PEOPLE OF GOD NEWSLETTER LAITY, RELIGIOUS AND CLERGY LIVING THE VISION OF ST. VINCENT PALLOTTI Let Our Lives Be Always Found at the Foot of the Cross of Our Lord, Jesus Christ. St. Vincent Pallotti Lent 2007 Society of the Catholic Apostolate Spring 2007 The Pallottines An Old Sicilian Tradition in Modern Day America? St. Joseph's Table & Bread. by Mary Edwards, a friend of the Pallottines It may be true that in the United that save the Sicilians from starvation. States Catholics, in general, do not cel- The bean is said to bring good luck. It ebrate many saint's days, but in Italy, is further believed that if the St. Joseph's and especially Sicily, the people cel- bread is kept in the home, one's family ebrate dozens, if not hundreds. One of will never starve. the more interesting of these celebra- According to this same tradition a tions is that of St. Giuseppe (Joseph), person must not ask for any personal who is considered Sicily's most impor- gain or benefit, but must seek a favor tant saint. for another person. Some very com- According to one Medieval tradi- mon requests are for the safe return of tion, there once was a time of extreme a loved one from a war (which would drought throughout Sicily. No rain fell seem to be very appropriate today with for such a long time that the crops would so many of our service men and women not grow, and countless people starved in Iraq.) Other requests often center to death. So the people in the villages around asking for the health or healing began praying to God for rain and to St. of a loved one. Joseph to intercede for them with God. While on the internet, I found page The people promised that if God would after page of information on other St. send the rains, they would hold a special Joseph's Day traditions, bread recipes feast honoring Him and St. Joseph. and pictures about the St. Joseph's By a miracle, the rains came, the altar. If interested, go to Google and crops began to grow and the people do a search on "St. Joseph". You'll be were saved from starvation. When har- amazed at all that you will find. vest time came, the people prepared a Let me end by sharing with you one feast of foods from their crops. This of many St. Joseph's Day bread reci- celebration came to be known as Tavola pes. Have fun making it and don't di San Giuseppe. And behold, a tradition forget to celebrate St. Joseph's Day on was born! March 19th. We Pallottines will be Through the centuries, people who celebrating the feast of St. Joseph with have prayed for favors and have been a special novena of Masses from March granted them used this feast day to show 19th-27th. their thanks by setting up elaborate al- tars and tables filled with many remark- Ingredients: able foods, such as St. Joseph's Bread 3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour and Fava beans. The Fava beans play an 1½ teaspoons active dry yeast integral part in this St. Joseph's Day 1 tablespoon honey celebration because this was the food 2/3 cup hot water 2 rated knife to make three or four diago- nal slashes on the top. Cover with a tea towel, and let rise until double in size, about 30 min- utes. 4. Preheat the oven to 350° F. Mist the loaf with water of vinegar* before baking, and twice during. An example of a St. Joseph's table with altar & breads. 5. Bake for 35 to ½ teaspoon salt 40 minutes in the preheated oven, or 2 tablespoons butter until the crust is golden brown, and the 3 tablespoons anise (optional) loaf sounds hollow when tapped on the 1/3 cup golden raisins bottom. 1 tablespoon cornmeal *mix 1 quart water with 1 tablespoon Directions: of white vinegar for this purpose. 1. In a large bowl, stir together 1½ cups of the flour, yeast, honey, hot water, salt, butter and anise seeds (optional). People of God Newletter Mix into a smooth batter. Stir in the is published three times a year raisins, and beat for another 10 minutes, by the gradually adding flour until dough pulls Mother of God Province away from sides of bowl. of the Pallottine 2. Turn the dough out onto a lightly Fathers & Brothers. floured surface. Knead for another 8 to Articles, photos, suggestions 10 minutes, until the dough is smooth are always welcome. and elastic. You may not need to use all Editorial office located at: of the flour. Place the dough into a Pallottine Fathers & Brothers lightly oiled bowl, and turn to coat. 5424 W. Bluemound Rd., Cover with plastic wrap, and place in a Milwaukee, WI 53208-3097 warm place until doubled in size, about 414-259-0688 1 hour. Fr. Leon Martin, SAC, editor. 