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1 Vol. 9, No. 24 SALESIANS OF DON BOSCO - NEW ROCHELLE, NY Dec. 15, 2011 |
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Message
from Fr. Provincial Advent
Season During
this time of the year we are immersed in the words of St. John the
Baptist: “Prepare the way of the Lord.” Undoubtedly, much of our
time and effort during Advent time is spent preparing for a wide
variety of things. We spend a lot of time preparing for the cultural
celebration of Christmas. We send out greeting cards, decorate our
houses, purchase gifts, plan community meals and celebrations, and
reach out to family and loved ones.
Only
an incurable Grinch would argue against these cultural traditions in
our lives as individuals, communities, and society. Historically,
these cultural symbols are rooted in Christian values and doctrine.
To be true to our identity as disciples of Christ, we have to make
these Christmas symbols express our faith in God’s promise to
“give his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not
perish but have eternal life” (John 3.16).
Following
our call to proclaim the Gospel, we make our Christmas preparations
effective means of inserting the message of Christ’s birth and
second coming into our immediate surroundings and the culture of our
people. In every aspect of our Advent lives we proclaim: “Come,
Lord Jesus.” During
this liturgical time we assume the attitude of expectant waiting.
Our reflections on the prophets nourish our spiritual lives by the
promise of a Savior to the people of Israel.
Our
journey through Advent reminds us of the promise of the Lord to
return again in glory. The way we celebrate Advent helps us to
celebrate Christ’s birth in Bethlehem and to look forward to his
second coming at the end of time. As we call out “Maranatha,”
we wait with joyful expectation. Waiting It
might be helpful for us to reflect a bit deeper on the nature of
this Advent waiting. In my own life I can distinguish between three
types of waiting: passing
the time;
anticipating;
preparing.
If you do any amount of traveling, you are very familiar with the
first form of waiting (passing
the time).
Sitting in an airport waiting area until boarding is a mind-numbing
experience. It is great for daydreaming, people watching, and
speculating on whether the flight will be on time or not. In this
form of waiting, we are passive, totally dependent on the action of
others. This waiting consists in enduring the passage of time
without any active engagement on our part. A
second type of waiting (anticipating)
brings forth from within us a sense of joy and expectation. While
waiting for the arrival of a family member or a good friend, we are
filled with an anticipated sense of exhilaration. We feel excitement
in anticipating the first glimpse of and greetings shared with our
loved one.
The
third type of waiting (preparation)
demands our full engagement in accom-modating ourselves to a new
arrival or situation. When we invite loved ones to join us for a
holiday dinner, we make extra efforts to be sure that these people
feel at home, are taken care of, experi-ence the loving attention
they deserve. We adapt our lives so that our guests will feel as if
our house is their house. This level of waiting demands that we
change our normal patterns of life for the sake of another. It
entails elements of conver-sion, service, and communion.
My
sense is that for the Advent season to fulfill its purposes in our
lives, we will have to wait with an attitude of active preparation.
“Prepare the way of the Lord” calls us to the inner conversions
and
the external transformations that will align us to the presence of
Christ in our present lives and to help further God’s kingdom in
the world. The words of St. John the Baptist can be helpful in
orienting us to this more effective celebration of the Advent
season. Repent
and believe the good news (Mark
1. 15).
Preparing
for Christ’s coming demands that we embrace the radical change
that God has offered us in the incarnation of his Son, Jesus Christ.
We believe the implications of this good news in our lives. We cast
aside the sinful ways of living that are not rooted in Christ’s
teaching and example.
He
must increase and I must decrease
(John 3. 30). Our
Advent reflections have to be centered on the person, words, and
actions of our Lord Jesus Christ. As with John, we are called to die
to self during this season so that Christ the way, the truth, and
the life will be more fully integrated into our very person as
consecrated religious.
The
time has come. The King-dom of God is near
(Mark 1.15). Our
Advent practice cannot be limited to our own lives or that of our
immediate surroundings. The Lord has come to initiate God’s
kingdom of justice, peace, and love. Our call in Advent is to take
practical steps to further that kingdom throughout the world,
especially with those who are most deprived of what is due to them
by virtue of their dignity as human persons and God’s children.
