1st Mass of Fr. Santaniez in Sierra Leone, Africa

1st Mass of Fr. Santaniez in Sierra Leone, Africa, a set on Flickr.

Fr. Patrick Santaniez, the first Filipino to be ordained a priest returned to Sierra Leone, Africa recently where he celebrated his first mass with the people.

Joven, a Xaverian student from the Philippines begins a two experience in Sierra Leone as he prepares for priesthood.

Superiors of the Xaverian Missionaries Gather from Around the World

Dear Friends,

Superiors of the Xaverian Missionaries, gathered from eighteen countries worldwide, came together in Tavernerio Italy, near Milan to look at the global situation of the mission efforts of the congregation. At the writing of this blog we have come to the half way mark of our meeting, six days in. All of the Xaverian Missionaries pictured above represent around 800 priests and brothers working in Africa, Asia. Latin America, Europe and the USA. 

In the first day we held a one day retreat led by Fr. Angelo Manfredi who just completed a major study on our Founder, Blessed Guido Conforti who will be canonized a new missionary saint of the Church October 23, 2011. His insights into the life of Conforti within all of the issues he faced as Bishop of two dioceses and the founder of a new religious missionary congregation in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

In the following two days we again welcomed Father Franco, a priest and psychologist who has done extensive work with victims of sexual abuse. We focused particularly on issues surrounding clergy sexual abuse and how we can insure the safety of young people in all of the missions where we serve. Because of the work done in the USA, our work was of particularly interest to the assembly. Our policies and procedures for the protection of young people was shared with all of the regional superiors.

After two days and half with Fr. Franco and our own discussion on the matter, we proceed to hear the regional reports, beginning with our missions in Africa and then moving to Asia and the Americas. After listening to their reports the assembly had an opportunity for questions and discussions. There are many things that could be said about the experience of our missions today. Today we are much less involved in building, doing more outside of the parishes we founded, and are searching for new orientations in many missions. Our younger, local missionaries also are bringing a new energy and focus to our work where a number of our men, working for many years, are aging.

Today is Sunday, July 24 and we have a day of rest before proceeding with reports from Italy, Spain, and Scotland on Monday. More to come.

Fr. Carl Chudy, SX

Gathered for prayer and the Eucharist in the upper room

Fr. Mario Mula of Spain and Fr. Natalio Paganelli of Sierra Leone, Africa

Gathered in our meeting full of discussion and inquiry

Here I am in the middle of things I enjoy the most...EATING!

Fr. Rigali of the Philippines makes a point while Fr. Martino of China listens

Out of Cordoba

Out of Cordoba is a documentary film, directed by Jacob Bender and produced by Mr. Bender and MLK Producciones of Malaga, Spain, that explores some of the most vexing questions of our time: Is there a “clash of civilizations” between the West and the Islamic world? Are Jews and Muslims eternal enemies, incapable of peaceful coexistence? Does religious faith lead inevitably to xenophobia and violence?

Out of Cordoba confronts these issues through an exploration of the lives and writings of the two most important thinkers to emerge from medieval Muslim Spain: Averroes the Muslim, and his Jewish counterpart, Rabbi Moses Maimonides. The 82-minute film explores the legacy of these two philosophers, as well as their contemporary importance for interfaith relations, and especially for Muslims, Jews, and Christians struggling against religious extremism.

Out of Cordoba is a timely and powerful plea for greater interfaith understanding in our troubled and often violent times. Click here to request a screening.

Find out more HERE

Fr. Mark Marangone Returns to the USA After 13 Years in Colombia

Fr. Mark Marangone on the left with friends at our Mission Festival in Franklin, Wisconsin.

We welcome Fr. Mark Marangone, after more than 13 years of missionary work in Colombia, Latin America. Fr. Mark is no stranger to our work in the USA. He studied theology in Chicago, was ordained to the missionary priesthood in the early 1980's and worked with great resolve in Milwaukee and in New Jersey before going to prepare for his work in Colombia. He is presently assigned to the work of the community of Franklin, Wisconsin.

Xaverian Missionaries Take on New Mission in Thailand

Bishop Pibul Visitnoncachai of the Diocese of Nakhom Sawan

Recently, the Xaverian Missionaries have taken on a new mission in Thailand, increasing their global mission reachout to nineteen nations worldwide. We committed ourselves to the Diocese of Nakhom Sawan under Bishop Pibul Visitnondachai. We are looking at the possibility of a new mission at two parishes that are being considered: in Mae Sot and Mae Ramat. Both parishes have a significant Catholic school system which is crucial in the evangelization of this country. The Thai language is spoken in the central parishes, but the Karen language is the main language. English, Thai and Karen languages will be required of the new Xaverian Missionaries who will work there. Since these parishes are on the Burmese border, refugee camps are abundant and work in these camps will be part of our work.

