Volume 1, Issue 1 January 2019

“So That My Joy May Be in You!” Salesian Family Days Live-Streamed - January 10-13 Taking its inspiration from or to move away from one’s beautiful, exciting for every- Francis’ Apostolic Exhor- own brothers and sisters, but one, about which people may tation Gaudete et Exsultate to live one’s life to the full in never think or think very

and the Synod on Youth, living an intense (and sometimes little.” our vocation to holiness is the difficult) experience of com- Strenna 2019 topic of the upcoming Salesian munion. Full Commentary See the Family Spirituality Days, Janu- A near-by God who reveals Portal homepage for much ary 10-13, 2019, to be held in himself in Christ: ‘Apart from more! #Holiness for you, too! Torino at Valdocco and live- me you can do nothing.’ (Jn. streamed in real time. 15: 5); ‘I have set you an ex- In this issue: As we read in the introduction ample that you also should to the Strenna, published in do as I have done to Salesian Family of 2-3 July 2018: ‘Sacred Scripture you.’ (Jn.13:15) Holiness is January invites us to be holy: ‘Be per- not a theory of moral perfec- The Michaelites 4 Mrs. Norma Arellano from St. fect as your heavenly Father is tion, but a life that conforms John Bosco Parish in Chicago ADMA 4 perfect.’ (Mt. 5:48), and ‘Be to that of Jesus. Some charac- will accompany a group of Coming in Feb. 4 holy, because I [the Lord] am teristics of the life of Jesus, young people to WYD . Let us holy.’ (Lev. 11:44) Holiness is a which are close-by, concrete, keep them in prayer! gift, a mandate and a task. Holiness is for everyone be- “Strengthened by so many and such great means of IMPORTANT cause it corresponds to God’s salvation, all the faithful, whatever their condition or DATES fundamental plan for us. To state, are called by the Lord – each in his or her own become saints is not to be- way – to that perfect holiness by which the Father  Jan. 19 - SSCC Formation Day/CPC come alienated from oneself Mtg, IL himself is perfect.” Gaudete et Exsultate #10

 Jan. 22-27 - WYD Panama Bishops’ Synod on the Youth 2018  Feb.-June - Fr. Tim Ploch, SDB, and Sr. Chantal Mukase, FMA, visit us “Young people are looking for imitate, but instead living many who could meet this companions on the journey, testimonies to witness. Such expectation.”  April 18 - 150th of Founding of ADMA to be embraced by faithful a person should evangelize by #10 Final Document from the  May 25 - Marian Day, Stony Point, NY men and women who express their life. Whether they are Pre-Synodal Meeting with the the truth and allow young familiar faces in the comfort  June 28-30 - Forming the Formator Young People Workshop, Stony Point, NY people to articulate their un- of home, colleagues in the

derstanding of faith and their local community, or martyrs N.B. The Final Document in  Nov. 7-10 - ADMA International vocation. Such people do not testifying to their faith with Congress VIII, Buenos Aires: Register English is still forthcoming need to be models of faith to their very lives, there are here from the Bishops. Page 2 The Salesian Ordo and Addenda et Varianda Our Salesian Saints of January are now available here Liturgical Resources here and numerous videos on our Saints here Bl. Titus Zeman, SDB Fr. Zeman was born into a Catho- to organize secret journeys to Vatican spy, and he was threatened with lic family on January 4, 1915, at Turin to enable religious to death. On February 22, 1952, in considera- Vajnory, near Bratislava. complete their studies. Fr. tion of some attenuating circumstances he Zeman took on this dangerous was sentenced to 25 years in prison. A student of theology at the Gre- task. gorian University in and Fr. Zeman was paroled on March 10, 1964, then in Chieri, he spent his spare He organized two expeditions after 12 years incarceration. Indelibly time carrying out his apostate in for over 60 young Salesians. At marked by the sufferings endured in prison, the oratory. the third attempt Fr. Zeman, he died five years later on January 8, 1969, together with those escaping, surrounded by the glorious reputation of a When the Czechoslovak Com- Ordained: were arrested. He was subject- martyr and a . munist regime in April 1950 for- June 23, 1940 ed to a rough trial, during bade religious orders and began Fr. Titus Zeman is the 172nd “hero” of the Memorial: Jan. 8 which he was described as a deporting religious to concentra- Salesian Family. Fidelity to Christ traitor to the fatherland and a tion camps, it became necessary

Louis Variara was born in Viarigi, Italy, on Louis arrived in Agua de Dios on August 6, Bl. Luigi Variara, SDB January 15, 1875. After his father Pietro 1894. The mission numbered 2000 people those who themselves heard Don Bosco preach a mission in their of whom 800 were lepers. He immediately suffered from leprosy: “The Daughters of the Sacred village in 1856, he decided to take Louis to became the life and soul of all who lived Hearts of Jesus and Mary.” He Valdocco to continue his studies. there, especially the children. He organized suffered much through the a band which brought unexpected festivity During his studies in the Novitiate at lack of understanding of to the peoples' lives. When Fr. Unia died a Valsalice, he came to know Fr. Andrew Bel- those who thought he should short time after his arrival, Louis had to trami, SDB, who impressed his with a joy in be removed from Agua de Dios a number carry on by himself. the face of suffering and illness. He also of times. Even in the face of calumny he said nothing. He died far from his beloved met Fr Unia, Salesian missionary to the He founded an institute of consecrated lepers, as obedience had demanded. lepers in Agua de Dios and answered his Religious from among the Community of call to follow him there as a missionary. Agua de Dios to serve their people, open to Memorial: Jan. 15 Long-suffering

