puzzled by the rabbi’s teaching. But no one ever mentioned it again. As time went by, the monks began to treat one another with a very special reverence. There was a gentle wholehearted, human quality about them now which was hard to describe but easy to notice. They lived with one another as men who had finally found something. But they prayed the Scrip- tures together as men who were always looking for something. Occasional visitors found themselves deeply moved by the life of these monks. Before long, people were coming from far and wide to be nourished by the prayer life and witness of the monks, and young men were asking, once again, to become part of the community. In those days, the rabbi no longer walked in the woods. His hut had fallen into ruins. But somehow or other, the old monks who had taken his teaching to heart still felt sustained by his prayerful pres- ence. At a time when we are all affected by the pandemic, are we learning to live our life together as a family, as a parish, as a religious-missionary community with a “family spirit,” with more love, patience, and understanding, in a way that shows “the Messiah is indeed in our midst”? With deep gratitude for all your generous love for us and the Missions, ~Fr. Mark Marangone SX and the Xaverian Missionaries

WORLDCATHOLIC.US NEWS 3 MISSIONARY SPOTLIGHT arrived in Thailand in February 2012 who wanted me to be in Thailand and to and just after few days, I discovered love Thai people. Prejudice and I that it was not easy to be a black Treated like a Criminal person in “the Land of Smiles.” When Thai security officers appear to be an African my Italian confrere and I went to meet a suspicious of me. When I worked in a Thai priest who was to introduce to us our parish located in the far north, the police Missionary Priest jobs in Thailand, he greeted my Italian asked for my passport, but did not ask confrere with a welcoming smile and then in Thailand anything from my European friends at a looked at me and said, ‘I don’t like black checkpoint on the way there. people, they are bad people.’ Before that I could not have imagined that a man of An experience I don’t look forward to is God could go so low. Maybe I was very when I have to apply for the extension naive. of my visa. It is the same type of visa as Europeans priests in our mission have. ‘Many Times I Was Tempted to Give Up’ People from Africa are requested to go Another humiliating experience occurred first to the section for criminal verification when I was studying the Thai language. before renewing their visa. Many young Thai people were willing As part of the criminal record vetting to help my European colleagues do process, I must present my fingerprints their assignments and improve their and extra documents from the owner of knowledge. But no one wanted to help my residence. The requirement doesn’t me. Many chose to keep making fun of extend to the European priests, even my pronunciation instead. though all of us live under the same roof. I During the meetings of priests and nuns, felt humiliated to be treated as a criminal. there seemed to be the assumption that I It hurts me a lot when I remember that was ignorant; my Europeans peers were I brought my little contribution to the Father Thierry welcomed to give their opinions but I had development of the villages by paying the Kamga Kengne, SX to struggle to make my voice be heard. tuition fees of some students, building a When I was assigned to a parish, some Church, building houses for some elderly people had difficulty accepting me as their people, and buying wheelchairs for people Context: pastor. I could see that other people were with disabilities. reluctant to introduce me to their friends A few days after the death of George Floyd But, please don’t get me wrong, I am not as their parish priest, or to invite me to in Minneapolis (USA), which triggered judging the Thai people – I am just sharing their house: they preferred to be seen with unrest all over the world, a forum was with you some experiences I have been European priests. Some even said that I organized in Bangkok (Thailand) on the through as an African person in Thailand. treatment of Black people in Thailand. would not stay there more than 6 months. Many Thai people showed solidarity with (Thanks be to God, I spent 6 years there Beautiful Memories black people and also talked about the before moving to Khlong Toei where I am I always tell myself that not all Thai people injustices African and people with dark working now.) are racist. I believe that there are many skin face in many Asia countries. It also It was not easy. I had to swallow my pride, Thai people who are welcoming and kind. led to the discussion on the treatment of and accept being made fun of by some In fact, many not only accepted me as a minorities in Asian societies. After the people who kept asking some strange fellow human being, but also welcomed forum, a Thai journalist asked me to questions, or making offensive remarks, me as a friend. They felt at home with me. shared my experience in Thailand as an like may I touch your hair; do you have In the parish where I work, many Thais African priest. It was published in their water in your country; do people wear overcame their prejudices about me and newspaper and the editor decided not to clothes in your country, and so on… treat me as an equal. publish my name to avoid reprisals from Many times I was tempted to give up, but Before I flew home for holidays 2 years Thai authorities. I kept praying, asking to help me to ago, many people in the villages gave persevere, to love the Thai people and to me presents for my parents such as bags, be faithful to the mission He has entrusted traditional Thai clothing, Thai sweets etc. to me. My faith tells me that He is the One When I returned, they were happy to see

