November brings us many reasons to give thanks; the freedoms we cherish, the food which nourishes us, the fellowship we share as one family in Christ. But in the midst of our plenty we should never forget about the rest of the world and its wounds--wounds that we can help to bind. This is part of the mission of the Church today. This healing balm begins with trusting God completely. You expect God to keep promises, help you with problems, and do the impossible when necessary. May this issue of ACROSS BORDERS help you be a source of healing in a world seeking to bind up it's wounds.
Fr. Carl Chudy sx Fr. John Convery sx
Xaverian Missionaries USA Xaverian Missionaries UK |
Feast Day of the Founder
"In Omnibus Christus (Christ in All) "
 Saint Guido Conforti, founder of the Xaverian Missionaries, was canonized appropriately enough on Mission Sunday, October 23, 2011. November 5th is now his feast day for all time.
Our "Missionary to the World" sought to bring all the peoples of the world together to make "one family." Read more about his inspiring life and works here.
At a Mass of Thanksgiving on November 5 celebrating the feast of St Guido Maria Conforti, John Convery SX reminded a congregation of friends and supporters that they were essential to the success of the Conforti Institute and to the original vision of making the whole world a single family. |
Year of Faith Scotland
Cardinal Keith Patrick O'Brien recently helped launch the Missio Scotland posters for Mission Sunday and the Year of Faith. Copies of the Year of Faith poster will be available to schools and parishes soon. Click here to download.
You can also sign up on the Year of Faith Scotland Facebook page |
Missio ad Gentes and the New Evangelization
"Jesus Christ is the first and ultimate subject of all evangelization, be it evangelization as the Missio ad Gentes or the New Evangelization. The Church, as the Body of Christ, has received this mandate from the Lord himself: Go, baptize, bring salvation. The Church is a living body and needs two strong solid pillars of Missio ad Gentes and New Evangelization to continue to proclaim this mandate." These were the words spoken by Cardinal Fernando Filoni, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, citing Benedict XVI's homily at the opening of the Year of Faith, in his speech at the Symposium on Evangelization. "The Second Vatican Council was decisive regarding the development of so-called indigenous Churches," said the Cardinal. "In fact, the attention that the Council gave to these Churches made it possible that they were not only considered as 'places' in which missionary service may be exercised, but above all, they were considered as being themselves protagonists in missionary work." Read more.
The Cardinal's entire text in English, can be downloaded here. |
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A Place at the Table:
A Catholic Recommitment to Overcome Poverty and to Respect the Dignity of All God's Children was issued by the USCCB in 2002. Ten years later, after a world-wide economic crisis has left so many more struggling for a dignified life, the message in this document is more important than ever. Learn more. |
While we give thanks, remember...
Hunger isn't a game, but you can help us beat it. Find out practical ways people can get involved with and even organize themselves at Catholic Relief Services. |
Vatican Council - 50 years on
For most Catholics alive today, the Second Vatican Council happened before they were born. As part of the Year of Faith we are encouraged to familiarise ourselves with the documents and thinking of this event which took place in four sessions from 1962-65. One parish in Glasgow has hosted a weekly series of talks on the Council documents and has provided PowerPoint summaries on the parish website. |
Catholics Confront Global Poverty
 CGP is an opportunity for Catholics in the U.S. to be in solidarity with our brothers and sisters around the world through prayer, education and advocacy. |
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ALTERnativity was set up in 1996 to look at issues around Christmas in relation to injustice, inequality and exclusion. It seeks to empower people to make choices which are fun, challenge the pressures of commercialisation, and improve the quality of life for themselves and for the poorest.
Two new resources are available this year:
What Price Christmas? 6 sessions looking at money issues around Christmas - 10% of participants in a recent survey estimated that it would be 2013 before their debts from Christmas 2011 were paid off. |
Come all You Faithful...,
An Advent Journey with the Palestinian People
Designed for personal daily reflection or weekly group discussions, this short publication encourage us to think more deeply about the land of Christ's birth. Get more information or call +0141 221 4242.