Bl. Laura Vicuña Laura Carmen Vicuña But she also became his concubine. Manuel Mora threatened Laura’s virtue, was born in Santiago, in she firmly refused him, sending him into a In 1900 Laura went to board with her sister Chile, on the 5th April rage in which he beat her mother merci- Julia Amanda with the Daughters of Mary 1891 to Domeni- lessly for Laura’s obstinacy. Help of Christians at their school. When she co and Mercedes Pino. came to realize that her mother was living Exhausted by sickness and sacrifices, she The Vicuña family were in an immoral situation, she offered herself revealed to her mother on the last evening Chilean aristocrats, to the Lord for her parent's conversion; she of her life: "Mamma, I am dying! A long forced into exile by the increased her acts of mortification and, time ago I asked Jesus to bring you back to revolution. They took refuge in Temuco in a with the consent of her Salesian confessor, God, and I offered my life for that inten- poor house, but soon after Joseph Domeni- practiced by vow the evangelical counsels. tion. Mamma, before I die, please give me co died suddenly, and Mercedes had to the joy of seeing you reconciled to God." take refuge with her two daughters in Ar- Having read Don Bosco’s Life of Dominic She experienced this joy before dying on 22 gentina. They came to Junín de los Andes. Savio, she decided to make the resolutions January 1904. Mercedes came to know a ranch owner to love God with her whole being, to morti- Manuel Mora and accepted working for fy herself and die rather than offend God. Memorial: Jan. 22 (23 in USA) him with him to provide for her daughters. And so, during the holidays in 1902 when Chastity; Laying down one’s life for another’s salvation Volume 1, Issue 1 Page 3

St. Born in 1567, in a French border region, he At the climax of his trial, he opened his was the son of the Lord of Boisy, an ancient heart and prayed in these words: and noble family of Savoy. He received a “Whatever happens, Lord,... you who are very careful education; he undertook high- ever a just judge and a merciful Father, I er studies in Paris, where he dedicated him- will love you Lord.... I will love you here, O self to theology, and at the University of my God, and I will always hope in your mer- Padua, where he studied jurisprudence, cy and will always repeat your praise....” complying with his father’s wishes and From Valdocco, Francis de Sales Chapel The 20-year-old Francis found peace in graduating brilliantly with degrees in Feast Day: Jan. 24 Patience, Gentleness the radical and liberating love of God… utroque iure, in canon law and in civil law. And this was to be the secret of his life In his harmonious youth, reflection on the himself; he suffered as a true spiritual dra- which would shine out in his main work: The Treatise on the Love of God... With- thought of St Augustine and of St Thomas ma the principal theological issues of his out him neither St John Bosco nor the Aquinas led to a deep crisis. This prompted time. He prayed intensely but was so fierce- heroic “Little Way” of St Thérèse of Li- him to question his own eternal salvation ly tormented by doubt that for a few weeks sieux would have come into being. and the predestination of God concerning he could barely eat or sleep. Pope Benedict Fr. Bronislaw Markiewicz Bronislaw Markiewicz was born on July13, of poverty, he took up educational studies perance. Nine years after his death, this 1842 in Pruchnik, Poland, the 6th of 11 to better help them save their souls. society, with its male and female branches, children, in a devout lower-middle class was recognized by the Church and gave rise Bronislaw felt attracted to the spirituality of family. While growing up, Bronislaw met to two Congregations placed under the Don Bosco. He was accepted into the Sale- hunger, poverty, and persecution with a protection of St sian Congregation in 1887 and made his spirit of faith. He was fervent in teaching the , whom they perpetual profession to Don Bosco himself. catechetics and ministering to prisoners. He hold as protector against In 1892, he returned to Poland as a Salesian loved being with people especially if they evil. where he dedicated himself to poor and were poor. abandoned youth. Ordained: 1867 Wanting to be more effective in serving He founded a Society called Work and Tem- Memorial: Jan. 30 marginalized youngsters suffering all kinds Devoted to the Poor St. John Bosco Don Bosco, wrote these regulations for the and Holy Days, the boys shall be given an oppor- Oratory of St. Francis de Sales in 1847: The tunity to approach these two great Sacraments.” Oratory is to “admit not only the uneducated in Church services on Sundays and Holy Days shall order to teach them, but also the unruly in consist of the Office of the BVM, Holy , order to convert them, as long as they did not Bible or Church History lessons, Catechism, Ves- give scandal.” pers, a moral sermon, and Benediction. In addi- “For Don Bosco, religious festivals, playtime, Purpose: “To entertain youngsters, especially games, vocal and instrumental music, raffles, and tion, the rosary was recited: To those who com- apprentices, on Sunday and Holy Days with school were all but means to accomplish one plained of “too much prayer (or the recitation of pleasant and wholesome recreation after purpose: to get his boys to make good, frequent the rosary),” he said: “I have called this place an confessions. He gave no thought to his own they’ve attended religious services.” ‘oratory’ to make it strikingly clear that prayer inconvenience and sacrifice.” G. Cagliero Sundays and Holy Days at the Oratory: is... the only means on which we can rely. We recite the rosary because from the very begin- “Confession and Communion are our two prin- Founder of the SDB, FMA, SSCC, cipal practices of piety. Therefore, on Sundays and ADMA ning I have put myself and my boys under the Solemnity: January 31 direct protection of the Blessed .”