4 WORLDCATHOLIC.US NEWS me back and they asked for news about my family. These gestures meant a lot to me, they showed me that they see me as their brother, and they love me. I also remember with joy when Thai people helped me raise funds and collect gifts for Christmas in the villages. Some families also brought me to their house and shared Christmas meals with me, giving me an opportunity to know each other and build a better friendship. In those moments, I see the goodness and generosity of Thai people. Thailand, The Land of Smiles … even for me and for us Thailand is known as “The Land of Smiles,” and indeed it is! Here, life is celebrated and All lives matter: hospitality and harmony are important values in the Thai society. Many of our Thai friends admire and are attracted by our Xaverian community (seven confreres from four continents living together despite their differences). For this reason, I believe there is no systemic racism in Thailand but rather some Thai behave badly out of ignorance and prejudice. By assigning African missionaries in Asia and precisely in Thailand, the Church through missionary Congregations such as the Xaverian Missionaries helps fight against the stereotypes and prejudices again Black people and all people. Xaverian communities are a testimony that universal brotherhood is possible, and that there are no outsiders in God’s family. artin Luther King Jr. once said “Darkness cannot drive out Mdarkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” Another name for mission is “Dialogue,” and following the advice of Martin L. King Jr. and as a missionary, I should not allow bitterness or resentment to win over me, rather I should continue to be a man of dialogue, a builder of bridges; in other words, guided by faith, I have to keep bringing the light and the love of Christ to all and to the darkest places of our world.

WORLDCATHOLIC.US NEWS 5 THE CRY OF THE EARTH

Photo www.pikist.com

audato Si ‘Week,” which price paid to the virus in terms of human what kind of relationship we have with took place last May, was an lives has been incongruous and terrible. ourselves, with others, with nature “Limportant opportunity to We have also witnessed the exponential and finally - or in principle - with God. explore and better understand the growth in the use of the internet, And how much attention, passion and wealth of Pope Francis’ encyclical apps, and social networks, but the energy are we willing to invest in these published five years ago. If we re- suffering due to social distancing has relationships? The complexity of the read the text in this period, knowing not spared anyone. Yet the constraint present moment requires a reflection that thousands of people have been inside domestic walls has allowed more and a common action, focused on the affected by the virus , and just as time for reflection which can lead to theme of human solidarity, not only at we become aware of the painful living with greater fullness, designing the family, neighborhood, and national consequences of the pandemic also and building a better society than the level, but at the global level. on the globalized economy, perhaps, current one. Social distancing makes us experience we will realize better the urgency “What kind of world do we want to leave concretely the importance of the of planning and act in the direction to those who come after us, to the tangible relationship with our loved indicated by the Pope. children who are growing up?” Starting ones. However, being able to feel During the compulsory confinement from this question, Pope Francis renews compassion and true solidarity with necessary to limit the spread of his “urgent appeal to respond to the those who do not belong directly to the disease, we have witnessed on ecological crisis, the cry of the earth the circle of our family is much more the one hand the decrease or total and the cry of the poor can no longer difficult. It is necessary to understand cessation of many activities, and on wait.” that “solidarity” is not equal to the other, the marked reduction in The question forces us to reflect on “uniformity,” because worldwide the emissions of polluting agents; the quality of the relationship that solidarity and community can only come however, we do not feel comforted each of us maintains with the world, from an authentic, non-ideological by breathing cleaner air because the both individually and in community: dialogue that proceeds from mutual

