St Charles Province holds their assembly in Florida

The Scalabrinian Missionaries of St Charles Province held their annual assembly April 19-22 in Deerfield, Florida.It was attended by sixty priests and one deacon who work from the U.S., Canada, Colombia, Venezuela, and Haiti.Fr Rui Manuel Silva, General Councilor from Rome, along with Fr Jorge Bravo, a representative from St John Baptist Province, was also in attendance.

This year's theme was focused on "Mission and Discipleship," a phrase chosen in keeping with the gospel proclaimed in different contexts of prayer, community life, and service to the church.Fr Steven Olds, Dean of Pastoral Formation at St Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach, Florida, helped the group to reflect upon their lives as missionaries in his attempt to explore the evolving situations through new ways and forms, creativity and attentiveness, that would shape the direction of their living of priestly/religious life.

Fr Matthew Didoné, provincial superior, welcomed everyone with a sense of fraternal communion and joy.He presented his report that gave highlights to the present status of the province with its emerging challenges on deeper commitment and religious witness, pastoral positions, vocations, missionary projects and investments.His concerns relate to the rich potential of their presence in the mission while embracing the huge demographic shifts and globalized reality in pastoral ministries.

Following this, Fr Rinaldo Vecchiato, Vicar Provincial and Bursar, gave his reports on finances for the year 2009 (Jan-Dec).With substantial figures reflected on reports of each community in the province, he pointed out the importance of responsibility and accountability.He underscored variations on markets, profits and the relationships between economic downturn and investments, alongside the community support fund, scholarship fund, development fund, and operating fund.He cited both in the cultural chasm of market values and banking system whichinclude losses and gains in the provincial investments, stocks in banks, and other pertinent cost coverage or revenues deposited in the bank.

With the need to become aware of and committed to the guidelines presented in the implementation of the motions and proposals of the General Chapter, Fr Rui Manuel Silva echoed the hidden strength of hope in terms of vocations, mission priorities, SIMI, SIMN, and other intercultural encounters of today's missionary urgencies.He spoke with a good sense of humor giving highlights to certain issues that offer some challenges both in the community and ministry, respectively.In tune with the legacy of the congregation, he underscored the vision and abiding witness to world around us.

Reports of local superiors in each region followed suit with questions and clarifications made during the open forum.In a similar vein, Haiti project was addressed to the body that traced the potential movements across the dimensions of proposals and feasibility studies.

In keeping with their faith commitment as consecrated missionaries united in their religious calling, moments of prayer and the celebration of the Eucharist were held in three parishes:

a).Our Lady Queen of Peace Mission where the festive ceremony for the foundation stone and construction land blessing of the new Retirement Home.Fr Matthew Didoné, along with his confreres and lay people, led the said event.The Brazilians, Hispanics, and Americans that comprise the parish prepared sumptuous dinner after the mass.It was a graced moment of sharing in terms of relationship; a moment of delight and gratitude.

b).Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church - this is predominantly a Haitian community under the pastorship of Fr Roland Desormeaux.Their solidarity as people of faith remained a remarkable expression of their spirituality.Liturgy was prepared in Creole, French, Spanish, and English.It was a rich mosaic far more aware of the church of the poor where there's a variety of expression through dialogue of cultures and languages.After the mass, reception followed at the parish hall.

c).St Vincent Parish - it is a multicultural parish where the Brazilians outnumber other ethnic groups.Fr Joseph Pranzo, the pastor, along with his parochial vicars - Fr Volmar Scaravelli and Fr Germán Vargas, form a team to minister to immigrants in the parish, e.g. English-Spanish-Portuguese speaking parishioners.Fr Rui Manuel Silva presided the mass in Portuguese.Afterwards, dinner with special Brazilian 'churasco' was served in the parish hall.

Of the many other issues to discuss and reflect upon, the liturgy on reconciliation took the centerpiece in wrapping the whole session of the assembly.Gospel text was read in 7 languages, e.g.Portuguese, English, Italian, Spanish, Creole, French, and Tagalog.

Reports from Area Superiors

1. Fr Vilmar Orsolin - Ontario Region

Members:Frs Ruggiero DiBenedetto, Giampietro Lazzarato, Aldo Uderzo, Vilmar Orsolin, Jairo Alfonso, Manuel Galvan, Mario Lorenzana, Enrico Benin, Santo Cigolin and Peter Ciallella.

Fr Orsolin was convinced that they exert their effort to live their religious life according to the spirit of the Founder.Others have difficulty though.Some communities have common prayer and meals; commitment to personal prayers as prescribed in the Rules of Life; and some are open to share their experiences re their ministries, et al.

