Maryknoll Fathers & Brothers Western Region
Email Update
Mission Education and Promotion / Western Region

16642 Ashland Ave., San Lorenzo, CA  94580

October 2009
In This Issue
Next Movie Night: Molokai
Oct. Mission Forum: Tanzania
Nov. Mission Forum: Peru
Contact Info 

Western Regional Center

 

Address
16642 Ashland Ave.
San Lorenzo, CA
94580
 
Email
 
Phone
510.276.5021
888.444.8957
 
General Hours
Monday - Friday
9 am to 4 pm
 
Website
 
 
Greetings!
Fall greetings from Maryknoll!
 
The month of October is often associated with mission.  On Sunday, October 18th the entire Church will celebrate World Mission Sunday.  Click here to read Pope Benedict's message for Mission Sunday.
 
DamienPrior to that on October 11th, the great missionary Fr. Damien of Molakai  will be canonized in Rome.  To celebrate his great example of mission, on Monday, October 5th at 6:30 pm, we will feature the film "Molakai" at our monthly Movies That Matter night.  And, on October 16th, Honolulu Bishop Larry Silva, on his way back from Rome with a relic of Damien, will be at St. Joseph Basilica in Alameda for a veneration service at 7:30 pm.   Immediately prior at 6 pm, actor Casey Groves will perform "Damien," a one-man show.  
 
Although Damien's example is extraordinary, mission is our common responsibility.   Join us at our October Mission Forum on Tuesday, October 13th at 7:30 pm to hear about the opportunities that are available for each of us to do mission.  Maryknoll Lay Missioners Michele and George Otte are home for a visit from their assignment in Mwanza, Tanzania, Africa and will share their experiences and impressions.
 
And at our November Mission Forum on Tuesday, November 10th, Maryknoll Affiliate Lisa Kosiewicz will share about her short term mission adventures in a parish in Peru. 
 
More details below.  We hope that you can join us.
 
Wishing you peace on behalf of the Mission Team,
Deacon Matt
 
Movies that Matter:  Bella Molokai
Molokai: The Story of Father Damien 
 Monday October 6th
6:30 pm
 
Meeting Room
St. John the Baptist Parish
 
Join us for our monthly educational movie night, co-sponsored by Maryknoll and the Adult Faith Formation Program at St. John the Baptist Parish. The first Monday of each month will offer a new movie that inspires or takes us deeper in our faith and understanding of our connections with others. Refreshments will be provided and the movie will be followed by a discussion.
 
Molokai, The Story of Fr. Damien: Exile to Molokai was the means by which leprosy was dealt with in the Hawaiian Islands during the late 1800s. Molokai was an untamed isle located between the islands of Oahu and Maui. Abandoned for all intents and purposes, the lepers attempted to scrape out a living in their squalor without outside aid or care. Enter the courageous Father Damien. He was the first priest to go to Molokai. And even though his bishop strictly warned him that "he must not touch anyone," Father Damien risked his life and health to reach out to the suffering. 
Mission Forum:  Tanzania 
 
Maryknoll Lay Missioners in MwanzaTues. Oct. 13th
7:30 pm
 
Join us at our October Mission Forum on Tuesday, October 13th at 7:30 pm.  Maryknoll Lay Missioners  Michele and George Otte  are on a home visit from their assignment in Tanzania and will share stories and photos of their experiences.
 
George and Michele finished up language school at the end of June. Since then George has been involved with the Hurama School for Children with Disabilities which is located in Mwanza, Tanzania and is directed by another lay missioner Bertha Haas. As a Civil Engineer he has been helping them with their water needs and other school needs, where he can use his technical background. More recently he has been approached to help out with the water needs at the Koak Parish. 
 
Michelle is working at the Uzima (Wellness) Center also in Mwanza, Tanzania. The center is devoted to aiding AIDS orphans who are living with the extended family by providing them with school uniforms, supplies etc and to support them and the family This center  is run by another lay Missioner Joanne Miya. 
Mission Forum:  Peru 
 
Lisa Peru 2009Tues. Nov. 10th
7:30 pm
 
 
 
Join us at our November Mission Forum on Tuesday, November 10th at 7:30 pm.  Maryknoll Affiliate Lisa Kosiewicz will share stories and photos from her recent short-term mission trip to Piura, Peru, where she served as a volunteer in Santisimo Sacramento Parish.  The parish provides a wide array of social services---including food, shelter, medical care, education, and legal aid---to 30,000 parishioners living within the city of Piura itself and in the 24 nearby villages.  Lisa will talk about her experiences working with and among the poor of Piura, the spiritual insights she gained during her trip, and how others can get involved with the work of Santisimo Sacramento Parish.