6 WORLDCATHOLIC.US NEWS trust. This may be the starting point of “distorted”, transforming it into an in a dissociated mode and ecological a “human ecology.” ornamental “concept,” which is often disasters will continue to occur. During isolation, the increased use of not representative of reality, while in It will take a great deal of effort to digital systems highlighted the lack practice its resources are exploited connect theory to practice and make of a real dialogue in which everyone indiscriminately, and not for the benefit community life, solidarity and social is willing to listen, evaluate and of the entire world population. bonding non-negotiable experiences, discuss the other people’s proposals. Consequently, what could be less because “community, solidarity, Many initiatives have been good but “natural” for humans than choosing compassion and love” are not abstract now we need to work to establish an to act to save a “concept”? Why concepts, they are real experiences. authentically dialogical climate, capable abandon our “comfort structures” for It would be necessary, I believe, of leading to practical operational something that always looks wonderful, to experience the rough and slow choices, for the good of all. comfortably seen in photos, videos or materiality of nature, to abandon, even nfortunately, many Internet visited through spectacularly organized for a short period, the straight flows of users show the typical travel? our roads and ease of digital crossroads, Uvolatility of static thinking, In the name of this “protective to get out of our comfortable cages in which feeds on the enunciation of comfort,” most of us have isolated order to forge a new certainty — that principles and theories or on audio and ourselves from the reality of nature, its of our interdependence with the rest of video performances, which have little balances and absolute interdependence. creation. to do with the direct commitment to If we continue to replace reality with Isn’t this also the mission of the Church? the solution of the increasingly evident concepts, without feeling the wounds central question: the urgent appeal to inflicted on nature on our shoulders and Fr. Enzo Oliviero Verzeletti SX respond to the ecological crisis, the without taking transformative lifestyles, cry of the earth and the cry of the poor the ecosystem will be damaged. This who can no longer wait. Principles and marvelous vital gear will no longer be theories are often transformed into able to move harmoniously, it will turn pale and poor slogans which separate the word from the action. Speech and practical action are like the two wheels of a gear: if they start to rotate in a dissociated way, without the movement of one driving or engaging that of the other, the gear can jam. It is possible to see a tragic example in the Minneapolis events: there the social component is at risk and the whole system risks being jammed, because those who should guarantee the respect for justice seem instead to be operators of iniquity. In matters concerning the natural environment, if we do not act concretely to adapt production and consumption to the declared need to protect the environment, we risk, so to speak, the jamming of the gears in the entire ecosystem. In the current system of mass communication, of which capitalist society is woven, nature has been relegated to the background, It hardly disturbs our well-being, because it remains distant, and it does not lead us to a direct confrontation with its roughness, its resistances, its surprises. Nature has been Photo Myriams-Fotos (pixabay.com)

WORLDCATHOLIC.US NEWS 7 CENTENNIAL YEAR OPENING CELEBRATION “May our Lord Jesus Christ be known and loved by all.”

Excerpt from the homily of Fernando García Rodríguez SX, Superior General of the Xaverian Missionaries

