SCALABRINIANS JFM20059/7/061:55PMPage2

1905 2005

JOHN BAPTIST SCALABRINI CENTENNIAL

NON PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID UTICA, NY THE PIOUS SOCIETY OF THE MISSIONARIES PERMITNO. 79 OF ST. CHARLES BORROMEO, INC. 27 Carmine Street New York, NY 10014-4423

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JANUARY, FEBRUARY, MARCH 2005 • VOL. 26 • NO. 1

The Good Samaritan Is Risen! 3 FALL 2004 SCALABRINIANS 3 SCALABRINIANS JFM 2005 9/7/06 1:55 PM Page 4

From the editor’s desk

A Publication of the Serving Our Migrant Bretheren Missionaries of St. Charles (Scalabrinians) of the Provinces There are different ways to serve our of St. Charles Borromeo and St. brothers and sisters. For Scalabrinians – • Editor priests, brothers, sisters and lay people – our René Manenti, c.s. • neighbor appears with the face of a migrant. Editorial Board Fr. Andrew Brizzolara, c.s. Blessed John Baptist Scalabrini teaches us to Ray Gregory Lucie Mouro take care of our migrant brethren in all their needs, material Fr. Pat Murphy, c.s. • and spiritual. Contributors to this issue Sr. Maria do Rosario Onzi, MSCS In our work for the kingdom of God, a tricky snare might be Adelia Firetti, MSS Geethani Pigera concealed in our good deeds. We might become more concerned about Claudia A. Ramirez Lydia Keklikian our own work, projects, and endeavors, than about the people who Rosanna I. Grillo Maria Lourdes Arias Trujillo would be helped by these activities. We might be conscientious Leslie Palma-Simoncek Francesco Valentini administrators and efficient social workers without ever meeting • Designed by - Marketology, Inc. and knowing those human beings we are trying to help. • Copy Editor - Thomas M. Sullivan As Scalabrinians, we are not dealing only with numbers as • Word Processing we attempt to solve problems or understand social patterns. First of all, Mona Hesterhagen • we are called to be compassionate good Samaritans who follow the Secretary - Cindy Amato • Printed by steps of our Lord through the example of Monsignor Scalabrini! Jesus Dodge Graphic Press, Utica, NY • did meet the people of His time, he spent time with them, He ate in The Missionaries of St. Charles (Scalabrinians) are their company, He cured them, He rebuked them … and, finally, a Roman Catholic community of priests and brothers gave His life for them, before rising on the third day. founded in 1887 by Blessed J. B. Scalabrini to share in the This has been the mission of the Church on its pilgrimage mission of the Church through a specific service to migrants through history. This is our life within our Christian community and refugees. • and the entire world. Direct correspondence to: Happy Easter! The Editor - Scalabrinians 209 Flagg Place Father René, c.s. Staten Island, NY 10304-1122 [email protected] Editor SCALABRINIANS JFM 2005 9/7/06 1:55 PM Page 5

