The persecution of Christian continues in India.  Two new reports have been posted - English Only.

• Human Rights Violations against Christians in India continue
• Sr. Meena Paraded Half Naked And Gang-Raped by The Hindu Fundamentalists

(Nov. 04, 2008)

Text and Photo:  José Luis Morgado Ferreira
(Oct. 29, 2008)

Participants at the USC meeting in Rome

On October 16 &17, 2008, the regional directors of the Union of the Blood of Christ meet in Rome to begin the work of revising the General Statues of the USC.   Participating were the CPPS USC Directors of Italy, Poland, Croatia, Canada and Teutonic Province and the ASC USC Directors of Italy, Croatia and Poland.  

In the meeting ideas for revision were given by all participants and  a process was established on how to involve the larger membership, especially the laity, in this revision process. This could include a radical change of the structure of the Union. A two person writing committee (one CPPS and one ASC) have been appointed to draft  the revisions proposed in the meeting. These will be distributed to the regional unions for discussion and discernment, with care to involve the laity.  It will also include the participation of representatives from the General Curia of the Adorers of the Blood of Christ and the ASC Schaan Province.  We hope that the process will be completed by  October of 2009 and a final revision of the General Statues will be ready for approval.

My first reaction in listening to the reports of the USC Regional Directors was the quality and quantity of persons involved in these unions. There are thousands of people well motivated and formed in the spirituality and actions of the Precious Blood.  This was something I did not realize.

Text: Fr. Francesco Bartoloni, cpps
Photo: Sr. Malzorgata, asc
(Oct. 29, 2008)

With immense joy and gratitude to the Lord, on the 17th October 2008, the CPPS Vicariate of Tanzania celebrated the Incorporation of  John Makarius Ikelesho,  Dominic Mwaluko,  Geofrey Celsius Mwarabu and Joseph Mathias Mabala.
Present were numerous members of the Vicariate, along with two historical missionaries, Fr. Dino Gioia and Fr. Mario Dariozzi, first founders who reached Tanzania in 1967 and 1968 respectively.

In his homily the Vicariate Director, Fr. Joachim Ndelianaruwa spoke of the gift of grace which accompanies the call to missionary life and on the specific missionary roles entrusted to each believer.  Regarding the specificity of a Precious Blood Missionary, Fr. Joachim (referring to the sacrificial death of Christ which is exemplified in the Incorporation rite by the cross to be carried by these missionaries) said that Tanzania, Africa and the world in general, is in need of a bloodless path to reconciliation.  Hatred and the use of swords during political elections in Tanzania are but negative signs.  Hence, as Precious Blood Missionary such incidences are to be a vital starting point.

Joseph Mathias Mabala, speaking on behalf of the newly incorporated members, besides conveying a word of gratitude to the Almighty and to entire CPPS word-wide family, pleaded for our prayerful intercession that the missionary spirit within them should never cease at any time of their missionary journey.

Submitted by the Vicariate of Tanzania
(Oct. 29, 2008)

Fr. Sahaya Celestine Soosai C.PP.S, is a Precious Blood Missionary from India.  He has recently begun a missionary assignment with our members in Tanzania, where he is teaching Philosophy. In a brief article, he reflects on the beauty of the land and the people of Tanzania and his experience of beginning this new missionary endeavor.  The full text of the article in English can be found by clicking here.

On September 24, the newly elected Provincial Director, Fr. Jospeph Montenegro and the Provincial Treasurer, Fr. Evaldo Biasini arrived in Tanzania for their first official visitation.  During the visit, while the Provincial Treasurer had three main points (Procura-Dar, Itigi and Hqts-Dodoma), Fr. Provincial managed to meet and talk personally not only with each missionary of the Vicariate but also with each community, with all missionaries of the Vicariate together and finally with the Vicariate Council.

On the evening of October 9, 2008,  we celebrated with a special dinner at the St. Gaspar Conference Center, honoring the newly elected Provincial and his Council.  The next day we held a most important meeting for the entire Vicariate.  On one hand, the missionaries of the Vicariate were eager to know the future plans of the Italian Province with regard to the Tanzanian Vicariate; and on the other, Fr. Provincial himself wished to indicate the priorities of the new elected Provincial Council.
Responding to the question of the Province’s relation with Tanzania Vicariate, Fr. Joseph said, CPPS Tanzania, as a Vicariate of Italian Province, has due right to be sustained and assisted until its effort to reach self-reliance or self-sustanance are realized.  Thus, once Vicariate projects (including economic welfare and up-grading of missionaries through studies) reach him, he will discuss with his council, so that decisions may be made as a Provincial Council.

Fr. Joseph Montenegro and  Fr. Evaldo Biasini will depart from Dar-es-salaam (Tanzania) for Italy on the 15 October 2008.  May they be protected by the Blood of Christ and be strengthened by God’s tender love in fulfilling their duties for the good of the Congregation and entire people of God at large.

Information and Photos from the Tanzanian Vicariate

The members of the Vicariate gather in the St. Gaspar Conference Center.

On October 7, the Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary, the Indian Vicariate opened a temporary mission house in Kizhakotta, South Tamilnadu, in the Diocese of Sivagangai.  Over 400 people participated in the inauguration with the local bishop.  In his homily, the bishop invoked the intercession of Mary, saying that to be a missionary it is necessary to have her willingness to say “yes” to the plan of God, even when that plan has not been revealed to us.

The mission station which covers two local districts was formerly erected in February 1987 and is put under the patronage of St. John de Britto (+1693).  The area is very poor and dry, but it has numerous Christians.  For the time, being the bishop gave a small portion of land for the presbytery and the church; he will determine the exact territory for ministry in the coming months.  Fr. Henry Bright Raj is the Pastor and is assisted by a seminarian.

Text and picture, Indian Vicariate

On September 23rd at Saint Gaspar College in Santiago, 150 people gathered for the presentation of two new books.  The first one is Gaspar del Búfalo.  This is a Spanish Chilean cartoon edition of a previous 1985 Italian edition.  The publication offers to both children and adults a very good biography of our founder.  The cartoons are of great quality and the story tells of the life of a man who has inspired many people around the world. 

