“Make of the world one family”

Xaverian Mission
Volume 57 - No. 2 | May 2009
Newsletter

Days of Prayer and Action for Colombia

M
aria’s three children were barely Church’s Commitment with the Poor
teenagers when the family fled home
to escape the growing violence in We, the Xaverian Missionaries who are
Caqueta, a working in
coca-growing Colombia and
region of south- 18 other coun-
ern Colombia. tries world-
wide, feel
Maria is just deeply that our
one of more mission cannot
than 3 million ignore the cries
people forced to of entire popu-
flee their homes lations who suf-
because of vio- fer the direct
lence and consequences
threats by right- of horrible
wing paramili- injustices and
tary forces, left- armed con-
wing guerillas flicts. Faithful
forces and the to the example
resulting conflict of Christ and
with Colombia’s his teaching
army. The coun- These are Bogota's Recyclers (Los Recicladores), people who earn expressed in
just enough money to live by sorting out trash in junkyards and the social doc-
try is enduring selling clothes and metal scraps.
one of the worst trine of the
humanitarian Church, we must
crises in the hemisphere today. Forty years act.
of internal conflict fueled by an array of
armed groups has created a population of The United States, which has provided in
refugees second only to Sudan’s. excess of $4.5 billion in foreign aid to
Colombia over the last seven years, can con-
Saying “NO” to Violence tribute to long-term peace and stability in
the country by shifting its focus to social
Communities throughout Colombia are development. Currently, 80 percent of U.S.
saying “NO” to the violent conflict, and aid to Colombia goes to the military for
“YES” to creating a lasting peace for all counter-narcotic and counterinsurgency
Colombians. activities. The remaining 20 percent is spent
on economic and social development.
More than forty years of violent conflict
has caused great suffering for millions of The Colombian and U.S. bishops’ confer-
Colombians, especially poor and marginal- ences have repeatedly called for a greater
ized communities, but has also inspired portion of aid to Colombia to be dedicated
amazing efforts in Colombia to create a new to investment in sustainable development,
vision for peace. Catholic Relief Services of the defense of human rights and humanitari-
the USA is organizing The Days of Prayer an support that has as its first priority long-
and Action for Colombia as an opportunity term solutions for the displaced.
for Catholics in the United States to support
our Colombian brothers and sisters in this
vision. (continued on page 2)
Days of Prayer and Action for Colombia

X averian Missionaries
Provincial Headquarters
12 Helene Court
Wayne, NJ 07470-2813
Tel.: (973) 942-2975
Fax: (973) 942-5012
Email: xavwayne@optonline.net

Xavier Knoll Pre-Novitiate House

4500 Xavier Drive
Franklin, WI 53132-9066
Tel.: (414) 421-0831
Fax: (414) 421-9108
E-mail: xavmissionswi@hotmail.com

Mission Center & Fatima Shrine

101 Summer Street
P.O. Box 5857
Holliston, MA 01746-5857
Tel.: (508) 429-2144
Fax: (508) 429-4793 The Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception of Bogotá, Colombia’s First Church is a Roman Catholic
E-mail: cathedral of worship dedicated to the Immaculate Conception, is a neoclassical building located in Plaza de
holliston.sx@gmail.com 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.
International Theology House
1347 East Hyde Park Blvd. (continued from cover)
Chicago, IL 60615-2924
Tel. (773) 643-5745 In the face of violence, Maria remains the restitution of a just peace for all
E-mail: xavformation@hotmail.com defiant and hopeful. Recently, she was Colombians. That those who continue to be
approached by a member of an armed held will know the freedom that belongs to
St. Therese Catholic Chinese group, who offered her a sewing machine them and that hearts of violence will be
Mission
and a stable income making uniforms. She turned to peace and reconciliation.”
218 West Alexander Street
Chicago, IL 60608-0000
refused — again.
Tel. (312) 842-6777 Many other people of faith across the
E-mail:
“I prefer to live this way with my kids, United States, Canada and Colombia joined
info_church@sttheresechinatown.org dealing with what comes to me — the good in the ecumenical Days of Prayer and
and the bad — because I have the Church Action for Colombia on April 19-20, 2009.
Xaverian Mission Newsletter
and I have the good hearts of people I don’t This act of missionary faith continues beyond
even know and because I have my freedom,” these days. Take a look at the following
Official publication of the
Xaverian Missionaries
she says. resources: U
of the United States