As regards other activities they feel the need to revitalize Scalabrini Migrant Center for the continuous growth of immigrants in Toronto.Also they see the promising role of the Lay Scalabrinian Movement in the area.He accentuated the distribution of personnel in the area giving highlights to those elderly priests that should not be burdened in the parish.

He went into the details of highlighting the positive aspect of religious life as communities head for the right direction, remembering those who mark their birthdays and anniversaries, confreres who engage in gossiping and pussyfootin their pastoral commitments.

He raised the issue of having a credit card for each religious member of the community and informed the body that Fr Manuel Galvan is not well.He has to take another surgery for his ailment 'pistula'.

1. Fr Pierangelo Paternieri - Quebec Region

Members: Frs Giuseppe Bizzotto, Edison Osorio, Joseph Fugolo, Feliciano Merchan, Giuseppe Duchini, Francesco Geremia, Yves Touzin, Ezio Marchetto, Tiziano Paolazzi, William Penn (Haitian associate priest), Joseph -- (Chinese associate priest).

Fr Paternieri gave a brief background of pastoral positions in Montréal along with confreres assigned in each mission territory.His reading of the changing demographics and challenges of moral interdependence in migration trends and diocesan policies in Montréal was focused on a vision that motivates mission team, solidarity formation (pluri-ethnic dimension), and a cohesive group structure tailored to each ethnic communities.In conjunction with that, there is a need to think about the future of Scalabrinian presence in Montréal.There are creative ways to come to grips with the changing church, e.g. with the greying communities of the first generation of Italian immigrants.The growing second-and third-generation experience provides avenues for missionaries to enter into dialogue and embrace an attainable vision of the church with a global picture of missions.Leadership in a variety of contexts with different pastoral models to employ in response to the needs and concerns of immigrants.

He presented the community in Montreal as a project that deals with Scalabrinian identity in the context of prayer and reflections both personal and communal on the life and works of the Founder - Blessed Scalabrini.He raised the issue of openness in welcoming other ethnic groups in the community.He also cited the need to have an ongoing formation for confreres in the mission.

Growth of Hispanic, Portuguese and Haitian populations reveals some contextual challenges that perpetuate the culture of the first and second generation generation vis-a-vis the local church of Montréal.He pointed out that linguistics is one cultural criterion, e.g. learning French, that continues to be a feature of the francophone Church.His raison d'etre implied a visible quality of leadership that would be keen on urban crosscultural issues, team approach, flexibility to learn and appreciate the organism of non clergy dominated team of the 'fabriques.'

3.Fr Heitor Castoldi - Massachusetts Region

Members: Frs Dominic Rodighiero, Rinaldo Vecchiato, Lino Garcia, Heitor Castoldi, Fr Ademir Guerrini

Fr Castoldi, in his brief report, echoed some significant aspects of team-oriented ministry with flexibility to learn, appreciate, and apply in a community of immigrants.While keenly aware of the need to minister to the first generation of Brazilian community, building relationships is one of the greatest unifying elements in ministry.He cited the importance of reaching out to these immigrants with a sense of direction and willingness of heart to deal with the challenges.As an act of genuine concern for people, missiological issues which include structures and emphasis on developing models for ministry have to awaken awareness of both - priest and lay people.

He suggested that the two parishes of St Anthony of Somerville and Everett could make only one religious community while serving both of them as a team.He made it clear to them that those three parishes, i.e. St Anthony in Somerville, St Anthony's in Everett, and St Tarcisius in Framingham, have a larger community of Brazilians.However, the pastor in Everett seems to have no effort to learn Portuguese.

4.Fr Camillo Lando - Rhode Island Region

Members: Frs Charles Zanoni, Mario Titotto, Michael Tarro, Alfred Almonte,

Terry Bagattin, Andrew Brizzolara, Joseph Scopa (retired), Henry Gentile (retired), Peter Bortolazzo (retired), Angelo Susin (sick), Edward Marino (sick), Raffaele Villella (sick), Bro Lou (sick)

Fr Lando said that in the Providence area there are 3 parishes staffed by the Scalabrinian Missionaries: St Rocco Parish, Johnston, RI; St Bartholomew Parish, Providence, RI; Holy Ghost Parish, Providence, RI.

At St Rocco the Italo-American community comprises the majority with a small community of Italians and Hispanics.Fr Zanoni, the pastor; Fr Titotto, parochial vicar; and Fr Tarro, in residence.

The parish of St Bartholomew has only one priest and he is assisted by a diocesan deacon.Coming on the heels of many other needs and concerns, the parish is geared to have another priest who will provide services to the Spanish speaking community.The swelling of Hispanics in the parish is evidently posing a huge set of challenges.There is also a diocesan priest in residence.