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In each and every activity and ed against continuing, others did not group, we tried to train someone to later have the proper training to handle the give continuance to these programs and groups, many of the people were afraid we attempted to form a council of these to take advantage of the services we leaders with local professionals (doctors, opened to them concerning their migra- lawyers, psychologists, etc.) to maintain tion status, and so on. these programs and better their present situation. Nevertheless, I know that we gave Testimony and that is all that we as reli- We culminated our mission with a gious can do, to be “useless servants” for Soccer tournament that included both the Lord and for the construction of His young men and women’s teams followed Kingdom. This, I believe we did as best by The Festival of Hope where the chil- we could and God placed and continues dren, adolescents, and young adults per- to put the rest. I recognize that God was formed what they had worked on dur- able to inspire, reach, touch and heal ing this month. These last two events many people through us and He contin- showed that cooperation was possible ues to. One of the young men in my between a divided society, many began youth group wrote to me on the Feast of to believe in themselves and in those Francis to wish me well, almost a around them, others realized the special full year after our mission. He wrote to gifts that they possessed and that could tell me that he had gone back to school be shared with others, and so much while he continued to work to support more. Still, three things stand out above his family, that he had “squared” things the rest: one, that although it rained with God since his father had aban- throughout the entire Festival, the doned them, that he was finding the crowds continued to swell and no inci- time to organize soccer games for the dent occurred among the varying sub- children three times a week and that groups, the second is that most of the there were others like him. He wrote public officials, religious leaders, teach- many other things that moved me but ers and other community figures were one left me with much to praise God able to allow, work together, or at the over. He said that he learned that the least, not impede the month long activ- more that one spent time with the other, ities and final proceedings, and lastly, the more one learned about himself and the month long events and concluding God, and that the more he gave of him- Festival had been offered without any self, the more he received from God. I monetary investment. In fact, many answered him that his studies are paying permitted the use of fields, classrooms, off and that God is certainly with him. social halls, and more, that had not been open to the public previously. However, there is no fairy tale ending to conclude with. The fact is that most things went back to normal, some of the leaders that we tried to motivate decid- Typical House

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contents VOL. 26 • NO. 1 • JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH • 2005

Message of The Holy Father John Paul II for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees 2005 4

Greetings! 6 4

Rhode Island Communities Celebrate the Centennial Year of Blessed Scalabrini’s Death 13

6 Preparations for the 100th Anniversary of the Death of Blessed John Baptist Scalabrini 15

New “Remote Adoption” Program 16 15

Articles: Migration and Theology • Working In The Ways of The Lord • A Lay Perspective on the Migration and Theology Conference • “Let’s Start To Do Something” 18 16

Saint Charles Mission Center Bids Farewell to Sisters 26

Francesco Valentini Writes to Us 28 27 SCALABRINIANS JFM 2005 9/7/06 1:55 PM Page 8

Message Of The Holy Father John Paul II For The World Day Of Migrants & Refugees 2005

Intercultural Integration Dear Brothers and Sisters, 1. The World Day of Migrants and Refugees is at hand. In the annu- al Message I usually address to you on this occasion, I would like this time to consider the phenomenon of migra- tion from the perspective of integra- tion. Many people use this word to denote the need for immigrants to be IOANNES PAULUS PP. II truly incorporated in the host coun- to avoid the occurrence of exasperated try, but neither the content of this differentiation. concept nor its practice is easy to I will not deal with the various define. In this regard I would like to aspects of integration. All I desire on sketch the picture by recalling the this occasion is to go deeper with you recent Instruction Erga migrantes cari- into some implications of its intercul- tas Christi (The love of Christ towards tural dimension. migrants) (cf. nos. 2, 42, 43, 62, 80, 2. No one is unaware of the iden- 89). tity conflict that often comes about in In this document, integration is the meeting of persons of different not presented as an assimilation that cultures. Positive elements do exist in leads migrants to suppress or to forget this. By introducing themselves into a their own cultural identity. Rather, new environment, immigrants often contact with others leads to discover- become more aware of who they are, ing their “secret,” to being open to especially when they miss the persons them in order to welcome their valid and values that are important to them. aspects and thus contribute to know- In our society, characterized by ing each one better. This is a lengthy the global phenomenon of migration, process that aims to shape societies individuals must seek the proper bal- and cultures, making them more and ance between respect for their own more a reflection of the multifaceted identity and recognition of that of gifts of God to human beings. In this others. Indeed, it is necessary to rec- process the migrant is intent on taking ognize the legitimate plurality of cul- the necessary steps towards social tures present in a country, in harmony inclusion, such as learning the nation- with the preservation of law and al language and complying with the order, on which depend social peace laws and requirements at work, so as and the freedom of citizens.