         A second publication is entitled: La Historia y una sonrisa, Anécdotas  (The Story and a Smile -- Anecdotes).  This book is a collection of 169 real life tales and anecdotes of the CPPS members that have served in Chile for the past sixty years.  I have written this in gratitude as a tribute to our community members, portraying as down to earth as possible, stories that show in many cases the "human side" of the priest...sometimes too human!   I think this is a different way of telling the history of our community, often revealing things that occurred, but are seldom recorded in writing.  To do so, I researched the years through old personal diaries, reports, letters and, of course, through much listening to the “story tellers” themselves.  My hope is that  people will feel closer to us, as they read this book.  Many of the tales come with cartoons that give a picturesque and colorful meaning to written words. 

As a brief example I share this anecdote.   When Father Donald Thieman and Father Milton Ballor first arrived in Chile in the year 1958, they went to language school in downtown Santiago.  It was Christmas time, with decorations everywhere.  Fathers Donald and Milton stopped at a particular shop that had a wonderful decorated crib scene.  Priests at that time wore black cassocks with the missionary cross, so they couldn’t have walked the streets unnoticed.  They were astounded and piously contemplating this manger, realizing only too late, and to their embarrassment, that they were standing right in front of a big department store’s women’s underwear display!

         May the good Lord keep and sustain our lives as we share the struggles and joys of being servers of the Gospel on this land.

Information from: Antonio Baus, CPPS

In an August 24 article in the Northwest Indiana Catholic, Bishop Dale Melczek of the Diocese of Gary, Indiana, had words of praise for Calumet College of St. Joseph, an institution founded and sponsored by the Missionaries of the Precious Blood. The college, located in Whiting, Indiana, was established by the Missionaries in 1950 as an extension of St. Joseph’s College in Rensselaer, Indiana.

Calumet College of St. Joseph, notes Bishop Melczek, “offers academic excellence with reverence for human reason, human longing, and human culture…[and a] transcendent vision of life’s meaning.” He went on to point out that the college seeks to be a faith community that aims at fostering in the students an awareness of the teachings of Catholic social justice and the need to stand in solidarity with the poor.

Alluding to a quotation by Father Hans Kolvenbach, former superior general of the Jesuits, Bishop Melczek affirmed that the measure of a college lies in what its students become and whether they are engaged in their communities. Alumni/ae of Calumet College “tend to stay in the Calumet region, and we anticipate that their education and formation at our college will enlarge their hearts as well as their minds, make them more aware of the needs of the less fortunate, and motivate them to use their potential to make Northwest Indiana a better place, a place where there is more truth, love, justice, and peace.”

He concluded the article by noting that the college serves more minority students than any other private college in the state of Indiana and he expressed his gratitude for the presence of Calumet College of St. Joseph in Northwest Indiana.

The full text of the article may be found in the archives of the Northwest Indiana Catholic.

More information on Calumet College of St. Joseph may be found at website of the college: www.ccsj.edu

Text: J. Stack, CPPS

During the week of September 7-10, 2008 Directors from the Latin American Region gathered in Bogota, Colombia by invitation of Fr. Angelo Anthony to look at ways to further collaboration among the various units in the region.  The Directors reaffirmed the joint Special Formation Program and encouraged the development of a Latin American Formation Committee to study ways to evaluate and support formation programs in Latin America.  The directors also received a report from Fr. Lucas Rodriguez outlining a plan for the General Council to host a gathering of formators in July 2010. He also presented some thoughts on strengthening communication among our men in formation through the internet.  Br. Joseph Fisher offered some insights on the current financial picture and sample chart of accounts to standardize some fo the financial reporting from the missions.  The schedule allowed for an afternoon of site-seeing within the city of Bogota and a festive meal at the House of Advanced Formation and a gathering the next evening with some of the lay associates of the Precious Blood in Colombia.         

Participants:
P. Hilton Rodriguez, C.PP.S. (Peru)
P. Luis Briones, C.PP.S. (Chile)
P. Dario Caal, C.PP.S.  (Central America)
P. Andoni Ledesma Sanchez, C.PP.S. (Brazil)
P. Rene Cerecedo, C.PP.S. (Mexico)
P. Abelardo Ibaceta, C.PP.S. (Colombia)
P. Lucas Rodriquez Fuertes, C.PP.S. (General Council)
P. Angelo Anthony, C.PP.S. (Provincial)
P. Joseph Fisher, C.PP.S. (Provincial Council)
P. Thomas Hemm, C.PP.S. (Provincial Council)
P. Barry Fischer, C.PP.S. (International Center of Precious Blood Spirituality)

Invited but unable to attend:
P. Mario Cafarelli, C.PP.S.
P. Andreas Hasenburger, C.PP.S.

Information provided by Angelo Anthony, cpps

Latin American Directors gathered in Colombia

G athering with the lay associates

On the first weekend of September, the nine students of theology of our Latin American missions gathered with Fr. Barry Fischer for retreat in Bogotá.  Two young men who take part in the vocational program of our Colombia mission also participated.  The seminarians and candidates were joined by Fr. Armando Rivas, Director of the Latin American Theologate, and by Fr. Angelmiro Granados, who is responsible for the vocation program. 

Information: Barry Fischer, cpps

While in Colombia Fr. Barry participated in the meetings of the Directors of the Latin American Missions at the invitation of Fr. Angelo Anthony.  Following those meetings, Fr. Barry joined the Coordinating Team for the Latin American Spirituality Center which met from September 10-14th.  Representatives from Chile, Perú, Bolivia, Brazil, and Colombia were in attendance.  Five different Congregations were represented.  Fr. Barry shared his vision for the International Center in Salzburg and discussed ways in which the International and Regional Centers might collaborate. 