Tak Province where the parishes lie

Village life in the area of the parishes we are considering

Rice farm scene in the area

Refugee camp at the Burmese Border

Five hundred Mothers Minister to Prisoners for Lent in Africa

Fr. Nick Colosuonno reports from the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Africa. He has settled in after a number of years out of Africa in the parish of Cahi in Bakavu.

Fr. Nick Colosuono in the Easter Procession
of his parish.

Fr. Nick's Parish from a bird's eye view in Bakavu.

500 Mothers of the Christian Communities go to
minister in the prison

Were so many! A real firing squad on the march from the parish of Cahi, on the outskirts to the center of the city of Bukavu, in the central prison. They had prepared some time with a collection of clothes, food and soap. They came from small Christian communities of the district and this Lent, March 30, wanting to do a work of mercy, visiting the imprisoned. There are more than a thousand adult men, about thirty boys and twenty mothers incarcerated in this prison.

The Bakavu Central Prison with More than a Thousand Prisoners.

"There's everything," he says, Sister. Anastasie, Daughters of Mercy, who ministered for a couple of years at the prison and collaborated in this event. "There are murderers, rapists, criminals and deserters. Some are accused of cheating, others who are struggling to repay debts, others are victims of bullies from wealthy landowners. Very few who have had the help of a lawyer."

Sr. Anastasie of the Sisters of Charity visit a prisoner

The 500 mothers marched four kilometers with their colorful dresses. They started with a prayer asking God's blessing on this event. Madeleine insisted: "Only love can stop the violence in our city, only mercy can bring out the request by a violent heart of forgiveness and a new life!" 

In this city of 600,000 inhabitants, capital of South Kivu region of Democratic Republic of Congo, on the border with Rwanda, in recent decades because of the war, thousands upon thousands poured into the city. Many are struggling to find a job and hunger is always there, leading to theft and robbery.

Rice and beans being prepared for the prisoners

There have been some real changes in the hearts of these people, some have asked me to be helped to abandon hate and resentment and to begin a journey of forgiveness without revenge" Madeleine was right in insisting that only mercy can save Bukavu!

Set out to Form a More Perfect Union...Happy July 4th!!

As America’s 224th birthday comes around, it’s a good time to celebrate just how far we’ve come towards living out our ideals. And it’s also a good time to reflect on how far we still have to go, together as a nation.

For the Catholic Church, John Paul II most certainly lived up to this commitment. For John Paul II the vision of the Council was centered on Christ. Already in his first encyclical, Redemptor Hominis, he had emphasised a line from the document on the Church in the Modern World: "For, by his incarnation, he, the Son of God, has in a certain way united himself with each man"(Gaudium et Spes 22). He often referred to this truth in order to show that the Church, and therefore also the Pope, must be interested in all human beings, and not be deterred by religious differences. Similarly he took up another affirmation found in the same paragraph of Gaudium et Spes: Since Christ died for all (Romans 8:32), and since all men are in fact called to one end and the same destiny, which is divine, we must hold that the Holy Spirit offers to all the possibility of being made partners, in a way known to God, in the paschal mystery (GS 22). So people are not to be condemned just because they are not Christians. Recognizing that God, through the Holy Spirit, is at work in them, it is possible to engage in a dialogue which is not mere politeness but is a form of entering into the paschal mystery, a death to egoism in order to live for others. This is truly a dialogue of salvation.


In his teaching ministry John Paul II reflected on the impact of religious plurality. He saw it as his mission to apply the vision of the Second Vatican Council. Time and again he returned to the teaching of Nostra Aetate, the Declaration on the relations of the Church to Non Christian religions. Speaking once to Bishops from Iran he stated:

"The Second Vatican Council's declaration Nostra Aetate gives clear indications that inspire the Church for its inter-religious dialogue. They are mainly: respect for one's personal conscience, rejecting all forms of coercion or discrimination with regard to faith, freedom to practice one's religion and give witness to it, as well as appreciation and esteem for all genuine religious traditions."

Our nation has the opportunity to show to the world how faiths may come together, based on common faith values, to create together peace and solidarity. What do you think? Share your thoughts, click COMMENT.