This
week we begin the Christmas novena. Let us take care to make this
beautiful practice more than a heart-warming moment of nostalgia.
May the recurring theme of this novena be true in our lives: “The
Lord our King is drawing near! O come! Let us adore him.”
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2 Vol. 9, No. 24 – 2 of 4 E-SERVICE December 15, 2011 |
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3 Schedule of the Provincial |
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December
16Office Day
17Postnovitiate Curatorium Meeting, Orange, N.J.
18-23Office Days
24-25Personal Days
Pray for Our Sick
Bro. Gerald Warner, SDB
Hospitalized with a stroke
Fr. Edward Cappelletti, SDB
Fr. Frank Wolfram, SDB
Fr. Bernie Gilliece, SDB
Maria Theresa Rien T. Mai
Mother of Fr. Dominic Tran, SDB
Pray for Our Deceased
Daniel Neves
Brother of Sr. Phyllis Neves, FMA
Coming Birthdays
December
17Fr. Stephen Ryan
18Fr. Mark Hyde
18Br. Donald Caldwell
22Fr. Michael Mendl
23Fr. Harry Peterson
25Br. Gerald Warner
26Fr. John Basso
27Br. Joseph Ackroyd
28Fr. Mario Villaraza
Provincial Announcement
The Salesian Education Symposium scheduled for January 13 at Don Bosco Prep, Ramsey, has been cancelled.
148 Main Street
New Rochelle, NY 10802-0639
E-Mail: servicesue@aol.com
Phone: (914) 636-4225
E-SERVICE Newsletter
Published Weekly by the Salesians of
St. John Bosco for the confreres of the
Province of St. Philip the Apostle,
New Rochelle, N.Y.
Very Rev. Thomas Dunne, SDB, Provincial
Fr. Diego’s Boys Attend Annual Mass
NEW ROCHELLE, New York: On December 9, for the 16th consecutive year, a group of men known proudly as "Diego's Boys" gathered at the provincial house in New Rochelle for a Mass in memory of Fr. Diego Borgatello. This year was somewhat special, as the centennial year of Fr. Borgatello's birth. He died in 1994. Although the English-speaking Salesian world may know him as the translator and editor of vols. 1-16 of the Biographical Memoirs of St. John Bosco, for many dozens of boys and young men in New Rochelle through the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s he was the leader of their own little oratory, their friend, and their counselor. Thus since his death as many as can come together, gather at the provincial house to recall him and the seeds of faith and goodness that he sowed in their hearts and nurtured by his fatherly attention.
Cooperators
Show Appreciation to SDBs and FMAs TAMPA,
Florida
– On December 14 the Salesian Cooperators of Christ the King
School hosted a Christmas party to show their appreciation for the
support of the Salesians and Salesian Sisters of Tampa. They
presented a check for over $2,000 to the sisters for their support
of the faculty at the parish school. Fr. Dennis Donovan
(center, front) is the SDB province delegate and Sr. Helene Godin
(holding the Christmas stocking on her lap) is the local coordinator
of the Cooperators at Christ the King The Salesians assist
with Masses and confessions at the school and for parish events.
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3.1 Vol. 9, No. 24 – 3 of 4 E-SERVICE December 15, 2011 |
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Provincial
Council Meetings December
12-14 Fr.
Frank Wolfram, SDB On
December 12 our council met for its bi-annual meeting with the
sisters’ council of the Haledon Province. They joined us for Mass
and breakfast. The meeting was held at the Salesian Missions
conference room and went from 9:00-11:55 a.m. After lunch it
resumed at 1:00 p.m. to 2:30. Special concern centered on our
collaboration in ministries and in new projects (e.g. Bicentennial
Committee, Salesian
Bulletin USA,
Gospel Roads). It also dealt with practical issues affecting our
provinces, including summer camps. The January 2012 Salesian
Education Symposium was cancelled; we need to find a more effective
format. The two councils meet next at Haledon on April 16, 2012. Our
council began its own meetings at 3:00 p.m.