Information: Barry Fischer, cpps

Arlene Pelzer, a companion from Nativity Church and a member of the Longwood Florida Companions of the Cincinnati Province is in collaboration with Fr. Barry Fischer C.PP.S.  at the newly established International Center of Precious Blood Spirituality in Salzburg, Austria.  Arlene will spend five months of collaboration in community with our Teutonic Province Priests at the Kolleg St. Josef.  She will assist Fr. Barry with the physical set up of the center and the organization of resources. 

Arlene is enjoying the environment at the Kolleg, the friendship of the priests and the beauty of the mountains.  

Information: Barry Fischer, cpps

On September 25, 2008, the Cathedral of Christ the Light, the new cathedral of the Diocese of Oakland will be dedicated.

The responsorial psalm for the dedication Mass was composed by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S.

Psalm 95 was chosen from the Common of the Anniversary of the Dedication of a Church by the Music Committee of the Cathedral of Christ the Light.   This setting, Psalm 95-Venite Exsultemus was composed using Mode IV. Using Gregorian modes emphasizes the primacy of the human voice.  Normally it is to be sung without accompaniment, but can be accompanied by bells used sparingly.

Fr. Keyes is pastor of St. Edward Catholic Church in Newark, California and is a member of the Cincinnati Province.  He serves on the Worship Commission for the Diocese and the Cathedral.  More information about his ministry can be found on his website: http://gasparian.stblogs.org/

Our Indian confreres have written to ask us to join them in their concern for violation of human rights in the state of Orissa, in India. There has been an escalation of violence as Christian have been attacked by Hindu fundamentalist.  At least ten people have been killed; a nun was gang-raped; and several Christian churches burnt down and many cars and homes belonging to Christians destroyed.

Our CPPS brothers are not directly affected, but as the carnage continues unchecked and death toll continues to rise, innocent Christians in Orissa find themselves in a very precarious situation.  Hundreds of Christians, priests, nuns and children have fled to the jungle in order to escape further attacks.

The Catholic Bishops Conference of India and our confreres in India are asking us to participate in a letter writing campaign to bring pressure on the government to restore order and to protect the Christian minority.  Let us join together in calling religious leaders and civil authorities to work together to re-establish among members of the different communities the peaceful coexistence and harmony which always have been a distinctive sign of Indian society.

For details on the letter writing campaign [English Only] and for links to further information follow these links:

1. Orissa Violence Details
2. Christians Forced to Become Hindus

Fr. Felix Mushobozi, CPPS

August 25, 2008 was a great day for St. Gaspar Hotel & Conference Centre run by Missionaries of Precious Blood in Dodoma –Tanzania.

A date to remember for President Ahmed Abdallah Mohamed Sambi of Comoro Isles visited Tanzania to thank its leaders and citizens for having liberated recently Comoro Isles from its raiders.

After visiting the National Assembly in Dodoma, President Ahmed of Comoro Isles, Tanzanian Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda and Tanzanian President of National Assembly Samuel Sitta had lunch at St. Gaspar Hotel & Conference Centre.

In 1961 he was transferred into what is now the Atlantic Province and his first residence was in Rochester, New York, where he was entrusted with the pastoral care of the youth of the parish. He obtained a scholarship at Harvard and graduated with a degree in Italian literature. He then became a professor of medieval Italian literature at Catholic University in Washington, D.C., where he remained until returning to Italy in 2002. He published many articles on medieval Italian literature.

He is survived by a brother, Giuseppe, who is a priest of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood.

Information: Francesco Bartoloni, cpps

On the 15th of August the youngest member of the Brazilian Vicariate, Raimundo Das Neves Almeida, was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Flavio Giovenale. The celebration took place in the church of St. Joseph in Acará (about 100 Km southwest of Belém). About 2000 people took part in the Eucharistic celebration. All the members of the Vicariate and Frs. Rene Cercedo (from Mexico) and Andreas Hasenburger from the Teutonic Province were present.

This feast was a real gift for the commemoration of the day of founding of our congregation. On the next day Fr. Raimundo celebrated his first Mass with the people of his home parish.

With a big celebration and the participation of thousands of people, the Singida Diocese celebrated 100 years of evangelization on August 21. The first missionaries who reached the territory that 64 years after would become the Diocese of Singida were three White Fathers. In 1908 they founded the mission of Makiungu some twenty miles north of Singida. The Missionaries of the Precious Blood reached the Diocese of Singida in 1966. Now they serve the people of the Diocese with three parishes and many social institutions, like a hospital, medical dispensaries, technical schools, and agricultural and water projects.

The Diocese was formally established in 1972. The Catholics of the Diocese are 153,000, some 20% of the population.

The Moderator General had the chance to have a short visit of St. Gaspar College of Morogoro and to officially open the academic year. St. Gaspar College is the residence of our seminarians in Tanzania . The CPPS seminarians are forty-one and they are in different stages of studies, from Philosophy to Theology. The members of the staff are six. All the seminarians frequent the Institute of Philosophy and Theology run by the Salvatorians and some staff members are teachers in the Institute.

In the College are also accommodated a few Passionist and Diocesan students who receive the same formation of our students.

Text: Francesco Bartoloni, cpps; photo: Florence Kissima, cpps

The three Precious Blood Congregations serving in Chile, Sisters of the Precious Blood (María Anna Brunner), Congregation of the Precious Blood (Sisters of María Magdalena Guerrero) and the Missionaries of the Precious Blood, had the opportunity of gathering in a workshop, in Santiago, from August 13th to 15th in a joint effort to “give flesh” to our common Precious Blood Spirituality.

The recent document of the Latin American fifth Bishops' General Conference that took place in Aparecida, Brazil, gave the background for the meditations. Such Precious Blood gatherings in Chile, started back in the early '80s, as a way of sharing our common spiritual heritage.

Home from a year of special formation at St. Agnes Church in Los Angeles , Bob Jansen stepped forward in his home parish of St. Henry, Ohio, and became temporarily incorporated into the Missionaries of the Precious Blood.

