Spanish Discernment Weekend January 20, 2012

Hi there everyone, it's been a while. Just wanted to share the blessing we had last weekend. We held a discernment weekend in our formation house in Jamaica, NY. 17 young men came from North Carolina and Long Island. Our seminarians really took ownership of the whole event. Fr. Hugo, Fr. Marvin, Fr. Vince Finnerty, Fr. Emmet Nolan, Fr. Aidan, Fr. Jerry, Bishop Cabezas and I, all had the opportunity to interact and share some reflections at some point or another. I would like to thank the Eastern Province, along with St. John's University, for their generosity. God continues to use us as instruments and if people still ask if there are people in serving God as priests or brothers, this weekend was an answe to that. Yes there are!!!

Our next weekend will be on March 30th in Philadelphia. It will be in english. I should be sending a flyer out this week, but if you have any questions call me at the Vocations Office at St. John's University 718-990-1823. God bless you all!!

A New Year

I have been thinking for the last week or so about the new year. How this season of hustle and bustle, inside and outside of the Church, barely gives us a time to reflect and enjoy this transition. We have celebrated Christmas with great intensity and have welcomed him into our midst, our homes, our lives, our hearts. But have we taken a moment to admire and appreciate this great and awesome event.

A new year is really like starting all over, hopefully having learned something from the past. From the road trodden we have acquired some experience of the do's and don'ts as believing people. As we balance the passing year, we see where we have confided in the Lord and have flown, where we have been distracted by things and have had a standstill and where we have gone astray.

By the mercy of God, this child born anew capacitates us to begin the journey again. Doors are open, a light is shed upon the path, and someone again takes precedence in our midst, the Lord himself and what a blessing it is.

I pray that our new year can make us take advantage of the Sacrament of the Moment. The blessing that occurs in our lives each and every day. I often run from one place to other. I often find myself fighting with myself to enjoy the conversation and love that relationships (which I ultimately do) and not run off to the next. I want to place the on button to slow. Alive but not in a hurry. And if I am in a hurry may be to respond with great concern for the other, but even then not to hear what I want to hear, but to respond to the true need and with love in God.

Help me and help us o Lord to make each moment a sacrament of you. Knowing that the moment is here now and goes so quickly, but if we give it a chance it may leave it's imprint upon our hearts and nourish our souls abundantly.

Message from our Bishops

Called to walk with the marginalized of our church, I thought this was a awesome letter and great step to deal with the situation many of people, people of God as we are, are dealing with. Please read from the heart

