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Argentina’s Dirty War
Recently in Commonweal, the oldest independent lay Catholic journal of opinion in the United States, 
(from left) Fr. Alfred Velarde,
M.S. and Fr. Jim Weeks, M.S.it contained an article entitled, “The Catholic Church & Argentina's Dirty War; Victims, Perpetrators, or Witnesses?”, a large portion of which is about our brothers in Argentina. Not surprisingly many members of our La Salette Community were interviewed. The article included the following brief description:
“The La Salettes of Córdoba, who focused their pastoral work on the poor and working-class, knew that local intelligence officials had targeted them as potential subversives. On August 3, 1976, police burst through the door of their modest living quarters, ransacked the house, and captured five seminarians and Father James Weeks, a North American priest. (An American nun was released the same day.)
“In short order, the La Salettes were blindfolded, bundled into a car, and taken away, first to Córdoba’s Encausados prison, and later to La Perla prison, one of the Videla regime’s numerous clandestine detention centers. During their imprisonment, they suffered violent interrogations, horrific sanitary conditions, lack of food, and separation from friends, family, and one another.”
This is certainly an unimaginable situation: our La Salettes found themselves in this Dirty War. They were very fortunate to able to flee this cruel and unjust persecution.
Testimonies of Faith
Over my 45 years of vowed life as a La Salette Missionary, I have had the privilege of meeting many people who have been examples to me of great faith. I met them in parishes in which I served, and even in offices where I was asked to serve.
La Salette Shrine Church in Ipswich, MA:
exterior and interior, now closedOne particular group of people that I have served is the Worshipping Community who first came to our La Salette Shrine in Ipswich, MA. First as a seminarian and then as a member of our Retreat Center Ministry, I have assisted in preparation for Sunday Mass as well as getting involved in social and educational gatherings.
These people grew much during the early days of the renewal from Vatican II. They have dealt with their struggles and, with the help of others in this close-knit Worshipping Community, grown into wonderful Catholic Christians who know how to pray, how to serve the needy and how to celebrate the faith and life we share.
Blessed Trinity, Orlando – 50 years
(from left) Fathers William Slight, Fr. Roland Nadeau, Deacon Miguel Pagan and Bishop John Noonan for the celebration of the parish's 50th anniversary (Photo: Andrea Navarro)Blessed Trinity Parish, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, is nestled among the neighborhoods on Anderson Road, where orange groves once stood.
Carolyn Tresnan moved to Orlando 52 years ago and joined Blessed Trinity when it was still a mission, and Mass was celebrated at that time at Conway Elementary School. Tresnan, who serves as a lector, parish council member and 50th anniversary committee member, recalled working with many parishioners over the years, who helped make the parish a reality.
"A lot of people who built this place are not here anymore," she said. "We were working with them to get to this. It's a good example of what disciples are supposed to do."
Fifty Years of Faith
The parish has been holding monthly celebrations to commemorate its 50th anniversary, and May 22, the feast of the Holy Trinity, Bishop John Noonan celebrated Mass top observe the milestone.
“Blessed Trinity has become as very special place where you encounter God,” Bishop Noonan said. “The Holy Spirit transforms us in a mission to serve God and our brothers and sisters. We are Christians and followers of Jesus Christ. We are called to serve and bring forth Jesus Christ. For 50 years, you have served the Lord, and we pray that God will bless us."
Prayer for Attleboro Ministry
From the moment Our Lady of La Salette stood and welcomed the two children during the Apparition on Sept. 19, 1846, those who find inspiration and comfort in her message are reminded to “pray well”.
For the past 60 years, we at the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette in Attleboro, MA, USA, have offered countless opportunities for our visitors, volunteers and pilgrims to pray – daily and weekend Masses, the opportunity for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Healing Services for English, Spanish and Portuguese visitors, our Padre Pio Prayer Group, Intercessory Prayer Group, and our many day and weekend retreat programs.
Within the past four years, we have been involved in a legal tax dispute with the City of Attleboro Tax Assessor’s Office concerning our tax status as a non-profit organization. From our recent meeting with the State Supreme Court concerning our case and the consequent public discussion in newspapers, on radio and television, and in personal blogs, we have asked people to pray for us and our ministry.
