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THE XAVERIAN MISSIONARIES

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Preparing for our Provincial Assembly

B I RT H DA YS & A N N I V E RS A RI E S 2 0 13 APRIL 56th Death Anniversary of Fr. Ivaldo Casula 7 Birthday of St. Francis Xavier 11 Birthday of Fr. Pascal Kasanziki 2456th Birthday of Fr. Carl Chudy MAY

pril 29th till May 3 we will gather in our 2013 Provincial Assembly in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. The theme of our assembly is a deepening of both the restructuring in the last term and the last Provincial Chapter: Encouraging the Missio Ad Gentes, Ad Extra of the USA Church. In light of the last XV General Chapter we know this: ...our missionary Institute examined its way of being missionary ad gentes and felt the need to inject new energy, discover new modalities for our way of being missionaries and to re-launch with a new creativity and spiritual drive the missionary impulse which is the heart of our Founders audacious project. This renewal is even more necessary today since the mission ad gentes is in danger of being indistinguishable from the

overall mission of the entire people of God, thereby losing its prophetic power. (36) The last sentence quotes Redemptoris Missio and John Paul IIs concern about the problems with mission ad gentes is already a reality. It is already indistinguishable in some respects from the overall mission of the Church. This is not only true in the large, broad strokes of the Church, particularly in dioceses, but perhaps even in our activities that we spend much energy with, such as our sacramental assistance to local parishes. How do we distinguish this mission which is at the core of our charism and call? Whats our understanding of this mission and the message we

6 Fr. Camillo Olivani 10th Death Anniversary 15Joe Matteucig 55th Birthday 18 Fr. Peter Calza 9th Death Anniversary 19Gerard Furlan 82nd Birthday 25 Fr. Vasco Milani 2nd Death Anniversary 31Larry Crosara 80th Birthday

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deliver to the local dioceses we serve? Our Provincial Assembly this year is designed to look at some important aspects of this overall question the whole congregation is looking at. The first day and half will be a time to examine interreligious dialogue in the church and how we connect our ourselves and the province to this important commitment of the Church. Fr Tom Ryan, Paulist Father and national director of their Ecumenical and Interfaith Office will be with us to lead this. It should be very

called to. The work of the GYM and how we can all help will be a big part of our discussions and prayer. We will also look further at the upcoming General Chapter and encourage us all to continue to think, pray and contribute to the thinking that will be shaping the Chapter. Finally, we will close the assembly with a workshop concerning our ongoing commitment to protect young people and hold the highest standards in abuse prevention. A formal invitation to the assembly will be out soon, along with some material to read as a preparation before we arrive.

interesting because as a province we never yet focused our attention on this area. In light of this, Frs. Puopolo and Menendez will help us look at the contemporary issues of encouraging vocations to this audacious project we are all

The Council appointed Frs. Salicone, Lalli, Pupolo, Chudy, and our Communications Director, Mary Aktay (convener of the board) to form the new Communications Board of the region. It replaces the older Editorial Board of the provincial newsletter in light of the fact that media has gone well beyond the borders of our printed newsletter. This board will oversee our use of media and find ways to reach out to a new and young audience especially through the internet and social media. We will also look to improving our print projects as well. The first meeting took place on April 2 at our Provincial House was an opportunity to look over the COMMUNICATIONS PLAN of the Province approved in a previous council meeting as we set up the new Mission Media Office. The purpose of the board was formulated as such: The Goal of the Communications Board is to monitor, review and insure the implementation of the Communication Action Plan for the United States Province of the Xaverian Missionaries. We looked at our provincial newsletter and

MISSION AND OUR USE OF MEDIA

the distribution of it on the internet as well as through the mail to our friends and benefactors. Our use of social media in such things as Facebook, Twitter and You Tube were reviewed, as well as advertising we do which is exclusively on the internet today. After many delays we hope to have our new main website up and running with the possibility of getting feedback from us and others to improve it even more. Suggestions to Mary Aktay are welcome from all confreres and friends.

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Provincial Council Concerns

In the last Provincial Council meeting of April 3-4 at the Provincial House: the following was discussed: The Council discussed final details regarding the upcoming provincial assembly. The details of each day will be finally organized by the facilitators of each day. The outing will be at the Fireside Theater for a special lunch and show. Fr. Chudy reported on the final decision of the Arbitrator regarding our case with the first contractor of our building project in Holliston. For any confrere who would like to know more please contact the Provincial. The Council looked over a rough draft of the regional report to the General Chapter, based in part on conversations in the communities. The revised report will be sent out to all of the confreres for a final edit and then sent to Rome by April 15. With the visits of Frs. Welsh and Convery from our region in the United Kingdom, the Council reviewed the progression in the organization of our interprovincial conference project. Fr. Chudy offered the idea of having a joint provincial retreat in 2014 with the Divine Word Missionaries community in Bordentown, NJ, after his conversation with the local superior there. The Council encouraged following this up. The Council talked over changes with Student Fund that is based in Franklin.

Fr. Carl Chudy, SX Office of the Provincial 12 Helene Court Wayne, New Jersey 08046 973-942-2975 CP 862-264-7000 provincial@xaviermissionaries.org xaviermissionaries.org. global-catholic.org

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Bishop Biguzzi will be with us in the USA Region from June 11 until August, 19, residing at the Provincial House. He will be assisting us with some mission appeals and perhaps visiting the the houses. Welcome Bishop!