Via Latina 22 PROFESSIONS OF VOWS IN THE SOCIETY. News From the General Administration - Society of Mary

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1 Via Latina 22 News From the General Administration - Society of Mary PROFESSIONS OF VOWS IN THE SOCIETY # Jan Bro. Felipe Melcher and new professed, Bro. José Martín. ast December 13, Bro. José L Martín Medina Bazalar made his first vows in the Society of Mary s Region of Peru. The beautiful ceremony took place in the parish church of María Madre del Redentor in Callao. Bro. José Martín had spent a year and ten months in the Novitiate of Clamar, Chile, after an initial period of postulancy in Peru. All the Marianists of the Peruvian Region were present at the ceremony, as well as family members and friends of Bro. José Martín and several members of the MLC and the recently professed members of the Alliance Mariale. Fr. Eduardo Rodríguez presided over the Mass, with concelebrants Frs. Jorge Roos, Rafael Luyo, Javier Nugent, Ralph Doorack and Victor Muller. The liturgy was prepared by Bro. José Martín himself. Bro. Felipe Melcher, Regional Superior of Peru, welcomed the congregation on behalf of the Marianist religious. At the end of the ceremony, the newly professed put himself into Mary s hands so that her motherly love might form him into the image of her Son. n December 12, 2015, Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of Latin America, Bro. Mauricio Alberto Salinas Bautista O made his first profession in the Society of Mary in the parish church of Our Lady of Charity, in Bogotá, Colombia, which the Marianists have staffed for almost forty years. The brothers, the sisters, the lay parishioners, Mauricio s family and many friends gathered for the joyful celebration of this first profession. The Mass was sung by the Chaminade Choir of Bogotá. Mauricio, quite happy about his profession, declared himself at the disposition of the Region of Colombia/ Ecuador for whatever mission will be assigned to him. Let us thank God for this vocation and ask the Blessed Virgin Mary to strengthen our Region and to raise up many more vocations for the Society of Mary in all parts of the world. Fr. Rodrigo Betancur, Superior Regional of Colombia-Ecuador, and new professed, Bro. Mauricio Alberto Salinas Bautista.

2 # Jan Page 2 TEN PERPETUAL PROFESSIONS IN AFRICA he high point of the T Charism V session (see the article in this issue of VL22) was the celebration of the perpetual vows of ten brothers at the Marian Shrine of Abidjan, Ivory Coast. They came from the four African Units: Eastern Africa (Bros. Julius Maingi, Denis Litiolo and Given Mukanshi), France-Congo (Bros. Denis K. Masida, Anaclet M. Pengele and Kevin N. Longui), Togo (Bros. Anselme Agbessi and Matthieu Hilim-Peleke), and Ivory Coast (Bros. Claude Bla and Elie O. Kouakou). The organizers wanted to express the communion existing between the different Units of the African Zone. They also experienced communion with the entire Church though the presence of Archbishop Joseph Spiteri, the Apostolic Nuncio to the Ivory Coast, who presided over the celebration. Congratulations to all these brothers! NEW REGIONAL SUPERIOR OF CHILE he Superior General, Fr. Manuel Cortés, with his Council, after consulting the Marianist religious in Chile, has named Bro. José Pascual Pérez T to be in charge of the Marianist Region of Chile. He began his term of four years on December 12, We are grateful to José for taking on this service; let us pray for him and promise him our generous collaboration. We also thank the precious service of Fr. José María Arnaiz, SM, for all these years in Chile. NEW REGIONAL SUPERIOR OF PERU he Superior General, Fr. Manuel Cortés, with his Council, after consultation with the Marianist religious of the Region of Peru, appointed its new T Regional Superior, Bro. Douglas Roper, SM, for a first term of four years, began January 1, We offer him our prayers and support as he takes up the service of leadership, both with members of the Region, as well as its works. Thanks to Bro. Felipe Melcher and his precious service during these last years.