The ritual was part of a celebration of the Eucharist on Sunday, August 17. Jansen, 25, now enters advanced formation at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago .

The celebration was close to an anniversary for the Congregation, which was founded on August 15, 1815, pointed out Fr. Steve Dos Santos, C.PP.S., who delivered the homily during the liturgy. Fr. Dos Santos is in ministry at St. Agnes. “One hundred and ninety-three years ago, Gaspar del Bufalo and three companions were at the abbey of Saint Felix inGiano, Italy , and together they began a journey in faith, to begin a religious community called the Missionaries of the Precious Blood. That journey continues here today,” Fr. Dos Santos said.

“Twenty-five years ago, Paul and Judy Jansen brought their son Bob to the baptismal font at St. Henry Church, where he was baptized by Fr. Raymond Bauer,” he continued. Those two journeys, the Missionaries' and Bob's, were running on parallel tracks that now have merged.

Father Valerio De Vita, CPPS, was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Rino Fisichella, Rector of the Pontifical Lateran University, on Saturday, June 7, 2008, in his home parish of Corpo e Sangue di Cristo, Rome, a parish staffed by the Italian Province. Fr. Valerio was acquainted with the Missionaries from his boyhood when he was involved in a variety of youth activities. His decision to enter the formation program of the Italian Province was a result of that involvement.

After completing his philosophical and theological studies at the Gregorian University, Fr. Valerio was involved in pastoral ministry in the CPPS parish in Messina, Sicily. On Sunday, June 8, he celebrated his Mass of thanksgiving with the parish community, surrounded by his parents, relatives, friends, and a large crowd of parishioners.

Text and photos: Italian Province

Father Matteo Notarangelo, CPPS, member of the Italian Province, died on June 12 in Albano Laziale, near Rome. Fr. Matteo was born on November 15, 1930, in Monte Sant'Angelo, Foggia. Ordained to the priesthood in 1958, he celebrated his fiftieth anniversary as a priest this year.

He had many assignments over the years: director of formation for the houses of study in Ancona, Rimini, and Laveno; assistant pastor and pastor in the parishes of Putignano and Bari; and treasurer in various houses of the province.

His was a simple and humble approach to priestly ministry, one that allowed him to develop close relationships with people and offer a genuine witness to the gospel. He had great confidence in the young members of the province.

He had three sisters and two brothers who have survived him. The funeral was celebrated on June 13 in the Church of St. Paul in Albano with the participation of many Missionaries, relatives and friends. He was buried in his birthplace of Monte Sant'Angelo.

This year The Tanzanian Vicariate had a joy of celebrating the ordination of Patrick Kimaro, Paul Ngayomela, Wenceslaus Bamugasheki and Achileus Mutalemwa. These young men having been were incorporated into the CPPS Tanzanian Vicariate on the June 08, 2007, and were ordained deacons on October 19, 2007. This year they were ordained to priesthood: Patrick Kimaro was ordained on May 21, in Precious Blood Church in Morogoro by Mons . Telesfory Mkude. Paul Ngayomela was ordained on May 31, in St. Mathias Mulumba Church Tanga by Mons. Anthony Banzi. Wenceslaus Bamugasheki was ordained on July 19, in the Mary Magdalene Church Ngote Muleba. Achileus Mutalemwa was ordained on July 20, in Kijwile Church Muleba. Both Wenceslaus and Achileus were ordained by Mons. Nestory Timanywa, the bishop of Bukoba.

Left to right: Patrick Kimaro; Wenceslaus Bamugasheki;
Paul Ngayomela and Achileus Mutalemwa.

Fr. Gregory Comella was called to his new life in Christ on Saturday, August 2, 2008. Fr. Greg was born on December 28, 1946 in Waukegan, Illinois, and was ordained on April 19, 1975.       

Several memorial services are planned. A memorial Mass will be celebrated by the Missionaries on Saturday, August 16 at 10 a.m. at St. Charles Center in Carthagena, Ohio. Also on August 16, a memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. at the St. Joseph Parish Learning Center in Alameda, Calif.; and memorial services will be held in Chicago, Florida and India. C.PP.S. members and Companions will also gather for a memorial Mass on August 18 at Sonnino House in Berkeley, Calif.

Fathers Mario Dariozzi and Don Nicola Giampaolo celebrated their golden jubilee of ordination to the priesthood in Rimini and in Albano respectively. They were ordained priests in Rome on August 3, 1958, along with two other Missionaries, Fathers Giuseppe La Selva and Matteo Notarangelo, now deceased.

Father Mario's long priestly career carried him to Tanzania as a missionary, to Rome as provincial director of the Italian Province, to Florence as pastor, and finally to Rimini as director of the Sanctuary of our Lady of Mercy.

Don Nicola carried out his ministry in the College of Ancona as director, as professor in Albano, as pastor of Corpo e Sangue di Cristo parish in Rome and then as pastor in Bari and now as director of Primavera Missionaria in Albano.

To these two Missionaries, ever active and faithful to their initial call by God to be his apostles, go the best wishes of the entire Congregation.

Fr. Francesco, Moderator General, writes:

This year marks the two hundredth anniversary of the founding of the Archconfraternity of the Most Precious Blood. Father Giovanni Albertini, who was to become the companion of Saint Gaspar in exile and his spiritual director, erected this pious association at the Church of San Nicola in Carcere on December 8, 1808. Saint Gaspar preached the inaugural sermon for the occasion.

Our Congregation has its roots in this association of laity and clergy and for a number of years Gaspar called his institute the "Missionaries of the Archconfraternity of the Most Precious Blood."

I invite all members of the the Congregation to remember and celebrate this event. Anyone wishing support in marking the occasion may contact the general administration.

For more information on the Archconfraternity of the Most Precious blood click here.

The Villa Trapp, home of the famous Trapp family of The Sound of Music, is now one of the newest hotels in Salzburg, Austria.

