Father Vasco Milani Passes Away

Fr. Vasco is on the right with Archbishop Dolan and Fr. Zimmer at his last
departure from Milwaukee before he left for Brazil.

On May 28 2011, Fr. Vasco Milani passed away from complications of a severe form of diabetes. He was 69 years old. He was a lhard working missionary, well loved by all our friends in Milwaukee where he served a number of years.

Fr. Vasco worked in the USA from 1968 to 1976, and from 1982 to 1986. Finally he came back from Brazil to work once again in the midwest from 1994-2002. In Brasil he worked as pastor of a large parish in Tome Acu and at St. Francis Xavier Parish in Belem. He labored in Brazil off and on from 1976-1982, 1986-1994 and from 2003 to 2006. From 2006 to 2010 he assisted our elderly and sick in our health care center in Europe.

When Fr. Vasco Milani joined the Xaverian Missionaries in 1967, at age 26 in Italy, he knew he was beginning a life of globetrotting. In the 36 years that have followed, Fr. Milani's call to carry God's word to the ends of the earth has taken him from the jungles of the Amazon in Brazil to our mission center at Xavier Knoll in Franklin, Wisconsin and many parishes and schools in between.

In the picture above he celebrates his departure from Milwaukee Archdiocese for the third and last time, heading for another assignment in the slums of Belen, Brazil,where he ministered to 80,000 Brazilians, most of whom lived without electricity, telephones and indoor plumbing. MORE>>>

The First Grader

Here is a wonderful film from National Geographic that stretches hope across cultures and time. In a small, remote, mountaintop primary school in the Kenyan bush, hundreds of children are jostling for a chance for the free education newly promised by the Kenyan government. One applicant causes astonishment when he knocks on the door of the school. He is Maruge (Oliver Litondo), an old Mau Mau veteran in his 80s, who is desperate to learn to read at this late stage of his life. He fought for the liberation of his country and now feels he must have the chance at the education so long denied—even if it means sitting in a classroom alongside six-year-old children.

Moved by his passionate plea, head teacher Jane Obinchu (Naomie Harris) supports his struggle to gain admission, and together they face fierce opposition from parents and officials who don't want to waste a precious school place on such an old man.

Full of vitality and humor, the film explores the remarkable relationships Maruge builds with classmates some 80 years his junior. Through Maruge's journey, we are taken back to the shocking untold story of British colonial rule 50 years earlier, when Maruge fought for the freedom of his country and eventually ended up in the extreme and harsh conditions of the British detention camps.

The First Grader is a heartwarming and inspiring true story of one man's fight for what he believes is his right in order to overcome the burdens of his past. It is a triumphant testimony to the transforming force of education.

Check out the website here

Xaverian Missionaries of the United Kingdom and USA Look to Collaboration

From left to right, Frs. Pupolo (USA), Tom Welsh (UK), Carl Chudy (USA)
Joe Matteucig (USA) and John Convery (UK). 

Frs. John Convery and Tom Welsh of the United Kingdom  Province came to the USA Province to talk together about some practical ways our two provinces could collaborate in some important areas. These areas may include an Internet publication, publishing the English version of Fr. Luca's last book on the founder, sponsoring a possible youth assembly, the production of youth resources for mission animation and a possible, collaborative study center on interfaith and intercultural dialogue as a key challenge to global mission of the Catholic Church from the northern hemisphere.. Frs. Chudy, Puopolo and Matteucig participated from the USA.

Click here to view the programs of the Xaverian Missionaries in the United Kingdom through the Conforti Insitute.

Click here for the Xaverian Missionaries in the USA

Faith Shared: Churches asked to share pulpits with Muslims

Religious and human rights activists are asking U.S. churches to invite Jewish and Muslim clergy to their sanctuaries to read from sacred texts next month in an initiative designed to counter anti-Muslim bigotry.

The June 26 initiative, called "Faith Shared: Uniting in Prayer and Understanding," is co-sponsored by the Interfaith Alliance and Human Rights First. Leaders of the two Washington-based groups said the event hopes to demonstrate respect for Islam in the wake of Quran burnings in recent months.

"As a Christian minister who is a pastor in a local congregation, it is important to me for our nation and our world to know that not all Christians promote hate, attack religions different from their own and seek to desecrate the scripture of others," said the Rev. Welton Gaddy, president of the Interfaith Alliance, on Tuesday (May 17).

More than 50 churches in 26 states already have committed to the initiative, including the Washington National Cathedral and New York's Riverside Church.

Tad Stahnke, director of policy and programs for Human Rights First, said he hopes the initiative will draw attention to religious freedom, and counter negative stereotypes of Christian leaders making anti-Muslim statements.

"We want to send a message to the world that Americans do respect religious differences and reject religious bigotry and the demonization of Islam or any other religion," he said.

More stuff on this for individuals, families, parishes and others...

American Missionary Sister in the Sudan, Africa

Sister Cathy Arata began directing Solidarity's Pastoral Services in March 2010 after having been selected unanimously for the position by the Solidarity's Governing Board. Sister Cathy, a School Sister of Notre Dame (SSND), hails from New Jersey and Maryland.  A former missionary in El Salvador,  Sister Cathy has a long and distinguished history of dedicated service to the poor and marginalized. 