3 # Jan Page 3 MESSAGE FROM THE OFFICE OF TEMPORALITIES hroughout this past year, in special ways, we have T been reminded of our call to live in fraternal solidarity and evangelical charity, and to work as witness of these attitudes in our mission. Pope Francis encyclical, Laudato Si, his call for assistance in addressing the urgent refugee crisis in Europe and other places around the world, and the recent document on the Identity and Mission of the Religious Brother in the Church, all find their starting point in the fact that, with God as our common father and Jesus our brother, we, the members of the human family, share a fraternity, by divine design, which needs to be tended, nourished and respected. As professed religious, we have a special mission to bear witness to this fraternity in our daily lives and work. With others, we must help assure that fraternal concern is extended with dignity throughout all of humanity. It is not a small task. That is why we all need to contribute. Yes, we are our brother s (and sister s) keeper! So, specifically, what can we do? That, I'm afraid, you will need to figure out for yourself! First, and foremost, it is a call for a deeply personal response. But, we all must do something! At this time, I would like to outline some new initiatives of the Office of Temporalities, which in addition to the continued administration of the Marianist Solidarity and Formation Funds (dependent in great part on the generosity of our Units throughout the SM), we will commence in this New Year It is the General Administration s way to respond, however limited, to this call for solidarity. In this space, during the months of January, April and October, we will offer a specific topic for reflection, discussions, and, as appropriate, response. A similar, direct communication will be sent to Unit assistants for Temporalities and Education, in the hope that it will be diffused to the communities and works throughout the Unit. In addition, a new portion of our website at has been created and will offer news and resources on an ongoing basis. Religious communities are urged to take advantage of these resources for reflection and discussion at a community meeting during the months following the introduction of each topic. The issues are large and we may feel too small to make a difference. Yet, there are things that everyone can do. During our practice of Lectio Divina at the GA community, when meditating and praying about the challenges contained in the Gospel, I like to consider the particular scriptural challenge with my head, my heart, and my hands. More specifically: What is the reality? How does it touch me? What is to be my response? I offer this as a way everyone can approach each of the topics presented in this current JPIC effort. First, know the problem (head). Come to a better understanding of the manifestations, causes and possible solutions of the great challenges in our world today. These are very complex, but we can't afford to let that intimidate us. Fruitful dialogue can only occur when there is understanding. Next, we can pray (heart)! I don't offer this as a simplistic or naïve solution, but rather as one convinced that God, who desires all reconciliation and healing, wants to intervene. We can all be witnesses of hope through prayer. We can, and should, commit these urgent challenges to our prayer, even if their tangible consequences are far from our own experience. We are able to draw "near" though evangelical compassion and prayer. Finally, we may try to find a way to work for change (hands). Perhaps this means beginning with our own attitudes and practices. Perhaps, there is some way we can directly help. Our understanding and prayer can help us discern what should be our human response. Lastly, I would like to make a special appeal to two important groups among us our older religious, and our students. For our older religious, who may be retired from active ministry, you can still have a profound effect on our mission through your prayer and witness. I invite you to enter enthusiastically into this effort. For our students, and they are many around the world, I invite them to embrace the needs of this world with a desire to understand, become engaged and work toward creating a future that is hopeful and dignified for all. There is no better time to start this than now.

4 # Jan Page 4 The Office of Temporalities is happy to dialogue with you and, especially, to receive feedback and additional resources from you. Please see the website for details on how to do this. We thank you in advance for your contributions to this ongoing dialog. What you do for the least of my brothers and sisters, you do also for me. Migrants and Refugees Challenge Us In this Jubilee Year of Mercy, Pope Francis has issued a message for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees (January 17, 2016). This document, along with other resources available on our website, will be the subject offered as background for study, reflection, discussion and action regarding this issue, over the next three months. We invite your feedback and suggestions as well. Michael J. McAward, SM Assistant General for Temporalities New Interactive Map of JPIC Works throughout the Marianist Family A new interactive map indicating Marianist Family works of justice and peace throughout the world is now available at the website A project of the World Council of the Marianist Family, this map endeavors to introduce visit works with the poor and needy. When available, the map provides links for further information each of these works.

5 # Jan Page 5 IVORY COAST - 5 TH MEETING OF THE CHARISM he Marianist African Zone, in col- T laboration with the Asian Zone, organizes every three years, on average, a meeting of the young religious of their Units in view of helping them to deepen themselves in the Marianist charism. Whence the name Charism given to this meeting. The fifth such meeting took place from December 13 to December 30, 2015, at the Marianist Formation Center in the Chaminade Village in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. In all, some thirty participants took part in that meeting. Among them, for the first time, were also brothers from the United States. Besides the nine speakers, the brothers of the District of Ivory Coast provided valuable assistance for the organization and functioning of the international meeting. Everything took place in a good atmosphere of prayer and community life, where each Unit was able to demonstrate its own way of living the Marianist life. In doing so, we had the opportunity to discover and appreciate the richness of the inculturation of Marianist life in other Units. The recreational evenings also gave us the chance to show the cultural evolution of our respective peoples from traditional ways of life into modernity. Father Thomson, in his first trip to Africa, used Amen! as a slogan in his homilies and conferences for us, awakening us and inviting us to wake up the world. The conferences were very instructive. The sharing of personal experiences by the speakers was an encouragement for all the participants, showing thus how the Marianist charism is still current and very much worth living. We also discovered that the study of the Marianist charism is not a sacrifice asked of us, but rather a passion and a joy to be developed. Fr. David Fleming during the Eucharist. In comparing this fifth Charism session with those that preceded it, we noticed that the language barrier was falling little by little; the brothers could speak at least French or English. At the foot of the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Shrine we took leave of one another. That was a very moving moment. We all hope to see each other again sometime in the future. We wish to take this occasion to say Thank you to the organizers and to the benefactors who supported us spiritually, morally and financially so that the meeting might be a success. It showed once more the importance which these sessions have for the formation of young religious. (From Bros. Ignace Gueba, SM, and Jacob Palou, SM, Togo)

