LIVING GOD'S DREAMS IN A NEW YEAR |
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 On You Tube there is a video of a young man on Korea' s Got Talent, Sung-bong Choi, who wowed the judges. He grew up homeless on the streets and comes to the talent show with a voice that sounds like an angel's. All of the judges and the audience were so impressed by this young man. One of them said after the performance, "Despite his hard life, he passionately runs towards what he wants..."
Our hopes and dreams for the new year are really small echoes of God's dreams that reverberate within us. In this new year, let's "passionately run towards" making everywhere we are a sign of the hope of God where our own hopes and dreams find a home.
Fr. Carl Chudy sx Fr. John Convery sx
Xaverian Missionaries USA Xaverian Missionaries UK |
Papal Message for World Day of Peace 2012
 Pope Benedict XVI chose the theme "Educating Young People in Justice and Peace" for the celebration of the 45th World Day of Peace on January 1, 2012. The theme focuses on an urgent need in the world today: to listen to and enhance the important role of new generations in the realization of the common good, and in the affirmation of a just and peaceful social order where fundamental human rights can be fully expressed and realized. Read more... Download the USCCB resource booklet here.
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Woman For Our Day
 On Monday January 9th at Lyon, France on the 150th Anniversary of her death, a Colloquium took place under the Presidency of Cardinal Phillippe Barbrin of Lyons on the topic: "Pauline Jaricot, A Woman For Our Day." On this day in 1862 Pauline Jaricot died, destitute and abandoned by all after a life spent in the service of God, the Universal Mission of the Church and a forerunner of Social Catholicism in defence of the working poor, particular the young silk workers of her day.
She lived during the Terror period of the French Revolution marked by its excesses of atheistic anti-clericalism and rampant capitalism. At the age of 17 she dedicated her life to God by professing the vow of chastity and gathering around her a movement of young people to offer prayer and financial support to the world-wide mission thrust of the Church. Through her insights the Association of the Propagation of the Faith was begun in Lyon and was later raised to the stature of "Pontifical" and its headquarters moved to Rome in May 1922 when Pope Pius XI inaugurated the celebration of the World Day of Mission which is celebrated universally on the second last Sunday of October every year.
On 25 February 1963, Pope John XXIII, proclaimed Pauline "venerable." The gathering on January 9th recalled and celebrated the life of this extraordinary lay woman and re-committed efforts to intercede for her Canonisation. further reading
Tom Welsh sx, National Director Pontifical Mission Societies, Scotland |
Welcoming Christ in the Migrant
 National Migration Week will be observed in USA dioceses January 8-14. This year's theme is "Welcoming Christ in the Migrant." The artistic renderings depict the disciples welcoming a stranger on the road to Emmaus.
"Just as on the road to Emmaus, Christ's disciples met him in the guise of a stranger, this year's theme helps remind us that Christ makes himself present to each of us in the lonesome traveler, the newcomer, and the migrant," said Archbishop Jos� Gomez of Los Angeles, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' (USCCB) Committee on Migration. "We are called to open our hearts and provide hospitality to those in need, especially for migrants who find themselves far away from home and in vulnerable situations." Resources for immigration issues can be found here and look for CRS resources here. Pope Benedict's message for World Day of Migrants and Refugees can be found here. |
Citizens- Scotland: Unlocking the power of civil society
 Conforti Institute has been building its links with Citizens-UK over the past year as we investigate the most effective means of challenging the major social concerns in our country. Two members of staff will attend a 6-day training programme in Birmingham next month to help develop our capacity to support communities wishing to have a voice in decisions which affect them. This will be particularly important as we approach the elections for Scottish local councils in May.
Citizens UK has trained 1000s of leaders from all ages and backgrounds, including different faith traditions, from a variety of backgrounds who share an interest in strengthening civil society and working together for the common good.
Training involves learning new leadership techniques such as�
- How to connect faith and values to practical action.
- The role that power and self-interest play in holding a group together and making the world work.
- An introduction to a campaigning methodology that helps strengthen your organisation allowing you, your family, and your community to gain recognition and maintain dignity.
