SOLT MISSI N. m a g a z i n e s u m m e r

Transcription

1 SOLT MISSI N m a g a z i n e s u m m e r

2 A Message from the General Priest Servant Dear Friends of the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity, One of the great promises that Jesus gave to his apostles was that those who leave their life behind to follow Him would gain much more in return, not only in the next life but already here in this life, in terms of brothers and sisters, homes, etc. As a member of a religious community made up of priests, sisters, brothers and laity, one definitely experiences the acute growth of brothers and sisters that Jesus speaks of! In early May, I was privileged enough to attend the SOLT Asia Pacific Regional Assembly and ordinations in the Philippines. The visit was, once again, a great reminder of the wonderful gift that my brothers and sisters are in the community and what tremendous people they are. I can t share a story of each of the members of the SOLT family, but I would like to briefly tell you a little bit about a few of them. The newly ordained, Deacon James Castillo, is among the many Filipinos who are wonderfully talented in music. However, Deacon Jim takes things to another level by composing his own music. It isn t often that one attends an ordination where the communion song and the musical setting for the Responsorial Psalm are written and composed by one of the ordinandee! I was awestruck at the beauty of the composition. Every vocation is a gift, but to see such talent being put at the service of God and the Church is truly a beautiful sight to behold! Anchalee is a 19 year old young lady from Thailand who is aspiring to become a SOLT sister and has just entered the next phase of her formation program which takes place in the Philippines. Our community is blessed with a number of exceptional Thai sisters, but at this moment, they all reside outside of the Philippines. As a result, Anchalee is beginning her experience not only far away from home, but also without being able to communicate verbally with any of the sisters there. While I am sure she will pick up the local language quickly enough, I was amazed at her remarkable faith, courage and determination in pursuing her discernment of a calling to religious life in SOLT in the face of significant challenges. Fr. Simon Paglau is an intelligent, sophisticated priest from near Mount Hagan in Papua New Guinea, whom I had the privilege of meeting for the first time. Fr. Simon went through seminary and formation in the Philippines and has

3 now been serving in Ghana, Africa for the past two years. His sincerity and zeal for the people he serves is immediately apparent from conversing with him. I was truly struck at his incredible journey that took him from Papua New Guinea to the Philippines to Ghana! Finally, Fr. Pedro Balde (from the Philippines), Fr. Sam Medley (from Minnesota) and Fr. Zachary of the Mother of God Shallow (from Michigan) are three priests who have been assigned to work in formation at the major seminary level in the Asia Pacific Region. Fr. Pedro, Fr. Sam and Fr. Zachary of the Mother of God are being brought together as a team from missions and ministries that they loved in Macau, China; Hythe, England; and, Corpus Christi, Texas respectively. Their missionary spirit and enthusiasm is quite contagious and should be an invaluable component of the gifts they have to offer those in formation. I was extremely edified at their promptness and willingness to accept such a drastic shift in assignment and location in order to share their significant gifts with those in formation. What better way to help form priests to be missionaries then by priests who are living as missionaries even while in formation! I certainly don t pretend that any of our SOLT family members are perfect or without limitations and weaknesses. However, as I travel around to our various missions and have the privilege to get to know our members better, I cannot help but be grateful to God for calling me to be a small part of a community that possesses members with such diversity, zeal and love for the Church, Our Blessed Mother, and the Most Holy Trinity. Indeed, the Lord Jesus has blessed us with an abundance of brothers and sisters from all around the world! Sincerely in Christ, Fr. Peter Marsalek, SOLT General Priest Servant fr. peter marsalek, solt originally from burlington, canada, was elected during the july 2013 chapter in corpus christi, tx. on the cover fr. sam medley, solt with john and mary sena, a solt family of corpus christi, texas. Summer 2014 SOLT Mission Magazine 1

4 serving the people Philippines of the It was on February 3, 1975 when the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity (SOLT) started to plant the seeds of vocation and mission in the Philippines. Through the help of the first SOLT missionaries, the people of the Philippines began to grow as a Catholic community and develop their faith in God. These missionaries served the people in Ecclesial Family Teams of priests, sisters and laity, helping those in deepest apostolic need. In nearly 40 years, the Philippine Missions have grown in discipleship, living in the graced friendships given to us to strengthen the mission God has given us in this place. The sisters of the Society of Our Lady have been given an apostolate to spread the gospel of God to the people. As a part of their spiritual development both personally and in communal life, the sisters in postulancy formation assist in parish work of 2 SOLT Mission Magazine Summer 2014