Monday, December 12, 2011

Estas son las Mañanitas...of the Hispanic Bishops
The Hispanic/Latino Bishops of the United States greeted us early today, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, with their own very special version of the "Mañanitas," a letter to immigrants. Signed by 33 bishops, the letter was released simultaneously from Los Angeles and San Antonio, the sees of the two highest ranking Hispanic archbishops.
The full text of the letter along with the signatories is reproduced below.
LETTER OF THE HISPANIC/LATINO BISHOPS TO IMMIGRANTS
Dear immigrant sisters and brothers,
May the peace and grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you!
We the undersigned Hispanic/Latino Bishops of the United States wish to let those of you who lack proper authorization to live and work in our country know that you are not alone, or forgotten. We recognize that every human being, authorized or not, is an image of God and therefore possesses infinite value and dignity. We open our arms and hearts to you, and we receive you as members of our Catholic family. As pastors, we direct these words to you from the depths of our heart.
In a very special way we want to thank you for the Christian values you manifest to us with your lives—your sacrifice for the well-being of your families, your determination and perseverance, your joy of life, your profound faith and fidelity despite your insecurity and many difficulties. You contribute much to the welfare of our nation in the economic, cultural and spiritual arenas.
The economic crisis has had an impact on the entire U.S. community. Regretfully, some in reaction to this environment of uncertainty show disdain for immigrants and even blame them for the crisis. We will not find a solution to our problems by sowing hatred. We will find the solution by sowing a sense of solidarity among all workers and co-workers —immigrants and citizens—who live together in the United States.
In your suffering faces we see the true face of Jesus Christ. We are well aware of the great sacrifice you make for your families’ well-being. Many of you perform the most difficult jobs and receive miserable salaries and no health insurance or social security. Despite your contributions to the well-being of our country, instead of receiving our thanks, you are often treated as criminals because you have violated current immigration laws.
We are also very aware of the pain suffered by those families who have experienced the deportation of one of their members. We are conscious of the frustration of youth and young adults who have grown up in this country and whose dreams are shattered because they lack legal immigration status. We also know of the anxiety of those whose application process for permanent residency is close to completion and of the anguish of those who live daily under the threat of deportation. This situation cries out to God for a worthy and humane solution.We acknowledge that, at times, actions taken in regard to immigrants have made you feel ignored or abandoned, especially when no objection is raised to the false impressions that are promoted within our society. Through the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops we have testified before the U.S. Congress for change in our immigration laws and for legislation that respects family unity and provides an orderly and reasonable process for unauthorized persons to attain citizenship. The new law should include a program for worker visas that respects the immigrants’ human rights, provides for their basic needs and ensures that they enter our country and work in a safe and orderly manner. We will also continue to advocate on behalf of global economic justice, so that our brothers and sisters can find employment opportunities in their countries of origin that offer a living wage, and allow them to live with dignity.
Immigrants are a revitalizing force for our country. The lack of a just, humane and effective reform of immigration laws negatively affects the common good of the entire United States.
It pains and saddens us that many of our Catholic brothers and sisters have not supported our petitions for changes in the immigration law that will protect your basic rights while you contribute your hard work to our country. We promise to keep working to bring about this change. We know how difficult the journey is to reach the border and to enter the United States. That is why we are committed to do all that we can to bring about a change in the immigration law, so that you can enter and remain here legally and not feel compelled to undertake a dangerous journey in order to support and provide for your families. As pastors concerned for your welfare, we ask you to consider seriously whether it is advisable to undertake the journey here until after just and humane changes occur in our immigration laws.
Nevertheless, we are not going to wait until the law changes to welcome you who are already here into our churches, for as St. Paul tells us, “You are no longer aliens or foreign visitors; you are fellow-citizens with the holy people of God and part of God’s household” (Eph 2:19).