Previous attendees have been of various ages, from teenagers to pensioners. They include people from Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Jewish and Hindu congregations, and from local trade union branches, student groups, tenants' organisations, and community centres. The diversity of attendees makes the training even more valuable. |
A Report on the Size and Distribution of the World's Christian Population 
A comprehensive demographic study of more than 200 countries finds that there are 2.18 billion Christians of all ages around the world, representing nearly a third of the estimated 2010 global population of 6.9 billion.... Find out more. |
Saint Margaret of Scotland Youth Group
 "I have never had so much fun.
I have never felt so inspired.
I have never felt so useful and
I have never been so emotional."
So wrote Lauren, (18), after her first visit to Lourdes last year. Lauren is a member of The Saint Margaret of Scotland Youth Group. The Group of 70 young people, aged between 18 - 25, join up to support the Glasgow Archdiocesan pilgrimage. With the financial costs and the commitment to work in the hospital in Lourdes, the pilgrimage that these young people make from their homeland to Our Lady's Shrine can indeed be challenging. However, as Michael Canning, Project Consultant at The Conforti Institute, who also leads The Saint Margaret of Scotland Youth Group explains, it is the young people's spiritual and emotional journey which is truly illuminating.
"The shared experience of being in Lourdes allows us to feel that we are part of something infinitely bigger than ourselves. As we witness the vulnerability of our sick pilgrims and the compassion shown towards them we are enveloped with the feeling of being loved and most importantly, being allowed to show that love.
The pilgrimage proves to be life enhancing for all and, (as we can see from Lauren's own words) life changing for many."
To read more about "The Young Scots in Lourdes" visit The SMSYG website and FB page. |
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 Is more excercise on your list of New Year's resolutions? Follow Xaverian Missionary Fr. Miguel Taboada Tabuenca's lead and run marathons like he does in Brazil. And watch the video of his parish tour by a Spanish film crew on YouTube. |
Conforti Institute:
As a new year begins, The Conforti Institute has initiated the first of a series of continuing professional development courses for secondary (High School) teachers.
The inaugural course was entitled "An Introduction to Pastoral Care in the Catholic Secondary School." The course was written and presented by Project Consultant, Michael Canning, a former secondary Head Teacher. The course covers such issues such as, conflict transformation, pupil advocacy, bullying and working with parents.
Michael explains: "As a Head Teacher, I was very conscious of the lack of quality professional development for my staff. Working at Conforti affords us a wonderful opportunity to provide excellent courses in a superb conference facility and, most importantly, at a price that allows schools the opportunity to invest in their staff." This course will be the first in a portfolio of Professional Development activities for teachers that will be offered by the Institute in the coming months.
For more information on this initiative please feel free to contact Michael. |
globalFEST 
Every January brings the Association of Performing Arts Presenters conference to New York. The biggest world-music themed showcase is globalFEST, a three-stage, 12-act event held at the East Village venue Webster Hall. The globalFEST idea is to present a wide range of artists and styles from across the world, comprised mostly of up-and-coming and younger performers who are fairly new to the North American touring circuit. Each year brings new blood - no band or solo artist plays globalFEST twice. Listen here. |
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Feast of the Epiphany
Fr. Kenneth E. Lasch, a retired priest of the Diocese of Paterson NJ, shares his reflection on crossing borders and boundaries.
 Epiphany is about following the star that leads to places we've never been before. It is about breaking down barriers that separate warring nations and barricades that imprison people physically and emotionally...a celebration of the enfleshment of God in Christ in whom there is no difference between Jew or Greek, male or female, gay or straight, black or white, Arab or African, Japanese or Guatemalan. Read more.
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Founder of the
Xaverian Missionaries
Saint Guido Maria Conforti
Our "missionary to the world" became a saint on World Mission Sunday, October 23, 2011.
 | | Saint Guido Conforti: The Bishop Who Loved the Whole World |
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Church Teaching on World Mission
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No Borders
is now
Across Borders
Passion for Christ
Passion for Humanity
XAVERIAN MISSIONARIES 12 Helene Court Wayne, New Jersey 07470 |
 XMN The Commemorative Canonization edition of the Xaverian Mission Newsletter is available online. We invite you to discover more about our founder and our members as well as events around the world. Read it here. |
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Join us In the Global Mission of the Church!
Thank you for sharing in our mission. |
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