6 # Jan Page 6 NEW BOOKS BY MARIANISTS Fr. Eugène Adingra (Ivory Coast) has just published an 87-page booklet on La vie de foi de Marie selon les Évangiles [Mary s Life of Faith According to the Gospels]. The fruit of his doctoral studies at the International Marian Research Institute at the University of Dayton, this booklet offers a systematic and inspirational reflection on Mary s faith and its development, seen through the perspectives of the four evangelists. The booklet ends with questions to help personal or group reflection. It is a short but solid book that makes a rich and fully Marianist spirituality accessible to its readers. Fr. Luis Casalá (Argentina) has just published, through the Editorial Claretiana in Buenos Aires, on the Collection Consecrated Life, a series of six short books (each about 100 pages) to mark the Year of the Consecrated Life. The series is a reading at once profound, inspirational and realistic of the consecrated life in the world today. Fr. Luis has based it on his work over the years as formator, superior, retreat preacher, spiritual director for many religious, both male and female, of many congregations. The topics include consecration and the vows, the transformation of the Consecrated Life in our times, celibacy and living with sexuality, spiritual accompaniment and discernment, community life coming out of a creative fidelity, perseverance, and formation. It is a very rich series for reading by individuals and by entire communities. Fr. Luis has also published a book on pastoral conversion in the Church: Tendremos la audacia? (Buenos Aires: Sendero Ediciones, 2015). Beginning with an analysis of the situation in which we are living our faith today, he proceeds to a diagnostic of our ecclesiastical situation in light of the Church s guidelines and stresses the need for conversion in order to return to Jesus, to return to the gospel. He offers guidelines and criteria that can help us to face the challenge of a pastoral conversion. And finally, he lays out the mysticism and/or spirituality of pastoral conversion. The book, which contains many helps for small group dialogues, is aimed at priests and religious, and also at every Christian man and woman who feels called to rebuild the Church. The book also includes several declarations and guidelines of the Argentine hierarchy according to the spirit of Pope Francis. ( From Fr. David Fleming, Coordinator of the European Center of the Marianist Formation) Death Notices: # G.A. COMMUNICATIONSC RECENTLY SENT December 9, 2015: VocSM#13 in all 3 languages, sent to all Superiors of Units, by the Assistant General for Religious Life, Fr. André Fétis, SM. December 10, 2015: Request of Annual Statistics 2015 in all 3 languages, sent to all Superiors of Units and respective Secretariats, by the General Secretariat of Rome. December 10, 2015: Request of Information to the issue 2016 of the Directory of Education in all 3 languages, sent to all the Assistants for Education, except for those of South America, by the Assistant General for Education, Bro. Maximin Magnan, SM. CINECITTA EVENTS

7 # Jan Page 7 NECROLOGY # Name Date Place Age Prof. Unit 1 Rafael Robredo Sáinz Jan. 12 San Sebastián ES 2 Howard Robert Lohrey Jan. 24 Dayton US 3 Isidoro Armentia Ramírez Jan. 24 Vitoria ES 4 *Adalbert Muller Feb. 2 Vandoeuvre-lès- Nancy FR 5 Ugo Titta Feb. 5 Rome IT 6 Michael John Cochran Feb. 7 Nairobi EA 7 Félix Foucher Feb. 19 Marignane FR 8 James McCaffrey Mar. 4 San Antonio US 9 Martin Issenlor Mar. 10 Sélestat FR 10 Joseph Andrew Grieshaber Mar. 24 San Antonio US 11 *George John Abmayr Mar. 31 Dayton US 12 Kenneth Cletus Jung Apr. 14 San Antonio US 13 *Raymond Roussin Apr. 24 Winnipeg CA 14 *Clément Ott Jun. 15 Créteil FR 15 Giuseppe Ginevri Jul. 28 Rome IT 16 *Urs Erwin Schenker Aug. 1 Sion SU 17 Richard Delaney Middleton Aug. 18 San Antonio US 18 Lorenzo Carrara Sep. 1 Pallanza IT 19 Charles Cummiskey Sep. 9 San Antonio US 20 *Bernard Truffer Sep. 22 Sion SU 21 Charles Lohrenz Sep. 28 San Antonio US 22 *Joseph Hilgers Oct. 1 La Hulpe (Belgique) FR 23 *James McKay Oct. 15 Dayton US 24 James Frederick Wisecaver Oct. 17 San Antonio US 25 *Alois Leitner Oct. 19 Freistadt OE 26 *José Luis Otaño Echániz Oct. 19 Vitoria ES 27 Otilio Ortega Arnaiz Nov. 12 Buenos Aires AR 28 Leo Delbert Willett Nov. 14 San Antonio US 29 Robert Joseph Johns Dec. 2 Dayton US 30 William Daniel O'Leary Dec. 12 San Antonio US 31 Leonard Rudy Dec. 13 San Antonio US 32 Irénée Breton Dec. 13 Lévis CA 33 *Antonio Soldà Dec. 18 Rome IT 34 Venancio Aizpuru Ortiz de Zárate Dec. 22 Madrid ES 35 *John McGrath Dec. 26 Dayton US 36 *Joseph Marshall Dec. 28 San Antonio US

