Next Steps
On May 22 two missiles exploded near our parish of Ndosho-Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo, killing four people and injuring 17. Many people were forced to flee from the forest to the parish center. The ongoing struggle for peace in this east African country reminds us that the world is not nearly perfect. It is easy to love and have hope in perfection. The difficulty consists in loving humanity with the good and the bad and the hope that a power from the heavens guides us toward healing and peace. Let's take the next steps together guided by the power of the Holy Spirit.
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Fr. Carl Chudy sx Fr. John Convery sx
Xaverian Missionaries USA Xaverian Missionaries UK
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Redemption ACROSS Borders!
Pope Francis: God redeemed everyone, 'not just Catholics'
 (RNS) Pope Francis is warning Catholics not to demonize those who are not members of the church, and he specifically defended atheists, saying that building walls against non-Catholics leads to "killing in the name of God."
"...And that, simply, is blasphemy. To say that you can kill in the name of God is blasphemy." Read more
Culture of encounter is the foundation of peace
"Doing good" is a principle that unites all humanity, beyond the diversity of ideologies and religions, and creates the "culture of encounter" that is the foundation of peace: this is what Pope said at Mass on May 22 at the Domus Santae Martae, in the presence of employees of the Governorate of Vatican City. Cardinal Bechara Boutros Rai, Patriarch of Antioch of the Maronites, concelebrated at the Mass. Listen here.
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Finding Our Voice
 From Ireland we learn that young people there are encouraged to take part in debating as a means of learning more about global development issues. Finding Our Voice is a new resource designed to support debates about world development and human rights by offering a range of debate materials, practical tips and tools for organising debates.
"The ability to debate, to question what is going on, to see different perspectives, are important skills that support learners in developing enquiry skills and experience.." The resource has been developed by 80:20Educating and Acting for a more just world, in cooperation with the Cyfanfyd Schools Net in Wales.
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Countdown to World Youth Day
World Youth Day Prayer
Oh, Father, You sent Your Eternal Son to save the world and chose men and women, through Him, with Him and in Him, to proclaim the Good News to all nations. Grant us the graces necessary so that joy may shine in the faces of all young people, the joy of being, by the power of the Holy Spirit, the evangelists the Church needs in the Third Millennium.
Oh Christ, Redeemer of humanity, the image of Your open arms on the top of Corcovado welcomes all people. In Your paschal offering, You brought us by the Holy Spirit to an encounter of sonship with the Father. Young people, who are fed by Eucharist, hear You in Your Word and meet You as their brother, need your infinite mercy to run the paths of the world missionary-disciples of the New Evangelization.
Oh Holy Spirit, Love of the Father and the Son, with the splendor of Your Truth and the fire of Your Love, send Your Light to all young people so that, driven by their experience of World Youth Day, they may bring to the four corners of the world faith, hope and charity, becoming great builders of a culture of life and peace and catalysts of a new world.
Amen.
Discover more on the USCCB website.
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Fr. Carl Goes to Africa
 | | Fr. Carl (top row left of center) and fellow Xaverians in Sierra Leone |
From May 7 - May 19 I received an invitation to go to Sierra Leone, West Africa to lead our men their in a retreat. During that time I had a wonderful opportunity to visit some of our missions and the men who are working there. - Fr. Carl Chudy, SX
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It can often be difficult to put your hand on up-to-date and reliable information on current issues when you don't have a lot of time. You might find it helpful to bookmark the Ideas & Values page on the DevelopmentEducation.ie website which provides a good overview of viewpoints and further sources of reliable information.
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Catholic Advocacy on Immigration Reform
 On May 21, 2013 two organizations sponsored by the US Bishops conference, Justice for Immigrants and the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, held an advocacy day on Comprehensive Immigration Reform. The US Bishops have been consistently in support of immigrant rights seeing this issue very much in line with the dignity of the human person and recognize the dehumanizing experience of the immigrant community as they struggle to find opportunities and hope for themselves and their families. Discover more.