The construction of Scalabrini-Dukcevich Center, located in front of Saint Bartholomew Church, has been completed.The official opening will be celebrated sometime in May 2010.It will provide services to various needs of migrants, e.g. spiritual, pastoral, social, or legal assistance.

At Holy Ghost Parish there is a pastor, along with another priest in residence.The recent rise in the number of Hispanic immigrants in the parish has become another issue to be addressed.By and large, they assist Italo-Americans, Italians and Hispanics.Italo-Americans areItalian community is rather small.However, the Italo-Americans are pretty much bigger than the Italian community.

As far as personnel is concerned, he said that they are in a difficult situation.There are 4 active priests working in three parishes.One has been assigned but has not yet arrived.There are two priests in residence.Of the 4 active priests one has already reached the retirement age; another will reach it at the end of this year 2010; and the other two are between 65 and 70.

As the climate for shortage of priests adjusts to challenges they now face in their ministry, he was still joyful and thankful to God that they are still able to staff all their pastoral positions.However, he was honest enough to admit that they could not continue that way for much longer.Either they have to be provided with assistance or have to restructure their approach and strategy to pastoral ministry.

5.Fr Luis Antonio Diaz - New York Region

Members: Frs John Carlo Massari, Walter Tonelotto, Mariano Cisco, RenéManenti, Fr Romy Montera (associate) Bro Michael, Jairo Ariel Alfonso, Mark Escobar

Fr Díaz gave a brief recount of meetings they held as a region.He stressed that the whole community gathers on a regular basis according to the calendar established at the beginning of pastoral year.Along with that, he undergirded the spirit of fraternal fellowship and openness among them.He mentioned that each religious community has its own moments of common prayer and planning.He also added that each week on a Monday, for instance, they had agreed to lunch together bringing with them their appetites and concerns to be discussed and shared.

The arrival of potential readings of New York in the Scalabrinian plan to keep those positions already at hand may provide a gateway to new challenges along with the growth curve of initiatives that breed assistance to the migrants.He defined the reality of New York with a language redolent of immigration as a magnet to millions of people across the world.For them it is a very important place with a remarkable promise of the future.Besides, it is historical as the Founder had sent to this city his first missionaries in North America.He further added that New York has a great impact all over the world; its global image suggests even from the spiritual point of view.

He stressed that the community should develop the Scalabrinian presence in NY and not reduce positions.This is to redress the horizontal mobility of pastoral assistance that fires the engines of being competent missionaries working with and for the migrants.He cited the suggestion of Fr Geremia, Superior General, to develope a specialized model of pastoral activity for migrants which could be viable and effective in the area.

Understanding the demands and implications that CMS, SIMN, Scalabrini Centers, Lay Scalabrinian Movement, Radio Maria, and parishes may offer to various ethnic groups, equal opportunities may shape the working perspective on diversifying pastoral models.

On behalf of his confreres in the area, he expressed his disappointment exacerbated by apathy and abysmal disinterestedness of the Provincial Administration for not committing themselves to value the importance of their presence and ministry in the area.That was the hard-line tenor of a collective feedback he voiced thus far.

While the aftermath of Scalabrinian community on Carmine Street did not generate a resounding success in the implementation of pastoral initiatives, along with the untimely transfer of two confreres and another one on the move, he was convinced that the decision made was unjust.He pointed out clearly that the aforementioned place was meant to be a new pastoral model.He also raised the issue of Fr René's immediate removal from his post without appointing a new one.The line of scrimmage echoed a common tone of injustice which pretty much suggested a commitment to dialogue.

Following this, other arenas of discussion spanned personnel, pastoral plan, openness to social and advocacy services utilizing resources both academic and pastoral levels via CMS, SIMN, and other organizations.He committed to that idea that Scalabrinians should try to offer different models of pastoral assistance to migrants through avenues of international and inter-ethnical communities, ad intra and ad extra in pastoral approaches and strategies.

6.Fr Volmar Scaravelli - Florida and Georgia Region

Members: Frs Horecio Carlos Anklan, Germán Vargas, Ettore Sartori, Vincenzo Ronchi, Onorio Bennachio, Alex Dalpiaz, Ademar Guerrini, Pio Battaglia, Benjamin Casimir, and Jacques Fabre (Atlanta, Giorgia)

Fr Scaravelli started off with a list of confreres working in different ministries in the region.He cited the need to strengthen their sense of community as religious members and linked their individual freedom to personal responsibility, character and unity.He felt that same problem situation exists as regards community life.He echoed some conflicts within their area of responsibility, along with polarizing forces in terms of politics within the diocese.

He emphasized the transforming nature of freedom as missionaries to the migrants.He expressed his appreciation for his confreres who work diligently in their respective ministries.While he seeks a new balance between the collective and the individual in view of ministering to other ethnic groups, he raised the importance of dialogue and consultation as a religious community.