Why does this news item this merit space on this page? For more than fifty years the Villa Trapp has been the provincial headquarters of the Teutonic or German-speaking province. After World War II the province purchased the home from the Trapps, who by that time had relocated to Vermont.

As noted in an earlier story here, the Teutonic Province recently moved the provincial headquarters and the members living in the Villa to the Kolleg St. Josef, located on the same property, which is now also home for the International Center for Precious Blood Spirituality.

The Trapp home was leased to private developers who have turned it into the “Villa Trapp, the Original Sound of Music Family Home.” The hotel has 3 suites, 11 single rooms, and a restaurant. The chapel has been maintained intact for weddings and other religious services. The hotel was formally dedicated recently by the archbishop of Salzburg.

Some of the information in this article was taken from the online website of Die Zeit, a German newspaper. For further information:

http://www.zeit.de/2008/31/Villa-Trapp?page=1

On September 16, 1947, Frs. John Wilson and John Kostik, the first two Missionaries of the Precious Blood to set foot in Santiago, began the journey of the Chilean Vicariate that has now celebrated its 60th anniversary.

The Chilean C.PP.S. jubilee year began with a Mass in September 2007 at Saint Sebastian's Church in Purranque. The local bishop presided at the Mass in a packed church. This church is our southernmost C.PP.S. parish worldwide. Many people attended the celebration, including the crowd that traveled from our two parishes in Valdivia . The Mass was part of a week-long commemorative program. There were several gatherings that explored the history of the Chilean Vicariate with pictures, talks, memories and shows including films from the early missionary days.

During this jubilee year, at Saint Gaspar College, our school, and at parishes in Valdivia and Santiago as well, we had liturgies and presentations on the C.PP.S. to celebrate our heritage. We hosted Precious Blood conferences with the laity. All this concluded with an anniversary Mass at Our Lady of the Precious Blood in Santiago on July 1, 2008, with hundreds of people in attendance. Presiding at the celebration was Cardinal Francisco Javier Errázuriz, who preached a beautiful homily on Precious Blood spirituality.

At the end of this jubilee year we want to acknowledge the immense work and dedication of our Community members who served in Chile over the years. Only God knows the many hardships they went through. A word of gratitude also goes to our donors and benefactors for their generosity and support. Many of the efforts of our Missionaries could not have been accomplished without the perseverance, trust, prayers and financial support invested in us, especially from our friends in the U.S.

May the good Lord protect and keep us all, as we follow the path of the Precious Blood in this country.

there and at the Precious Blood Center in the Back of the Yards neighborhood, a tough and sometimes violent area of Chicago.

A recent article in the Chicago Tribune (13 July) highlighted the ministry of the two CPPS Missionaries, who are two of the staff members of the Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation. The drums, explains Kelly, enable the youth "to connect their head and their heart." Drumming together helps the young men to drop their defenses and be more honest with themselves and others. There are two rules for the group session that follows: first, the stories told in the group stay there and second, only one person speaks at a time while the others must listen. A third rule is unspoken but quickly learned: be honest, genuine. These are safe places where participants can speak from the heart.

Fr. Kelly has been in some form of detention ministry for most of his 25 years as a priest. In jail, he says, you find "the forgotten, discarded, disposable people." He adds that "There's a big difference in being sent away, told you're a miserable piece of nothing, and being told, 'I love you, but you need to be held accountable.' "

The Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation is an official ministry of the Cincinnati Province of the CPPS. Besides Frs. Kelly and Kinderman, CPPS Fr. Bill Nordenbrock and ASC Sister Mary Louise Degenhart are on the staff.

For more information on the Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation, go to:  www.pbmr.org

To view the full article from the Chicago Tribune online, go to: www.chicagotribune.com/features/lifestyle/chi-0713-drum-circlejul13,0,5445489.story

At left, Fr. Dave Kelly (2nd from left) speaks to CPPS members at the Precious Blood Center.

At right, Fr. Denny Kinderman leads a service for victims of violence.

Photos: Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation,
J. Stack, CPPS

The official opening of the International Center of Precious Blood Spirituality took place in Salzburg on July 1 st , the Feast of the Precious Blood.  The Bishop's Prelate for Religious, Dr. Matthäus Appesbacher, presided at the ceremony. Some 120 persons attended the celebration which began with the Eucharist and rededication of the chapel which is the center of the building. Many Orders of men and women and diocesan authorities and laity filled our chapel. A small choir of young people accompanied us with their beautiful and motivating songs.  At the conclusion, our Moderator General, Fr. Francesco, gave a short speech and the first Director of the Center, Fr. Barry Fischer, also greeted the gathering. The Provincial of the Teutonic Province invited all to a delicious buffet which was enjoyed both inside and outside on our terrace. All in all, it was a joyful and hope-filled day.                                                                                                      

The long-awaited Center of Spirituality is finally up and running. More pictures and information will be published in the October Edition of The Cup of the New Covenant. We pray for St. Gaspar's protection and guidance for this new initiative.

Text and photos: B. Fischer, CPPS

Br. Donald Fisher, C.PP.S., 72, died. on June 25, 2008 in the infirmary at St. Charles Center in Carthagena, Ohio, after a lengthy illness.

Br. Donald was born on November 9, 1935, in Wapakoneta, Ohio, and entered the Congregation in 1950.

After his profession Br. Donald went to work as a farmer on the Congregation's farm at St. Mary's Novitiate in Burkettsville, Ohio. In 1959, he moved to St. Charles Seminary (now St. Charles Center) to help on the farm there, and there he remained for the rest of his life. Br. Donald, who became the farm manager, worked the Congregation's fields around St. Charles for 46 years, until the Missionaries ceased farming operations at St. Charles after the 2005 harvest. Br. Don then volunteered as a member of the board of supervisors with the Mercer County Soil and Water Conservation District, which honored him in 2005 for his work in conservation farming.