magine Archbishop Conforti, a hundred years ago, sending the Testament Letter, “To the dear present and future Missionaries Iof the Pious Society of St. for Foreign Missions.” We know the purpose of this letter was to communicate the definitive approval of our first Constitutions by the Roman dicastery. In it he invited all “to thank the Lord,” and at the same time called attention “to the grave and solemn commitment that we now come to contract for it before God and his Church” (LT 1). It was July 2, 1921. Isaiah, Jesus, the apostles, Paul, Francis Xavier, Guido M. Conforti...(and many, many others)...they are our strong ties that tell us that we are part of a story. We remember not to uproot ourselves from the soil that nourishes us, from the healthy and strong roots that generated us. As Pope Francis said, “memory is not a private thing, but it is the way that unites us to God and to others.” Our history is marked by the continuous presence of God. We are the fruit of the gift of God! With a heart full of joy and gratitude we say: thank you, Lord! Thank you for the gift of faith, because we knew Jesus Christ, for his Word of Life, because we heard our names on his lips. Faith, despite our doubts and uncertainties, is the greatest gift that God gives us. We are disciples of the Lord Jesus! Thanks to Jesus Christ, for the trust he has placed in us, so poor and fragile. He entrusted us with his missionary mandate: “Go into the whole world and bring the message of the Gospel to every creature.” Thus, through pure divine grace, we became disciples-missionaries of the Lord Jesus. Thank you for these 125 years of life of our Missionary Institute. Thanks for the approval of the first Constitutions by the Church. “I invite you to exult and thank the Lord for this fact which for us is no doubt the subject of the sanctity and opportunity of the Institution, to which we have given the name” (LT 1). Conforti’s dream, long cultivated in his heart, was recognized as inspired by the Spirit and desired by God. By approving the Constitutions, the Church has officially entrusted us, together with other missionary Institutes and Congregations, a very specific peculiarity of the only mission of Jesus Christ: the mission ad Gentes. Entrusting means trusting. Thank you for the confreres who, starting with Bishop Conforti, up to the last who left —us let us think in particular of the deceased confreres, victims of COVID-19 —offered their life in one way or another, because Jesus Christ is to be known and loved. It is interesting to remember how many confreres left for the mission, in what conditions, the difficulties they encountered ... and how they made “that place “ the epiphany of the Lord. The cemeteries scattered in the different Circumscriptions where many of our confreres rest are witnesses of the total gift of their life. Special mention should be given to our martyred confreres. They are the clearest and most significant expression of the Xaverian charism. The gift of their life, in China, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in Bangladesh, in Brazil and in Burundi, manifests the eloquence of the missionary vocation. Thanks also for all of us, those who today form the Xaverian Family. The confreres scattered in the four continents, the Xaverian Missionary Sisters of Mary, the Josephine Sisters, the Xaverian laity, and the whole network of relatives, friends and benefactors who accompany us and who are part of the mission of evangelization ad Gentes entrusted to us by the Church.

8 WORLDCATHOLIC.US NEWS PRAISE TO YOU, GOD AND FATHER, FOR OUR FOUNDER SAINT GUIDO M. CONFORTI, WHO, FASCINATED BY YOUR CRUCIFIED SON AND INSPIRED BY THE SPIRIT, FOUNDED THE XAVERIAN FAMILY TO SPREAD THE GOSPEL TO THE MOST DISTANT BORDERS, SO THAT OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST MAY BE KNOWN AND LOVED BY ALL.

WE THANK YOU FOR THE GIFT OF THE MISSIONARY VOCATION. FORGIVE THE INFIDELITIES TO THE CHARISM RECEIVED, AND STRENGTHEN IN US THE DESIRE AND ZEAL TO LIVE THE MISSION AD GENTES, WITH AN INTENSE FAMILY SPIRIT.

GIVE US A SPIRIT OF LIVING FAITH TO WITNESS WITH LOVE IN THE WORLD THE HOPE THAT GIVES MEANING AND LIFE. FOR JESUS, CHRIST, OUR LORD. AMEN!