8 # Jan Page 8 JUBILARIANS 2016 January 22 *Lee, Bernard (US) (25 ordination) *Goossens, Francis (FR) February 11 Suárez, Manuel (ES) Suárez, Guillermo (ES) (50 profession) Lahey, Robert Joseph (ME) March 17 (60 ordination) *Lambert, Paul (CA) (25 ordination) *Kaïmba, Roger (FR) March 18 (60 ordination) *Jossen, Otto (SU) March 26 Hatabara, Kazuyoshi Antoine (JA) Nakashima, S. Paul (JA) (50 ordination) *Baffrey, Albert (FR) *Barbudo, Enrique (AR) *Bielza, Juan (ES) *Conlon, Christopher (US) *Cruz, Manuel (ES) *Eichner, Philip Karl (ME) *Lora, Francisco de (ES) *Schwager, Hugo (SU) *Tarrillion, Joseph Anthony (US) *Zubía, Antonio María (ES) May 1 Lakra, Anuranjan (IN) June 9 (25 ordination) *Hue, Philippe (FR) June 15 Rufo, Nicholas Joseph (US) June 29 (25 ordination) *Rossier, François (SU) July 22 (60 ordination) *Arsenault, Gabriel (CA) *Backherms, Robert (US) *Leies, John Alex (US) *Pedrosa, Agustín (ES) August 15 (70 profession) *Breton, Jacques (CA) Meyerpeter, Eugene (US) Marin, Luciano (IT) Pugliesi, Santino (IT) *Santacroce, Salvatore (IT) (50 profession) *Casella, Pierangelo (IT) Kiama, Peter (US) *Mwaura, Kahiro J. (EA) August 17 *Weik, Terence P. (US) August 18 (70 profession) *Backherms, Robert (US) *Kuhn, Richard V. (US) *Reich, Paul Ambrose (US) August 22 (50 profession) Halloway, William G. (US) Kamis, Joseph Henry (US) Marcinowski, Gary M. (US) Oldenski, Thomas E. (US) Stratman, Bernard (US) Suda, Thomas (US) Sullivan, Jeffrey Paul (US) *Triulzi, Daniel (US) September 2 Peyr, Gottfried (OE) September 8 Cada, Lawrence John (US) Damm, Frank Louis (US) Fitzgibbons, James P. (US) *Fleming, David A. (US) Jablinski, Adolph Paul (US) *Lorfanfant, Ernest P. (ME) *Ramirez, José (US) Schaaf, Donald C. (US) Thompson, Kenneth H. (US) Wayer, Vincent A. (US) September 12 (75 profession) Aguiriano, Andrés (ES) Hidalgo, Evelio (ES) Lecue, Juan (ES) Ortega, David (ES) Álvarez, Manuel (ES) Gutiérrez, Lauro (ES) Lejarza, Teófilo (ES) Martínez, Francisco (ES) Pascual, José (CH) Pujana, Agustín (ES) Reynès, Claude (FR) Rojo, Amador (CH) *Subero, Francisco J. (ES) (50 profession) *Aguilera, Enrique (ES) Eguíluz, Rafael (ES) *Erdocia, Félix (ES) Gil, Julio (ES) *Vicente, Antonio de (ES) September 14 Berríos, Reinaldo (US) September 18 (70 profession) González, Eliseo (AR) Ibabe, Segundo (ES) *Lora, Cecilio de (CE) Pedrosa, Máximo (ES) September 22 Limdeyou, S. Stanislas (TO) *Pagnan, P. Ignace (TO) Péléi, Kéguè Alexis (TO) October 12 Rey, Sabas (CH) November 21 (75 profession) *Vial, Bernard (FR)