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The GYM Spotlight
On October 30th, Fr. Rocco Puopolo SX was the featured keynote speaker at the first gathering of Directors of Religious Education, Youth Ministers of Parishes and High schools of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. The theme for the day was Whom Shall I Send? Send us! Forming Young Catholics for Mission and Service in Today's Church. Fr. Rocco's sharing revolved around his youth work in Sierra Leone, particularly his involvements with the Young Christian Student Movement as well as the many years engaged in Youth Mission initiatives in Milwaukee such as ReachOut/ ReachIn, The Global Youth Mission Project and the International Youth Peace Camps. The Xaverians were part of these three initiatives for many years. He challenged the listeners to guarantee that any and all of these Youth Mission initiatives experience the encounter with God, self and others in a way that can grow into a living sense of solidarity and openness to a wider world. His constant refrain is: Never underestimate the power of the Spirit to operate in youth.
 Using St. Paul's image from II Corinthians, this convocation affirmed the truth that vocation ministers serve not only as ambassadors for their religious institutes, but the Church and all of religious life. Vocation directors in a dynamic way become "bridge builders" with the Church, their religious institute and their new members while striving to create unity, understanding and reconciliation amongst all concerned parties so that religious life may move into the future with vibrant faith and hope. Frs. Adolph Men�ndez SX and Rocco Puopolo SX represented the Xaverian Community at this conference.
 Fr. Rocco Puopolo SX and Fr. Adolph Men�ndez SX will be exhibiting at the National Catholic Conference of Youth Ministers this November from the 29th to December 2nd in Orlando, Florida. Fr. Rocco will be offering a workshop on service learning Mission Engagements for Youth that The GYM offers. Meet them both at Exhibit # 346!!!!
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| Forging New Paths...
Frs. Rocco Puopolo SX, Adolph Men�ndez SX and Carl Chudy SX attended the 2012 Mission Conference of the US Catholic Mission Association in Los Angeles, California this past weekend. It was a gathering of 150 missionaries, lay, religious and priests involved in the missionary work of the US Catholic Church. The topic this year: FORGING NEW PATHS: INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE, is an extraordinary challenge of all Catholics of the United States, as well as worldwide. We also gathered Saturday night with Bishop Salazar of the Archdiocese of LA at the wonderfully artistic Cathedral of Our Lady of Angels. We also had some wonderful entertainment of traditional Mexican dances and tasty Mexican cuisine put on by the mission office of the Archdiocese at the Cathedral.
I thought the best way to share the experience was to give you a glimpse at the rich experience we had through the plenary sessions and workshops.
- The Abrahamic Faiths Panel with Rabbi Hillel Cohn, Dr. Amir Hussain, and Rev. Thomas Ryan, CSP
- Missioners Dialoging with Judaism, Islam and Other Faiths Panel with Sr. Maryellen Coombe, NDS, Sr. Maria Hornung, MMS, and Dr. Carmen Nanko-Fernandez
- Listening to the Heart of God: The Mission of Inter-religious Dialogue for "Renewed Solidarity" presented by Dr. Scott Alexander
Read more.
Fr. Carl |
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Something to Believe in...
 | | Something To Believe In-MGCY Rio+20 Declaration (ENGLISH).mov |
The Major Group for Children and Youth (MGCY) was actively involved in the Rio+20 process, as the official representation of young people at the Conference, thanks to the untiring efforts of children and youth civil society organizations and hundreds of young volunteers worldwide.
In the videographer's own words: "This video was created by us and for us, initially on the occasion of the International Day of Youth....The purpose of the video is to inspire, encourage, affirm, and move young people towards action, equipped with a visual road map we can all affirm and recognize as our own. We are all too aware of the challenges that our generation and future generations face in issues ranging from unemployment to violence towards women to environmental depredation ad infinitum."
See more youth news here.
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New MOBILE APP
The Xaverian Missionaries have a new Mobile App. Now you can take us with you wherever you go. Remember: We are ALWAYS here for you!
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Church Teaching on World Mission
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AcrossBorders
Passion for Christ
Passion for Humanity
is a collaborative media project of the Xaverian Missionaries of the USA and the United Kingdom.
XAVERIAN MISSIONARIES 12 Helene Court Wayne, New Jersey 07470 |
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XMN
The November 2012 edition of the Xaverian Mission Newsletter is available online. Find out about our Missions in Colombia, Cameroon and Chad and much more. Read it here. |
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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.
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Saint Guido Conforti: The Bishop Who Loved the Whole World |
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Check out our latest video on YouTube
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Who is My Neighbor? |
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Join us In the Global Mission of the Church!
Thank you for sharing in our mission.
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