Br. Donald lived a life of commitment: commitment to the earth, commitment to his work and commitment to his Community, said Br. Nick Renner, C.PP.S., who worked along with him on the farm at St. Charles for 40 years. “Never in all those years did I ever hear him question his vocation of being a brother,” Br. Nick said. “He was committed to his spiritual life and never missed Mass and prayers unless he was on the tractor most of the night.”

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Monday, June 30, 2008, at St. Charles, with Fr. Angelo Anthony presiding and Fr. Ken Pleiman as homilist. Burial followed in the Community cemetery.

Text and photo: Cincinnati Province

Brother Benjamin Basile recently presented an organ recital on an historical organ at the First Congregational Church in Michigan City, Indiana. The program included a variety of organ pieces designed to highlight the beauty of the historic instrument.

In addition to being associate professor of mathematics at Calumet College of St. Joseph in Whiting, Indiana (sponsored by the CPPS), Bro. Ben is also parish music director and organist for the Cathedral of the Holy Angels in Gary, Indiana. He is also past dean of the Northwest Indiana Chapter of the American Guild of Organists and a board member of the Chicago-Midwest Chapter of the Organ Historical Society.

Text and photo: J. Stack, CPPS

Kevin Scalf was ordained to the diaconate on June 1 in a moving ritual at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Whiting, Ind., by Bishop Dale Melczek of the Diocese of Gary, Ind.

Precious Blood priests, brothers and lay associates, family members and friends were on hand as Deacon Scalf received the blessing of the bishop and pledged himself to a life of service to the Church. Deacon Scalf, 32, a native of Cincinnati, is the son of Hal and Phyllis Scalf, and grew up in Our Lady of Victory Parish in Cincinnati. He was a high school teacher before he entered the Community. He recently completed a master of divinity degree at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago and also teaches lay ministry classes in the Diocese of Gary.

Fr. Hilton Rodríguez Roca, C.PP.S., was ordained a priest on October 20, 2007 at Nuestra Senora de la Luz parish in Lima, Perú, where Missionaries of the Precious Blood minister. Bishop José Rios, retired from the Diocese of Huancayo, and a friend of the Community, presided at the ordination

During the ceremony, candidate Nino Calderón Baldeón was ordained a deacon.

Fr. Rodríguez, 34, a native of Santa Cruz, Bolivia, is now an associate pastor at Nuestra Senora de la Luz.

Fr. Rodríguez gives Holy Communion to his brother

On March 29, 2008, again at Nuestra Señora de la Luz, Bishop Rios presided at the ordination of Nino Calderón to the priesthood. C.PP.S., on March 29, 2008 at Nuestra Senora de la Luz parish.

Fr. Calderón, 35, is continuing his advanced studies in Lima and resides at Casa Gaspar, the C.PP.S. house of formation there.

Right: The bishop receives a blessing from the newly ordained Fr. Calderón.

Don Erwin Kräutler, CPPS, bishop of the Xingú, speaks of the inconvenience of nearly two years of police protection. He must be accompanied by three officers 24 hours a day. "I have lost the freedom to come and go and to carry out my mission as bishop, without fulfilling all of my commitments," says Don Erwin. The presence of six policemen who alternate shifts protecting the bishop is a requirement of the secretary of security. "The Office of Security told me: 'Don't be indisciplined in this regard since the matter is very serious.'" said the bishop.

According to Don Erwin, the death of Sister Dorothy Stang in February 2005 marked the beginning of the threats. "As a bishop, I could not be silent about the death of Sister Dorothy and I began to demand punishment for the murderer and for the one who ordered the crime," he explained. According to Don Erwin, "there is a consortium of crime" in the region. "I believe that this is psychological terrorism, but I am not leaving Altamira. I am not a revolutionary; I am only against the greed of certain segments of society." He explains his criticisms of the development project for Amazonia: "The hydroelectric project of Belo Monte was imposed from the top down. We have not received the information that we have a right to. They say that it is just a single unit, but we believe that it is a complex of hydroelectric plants."

Two other bishops of the region have been threatened as well.

Text: F. Bartoloni, CPPS

On 31 May 2008, Deacon Bartolo Calderone of the Italian Province was ordained to the priesthood in a beautiful ceremony attended by many confreres, priests, relatives, friends, and parishioners. The ordination took place in Fr. Calderone's home parish of Santa Maria del Mela in Sicily, with Mons. Calogero La Piana, Archbishop of the Diocese of Messina presiding. It had been fifty years since there had been a priestly ordination in the parish.

Bartolo entered the Congregation in 2004 after already completing his studies in philosophy and theology with a masters degree in bioethics and a specialization in youth ministry.

From May 9-16, 2008, Fr. José Luis Morgado Ferreira, provincial director of the Iberian Province, and Fr. Joachim Ndelianaruwa, director of the Vicariate of Tanzania, met in order discuss new commitments for staffing the mission. Also present were Frs. Luis Manuel Cardoso Bairrada, provincial council of the Iberian Province, Fr. Leonidas Ntampera of Tanzania and Fr. Francesco Bartoloni, moderator general, were also invited to participate.

Two Missionaries are currently present in the mission: Frs. Joachim Cardoso Pereira of Portugal and Fr. Egidius Seneda of Tanzania. These two Missionaries have the ministry of the formation of candidates as well as parochial ministry. There are 10 young men in the seminary, 9 of who are studying philosophy and one, Lima, temporarily incorporated, is in his second year of theology.

At the end of some difficult but fraternal dialogue, it was decided that the Tanzanian Vicariate committed itself to continue sending missionaries to the mission and to assist in the formation of candidates. Tanzania will send a Missionary for the seminary, and also will send a Missionary and a seminarian in his pastoral year to Portugal to learn Portuguese. These two will come to Guinea in December to learn the local creole or dialect of Portuguese spoken there. In coming years Tanzania will continue sending a seminarian in his pastoral year to Portugal and to Guinea Bissau in order to learn the languages, with the intention of continuing the missionary ministry in Guinea once ordained to the priesthood. The mission remains the responsibility of the Iberian Province.