3. Grease a baking sheet and dust with People of God is printed on cornmeal. Turn the dough out onto a recycled paper. lightly floured surface, and punch out all Please recycle and of the air. Roll into a long tight loaf, and help preserve God's creation. place seam side down onto the pre- A W.E.L. Production pared baking sheet. Use a sharp ser- 3 Getting to Know the Caritas Christi Community by Betty Reichertz Not too long ago, Fr. Leon asked me difficult to understand until the UAC of to speak on our Caritas Christi Commu- Alberta, Canada revised the manual. We nity: What we are about, what we do. It also have discussed and studied the Memo- just so happened that we wrote an article ries and Prophecies of the UAC, UAC on our group for the Soundings (St. Vincent Project 2000, Guidelines for Formation, Pallotti Parish's newsletter), so I will use a some formation tapes from Canada, the few things from the article. Charism of St. Vincent Pallotti, the Ap- peal of St. Vincent and much more. The Our group consists of laypersons, reli- last few years we spent substantial time gious brothers and clergy in the Mother of discussing the General Statutes that were God Province. St. Vincent Pallotti founded declared on October 28, 2003 - a day to the Union of Catholic Apostolate in 1835 celebrate. Fr. Greg and Fr. Leon helped in Rome and only recently in 2003 the us understand these new Statutes and Congregation for the Laity approved the answered our questions. UAC for the Church throughout the world. Imagine, clergy and laity working together. In 2005 Fr. Leon, Dorothy Schweitzer and I went to see Archbishop Dolan to tell We are one of many UAC cenacles him about the Caritas Christi and the throughout the world. As I looked back UAC since we would like to be included over the minutes of our meetings, our first in the diocesan Catholic Directory. ones were written in February 1990. I, myself, joined in May of 1990. Currently, St. Vincent Pallotti was a very prayer- we have 10 members and 1 collaborator. ful, humble and quiet man who helped Some of our members are from different people whenever he could. As members parishes, but mainly from St.Vincent Pallotti we make an Apostolic Commitment and Parish. Presently we are mainly an eld- promise to carry on his vision: to revive erly group but would welcome younger faith and enkindle love. The motto "The members to keep the UAC going on in our Love of Christ Urges Us On" helps us area. We meet on the first Monday of follow in his footsteps. each month from September through June. Last September we voted to pay a $10.00 We pray together at our monthly Holy dues from which we pay our expenses. In Hours and at our weekly Thursday adora- 1992 Fr. Greg Serwa designed our logo. tion of the Eucharist, and as individuals in (See next page.) our daily life. We celebrate Mary Queen of Apostles at Mass on the Saturday after We have an ongoing formation program the Ascension and we gather for a social in which we read and study selected ma- afterwards. We also have socials after terials from the Manual of Formation of our Holy Hours. You are invited to the UAC, Called By Name, which was attend. We have had a couple of over- 4 night retreats at our Elkhorn Retreat Center, When the week ends we celebrate with a but in more recent times we have a Day of social during which people can share what Reflection, usually in October. A few years they have done for others. back the UAC's of Australia made a commit- ment to pray for the UAC groups around the Almost forgot! Each year we also plan world at 9 AM and 9 PM, and we decided a trip (tour) as a way to raise money to help to join them. Fr. Greg made us reminder us continue our work. Our first year we cards that we have put on our refrigerators, went to Philadelphia and the Pallottine in our wallets, and wherever we can see Horizons which was held in the Pocono them. Mountains. Everyone enjoyed it so much that the travelers asked why not a trip (pilgrimage) next year, and that is how it all began. We've been to Branson, St. Louis, a Mississippi Cruise, and New York. Some of Last year we the activi- jouneyed to ties we en- Canada and gage in are: this year we Going to are off to Mt.