Books, videos, and posters of some of our Saints may be ordered from Salesian Missions in New Rochelle: [email protected] - 914-633-8344 - Jan 2019 Catalogue

The Michaelites Be Bold. Be Holy. Be Catholic! The Congregation of Saint Michael St. Clare of Montefalco Parish: 1401 asked where they had learned that song Archangel [and a sister Order] Whittier Road, Grosse Pointe Park, MI they hesitantly replied that they were were founded in Poland by Bl. 48230 website Salesian Brothers. Great was their relief Bronislaw Markiewicz. The men and joy when the enemy soldiers re- form a community of and brothers who Retreat Center: sponded, "We are Salesian Brothers, exercise their pastoral and educational minis- 2751 Sunningdale Road West, London, try in 15 countries and in the Vatican. Ontario, Canada, N6H 5L2 website too." That night, these “enemies” united in The Michaelite Fathers have been working in Their sister Order does not work in celebrating Christmas with hymns they the Diocese of London, Ontario, Canada, since Canada or the US. 1962. They form the North American Vice had learned in Don Bosco's houses. Mary Province. Their headquarters, Michaelite ADMA brought peace and union to those Con- freres separated by the battle lines that House and Retreat Centre, is located here. In 150 years ago, on April 18, 1869, Don the Diocese of London they have custody of had been drawn up by their governments. Bosco brought into being the Associa- two parishes: Our Lady of Czestochowa (Polish- tion of Mary Help of Christians “to The following morning before the sun English) and St. Mary's (Italian-English). The promote veneration of the Blessed rose, the German Confreres had to return Congregation also serves in the Archdiocese of Sacrament and devotion to Mary Help to their lines but the memory of the night Toronto where the Michaelites have custody of of Christians.” Certainly, he inculcat- spent in prayer and homage to Our Lady St. Teresa's Parish (Polish-English) and Christ and to Jesus, the Newborn King, gave the King (Polish-English) in Etobicoke, Toronto. ed this devotion deep in the hearts of his Salesians… them the strength to carry on with hope, In addition to the apostolic pastoral duties, the even as war raged around them. During WWII, a number of our Salesi- Michaelites also direct a retreat center, organ- Jesus and Mary bind us together as Family ize pilgrimages, lead parish missions, and offer an Brothers were conscripted into with ties too strong for any human being group retreats. military service in Europe. On Christ- or even the Devil to pull apart. At pre- mas Eve one year, a group of Italian Since July 1, 2012, the Congregation took cus- sent, groups exist in Port Chester, Hialeah, Salesians gathered together in a small tody of their first parish in the USA: St. Clare of Montreal, and Toronto. 2019 is Kairos cave and, in the midst of the fighting Montefalco parish in Detroit/Grosse Pointe time for us to promote the establishment and the sadness of being far from Park, Michigan, with Fr. Andrew Kowalczyk as of ADMA in every one of our Works and family and Confreres on that Holy the pastor. Houses to spread devotion to our power- Night, took comfort in singing Christ- They encourage an environment where all ful Help of Christians and Jesus in the mas hymns. Being the 24th, they can live as Christ did, worship together, Blessed Sacrament in our own homelands spontaneously intoned the hymn serve, and grow as a community of faith. The - so in need of the Faith! "Maria, Auxilium Christianorum" parish numbers 850 families, growing and when, to their shock, they realized Today, ADMA for Adults and ADMA for welcoming new members. They are a com- they were trapped in the cave by Ger- Families are augmented by ADMA for munity that is in love with the Lord, that man soldiers who had followed the Teens and ADMA for Children. Click on wants to grow in faith, and is ready to minis- voices and discovered them. Mary’s image below to download bro- ter to others. chures and obtain information and docu- Frightened, and thinking they were Three statements sum this up: ments to begin a group. done for, when one of the Germans

Coming in February: SAVE THE DATE! MAY 25 Cooperators’ World Congress V MARIAN DAY @ STONY POINT FMA Past Pupil’s Congress IV Salesian Family Spirituality Days World Youth Day 2019 Synod on Youth Final Document Our February Saints - and more!

Maria, Auxilium Christianorum, Salesian Family of the eastern USA and of Canada ora pro nobis!

https://DonBoscoSalesianPortal.org [email protected]