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Therefore, Leobardo Medina, my Catholics to form prayer groups to Scalabrinian co-brother and I had a revive, expand and live their faith; we month’s time to work with this commu- visited and worked with rehabilitation nity and face these challenging issues groups such as A.A., the fishermen and along side them. We took the first few other exploited workers. In addition, we days to try to understand the situation visited the sick and elderly with the and then devised the following plan. We prayer groups to teach them how to con- would form groups of children, adoles- tinue this important pastoral work in cents and young men and women, offer- the future. Lastly, as it is our charisma, ing them sports, games, martial arts and we gave particular care to the over- cultural events on a daily basis followed whelming migration situation of this by catechism and discussions on the town. We spoke to all the local, federal issues that mattered most to them. We and international agencies in the area knew that we had to attract them with that could be of assistance. We educated something more, to have them open ourselves and later the population on themselves to God, allowing then to be those that could receive legal status in guided in their faith. We also gave a Mexico (which turned out to be the series of conferences in the local High majority), how to recover their former Schools and the Technical College. Such documents, nationality, and so on. themes as Self-Esteem, Addictions, Sex- Above all, we showed them how to uality, and others were taught and dis- receive services, benefits and the respect cussed. We concluded each session with a of their basic human rights from these hard look on our dignity as man and governments and agencies, and what woman given to us by God and our role options were available to them should as co-creators in this world. With the they desire to leave town. adults, we focused mainly on the present

The Martial arts Group.

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These migrants were my constant registered and are simply counted among reality during my Postulancy which took the undocumented, sharing with them place in Tapachula, Chiapas, Mexico, a exposure to oppressive, highly dangerous city near the border of Guatemala, work, poor social and health benefits (if where hundreds of illegal migrants any at all) and the dispossession of their (mainly Central Americans) cross ille- own cultural and national identity. All gally into Mexican territory with the of these factors contribute to poor living determination to reach the United conditions, a multitude of domestic and States or even Canada. Theirs were the social problems, and fierce divisions faces that I looked upon each day, as we among the population that has been manoeuvre the House of the Migrant, a augmented by the presence of several Scalabrinian center to help and house, “rivalling” Protestant Pastors that have momentarily, passing migrants on their only served to further oppress the intel- way to the North; faces that signalled lectually unprotected. Basically, they are the blistering sign of the times men- a group of peoples that are dormant or tioned above and that, through the eyes misguided in their faith, unable to of faith, represented the agonizing coun- experiment the communion and love of tenance of Christ during His Passion the Eucharist, the possibility of being and simultaneously the manifestation of enriched by their ethnically distinct the Christian virtue of Hope. neighbours, and have lost all hope.

During this unique time of forma- As our migrant Mother Mary and tion, I was given a one month mission Saint encountered that all the experience in Puerto Madero, a small doors were closed to them, until they Port town of about 10 000 habitants on found a humble manger to give birth to the shores of the Pacific, some 30 Km. God Incarnate, these migrants are from the same international border. equally in the same manger but do not Roughly, seventy percent of the residents share the joy and wonder before the are undocumented as most illegally birth of Christ. Instead, they are the entered Mexico during political and/or Jesus that is rejected by all governing ethnical persecutions or full blown civil bodies and even abandoned by His clos- wars that were experienced in their est friends, all but a precious few. The Central American countries such as migrant without Hope, is no longer a Nicaragua, and through their fear of migrant because he/she allows themselves being deported, most have never applied to be subdued by the same machinery of for asylum or refugee status nor have our unfair modern day ideological, ventured beyond this town because they political and economic systems that they know all too well that the Mexican should represent opposition to. They are authorities heavily monitor illegal stagnant, in purgatory and do not feel migration from here onwards (they are worthy or no longer believe in a better essentially in a tolerance zone). Further- place that does await them, in this life more, most of their children were born and in the next. on Mexican soil but due to the same fear and unawareness, they have never been