L
Colombia has the second largest number
Coordinating Editor
Fr. Carl Chudy
of internally displaced people in the world.
earn more about the Colombian and
Since the mid 1990s more than 3 million
Editorial Team International Church’s’ efforts and
Colombians have been forced from their
Fr. Tony Lalli background on the Colombian conflict.
Fr. Joseph Matteucig homes as a result of violence and threats by
Fr. Alfredo Turco armed actors and efforts to forcibly gain Hold a vigil for peace in Colombia.
control of land and resources from marginal- Gather friends, community, church
Layout Consultant
Diamand Design ized communities. Afro-Colombian and indig- members or students to remember
Wrentham, MA enous communities have disproportionately those who have been victimized by the
Printing
been targeted in this ongoing tragedy. Colombian conflict and to reflect on the
Rea-Craft Press, Inc. United States’ role as a Church. You
Foxboro, MA Bishop Thomas Wenski of the Committee may use candles, join in moments of
on International Policy for the US Catholic silence or prayer, and/or combine the
E-mail & Web:
xaverianmissionnewsletter@gmail.com Bishops wrote to the Bishops of Colombia: vigil with a “walk for peace.”
www.xaviermissionaries.org “Such moments remind us of the on-going
suffering of so many Colombians who yearn Catholic Relief Services Resources:
Donation:
$15.00 per year for justice and peace. I join you in praying http://crs.org/public-policy/prayer-action.cfm
for the end of all violence in Colombia and

2 Xaverian Mission Newsletter • May 2009


The Xaverian Missionaries in Colombia
M
usic 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 Beginning
The 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
Xaverian Missionaries in the World
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
Xaverian Missionary leading Palm Sunday Celebratiions
Colombia. Today we are in a Barrio.
clearly oriented towards
Buenaventura (this was the first parish
encouraging global mission vocations,
entrusted to the Xaverians upon our
even beyond the borders of Colombia.
arrival in Colombia) because it had
Ever Newer reached a sufficient degree of autono-
my and organization. We set out to look
Challenges
for other areas of work, more on the
We recently handed the parish of the
outskirts where shantytowns have
Sacred Heart back to the diocese of
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
Xaverian Mission Newsletter • May 2009 3
Xaverian Missionaries in the World

My Missionary Life in Colombia

F
ather Enzo Tonini, a Xaverian Colombia. It is not an easy one, but
Missionary from Udine, Italy, is Jesus never promised the work would
working in our center in Bogota, be easy.
Colombia. Fr. Tonini studied in Chicago,
along with his fellow missionary priests,
Frs. Mark Marangone and Mauro Loda Colombian Missionaries
A Xaverian Missionary from Mexico who work with Fr. Enzo in Bogota. Whenever I meet young people in
with children in one of our parishes
in Colombia. Colombia and I have the opportunity to
speak about the importance of the mis-
Missionary
sionary vocation,
Life Can be they respond with
Complicated great interest.
Fr. Enzo writes: Many of these
“They say that young people wish
those who go to to look further
Latin America for into that interest
a month, return and see if they
from the experi- may be called to
ence speaking such a challenging
about it for an life choice. And
entire year. Those some of them
who go there for a decide to take the
year, speak about leap and enter our
it for a month. seminary in
Those who remain Medellin. “
for ten years, pre-
fer not to say any- The Colombian
thing. I find myself
Church to the
in this last group.
Fr. Giovani Zampini, on his rounds in The reality is com-
World
pastoral work. Fr. Enzo Tonini
plex and cannot be To tackle the
put into a few challenging situa-
words. tion on the Colombia-Ecuador border,
an area plagued with narcotics traffic
The Bishops in Latin America have and illegal arms trade, the Colombian
gathered in Aparecida, Brazil and Catholic Church formed the Border
reflected on a catchy theme: “Disciples Ministry Project. This project, which
and Missionaries.” As the discussion includes four dioceses each in Ecuador
developed, the conjunction “and” was and Colombia, encourages displaced
removed, and the title was changed to people, refugees and marginalized eth-
“Missionary Disciples.” nic groups to participate in the social,
economic and political aspects of their
communities.
Encouraging Missionary Vocations
in Colombia In this and many other ways, the
Every true disciple is a missionary, mission of the Colombian Catholic
and every true missionary continues to Church beyond its borders is growing.
be a disciple. This seems to be the case Fr. Enzo helps to encourage the growth
in Latin America, whose enormous of this mission of the Colombian Church
growth and passion for Christ seems to to the world. U
“Rata” is slang for “thief” in some Latin
American countries and pointing at these
give it an eminent position in the future
business men symbolize the rampant of the Church globally. This is the vision In part by Fr. Enzo Tonini, SX
corruption in Colombia. that defines my missionary work in