From his vantage point of view, issues surrounding the ministry of Scalabrinian positions in Florida pose some challenges that will provide the so-called 'second spring' steeped in the arrival of new immigrants.

7.Fr Sergio Murotti - Haiti & Dominican Republic

Members:Frs Joseph Durante, Richard Gerard (now in Rome for study), Jean-Robert Royal, Michael Louis Charles

While facing an uphill climb to recover from this disaster early this year, considerable organizations allied to nation's institutions brought to the fore their concerted efforts to help and assist these poor victims.He said that there was an outpouring of humanitarian relief and volunteers which seemed to be like an embodiment of the church of the poor with its vision focused on the afflicted people.

Fr Murotti cited the utility of the seminary property for first-aid and other free medical services.Tents were built in the compound for other humanitarian assistance.He also mentioned that there were only eight students in the seminary.They were all on vacation when this catastrophe happened.Diocesan schools and seminaries were halted in operation due to enormous wreckage of their buildings and other facilities.

As far as the Haitian project is concerned, he asked the opinion of the body whether it is timely and appropriate to have it implemented.He addressed them the proposal to build a school within the Scalabrinian property that aims to helping out poor Haitian children.However, the body suggested to allow a period of time for further study and consultation.Hence, there was no approval made as yet.

8.Fr Héctor Aya - Colombia Region

(unable to come to the assembly due to his health condition)Fr Gabriel Forero gave a report on his behalf

Members:Frs Maurizio Pontin, Isaia Birollo, Alfredo Mosquera, Gustavo Lozano, Jose Gabriel Forero, Angelo Plodari, Hernándo Mendoza, Francisco Bortignon, & Isaías Imbachi (waiting for his visa to go to the Phil.)

Deacons:Luis Hammes Anderson, Valentin Mendoza Morales, José Plascencia Callejas, Jesús Erasmo Salinas Hernández, Rubens Sylvain, Valentin Toledo Pérez

Religious students:Humberto Vicente Barrios Morales, Álvaro Cordero Cordero, Luis Alfonso Espinel Vargas, Carl Jean, Carlos Alberto Villar Ospina, John-Anderson Vibert, Humberto Alvarez Gutiérez, Agler Cherizier, Alcedir Cigognini, Julio César Ruiz Díaz, Feliere Louis, Jean Kesnel Metellus, Alejandro Hernández Morales, Candelario Morán Patiño, Ivá Wilson Velásquez Ovalles

(All in all they are 21 including 6 deacons)

In Bogotá there are two houses of formation, i.e. Philosophy and Theology.Like their staple diet every day, Eucharist plays as the source and strength of their lives at the core of most of their activities.Community prayer, confession, and meditation reflect the common faith of every member in quest for deeper spirituality and sense of belonging.Pastoral works on weekends complement with students' academic acquisition either in Philosophy or Theology.

Among those positive impressions he made mention in his report were the good working relationship of confreres in the area, regularity in attendance whenever they hold a monthly meeting every first Friday where they spend a day of prayer and reflection.He made a clarification in regard to Diocesan retreat and the one organized by the province.He voiced the difficulty to meet with confreres in Cucutá due to geographical distance.He suggested three meetings to enable them to take part and these are: 1).At the beginning of the year; 2). Provincial Assembly; 3). At the end of the year or probably a retreat organized in one of the houses of formation.

Described as a journey that requires commitment to invest and rise above other priorities of the congregation, vocation promotion was heavily laden with importance like God's favored geography for revelation.This marks, however, the future of the congregation.He emphasized collaborative efforts among those in different ministries to be united, supportive, participatory, and be aligned to the common goal of the Order.He added by saying, "we are one community with one heart."

In one of his solicited inquiries from his formandi like those who had been to St Joseph in Chinatown for their pastoral year of experience in the parish, a suggestion was made that it should not be relinquished to the archdiocese of New York.The need to find a Chinese priest from Santa Francesca Cabrini or one of those Filipinos who had had experience in Taiwan may provide them an answer to solve the problem.

As regards Finances in the local community of Colombia, Fr Angelo Plodari has been appointed as the local treasurer.Bank accounts in all religious communities are in American dollars.These include communities of: Theology, Philosophy, Social Programs, Cucutá - Tibú, Blessed John Baptist Scalabrini Parish, Vocation Promotion.

At the conclusion of his report, he addressed the need for the following:

a.Animator in the House of Theology

b.Another vocation promoter

c.Re-open the Propedeutic Seminary in Medellin for 2011

d.postpone the auction of seminary in Guarné due to economic recession.Value of property costs 486,000.00 in Colombian pesos.