 

From the very first days of Solidarity's presence in Southern Sudan, Sister Cathy was the organization's contact person in Juba to help establish vital contacts and operational links for Solidarity in Southern Sudan in the capital city. Sister Cathy has served Solidarity for five years. In her role as Director of Pastoral Services, she coordinated the 101 Days of Prayer for a peaceful referendum prior to January 9, 2011.  The event was an extraordinary success uniting Christians and  Muslims in prayer for a peaceful future.  She has also brought Sudan's parish leaders together for training and planning in peace-building within their own dioceses.  SEE MORE HERE

The Church Must Not Renounce Her Missionary Role

Fr. Luigi Brioni, who has been living and working in Sierra Leone many yearss,
shares God's Word with the people in West Africa.

At midday today the Holy Father received the participants in the General Assembly of the Pontifical Missionary Works, which reports to the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples.

  The Pope highlighted in his address that "the Church must constantly renew her commitment to bringing Christ to the people, to continue her messianic mission for the coming of the Kingdom of God ... It is therefore necessary to continue the work of evangelisation with renewed enthusiasm ... to lead humankind to the true freedom of the sons of God, against all forms of slavery. It is necessary to cast the net of the Gospel into the waters of history to lead mankind toward the land of God".

  "But in order that there be a decisive commitment to evangelisation, it is necessary that all Christians and communities truly believe that the 'Word of God is the saving truth needed by all men in all times'. If this conviction of faith is not deeply rooted in our life, we are not able to feel the passion and the beauty of announcing it".

  After highlighting that "everyone must be involved in this 'missio ad gentes': bishops, priests, religious and laity", Benedict XVI remarked that "it is necessary, therefore, to devote special attention to ensuring that all sectors of pastoral care, of the catechesis, of charity, are characterised by a missionary element: the Church is a mission".       MORE....

What do you think is the greatest challenge of the Catholic Church today in her global mission? Share your answers by clicking "post a comment!"

9/11: The Conversation We Never Had

As we approach the 10-year anniversary of 9/11, faith leaders reflect on the challenge of living with the deep ideological and religious differences that persist in our multi-denomination society. "You can't have healing unless you have dialogue and unless you have engagement," says Bishop John Bryson Chane, an Episcopal Bishop of Washington, D.C.
Blessed John Paul II reminds us that interfaith dialogue is central to Christian evangelization and fundamental to the Church, based on the very life of the Triune god, as well as a respect and love for every human being.

"As far as local churches are concerned, they must commit themselves in this direction, helping all the faithful to respect and to esteem the values, traditions and convictions of other believers. At the same time we must give a convinced witness to the great gift of faith." March 23, 1984

New Website to Focus on the Canonization of the Founder of the Xaverian Missionaries

The Xaverian Missionaries of the USA Region is premiering a new website which will focus on coming to know our founder, Saint Guido Conforti and the inspiration he is as we learn how to embrace, with the compassion of Christ, a multicultural and multireligious world in the 21st Century. Check it out often as new material will be added periodically.

BANGLADESH: Army officer's father threatens to destroy home and establishments of a human rights defender's family

Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding death threat to the family of F. M. A. Razzak, a human rights defender, and his well-wishers from the relatives of an officer the Bangladesh Army regarding an illegitimate claim of ownership of a land, which had already been settled by the concerned authorities. The army officer, who has been identified as Major Mustafizur Rahman Bokul is currently attached to the Bogra Cantonment of Bangladesh, has created tremendous influence on the local police and the Rapid Action Battalion, a paramilitary force reputed for extrajudicial killings, to eliminate Razzak and his family. The relatives of the army officer have been demanding money from Razzak's wife and the withdrawal of the complaints made regarding the military officer's unlawful involvement in public disputes and affairs. Razzak's family has been in hiding for security of their lives for many days now.

Please intervene into this case immediately to ensure protection of Razzak's family and to prevent the ongoing harassment by the law-enforcing agents. The AHRC previously issued several Urgent Appeals on his case and published several articles in its publications (For further details, please see: UA-035-2007; UP-034-2007; AHRC-UAU-065-2008; AHRC-UAU-067-2008; AHRC-UAU-069-2008; and Article2, Vol. 8, No. 1 and Ethics in Action Vol.2 No.6).

SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please intervene immediately into the matter and urge the authorities of Bangladesh to initiate a credible investigation before any further harm or damage caused to the families in danger at the moment. The investigation must include the unlawful intervention of Major Mustafizur Rahman of the Bangladesh Army to influence the local police and paramilitary force and must brought to the book. The members of the Rapid Action Battalion must be held responsible for their unlawful actions and having feasts from one of the parties they were obliged to investigate as a State-agent. The lives and properties of Razzak, his relatives and well-wishers must be protected from any further attack by any group or person.

Please note that the AHRC has already written separate letters to the UN Special Rapporteur on Situation of Human Rights Defenders calling for her immediate intervention into this matter.

CLICK HERE TO UNDERSTAND MORE OF THIS CASE AND HOW YOU CAN BE A DEFENDER OF HUMAN RIGHTS