4 Xaverian Mission Newsletter • May 2009

 Xaverian Missionaries in the USA

Interfaith Dialogue and Service

Among Young People in the USA

O
n 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
Christians, Muslims and Jews in a service
project in Chicago.
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
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.
Christian and Muslim young people come
A Taste of Mission in the USA together in Chicago
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

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- Interfaith education program among children
tality and caring for in Florida.
Fr. Carl Chudy on Corregidor Island in Manilla Bay, Philippines

Xaverian Mission Newsletter • May 2009 5


Modern Day Slavery: The Catholic

W
hen she was 13-years old and abduction, of fraud, of deception, of
working as a waitress near Vera the abuse of power or of a position of
Cruz, Mexico, Rosa was offered vulnerability or of the giving or receiv-
an opportunity to make more money as ing of payments or benefits to achieve
a waitress in the United States by a the consent of a person having control
man acquainted with her family. The over another person, for the purpose of
man insisted that it was a no-lose situ- exploitation.”
ation-–Rosa could change jobs if she
were not satisfied
or even return
home at any time
if she wished.

The young girl

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.”
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 Sex trafficking is not limited to for-
Grande to Brownsville, Texas. At this eign-born individuals. The U.S.
point, they were picked up again, traf- Department of Justice estimates that
ficked all the way to a secluded area in 293,000 American youth are currently
Florida and left off near a collection of at risk of commercial sexual exploita-
trailers. tion.

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
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.

6 Xaverian Mission Newsletter • May 2009

Response to End Human Trafficking

Mexico The Response of the Catholic

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.
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-

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.
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.”
What You Can Do
Here are some resources to look
further into human trafficking
and what you can do about it.
US Catholic Bishops
www.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

U
Photos from Parc Cruz and Unicef

Xaverian Mission Newsletter • May 2009 7

 World Mission Spirituality
“Catholics also
agree with
the Koran on
the importance
of both justice
and mercy”
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.
8 Xaverian Mission Newsletter • May 2009
Catholic Perspectives on the Koran
“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 The Hagia Sophia, one of the most beautiful mosques in the world, situated
important in establishing in Istanbul, Turkey, has the depiction of Mary and Jesus on the upper
a sure basis for peace and right side dome.
warding off the dread
specter of those wars of
religion which have so often direction for humanity, and according to Jesus is to love
bloodied human history. The consider the original Arabic God with one’s whole heart
text to be the final revela- and soul and mind and
name of the one God must
become increasingly what it tion of God. The Koran also strength (Mk 12:30, cf. Koran
is: a name of peace and a refers to many events from 3:31). Catholics can agree
summons to peace.” (54-55 Jewish and Christian scrip- with the Koran that Jesus
At the Beginning of the Third tures, some of which are and the prophets of ancient
Millennium, John Paul II) retold in comparatively dis- Israel could be called
tinctive ways from the Bible “Muslims” in the sense of
Catholics for the 21st and the Torah, while being persons who submitted
obliquely referring to other themselves to God, and
Century events described explicitly in called on others to do the
Pope John Paul II called our those texts. same.
attention to a crucial aspect
Catholics also agree with the
of the mission of Christ in Submission to God Koran on the importance of
the world today where we as
For Muslims, faith in One both justice and mercy
Catholics live side by side
God and one’s total surren- (Koran 57:25, 76:8). The
with our brothers and sisters
der to God is called “Islam.” Bible repeatedly calls for
of other faiths. In doing so,
Only one life is valid, and justice in both personal and
we seek to understand the
this is submission to God societal relationships. The
common ground of all faiths,
(Koran 3:19). Catholics, like Koran calls Muslims to for-
particularly of the
other Christians, also stress give those who have
Abrahamic faiths of
the central importance of wronged them (3:134). Jesus
Christianity, Judaism and
faith as reception of God’s made his follower’s willing-
Islam. These are our efforts
revelation and submission to ness to forgive others the
toward peace.
God. Jesus taught his disci- measure for God’s forgive-
ples to pray to God, “Your ness for them. We all stand
Catholics and the Koran will be done” (Mt 6:10). on common ground in God.
The Koran is the holy book
Catholics see the core of this U
of all Muslims. Muslims
submission as a relationship
believe the Koran to be the US Catholic Bishops, Revelation:
of love. The chief command
book of divine guidance and Catholic and Muslim Perspectives
 Become a Partner in Global Mission