Keeping families together has been a priority for U.S. immigration policies that have been in place for generations. Legislation that would dramatically reduce the number of family visas was a key stumbling block to a comprehensive immigration reform bill in 2007. Some in Congress would prefer fewer visas for family members of citizens and legal residents already in the country, instead giving priority to highly skilled workers who would provide immediate economic benefits to the nation. Download a lesson Plan from Education for Justice.
Raise Your Hands! Raise Your Voice!
NETWORK's Nuns on the Bus are back on the road driving for faith, family, and citizenship - traveling across the United States - 6,500 miles over 15 states - 53 events in 40 cities - standing with immigrants, faith-filled activists, and Catholic Sisters who serve immigrant communities.
[Their] message is clear: "We need commonsense immigration policies that reflect our values, not our fears. Congress must act now!" Follow the sisters' road trip here.
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Lost Your Appetite?
 Did you know that up to half the food produced in the world each year never reaches the table? Find out more by listening to author Tristram Stuart's TED talk
"Wasted food is food stolen from the poor..."
Read the Holy Father's comments here.
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 theGYM
theGYM is planning a variety of mission engaging events for young people beginning this Fall.
On Saturday August 31st in collaboration with the Mission Alliance of New England, there will be a day of reflection and mission called Faith meets Faith. It is a gathering of representatives of parishes that offer mission/service trips during school breaks or the summer for one or two weeks. Our aim is to have a one day reflection/follow up experience that would aid the young people in looking back at the experience they had in mission service, deepen some ideas about mission theology and praxis, witness best practices from their experience and enable us to introduce them to our mission praxis....
We also hope to offer this as an exercise in the Year of Faith as it is an opportunity for them to discover that it was their faith that motivated them to do what they did: AND it is their faith that calls them to do even greater things.
The day will include prayer time, sharing of the Mission Trips done by the various parish youth in small groups, large group input on mission learning, showing of the video SEND, RECEIVE, SET FREE on the1986 US Bishops Pastoral on MISSION, sharing of wider mission experiences, opportunities to continue the call to mission through the National Catholic Volunteer Network's publication RESPONSE. All participants will receive a copy.
The day will begin at 10:00am and conclude with the vigil Mass for Sunday at 4:00pm. Youth Ministers in the Boston, Worcester and Providence areas can contact Fr. Rocco at frrocco@xaviermissionaries.org for more information.
We are planning a Faith meets Faith day of reflection in the Mid-West in the end of November at Xavier Knoll, Franklin WI. Stay tuned!!
 Fr. Rocco Puopolo's article on theGYM was recently featured in the Boston Pilot. Download it here.
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"Missio" App
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - Fides News is available in eight languages, even on an "App" (application) for smartphones, called "Missio", which can be downloaded for free. The service was inaugurated by Pope Francis during the Audience with the National Directors of the Pontifical Mission Societies and with the staff of Fides Agency, on May 17 at the Vatican. Papa Francis clicked on an iPad, launching the application, created by Fr. Andrew Small, OMI, National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in the United States. The app "Missio" contains news posted on the site "news.va", photos, videos and the Pope's homilies, the news of the Church in the world. Download it here.
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 | | Matt Maher - Lord, I Need You |
Growing up Roman Catholic in Newfoundland, Matt Maher never imagined that his childhood interest in music would lead to a career as a Grammy-nominated, chart-topping Christian rocker - let alone a crossover artist featured on Christian radio and in evangelical worship....
Maher said one of the things that reignited his love for Catholicism is what he describes as its "all-encompassing worldview" that welcomes people from all walks of life. He said the same principle drives his songwriting, and the title of his new album is intended to spread this message of "unity" and "community." Read more...
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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 May 2013 edition of the Xaverian Mission Newsletter is available online. Read about Protecting All God's Children, the 20th Anniversary of a Philippine parish, Americans and Pope Francis and lots 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.
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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
 | | All God's Children |
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Join us In the Global Mission of the Church!
Thank you for sharing in our mission.
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