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News and Events

Ministry with Latinos

A teenaged boy is sitting with a disabled boy, who is in a wheel chaor, and they are both smiling. Springfield -In October, the Latino Community was informed about the plan of evangelization; inviting all to listen and accept the invitation of the Lord to be more committed in their personal, family and community life. The activities are taking body through programs at the Holy Family House of Chester and other pastoral centers for Latinos. Fr. Paul started visiingt the houses in order to lay the foundation for future Basic Ecclesial Communities of prayer and catechesis. He conducted 4 Days of Recollection for 30 men following the path of the “Cursillo de Cristiandad” and an Advent Recollection for 60 adults. Another Advent Recollection will be held in the House of the Holy Family in mid-December for the Volunteers of the Missionaries of Charity.

Starting in 2012, Fr. Pravin will also be involved in this ministry, so that the presence among the Latinos will be more effective according to their time and spiritual needs

Fr. Felicks Represents Vietnam at Canonization

Saigon -Canonization is the deepest act of faith by which the Holy Church proclaims to the people that a particular Christian person’s life fulfilled the will of God. It says that the person lived a life fully imitating Christ and, after his death is with the Heavenly Father, joining the company of saints singing God’s Glory forever. The canonization of Fr. Guanella was a grace-filled event in the history of the Servants of Charity. Fr. Felicks represented the Vietnam community at the event in Rome.

From the community of Vietnam, a statue of Our Lady of Lavang (Mary of Vietnam) was given to the house of St. Guanella in Fraciscio. It was nice to see the Vietnam flag displayed in front of the house.

We hope and pray, through the intercession of St. Guanella, for vocations and the works of mercy to flourish in Vietnam.

Savings Accounts Opened for Children

Chennai - Don Guanella Evening School benefits some 70 poor children from in and around the Servants of Charity house in Poonamallee through a special education program. The regent, seminarians and teachers care for their learning, discipline, clothing, medication and moral instruction. Showing concern for their future, to make the students independent and to cultivate a saving mentality, the confreres opened bank accounts for them at the South Indian Bank. For the initial savings, the confreres offered a sum to each child to facilitate their future progress. Ten students were eligible to receive ATM cards from the bank. On Nov 17th, Miss Valentina Giulio and Rev. Fr. Piero Lippoli visited Don Guanella Evening School and distributed the ATM cards. It was a memorable day with gifts and delicious food.

Mass of Thanksgiving

Manila -A Thanksgiving Mass was celebrated November 5, 2011 at the Manila Cathedral in Intramuros. The Holy Eucharist was presided over by the Archbishop of Lingayen- Dagupan, Most Rev. Socrates Villegas, D.D. concelebrated by Bishop Antonio Tobias, Bishop Emeritus Julio Xavier Labayen and the Secretary of the Papal Nuncio along with more than 30 members of the clergy. The celebration was held to honor the new saints GUANELLA, CONFORTI AND RODRIGUIZ DE CASTRO whom the Pope Benedict XVI raised to the altar of sainthood on 23rd October last month. There were a number of priests and other religious who concelebrated along with the Bishops and more than 2,500 devotees participated in the mass in order to give to the Priest from the mountain, St. Luigi Guanella, the Light in the world of work, St. Bonifacia Rodriguez de Castro, and the Great Bishop and Missionary St. Guido Ma. Conforti. 250 wheelchair-bound handicapped people also joined in the joyous celebration.

As the solemn procession bearing the standards and relics of the three new saints were carried to the altar signifying the start of the Holy Mass, the whole cathedral was enveloped in profound silence as people stood and the wafted voices of the choir floated in the air singing “Amore et Servire”. The Archbishop Villegas spoke of the saints’ newly raised to the Honor of the Altar as individuals of fire burning with faith and fortitude. Before the final blessings, Rev. Fr. Luigi, Provincial Superior, presented to the faithful the story St. Guanella through an engaging multimedia presentation. The celebration of the Holy Eucharistic was concluded by a humble yet delightful dinner

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