5 catechesis, religious organization formation, home visitation, and other activities that strengthen their vocation and future ministry. The sisters in the novitiate (novices) are also engaged in their apostolic year in pastoral ministry and presently assist with the feeding program and healing Mass. While still in formation, they develop the gift of sharing their talents bestowed upon them. In their on-going formation, the professed sisters engage in different missions entrusted to them. Some sisters go to school for further study and the fruits of their labors help to cultivate the ministries that have already been developed. Also, these sisters are able to create new apostolates for the community. Little by little, the sisters are accomplishing the teachings of Jesus to feed the hungry, visit the sick and in prison, the poor and homeless and teach the unlearned. It is beautiful to experience and share the mission of Jesus. This is our labor, to continue the mission He started. There are sisters who give catechesis and teach in seminary and school, while others are appointed in pastoral works. Other sisters are assigned to religious life formation and other apostolates that help the community sustain their day-to-day needs, such as sewing, making hosts for Mass and giving retreats and recollections. We continue to strive to do the mission God has entrusted to the Society of Our Lady so that more people may be brought into the union of the Trinity. The Vocations Team in the Philippines are enthusiastic to be fishers of men. It is beautiful to experience and share the mission of Jesus. This is our labor, to continue the mission He started. Sr. Mary Teresa of divine mercy boaloy joined solt in since 2006 when she made her first profession, she has served in holy family parish in putiao and as the postulant formator in the philippines. she made her final profession in 2012 and is expected to complete her bachelor s degree in psychology later this year. Summer 2014 SOLT Mission Magazine 3

6 understanding formation the experience The novices follow Jesus, the poor, chaste and obedient one, as closely as possible. Only by living deeply the Resurrected Life of Christ that began in Baptism can they follow Christ Crucified. The three promises, chastity, poverty and obedience, are the nails by which they are crucified with Christ. They strive to live a life of detached simplicity, loving God with their entire being and all others for God s sake. They must be ready to mission wherever they are sent and do what their servant leaders ask of them. At the time of their first promises, they receive a gray habit and a crucifix 4 SOLT Mission Magazine Summer 2014

7 as distinctive signs of their consecration, of the fact that they are one with Jesus Christ and belong to God. In the Society of Our Lady, some men are called by Jesus to live as permanent brothers. Those who become priests still remain brothers. The priest and permanent brother candidates share a common novitiate to foster a greater spirit of fraternity. Later the brothers and priests will witness Jesus in their own distinctive ways on SOLT Ecclesial Family Teams and to all they serve. This year there are two novices for the Society of Our Lady in the American Region. David Brokke (27) is from Baltimore Maryland originally. He heard of the Society of Our Lady while attending Franciscan University of Steubenville and spent three years at the SOLT Mission in Belize teaching religion at Mt. Only by living deeply the Resurrected Life of Christ that began in Baptism can they follow Christ Crucified. Summer 2014 SOLT Mission Magazine 5

8 They strive to live a life of detached simplicity, loving God with their entire being and all others for God s sake. Carmel High School. Jacob Wisenbaker (21) is from Louisiana. He came to SOLT through a Disciples of Jesus and Mary (DJM) connection. He and his family knew Father Santan Pinto for a long time. Before coming to the novitiate, he did one year of Aspirancy at the SOLT mission at the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation in North Dakota. God willing, they will become brothers in July. Both hope to be good holy priests one day. Please keep them and all of the Society of Our Lady in your prayers. You are in our prayers too! Fr. John Patterson, Solt from lebanon, ohio, was ordained a priest for solt in he has served in belcourt, north dakota and has been serving the novitiate for the past two years. he is the brother of sr. mary mediatrix of all grace, solt. 6 SOLT Mission Magazine Summer 2014