The moderator general had the chance to enjoy the fine hospitality of the Missionaries of the mission, to observe the difficult work in the harsh conditions of life there, and to have his first contact with the students. He asks that all members of the CPPS pray for the growth of the mission of Guinea Bissau.

The Indian Vicariate has accepted a new Mission in the Diocese of Warangal in Andhra Pradesh. The parish, dedicated to St. Joseph, has 33 families and a substation with about 15 families. The area is growing because of a thermal power station and coal mine.

Fr. David Raju and Deacon Michael Dara (pictured at left) have been assigned to the new new mission.

The philosophate has been moved to Andhra Pradesh as well and will be locate on a six acre property given to the Congregation by the bishop.

All 69 students at all levels of formation of the Indian Vicariate and seven aspirants of the vocation camp gathered at St. Gaspar Ashram in Bangalore from May 1-6, 2008 to build up closer relationship and to know each other better. “We felt that the different branches of the same tree is being strengthened once again by this inter communities gathering” was the comment of one of the participants.

The Vicariate Director and the Formators of the four formation houses of the Vicariate were present at the event. The experiences and activities of the gathering were diverse: conferences on spirituality, vocation, youth problems, manual work, sports, liturgies and cultural activities. All was done in general assemblies and in groups which would compete among themselves for the best performance. Prizes were distributed at the end of the gathering.

All the students had the chance to interrelate among themselves, so the four theologians who are doing their theological studies in North India in the seminary of Astha (Bhopal) spoke of their academic studies and the pastoral work they do among tribal population. Their experiences gave inspiration to other seminarians to think about their future mission.

The Moderator General accompanied by General Councilor Fr. Felix Mushobozi was in India from April 3 – 26, 2008. The main scope of the visit was the preaching of the annual retreat to our Indian members. A total of 56 members convened in Bangalore, at the Passionist Spiritual Centre, in two different moments for the occasion.

The themes of the retreat were those traditional in CPPS life: mission, vision, spirituality, community and reconciliation. Both the Moderator General and Fr. Felix could talk personally to each participant, thus taking the chance to listen and to be listened to. The members showed their satisfaction and gratitude. Moments of community life and of sharing in prayer and discussions were lived with very much appreciation by all.

During and after the retreat two special and important events occurred, both taking place at St. Gaspar Shrine in Kithiganur, in the outskirts of Bangalore.

On April 6th seven new members of the Vicariate were incorporated into the Congregation and on April 20th seven members received the order of diaconate and six were ordained priests, the ordaining bishop being the Very Rev. Soundararaju Psriyanayagam, SDB, Bishop of Vellore, Tamil Nadu. Both occasions gathered a huge number of joyful people, parents, relatives, members of he Vicariate, friends and religious who celebrated with the newly incorporated and ordained members.

A seventh member was ordained in his own parish in the State of Kerala. Fr. Felix participated at the event.

The seven incorporated members and new deacons are: Ananda Rao Mekala, Kulandairaji Mahimaidoss, Patrick L. Mekala, Charles Maria Arul, Michael Dara, Rajendra Mariadass Mariachetty, Wenceslaus Nirmal Raji Kambala.

Pictured at right are the newly ordained priests are: Amalorpavaraj Devadas, Lazar George Nattalathan, Solomon Thumula Raju, Ambrose Kumar Bernard, Arockia Swamy Suran, George Anand Diviaraj, Sunil Kumar Pallipoyika.

The Indian Vicariate is a fast growing unit of the CPPS. Our prayer and wish is that it grows at the same time always more deeply in the cpps vision and charism.

Altin Shabani, the first Albanian citizen to become a member of the Congregation, was incorporated on Sunday, 25 May 2008, in the parish of Preziosissimo Sangue in Florence.

At the fall of the communist regime in Albania, Altin was a professional nurse and was acquainted with the ASC sisters who had opened a mission house in Durazzo to carry out social programs to aid the local people. In the work of the sisters Altin came to know the One to whom their work gave witness: Jesus Christ. In 1996, at the age of 23, Altin requested and received baptism, with Sister Anna De Robertis, ASC, as his godmother.

Altin requested entrance into the Congregation in 2001 and was admitted to the formation house of the Italian Province in Rome. He has been involved in pastoral work in the CPPS parish in Florence and is pursuing a licentiate in theological anthropology while awaiting his ordination to the diaconate and priesthood.

With immense joy, the CPPS Vicariate of Tanzania witnessed the Priestly ordination of Patrick Kimaro, CPPS, celebrated by Bp. Telesphor Mkude at the Body and Blood of Christ Church in Morogoro, Tanzania, on 21 May 2008.

Commenting on pluralism of sects in Christianity, modernity and priestly vocation, the Bishop assured the faithful present that one's option to remain Catholic is right option because the Body of Christ is not and need not to be divided. It is in the Church and in CPPS community that the new priest is going to find security, he concluded.

The Eucharistic celebration was followed by reception venue at St. Gaspar College, where apart from festival lunch; cultural entertainments including traditional dances were displayed.

May God bless the entire CPPS family!

Text: CPPS Tanzanian Vicariate

The Italian Province held its electoral assembly to elect new leadership for the province in Rome from June 12-13. Fr. Francesco Bartoloni, moderator general, presided at the assembly, which was preceded by time for discernment and by an introduction in which the

Don Giuseppe Montenegro was elected provincial director of the province. He will be assisted by four councilors: Don Terenzio Pastore, firfst councilor and vice provincial director; Don Luciano Nobili, second councilor, Don Evaldo Biasini, third councilor and provincial treasurer; Don Simone Masone, fourth councilor and provincial secretary.

Text and photos: Francesco Bartoloni, cpps

Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, CPPS, sends us the following news and photos from Newark, California:

Fr. Marvin Steffes is celebrating fifty years of priesthood at St. Edward Church. He served as pastor of our parish community and was the first CPPS pastor.