Information
shared: -
Fr. Dunne’s visits to Tampa, St. Petersburg and East Boston; -
Fr. Ryan’s youth ministry visits to Montreal and Toronto; -
results of the youth ministry team meeting held on December 10; -
Presidium review board meeting held on December 10; -
fall assessment of our novices; -
evaluation of the practical training workshop; -
monthly financial report and property update; -
department updates; -
legal issues and personnel. Consultations
concerning: -
post-novitiate curatorium meeting for December 17; -
make-up of the provincial council (provincial will choose the model
he feels will be most useful to him); -
possible chaplains for GR 2012; -
input for spring leadership meeting and Province Day (March 22-24); -
quick look at some assignments for 2012-2013. The
Salesian Mission Office (Fr. Hyde and Letti Dowell) presented its
FY 2012 budget and financial issues. Decision:
budget
approved with proviso that it be re-examined in Feb. There
was adequate time for sharing
by
each councilor of his responses to Fr. Ortiz’ questions for the
extra-ordinary visitation dossier report. ■
PYMT
Meeting Fr.
Steve Ryan, SDB On
Saturday, December 10,
the
Province Youth Ministry Team had its quarterly meeting. Present
were: Andrea Zimmerman, Bro. Sal Sammarco, Fr. Dominic Tran, Nick
Magrogan, Meg Fraino, Adam Rudin, Fr. Jay Horan, Rudy Gomez, Mary
Elise Zellmer, Sr. Mary Jackson and Fr. Steve Ryan. Agenda items
included the province team members doing the “Rethinking Youth
Ministry Reflection” Chapter 1. We had an insightful dialogue on
youth culture and evangelization.
I
gave an update on visits to the ministries and youth ministry
happenings in the province. Fr. Jay Horan led us a little further
along on the situation of service and justice education in the
schools. The focus was to gain more information on service
programs and how they are being run at Archbishop Shaw, Cristo Rey,
Salesian High, Don Bosco Prep and SPC High. We need more dialogue
with the schools and some kind of mandate about the importance of
the service orientation toward a vocation orientation for our
comprehensive Salesian youth ministry.
We
proposed the possibility of two JLRs (Junior Leadership Retreat)
–- one in the North and one in the South for 2013. The team saw
the benefits of splitting this particular Salesian leadership
retreat that is designed for parishes and youth centers.
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East
Boston Salesian
Boys and Girls Club Stephen
W. Fielding Dir.
of Development/Communications The
following is a link of a video made and produced by board member
Scott Heigelmann, CEO and founder of Heavy Boston Advertising. I
use this video to generate donations and Club interest, and give
people a chance to learn about the Club. It provides an up-close
and personal testimony to its work in serving youth and the
community. ------------------------ The
Great Savio Reunion
is now posted on Facebook. Search The
Great Savio
Reunion-March
10, 2012.
Be sure to comment, invite others, share, and spread the word.
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3.1.1 VOCATION CORNER |
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Summarized by Donna Bucaro
Edited by Fr. Dominic Tran, SDB
Archbishop Dolan on
Family Ministry and
Creating a Culture of Vocations
Recently, Archbishop Timothy Dolan was interviewed by Matthew Bunson from The Catholic Answer about building a culture of vocations. Archbishop Dolan went into detail about the true definition of vocation and his view of vocations today.
Everyone is called to a vocation, whether it is to the priesthood, religious life, diaconate, married life or dedicated single life. Archbishop Dolan said, “We have to believe — it is part of the Catholic worldview — that God has a plan for each of us. He is inviting us to live a life that will bring us back to Him.” He goes on to say that nowadays the married life as a vocation seems to be forgotten. About only half of our Catholic people are getting married; this is an issue. People today are forgetting that through marriage what they are truly doing is “saying that together [they] want to get back (sic) to heaven” and together they will help each other get to their eternal goal. People want to be happy, and true happiness comes only from doing the will of God, and that should be everyone’s main focus.
Archbishop Dolan then goes into detail specifically about the vocation to the priesthood. He comments on his concerns with regard to family support; the role of the family is essential when it comes to the discernment to the priesthood. Archbishop Dolan says that he grew up in a culture where family, neighbors, acquaintances all encouraged the idea of discerning for the priesthood and that same culture of vocations is what we need today in the Church.