As members of the Body of Christ which is the Church, we offer you spiritual nourishment. Feel welcome to Holy Mass, the Eucharist, which nourishes us with the word and the body and blood of Jesus. We offer you catechetical programs for your children and those religious education programs that our diocesan resources allow us to put at your disposal.
We who are citizens and permanent residents of this country cannot forget that almost all of us, we or our ancestors, have come from other lands and together with immigrants from various nations and cultures, have formed a new nation. Now we ought to open our hearts and arms to the recently arrived, just as Jesus asks us to do when he says, “I was hungry and you gave me to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me to drink; I was an alien and you took me into your house” (Mt 25:35). These words of the Lord Jesus can be applied to the new immigrants among us. They were hungry in their land of origin; they were thirsty as they traveled through the deserts, and they find themselves among us as aliens. (See Daniel G. Groody, CSC, “Crossing the Line,” in The Way, Vol. 43,, No. 2, April 2004, p. 58-69). Their presence challenges us to be more courageous in denouncing the injustices they suffer. In imitation of Jesus and the great prophets we ought to denounce the forces that oppress them and announce the good news of the Kingdom with our works of charity. Let us pray and struggle to make it possible for these brothers and sisters of ours to have the same opportunities from which we have benefited.
We see Jesus the pilgrim in you migrants. The Word of God migrated from heaven to earth in order to become man and save humanity. Jesus emigrated with Mary and Joseph to Egypt, as a refugee. He migrated from Galilee to Jerusalem for the sacrifice of the cross, and finally he emigrated from death to life in the resurrection and ascension to heaven. Today, he continues to journey and accompany all migrants on pilgrimage throughout the world in search of food, work, dignity, security and opportunities for the welfare of their families.
You reveal to us the supreme reality of life: we are all migrants. Your migration gives a strong and clear message that we are migrants on the way to eternal life. Jesus accompanies all Christians on our journey toward the house of our Father, God’s Kingdom in heaven. (See Pope John Paul II, Tertio Millennio Adveniente, No. 50.)
We urge you not to despair. Keep faith in Jesus the migrant who continues to walk beside you. Have faith in Our Lady of Guadalupe who constantly repeats to us the words she spoke to St. Juan Diego, “Am I, who am your mother, not here?” She never abandons us, nor does St. Joseph who protects us as he did the Holy Family during their emigration to Egypt.
As pastors we want to continue to do advocacy for all immigrants. With St. Paul we say to you: “Do not be mastered by evil; but master evil with good.” (Rm 12:21).
May Almighty God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, accompany you and bless you always.
Sincerely in Christ our Savior,
The Hispanic/Latino Bishops of the United StatesMost Rev. José H. Gómez, Archbishop of Los Angeles
Most Rev. Gustavo García-Siller, MSpS, Archbishop of San Antonio
Most Rev. Gerald R. Barnes, Bishop of San Bernardino
Most Rev. Alvaro Corrada del Rio, SJ, Apostolic Administrator of Tyler
Bishop of Mayaguez, PR
Most Rev. Felipe de Jesús Estevez, Bishop of St. AugustineMost Rev. Richard J. García, Bishop of MontereyMost Rev. Armando X. Ochoa, Apostolic Administrator of El PasoBishop-designate of FresnoMost Rev. Plácido Rodríguez, CMF, Bishop of LubbockMost Rev. James A. Tamayo, Bishop of LaredoMost Rev. Raymundo J. Peña, Bishop Emeritus of BrownsvilleMost Rev. Arthur Tafoya, Bishop Emeritus of PuebloMost Rev. Daniel E. Flores, Bishop of BrownsvilleMost Rev. Fernando Isern, D.D., Bishop of PuebloMost Rev. Ricardo Ramírez, Bishop of Las CrucesMost Rev. Jaime Soto, Bishop of SacramentoMost Rev. Joe S. Vásquez, Bishop of AustinMost Rev. Carlos A. Sevilla, SJ, Bishop Emeritus of YakimaMost Rev. Oscar Cantú, S.T.D., Auxiliary Bishop of San AntonioMost Rev. Arturo Cepeda, Auxiliary Bishop of DetroitMost Rev. Manuel A. Cruz, Auxiliary Bishop of NewarkMost Rev. Rutilio del Riego, Auxiliary Bishop of San BernardinoMost Rev. Eusebio Elizondo, M.Sp.S, Auxiliary Bishop of SeattleMost Rev. Francisco González , S.F., Auxiliary Bishop of WashingtonMost Rev. Eduardo A. Nevares, Auxiliary Bishop of PhoenixMost Rev. Alexander Salazar, Auxiliary Bishop of Los AngelesMost Rev. David Arias, OAR, Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of NewarkMost Rev. Octavio Cisneros, DD, Auxiliary Bishop of BrooklynMost. Rev. Edgar M. da Cunha, SDV, Auxiliary Bishop of NewarkMost Rev. Cirilo B. Flores, Auxiliary Bishop of OrangeMost Rev. Josu Iriondo, Auxiliary Bishop of New YorkMost Rev. Alberto Rojas, Auxiliary Bishop of ChicagoMost Rev. Luis Rafael Zarama, Auxiliary Bishop of AtlantaMost Rev. Gabino Zavala, Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles
Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, December 12, 2011

Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe 2011

After almost two weeks of visiting some of our ministries and confreres in Greensboro, Charlotte in North Carolina and Camarillo in California, I am back home. All has been a blessing, it has been a whirlwind experience. The works the confreres carry out are inspiring and the people who are there are amazing. The generosity of the people, their openness and joy incite all to continue in that same spirit. It is all about faith. Thank you Lord for it all.

Daughters of Charity Founding Day

I celebrate Vincent, Saint Vincent de Paul. I am fascinated by his life, his efforts, how he was able to share and spread that spirit of the mission to all those he encountered. He had a gift of reaching the poor, the rich, the marginalized and bring them together. Made for each other, all were church and are church.One of the communities he founded, along with Saint Louise de Marillac, was the Daughters of Charity. Today is their founding day…November 29, 1633. To think it was young country girl who came forth to Vincent and offered her services for the poor. Marguerite Nasseau, poor in many ways and rich in her Lord. That small community that started on this day became the largest female congregation in the Catholic Church. And still is today. That in itself is remarkable, but if you have run into a Daughter of Charity, she leaves her mark. By her work, her charity, her irrepressible desire to change the world of the poor and of all through committed love.I have been in many countries for my own formation and also for mission work. And I am so glad to see that still today, these valiant women continue to do the work that Christ call them to accomplish. To all a blessed day.