Fr. Steffes was ordained June 1, 1958. After ordination he served in Detroit, MI, and in Cincinnati, OH, as a parochial vicar. He taught at Carroll High School in Dayton, OH, before doing graduate studies at the University of Cincinnati. On finishing his studies Fr. Steffes came to California to serve at teacher at Cardinal Newman High School in Santa Rosa and in 1969 he became the principal. In 1970 Fr. Steffes was elected to provincial leadership, serving as councilor and as provincial treasurer. In 1974 he was elected as provincial director.

After leaving provincial leadership he served as a hospital chaplain for a year before coming to St. Edward in 1979. Subsequently he was administrator at St. Anthony in Manteca (1991), administrator at San Agustin Church in Scotts Valley and at St. Joseph in Spreckels (1994), and as pastor at Christ Child Church in Las Gatos (1995).

Many long time parishioners have wonderful stories to tell about his time here. Sr. Mary Joseph Lyons, OP was principal of the school during some of his years here and remembers him as a “wonderful pastor.” She reports that he was good to work with, very cooperative and always consulted with her about the school. She liked his homilies, saying “had a way with words, he got to the point and said it nicely.”

I served four years with Fr. Steffes here at St. Edward 1984-88. I remember particularly a homily he gave on Holy Thursday in 1988. The homily was my first real introduction to the scriptural image of the Lamb of God, and its centrality to our celebration of the Eucharist. We thank him for being such a good friend, teacher and pastor, for his devotion to Jesus Christ and his faithfulness to the mission of St. Gaspar del Bufalo. Happy Anniversary, Marvin. Ad Multos Annos!

Representatives present were:

Richard Bayuk — Kansas City Province, Treasurer
Evaldo Biasini — Italian Province, Treasurer
Joseph Fisher — Cincinnati Province, Treasurer
Franciszek Grzywa — Polish Province, Treasurer
Andreas Hasenburger — Teutonic Province, Provincial
Jaroslaw Jablonski — Polish Province, Provincial
Peter Nobili — Atlantic Province, Treasurer
William Nordenbrock — General Curia, Treasurer

The Church of the Most Precious Blood in the working class area of Madrid, called Orcasitas, was filled with parishioners, family, friends, and the CPPS on April 5 th to celebrate the priestly ordination of Juan Pedro Ruiz. This was the first ordination ever held in the parish and the parish community prepared for it in style! Juan Pedro lived with Fr. Queño Mora in the Parish during his last years of formation and as deacon.

The ordaining Prelate was Bishop Fidel Herráez, one of the Auxiliary Bishops of the large Archdiocese of Madrid. A festive dinner in a restaurant in Leganés followed. The next day Fr Juan Pedro celebrated his First Mass in the same parish and then was joined in the church patio by the parishioners and friends for refreshments.

Congratulations, Juan Pedro!

The former Kolleg St Josef (photo at left) which served as the seminary residence for the Teutonic Province in Salzburg is being refurbished. Renovations have been underway since February and within a month it should be ready for residence. At that time, the current residents of the Villa von Trapp will move over to the other building. The von Trapp Family Home (below) will become a bed-and-breakfast. The proceeds from that venture will provide some financing for the expenses of the newly refurbished Kolleg.

The renovated building will serve various functions. It will be the Province Center, the seminary for its students, and will house the new International Center of Precious Blood Spirituality. The official inauguration of the Center is scheduled for July 1st.

The Center's future Director, Fr. Barry Fischer, is currently completing a three-month course in the German language, which has proved to be quite a challenge!

Four young men said yes to their vocational call on Saturday, May 17, and became full members of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood.

The rite of definitive incorporation took place during a Eucharistic liturgy at Immaculate Conception Church in Celina, Ohio. Fr. Angelo Anthony, C.PP.S., provincial director of the Cincinnati Province of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood, accepted their commitment to the Congregation.

Making their definitive incorporations were:

Fr. Angelmiro Granados Acevedo, C.PP.S. Fr. Granados, 31, a native of Colombia , was ordained a diocesan priest in 2003. When he went searching for a religious community that could foster his call to the spirituality of the Precious Blood, he found the Missionaries through their website, beginning a five-year formation process. Fr. Granados serves as a teacher and chaplain at a school in Bogota , Colombia , where he is studying for a master's degree.

Kevin Scalf, C.PP.S. Scalf, 32, a native of Cincinnati , is in advanced formation with the Missionaries. A high school teacher before he entered the Community, he recently completed a masters of divinity degree at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago and also teaches lay ministry classes in the Diocese of Gary. Scalf, a priesthood candidate, will be ordained a deacon at St. John the Baptist Church in Whiting, Ind. , on July 1.

Vince Wirtner, C.PP.S. Wirtner, 45, a native of Fort Wayne , is a former youth minister and a licensed practical nurse. He also brings his gift of music to the Congregation. He is currently in advanced formation and is studying at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago in preparation for the priesthood.

Antonio Sison, C.PP.S. With the rite of definitive incorporation, Sison , 42, becomes Br. Antonio, a religious brother with the Community. A filmmaker, teacher and spiritual director, he is a native of the Philippines who received a doctorate in theology while studying in the Netherlands . Br. Antonio teaches at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago , where he has spent two years in advanced formation.

The celebration was a joyous day for the Congregation, whose members carry on many ministries across the United States . “For those of us who pray for vocations to the religious life, for those who have asked God to send more people to work in his vineyards, a day like this is an answer to those prayers,” said Fr. Anthony. “These four men, from such different backgrounds, all displayed the same commitment to our Community and to a life of service in the Church. They bring many gifts to our Precious Blood family, and we welcome them and honor the years of preparation it took for them to make this step.”

Fr. Peter Chiodo, C.PP.S., 78, died Thursday, May 15, 2008, in the infirmary of St. Charles Center, Carthagena, Ohio. He had been in failing health in recent weeks.

Fr. Chiodo was born April 10, 1930, in Homestead, Penn., to Pietro and Michelina Chiodo. He entered the Missionaries of
the Precious Blood in 1945 and was ordained on May 28, 1960.