If you would like to read more of the interview, please visit the following website:
http://www.osv.com/tabid/7631/itemid/8752/Building-a-Culture-of-Vocations.aspx.
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3.2 Vol. 9, No. 24 – 4 of 4 E-SERVICE December 15, 2011 |
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Advent
at Holy Rosary Fr.
Stephen Schenck, SDB Our
parish has been celebrating the season with a variety of offerings
which, we hope, are making it beautiful, catechetical, and typical
of who we are. We
began, as most parishes do, with the blessing of a large wreath
that sits in front of the altar, poised at an angle that makes it
easily seen by everyone, thanks to a special stand made by Bro.
Sal. We’re
giving the Prophet Isaiah special treatment this Advent. Simple
yet readable overviews of Isaiah, Second Isaiah and Third Isaiah,
were prepared in the three languages our parishioners use, and made
available in bulk for people to take home and read. Along with
them, a catechetical instruction is offered before the first
reading each Sunday. A
variety of table blessings was also printed for our households to
use during the Advent and Christmas Times.
On
Saturday, December 10, our parish hosted an Advent retreat for
teens, which Fr. Rich helped organize with YM personnel from
several other parishes in lower Westchester. On
Monday, the 12th,
we celebrated the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe in grand style.
Before the Masses began, the Westchester County executive, Rob
Astorino, read a proclamation commemorating our more than 25 years
of hosting this annual celebration. He also stayed for the entire
Mass and greeted folks afterward. We held two celebrations
simultaneously – one in the church and one in the gym. There
were close to 800 in the gym and cafeteria, and close to 500 in the
church, if you count all those standing both inside and outside.
For the church celebration, Fr. Rich and his team of young people
prepared videos and skits and had special T-shirts to give away.
In the gym, our liturgy committee enthroned the image of the
“Guadalupana” against the side wall, hung curtains and filled
the space with lámparas,
and three-tiered candelabras holding candles in the Mexican colors
of green, white and red.
Gospel
Roads III Young
Adults El
Salvador 2012
Holy
Week Mission Saturday,
March 31 to Monday,
April 9 Challenged
to be disciples and missionaries in a short- term experience of
faith, fun, fellowship and service to the communities in El
Salvador! An
opportunity to walk with Jesus Christ through service to the young
and the poor in the spirit of Don Bosco! Gospel
Roads III El Salvador
is open to all Catholic young adults interested in a short- term
Holy Week evangelization mission in some of the poorest areas of El
Salvador. Registration
fee: $500 For
more information or to apply, please contact
Meg
Fraino at
(973)
761-0201 or
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As
always, the service included the presentation of roses and a
blessing of all the little “Juan Dieguitos” present – in
abundance! After refreshments, folks returned to the gym for music
and Mexican folk-dancing by our local group, Alma
Solana.
On
Friday of this week, the “Posadas” will begin. Each evening,
pilgrims will gather outside the church and process to a
parishioner’s home, accompanied by young adults dressed as Mary
and Joseph, and they will carry with them a pesebre,
or Nativity scene. Once the home is reached, a sung dialog occurs
between Mary and Joseph, and the people inside, representing
inn-keepers. Once entrance is granted, prayers and refreshments
are shared. The “Posadas” ritual will continue on each evening
of the Great Days. On
Saturday, Fr. Rich and his team will host the annual Breakfast
with Santa,
at the Don Bosco Center, at which we expect between 800 and 1000
children. That evening, the young adults will present their annual
“Pastorela,” or Shepherd’s Tale. It changes a bit every
year, but is always faithful to the basic structure: shepherds are
invited by the angels to go to Bethlehem; on their way, they meet
obstacles and lose heart; then they are helped to complete the
journey and greet the Christ Child. Integrated with humor and
music, it’s a wonderful family preparation for the solemnity of
Christmas. Like
all parishes in our archdiocese, Monday, December 19, will be a day
of Reconciliation, with confessions available from 2-8 P.M. We
hope that day, especially, will lead to an unforgettable
celebration of the Christmas liturgies. ■