150 años de los Vicentinos en Centro America

150 AÑOS DE PRESENCIA VICENTINA EN TIERRAS CENTROAMERICANA

Breve Reseña histórica de los orígenes de la provincia centroamericana. En 1857 se iniciaron las gestiones para la llegada a Guatemala de las Hijas de la Caridad y la Congregación de la Misión. Gracias a los esfuerzos de Don Dámaso Angulo, hermano mayor de la hermandad de caridad; de Don José María Urruela; Don Luis Batres y del P. Román Pascual, el 14 de febrero de 1862, el P. Juan Bautista Etienne y Sor Isabel Moncellet, firmaban el contrato de fundación de la Hijas de la Caridad y Congregación de la Misión en Guatemala.El 12 de mayo de 1862, llegaron a Guatemala los misioneros: P. Juan Masnou C.M., P. Félix Mariscal C.M. P. Cresencio Torres C.M., Hermano Alejandro Gastón C.M. y ocho Hijas de Caridad. Se Ubicaron en el área del hospital San Juan de Dios denominada San Pedro. Desempeñaron el ministerio de capellanes.El 15 de febrero de 1872, el P. Etienne, fundó la antigua provincia de América Central, que comprendía las siguientes casas: Como sede provincial, Popayán Colombia; Quito y Guayaquil (Ecuador); Lima y Arequipa (Perú) y Guatemala. Los visitadores fueron los siguientes: P. Gustavo Foing C.M. (1872-1886); P. Germán Amourel C.M. (1887-1890); P. Jorge Revelliere C.M. (1890-1900) y P. Juan Floro Bret C.M. (1900-1913).Las primeras vocaciones centroamericanas fueron; P. Marcelino Méndez C.M. y Antonio Arévalo C.M. (Guatemaltecos); P. Julio Pineda C.M, P. Guillermo Rojas C.M. y P. Ramón Peña C.M. (Salvadoreños); y P. José Timoteo Zepeda C.M. (Nicaragüense).En 1904, llegó a Guatemala el Padre Daniel Choisnard C.M., quien prestó el servicio de vice-visitador hasta 1907. El 22 de agosto de 1912, llegó procedente de Colombia con el cargo de vice-visitador el P. Luis Durou C.M. Al siguiente año, el entonces superior General, P. Antonio Fiat C.M. desmembró la provincia. Es así como nace la actual provincia de América central. 1.1 Provincia de Centroamérica: El Primer visitador fue el P. Luis Durou C.M. (1913-1928), quien fundó en 1925, la escuela apostólica en San Jacinto, El Salvador.A finales de 1928, llegó como nuevo visitador el P. Francisco Lagraula C.M. (1928-1948). En su periodo se fundó, en 1930, el seminario interno y en 1932, el estudiantado. Trabajó en la promoción de las vocaciones y la vida comunitaria. Era el “factotum” de la provincia. Agobiado por la carga dimite su servicio en el P. Guillermo Kerremans C.M. (1948-1950), de efímera presencia en Centroamérica. En su periodo varios cohermanos abandonaron la congregación.Para sustituir al P. Kerremans, llega un centroamericano: el P. Humberto Lara C.M. (Guatemalteco) (1951-1957), misionero de gran capacidad intelectual. Trasladó la escuela apostólica a Guatemala. En 1957, el P. Lara fue nombrado obispo auxiliar de las Verapaces. Lo sustituyó en su servicio de Visitador el P. Eduardo Álvarez C.M. (Salvadoreño) (1957-1955). En su período inició sus labores la Escuela Apostólica en 1960.En 1965 el P. Álvarez, fue nombrado obispo auxiliar de San Salvador. Llegó a tomar su puesto el P. Germán González C.M (Guatemalteco) (1965-1971). Al P. Germán le sucedió el P. Daniel Chacón C.M.(Salvadoreño) (1972-1980). Les sucedió el P. Rodolfo Bobadilla C.M. (Guatemalteco) (1981-1984); quien trabajó con buen tino en la reorganización de la formación, la vida comunitaria y misionera. De 1984- 1992 es reelegido por tercera vez el P. Daniel Chacón.El P. Adrián Bastiaensen C.M. (Holandés) fue elegido visitador en 1993 y reelegido en 1997, misionero de gran experiencia, conocedor de san Vicente, con una sensibilidad singular hacia los pobres. Apoyó con entusiasmo la recuperación de la memoria histórica misionera. A petición del superior General Robert Maloney C.M. terminó su período el año 2000. Para relevarlo llegó de P. George Gregory Gay C.M. norteamericano quien había trabajado durante 15 años en Panamá. Este fue reelegido en el 2004 para un nuevo período como visitador; sin embargo, en la XL Asamblea general celebrada en Roma año 2004, fue electo Superior General de la Congregación de la Misión.A finales del año 2004 se hicieron nuevas elecciones para visitador siendo elegido el P. José Francisco Ramos Cárcamo, C.M. (salvadoreño). Realidad Centroamericana. Introducción GeneralLa historia de nuestros pueblos nos e inicia en 1492 con el llamado “descubrimiento de América”. El hombre amerindio ha existido desde hace miles de años en estas tierras del Continente de la Esperanza. Antes de estos quinientos años, nuestros antepasados ya habían hecho un largo camino, construyendo y forjando su propia cultura. Como pueblos agrícolas fueron evolucionando en la caza, pesca, recolección, agricultura. Vivían en armonía con la naturaleza y la madre tierra, como amantes del desarrollo y del progreso. Al paso del tiempo construyeron grandes ciudades, cuyos vestigios se han conservado hasta nuestros días. No eran pueblos aislados, alcontrario, establecieron una estrecha comunicación comercial y cultural entre sí.A partir de 1492 con la llegada de las expediciones militares españolas, se da un choque de culturas, en la cual se sobrepone la española, surgiendo así el problema de la dependencia dominadora, ya que en este encuentro no hubo diálogo sino imposición.En su búsqueda de afirmar la hegemonía ante los otros países europeos, la corriente militarista española, recién salida de la guerra con los moros, aprovecharon la religión como instrumento ideológico pacificador, imponiendo así su cultura, forma de organización social, es decir, su forma de pensar. Nuestros pueblos nacen dentro de esta estructura y el desalojo originalmente de las riquezas que nos correspondían. Desde entonces el subdesarrollo comienza a forjarse y un grupo de