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Indeed, it is essential to exclude common and inalienable, because on the one hand assimilationist mod- they are founded on universal els that tend to transform those who human rights. This gives rise to that are different into their own copy, and atmosphere of “civic reasonableness” on the other, models of marginaliza- that permits friendly and serene tion of immigrants, with attitudes coexistence. that can even arrive at the choice of Moreover, if they are coherent apartheid. The way to take is the path with themselves, Christians cannot of genuine integration (cf. Ecclesia in give up proclaiming the Gospel of Europa, no. 102) with an open out- Christ to all creation (cf. Mk 16:15). look that refuses to consider solely the Obviously, they must do so with differences between immigrants and respect for the conscience of others, the local people (cf. Message always resorting to the for World Day for Peace method of charity, as St 2001, no. 12). Paul had already recom- 3. Thus the need arose mended to the early Chris- for a dialogue between peo- tians (cf. Eph 4:15). ple of different cultures in a 4. The image from the context of pluralism that Prophet , to which goes beyond mere tolerance I have several times referred and reaches sympathy. A at the meetings with simple juxtaposition of the youth of the whole groups of migrants and world (cf. Is 21:11-12), locals tends to encourage a could also be used here to reciprocal closure between cultures, or invite all believers to be “morning the establishment, among them, of watchmen.” As such, Christians must relations that are merely superficial or above all listen to the cry for help that tolerant. We should encourage instead comes from a multitude of migrants a mutual fecundation of cultures. This and refugees, but they must then implies reciprocal knowledge and foster, with active commitment, openness between cultures, in a con- prospects of hope that will herald the text of true understanding and benev- dawn of a more open and supportive olence. society. It is up to them in the first Christians, conscious on their place to make out God's presence in part of the transcendent action of the history, even when everything still Spirit, can also recognize in the vari- seems to be enveloped in darkness. ous cultures the presence of "precious With this hope, which I trans- elements of religion and humanity" form into prayer to God who wants (cf. Gaudium et Spes, no. 92) that can to gather every nation and every offer solid prospects of mutual under- language around him (cf. Is 66:18), standing. It will, of course, be neces- I send to each one of you my Blessing sary to combine the principle of with deep affection. respect for cultural differences with From the Vatican, 24 November the protection of values that are in 2004 • IOANNES PAULUS PP. II

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A Message on the Occasion of the Centennial of the death of Blessed John Baptist scalabrini, 1905-2005 Rome, November 21, 2004 Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ King of the Universe Greetings!

The year 2005 is truly a year of great significance and grace for the Scalabrinian Family, which includes the Missionaries of St. Charles - Scalabrinians, the Missionary Sisters of St. Charles Borromeo - Scalabrini- ans, and the Scalabrinian Secular Missionary Women. We are celebrating the 100th anniversary of the death of Blessed John Baptist Scalabrini, who was born in Fino Mornasco (Como) on July 8, 1839 and died in Piacenza on June 1, 1905. Filled with gratitude to God, we wish to share with you the joy of A young Blessed John Baptist Scalabrini, this anniversary and a Charism that is just ordained Bishop of Piacenza the gift of the Spirit to the Church

Scalabrinian missionaries gathered around their Founder in St. Charles’ Church, Piacenza, before he was moved to his final resting place inside the Cathedral of Piacenza.

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Francesco Valentini writes to us

Members of the Youth Group. From Francesco Valentini As for these thousands of daily Some brief bio info. I entered the migrants that leave all that they love seminary in september 2000 in Bogota. and cherish behind to risk their very In June of 2003 I finished my philoso- lives (and consequentially that of their phy studies there and arrived for the loves ones, should they not be successful) Postulancy in Tapachula Mexico the 15 for the uncertain venture of a better of July (2003). I began the Noviciate, salary, security and life for their fami- the 27 of November in Puripero, Mexi- lies, they are the living testimony of co and we will profess our first vows the political systems and greedy ideologies 28 of November (2004). I will then be that do not work. They are the incon- sent to the Philippines sometime after testable statistical evidence of a lopsided the New Year with Leobardo Medina world economy that overstuffs the stom- and another co-brother, Ismael Cornejo. achs of the few and buries the already stifled lives of the great majority of God’s Migration, in our present day, espe- children. Still, these migrants represent cially since September 11th, is not just a much more because in a world impris- debated and