9 the eucharist is my life The Lord commanded and the heavens were made. I believe that He can make me His eucharist. Yet it is a great misery that I have Him present and I am concerned with anything else in the whole world. I profess publicly that among you stands one whom I do not know. From the beginning of awareness of the direction that the Holy Spirit was leading me (1961) in my Postulancy with the Society of Our Lady, my urge was just simply to be. My love for the Holy Eucharist, the source and summit of life, kept grow- My love for the Holy Eucharist, the source and summit of life, kept growing to the point that I was beside myself to know how to make a return. Summer 2014 SOLT Mission Magazine 7

10 ing to the point that I was beside myself to know how to make a return. At my First Profession of vows the Holy Spirit gave me the name of Mary of the Holy Eucharist. We know that in the name given lies the vocation of one s life. For me then it was to be Eucharist. What this life is I barely scratch the surface to speak of it. Great saints have tried beautifully. The Eucharist is our sanctification: I must be holy. He is alone, silent, and hidden. I must be alone, silent, and hidden. He is broken, given, and eaten. He is non-violent. One drop of his blood is enough to save the whole world. He is Peace-Maker. He is Unity, Love, and Communion. The Eucharist makes the Church. Our Lord is Virtue and Sacrifice. He is Priest, Prophet, and King, the Eternal Son of the Father. He is Healing. Jesus is Thanksgiving and Blessing. He brings Christmas and Easter together, actualizing the birth and death of Christ. At every Mass Jesus is at once Victim and Priest rendering present His death and resurrection. He is the pledge of future glory; something given in anticipation in the signs of the bread and wine. The bread stands for us His Body. The wine stands for poetry and color dancing in comparison to walking, playing as to working. It represents what is delightful. I am Mary also. Remembering and invoking Mary our Mother means preparing to receive Jesus in Her Company and share above all her love for Christ and the Eucharist. The bread stands for us His Body. The wine stands for poetry and color dancing in comparison to walking. Sr. Mary of the Holy Eucharist Romero, Solt celebrates her fiftieth anniversary of consecrated life this year. 8 SOLT Mission Magazine Summer 2014

11 ExPRESS your AFFECTION, CONCERN and FRIENDSHIP with the SOCIETY of our LADY of the most holy trinity s Mass Association Cards Perpetual and One Year Enrollment Cards perfect for Weddings ~ ANNIVERSARIES ~ BIRTHDAYS ~ GET well ~ SYMPATHY Perpetual Deceased Perpetual Living Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity One Year Living One Year Deceased Spiritual BENEFITS for MEMBERS Every week, the living and deceased members of the SOLT Mass Association receive the benefit of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass offered at the Perpetual Adoration Chapel of Our Lady of Corpus Christi Every family or individual enrolled enjoys a share in the daily recitation of the Divine Office and the recitations of the Holy Rosary offered by members of SOLT Each year, on the Solemnity of the Holy Trinity, a special Mass is offered for living and deceased members of the SOLT Mass Association Living and deceased members share in all good works performed by members of SOLT Yes! I would Like to help SOLT Serve HuMAnity by enrolling my Dear ones. To enroll or to request cards, please visit us online at or call (361) ext God bless you!

12 Celebrating more than fifty years as a Catholic missionary community, the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity (SOLT) serves in family teams of priests, sisters, brothers, lay members, volunteers, and benefactors. The fruitfulness of SOLT grows from the prayers, sacrifices and financial support of people like you. Living a joyful life, SOLT serves the deepest needs of God s people. Following the Gospel mandate to go and make disciples of all nations, SOLT serves people of all walks of life. Thanks to the many blessings of the Lord, membership of SOLT has tripled in the last ten years to serve the growing needs. SOLT needs your help to continue its growth in service to others. Your prayers, financial support and work as a volunteer allow more people to receive the gift of God s love and help. Please prayerfully consider making a gift today to support the fruitfulness of this work. Checks may be made payable to SOLT or donate online at www. societyofourlady.net. SOLT PO Box 4116 Corpus Christi, TX soltdevelopment@gmail.com Thank you. May God bless you. Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity PO Box 4116 Corpus Christi, TX Non-Profit U.S. Postage PAID Robstown, TX Permit No. 774