terratenientes, ante el desplomo del imperio español, buscan la independencia, siguiendo los ejemplos de países como Estados Unidos e influidos por las corrientes ideológicas de la Revolución Francesa.A partir de la invasión de nuestros pueblos, el sistema capitalista, además de aprovechas la explotación de fuerzas productivas laborales, en un primer momento del indígena y en un segundo momento de los negros, también expolió nuestros bienes, destruyendo la tierra con monocultivos, tales como: la caña, el tabaco, el añil y otros productos. Explotó además los recursos naturales, Minerales, materia prima, transportándolos a España, Inglaterra, etc. (plata, oro, etc.).Con estas acciones (que forman parte de las venas abiertas de América Latina), los Epulones, que estigmatizan a las grandes mayorías, a los lázaros de este mundo, se fue generando y acumulando la dependencia económica, surgiendo así una nueva forma de dominación: la deuda externa, una nueva cruz a cargar per cápita cuando los beneficiados fueron y siguen siendo los gobernantes y oligarcas de turno y no las grandes mayorías.La independencia política de los pueblos no constituyó un proceso de liberación total. Por el contrario, el cambio fue de modalidad colonialista al neocolonialismo. Los recién fundados estados, débiles y en busca de relaciones comerciales que le permitieran subsistir, se avocan a las potencias progresistas como lo eran: Inglaterra y Estados Unidos; siendo este último que con la promulgación de la doctrina Monroe, pone límite a los intereses ingleses en la región y su influencia se hace insoportable, ante la complicidad de las familias pudientes y que sustentan el poder, divididas en pequeños países y con mezquinas intenciones, sin sopesar en los intereses de las grandes mayorías.Dentro de todo este contexto, se vislumbra luego la lucha entre los partidos conservadores y liberales, así como se dan las primeras insurrecciones de obreros y campesinos, hastiados de soportar el yugo del terrateniente. Es precisamente aquí donde la oligarquía se asegura el poder por medio del ejército, para “mantener el orden” y reprimir a las grandes mayorías empobrecidas, que sonaban con mejores condiciones de vida, inspirados en la ideología marxista, por medio de la fundación de partidos comunistas.De esta forma da inicio la lucha ideológica por medio de las armas, triunfando en 1979 el Frente Sandinista para la Liberación Nacional (FSLN), en Nicaragua. Por este motivo, Estados Unidos, ante el temor del efecto dominó, redobla la ayuda a los ejércitos Guatemalteco, Salvadoreño y Hondureño, los cuales dentro de sus políticas de lucha anti sub-versiva o anticomunista, masacran a pueblos enteros, gestándose el tiempo más oscuro en materia de derechos humanos. Aún bajo todas estas injusticias contra el pueblo, van surgiendo hombres y mujeres que inspirados por el evangelio, se comprometen hasta tal punto de ofrendar su vidas para lograr la liberación de las clases oprimidas.Los acuerdos de paz, debemos mencionar quiérase o no, son geopolíticamente el resultado del cambio que se experimentó a nivel mundial debido a la caída del bloque soviético. El traspaso de un mundo bipolar a un “nuevo orden político” y económico unipolar.En Nicaragua, El Salvador y Guatemala, los Acuerdos de Paz, en teoría fueron muy esperanzadores; sin embargo, observando detenidamente sus resultados reales, éstos contrastan mucho con los objetivos estipulados en sus páginas.Podemos decir que en este período de transición, la brecha entre ricos y pobres sigue alarmante. Verdaderamente seguimos crucificados a la miseria y explotación. El sistema neoliberal con su globalización, ha empeorado la deuda externa y está destruyendo la micro y pequeña empresa, favoreciendo a las transnacionales, tanto en la venta de sus productos que ingresan, aranceles bajísimos, así cono la instalación de éstas en nuestros países, donde se explota la mano de obra, convirtiéndose en fábricas que vomitan pobreza. El tema de la condonación de la deuda externa, no se toca a profundidad y continúa siendo para los países centroamericanos una carga muy pesada por llevar.Nuestros países actualmente se ven obligados a entrar en un nuevo orden mundial, por medio de los tratados de libre comercio, formando bloques económicos que les permitan subsistir en un mundo globalizados. En realidad, estos tratados de libre comercio y políticas monetarias, han sido el producto de exclusivas deliberaciones de los gabinetes económicos con sectores poderosos de capital y de negociaciones secretas de las cuales ni siquiera s han dado a conocer sus términos generales.Por otra parte, hay que señalar la crisis de inseguridad que existe en nuestros países, convirtiéndose en preocupaciones primordiales de la sociedad en general, ya que el fenómeno de la violencia y la delincuencia común se han agudizado por distintas causas: Las condiciones de pobreza, la falta de empleo, las secuelas de la guerra, la existencia de la red de narcotraficantes, la marginación, etc.

St Stanislaus' 40 Hours

Renewing who we are as God's people always allows us to walk with each other in different stages, places and events of our lives. To accompany our confreres is a great pleasure. To see how they minister and live out their vocation is a blessing. To be invited and welcomed into their midst is awesome.

Last week we took part of Saint Stanislaus' 40 hours celebration. It had been at least ten years since I took a part of this faith filled celebration. I was there for their Lenten parish talks and now once again had this opportunity. This parish in Brooklyn has had some changes, but the spirit continues. What a beautiful space to go to worship and share in. Thanks Fr Marek and all of the community. Peace be with you all!