Change the World in His Name

VISION
“W
e chal- sionary activi-
lenge ties. Your grow-
CATHOLIC RELIGIOUS
young ing number is a
VOCATION NETWORK
people to consider sign of great
following Christ as hope for the
missionaries. There future of world Vocation Match
is no doubt that mission.”
Jesus is calling many (US Catholic Vocation Directory
of you to serve the Bishops, To the
Vocation Guide
Church as priests Ends of the Magazine
and religious in for- Earth, 61, 63)
eign lands. We pray Opportunities
that you will have The Church is
here to change Blogs
the courage to
respond to that call Volunteers at helping out in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. the world, little and more…
with the complete by little, in the
gift of yourselves. Your brothers and sisters in name of Christ.
www.vocation-network.org
mission lands are counting on you to share Be part of a project bigger than yourself, and
the riches of the gospel with them. The give your life for the benefit of others. Real
Church is counting on you, too. happiness begins there. In light of this, check
out below the brief directory of opportunities
We are (also) inspired by the increase of com- in volunteer work, lay mission opportunities
mitted lay missionaries who answer the call and religious missionary life. “Put out into
to serve the gospel in other lands. You bring the deep…” U
important expertise and enthusiasm into mis-
CATHOLIC NETWORK OF

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

Xaverian Mission Newsletter • May 2009 9

World Mission News Digest
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
10 Xaverian Mission Newsletter • May 2009
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.
Latest News from our Missions Worldwide
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.
 From our USA Communities

News from our USA Communities

Hallmarks Reached in the Priesthood

I
n 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 Fr. Francis Signorelli shares some
thoughts as he celebrates 50
Amazon Region of Brazil, What
years as priest and missionary.
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

F
r. Joe Matteucig, many others also took their
pictured on the rest.
right with Fr.
Alfredo Turco, Then, unexpectedly, I was Wisconsin
instead celebrates called upon to serve in the
25 years as a mis- General Direction in Rome. June 27-28, 2009
sionary priest. Fr. The Mission Festival
At the end of six years in a
Joe began his own Committee cordially
position of leadership in the
missionary journey in
congregation, my missionary invites you to our festival
the USA when he
journey took me back to which helps support
came to study theol-
United States where, after
ogy in 1980. the work of the Xaverian
other assigned roles, I’m now
Ordained to the Missionaries.
Director of Our Lady of Fatima
priesthood in June 23, 1984, for nine years he worked
Shrine in Holliston, MA, where
tirelessly fostering both awareness and involvement in the You’ll enjoy music, live
people of different countries,
mission of the Church with youth and young adults. He entertainment, outdoor
languages and cultures come
left for Taiwan in October 1993 where he spent the next food, home cooked din-
to pray to Mary, Mother of
13 years, seven of those years as Delegate Superior, devel- ners, game booths,
Jesus, missionary of the
oping a new mission in Taipei and heading the Youth
Father. Still Blessed Guido
Ministry Office of the Diocese of Taipei. Upon his return to $4,000 raffle prizes,
Conforti reminds me: “We
the USA he leads our community in Holliston, Rummage Sale, Mission
must be fully indifferent to
Massachusetts and continues to promote the mission of Tent, a huge Bake Sale
any office or employment, to
the Church in the Archdiocese of Boston.
go to this or that mission...”
Come all at
After 25 years of priesthood, Fr. Joe quotes a famous We too are grateful for the 4500 Xavier Drive,
hymn: “I have come this far by faith, leaning on the Lord, gift of Fr. Francis’ priesthood (51st St. & Rawson Ave.),
trusting in his holy word. He has never failed me yet!” to us all. U Franklin, Wisconsin.

Xaverian Mission Newsletter • May 2009 11

 Xaverian Mission Newsletter • May 2009

The Global Mission

of the Church
Remember the work
of the
Xaverian Missionaries
in your Will

Contact
Fr. Frank Grappoli, SX
for more Information
973.942.2975
E-mail: usasxprocure at hotmail.com

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 Xaverian Missioners Are Presently Serving In:

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

Return Service Requested

Missionaries
Xaverian
PAID Holliston, MA 01746-5857
101 Summer Street
U.S. Postage
Non-Profit Org. X averian Missionaries