9 WORLDCATHOLIC.US NEWS World Mission News “Making of the World One Family...”

THE XAVERIAN MISSIONARIES OPEN THEIR JUBILEE YEAR

Parma (Agenzia Fides) - The Jubilee year of family: the Missionaries of Mary, the the gift received. This commitment also the Institute of St. Francis Xavier for foreign Xaverian laity, and the Josephine Sisters. has to do with a real, adequate and urgent missions, whose members are known as There are three main elements that must repositioning of our missionary presences, “Xaverian Missionaries,” began with a distinguish this period, write the members especially where it is necessary to do so.” mass presided by the Superior General, of the General Administration of the The prayer composed for the Jubilee year Father Fernando García, in the sanctuary Xaverians in the jubilee letter calling: sums up the sentiments of the Xaverian of Saint Guido Maria Conforti in Parma, “Thank God for the gift of the Xaverian missionaries in this circumstance: “Praise the Mother House of the Xaverians, which charism in the Church, remembering the and glory to you, God and Father, for our was streamed online. history of these 125 years of the life of our Founder St. Guido M. Conforti, who, The General Direction of the Institute Missionary family. We must give thanks fascinated by your crucified Son, and announced a jubilee year, from 2 July 2020 for all the good done by the confreres who inspired by the Holy Spirit, founded the until 2 July 2021, to remember the definitive preceded us and for what is currently being Xaverian Family to spread the Gospel unto approval of the first Constitutions and the done, also through us. Everything is grace the ends of the earth, so that our Lord Jesus “Testament Letter” of the founder, Saint to verify our response to the gift received. Christ may be known and loved by all. We Guido Maria Conforti, who communicated The Xaverian charism is clear and precise: thank you for the gift of the missionary the news to the “present and future” mission ad gentes and ad extra lived in vocation. Forgive our betrayals to the missionaries. religious consecration, inserted in the more charism received, and strengthen in us the The jubilee year intends to give particular global context of the mission of the Church. desire and zeal to live the mission ad gentes, importance to the first centenary of the Therefore it has a particular, very specific with a passionate family spirit. first Constitutions and the Testament place in ecclesial life. It is a question of Give us a spirit of living Faith to bear Letter, which also coincides with the seeing, with the eyes of faith and with witness with love, in the world, to the Hope 125th anniversary of the Institute’s human reason, our fidelity or infidelity to that gives meaning and life. Through Jesus foundation. This jubilee event will be lived the Xaverian charism, that is, to our identity Christ, our Lord. Amen!” in communion with the entire Xaverian in the Church to engage promptly and with determination to respond adequately to

10 WORLDCATHOLIC.US NEWS USA NEWS r. Carl Chudy SX is seeking young adults have the Mass outdoor weather permitting.) who were raised Catholic and have the The COVID-19 restrictions are the same... left the church or no longer practice for masks must be worn, social distancing, and Fa special study on Catholic disaffiliation. He please bring your own lawn chair and hand is asking Catholic families within the Arch- sanitizer. Please call or email to let us know diocese of Boston to assist in this study. He who is coming. The Morning Masses have hope to have three focus groups (6-8 people) resumed from Monday to Friday at 7:30 am in of active Catholics who have children or loved the Shrine Church. There is not a 7pm Mass ones who have left the church in which they on Tuesdays as we had before. On Saturday were brought up in, to any extent. there is only one Mass in the morning at Fr. Carl Chudy, SC He is also looking for younger people in the 10:00 am. Archdiocese of Boston, 18 – 35 years of age The first Marian Devotion for Our Lady of who were brought up in the Fatima was held on July 13 with a 7pm Mass but who now no longer practice, or no longer followed by “Rosary in Place” at the Martyrs consider themselves Catholic. As in the older Grove Altar. Unfortunately, communal generational group he hopes to have six to singing and processions are not permitted. eight people in three different focus groups. Confessions will be available beginning Each focus group will entail having a one Saturday July 18th at the Martyrs’s Grove and half hour session of discussion around from 4pm to 6pm. Bring your lawn chair. their experience, with a few questions from The Fatima Shrine Gift Shop has re-opened the moderator. The focus of the study is to There is a Sale with 20% off many items. Only deepen understanding and bridge these gen- 4 persons can shop at one time and there are eration gaps. arrows assisting social distancing in the shop. Finally, all of the discussions will be record- Do come! Open Tuesdays to Sundays from Fr. Rocco Puopolo, SC ed, transcribed, and analyzed to discover new 11:00am to 6:00pm. Closed Mondays. understandings in the many different experi- ~Fr. Rocco Puopolo, SX ences of disaffiliation in Catholic families. We OVID-19 has taken its toll on all of us. need to hear the stories of departures and we We ask for your prayers and continued have much to learn from them. If you are in- support during the stressful time. terested, or know someone who would like to CPlease consider making a donation to the participate, please go to the website https:// Xaverian Missionaries to help support our xaverianmissionaries.org/catholic.disaffilia- work in this country and around the world. tion/ to contact Fr. Carl or leave a comment. We thank you for your generosity and atima Shrine has resumed Sunday solidarity. Mass outside at the new Martyrs Grove ~ Fr. Mark Marangone, SX Altar at 10:00 am each Sunday, for the Fsummer. (Our Shrine Church will only fit 30 people due to social distancing, so we will

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