As the Massachusetts Supreme Court discusses and decides our case, we ask you to pray for us. You may find the following prayer an appropriate and powerful way of asking God for wisdom for our Supreme Court Judges, for us La Salettes and for the members of our Attleboro City Tax Assessor’s Office.
Attleboro Tax Case
Editor: The tax case involving the La Salette National Shrine and the Tax Assessor of Attleboro, MA, has been heard by the Massachusetts Supreme Court. Now all are awaiting the final judicial decision. This press release is the most recent response from the La Salette Missionaries ministering in Attleboro, MA.
To All Who Visit the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette at Attleboro:
What does La Salette Shrine represent?
‘A shrine is a sign of active and saving presence of the Lord in history and a place of respite for the people of God’. ‘Shrine represents a call to conversion, an invitation to redouble the life of charity and the works of mercy and an exhortation to follow Christ. La Salette Shrine represents a memorial to an original extraordinary event of the appearance of the Blessed Virgin Mary at La Salette on September 19, 1846.
Therefore, La Salette Shrine is a privileged place of divine assistance and of the intercession of Our Lady of La Salette. Care of the Shrine is the primary ministry of the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette. The Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette established a Shrine in honor of Our Lady of La Salette on December 8, 1953 in Attleboro, MA to promote devotion to Our Lady of La Salette with the approval of the Bishop of Fall River Most Reverend James L. Connolly.
Feeding the Hungry for 25 Years
In Matthew’s scene of the Last Judgment, we hear Jesus telling a shocking story. A king separates the vast throng into two groups and first addresses those on his right (“the blessed of my Father”) noting:
Brother Roger Moreau, M.S. (4th from left)
with some of his volunteers‘For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.’
Then the righteous will answer him and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you… in prison, and visit you?’ And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me’ (Matthew 25: 35-40).
This sounds fair enough. Now the king addresses those on his left (the condemned) and greets them with such direct and seemingly harsh words:
Attleboro La Salette Lay Summit 2016
Something new and exciting is happening this July 14-17, 2016, at the La Salette National Shrine. Come join the fun and deepen your faith at the same time!Purpose of Lay Summit
This Lay Summit is offered every three years so that laity can enter more deeply into the conversion process that leads to a more authentic and vibrant Christian life, guided by Mary's message of reconciliation, the Scriptures and our La Salette mission to "make her message known". All adult Catholics are invited to learn more about the message and mission of the La Salette Apparition.
LA SALETTE ATTLEBORO TAX CASE
To the Editor:
(from left) Shrine Church as seen from Rosary Pond;Retreat Center with its Marian ChapelFor more than 60 years, the La Salette Shrine has been a shining symbol of peace, love and joy to all who visit; an inspiration for those who travel as far away as Canada and upstate New York, and many more cities and towns across America, just to find the peace and reconciliation they feel will make their lives whole again.
Possibly a refuge and a home where they could share their pain and hurt to one of the dedicated priests. There is never a charge to go to La Salette or the "Festival of Lights." They solely depend on donations.
What would Attleboro be without the La Salette Shrine? How would Attleboro be different without the Shrine? For one thing, that walk you love to take around the Rosary Pond would be gone. The Holy Stairs that bring you much peace when you are at your lowest ebb – this, too, would be gone.
Interviewing Peter Maurin
Editor: First published in the La Salette publication, Our Lady’s Missionary in January of 1940, this article chronicles a visit which Fr. John Rohrman, M.S. had with the co-founder of the Catholic Worker Movement. Although it is fairly lengthy, I retained its entire content in this Jubilee Year of Mercy.
The bronze, “Depression Breadline” at the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial in Washington, DC.A Jesuit professor of philosophy from a large mid-western university was seated in the editorial office of the Catholic Worker House of Hospitality, on Mott St., New York City, waiting to see Peter Maurin, the instigator and guiding genius of the Catholic Worker movement. He was enthused by the many accounts which he had heard and read about Peter and his social program. Peter Maurin – there was a man with ideas, but more than that, one who was putting his social philosophy into practice, and actually succeeding.
There were many ragged and poorly clad men, homeless and unemployed from the bread-line, sitting in the yard, which separates the front tenement from the one in the rear. So the priest took no particular notice when one of these men – so he thought – entered the office and sat down. He continued his eulogy of Peter, telling those present what a great man Peter was, when, after a while, someone smilingly addressed the newcomer, saying: "Peter, here is a priest who has been waiting to see you."
PRAYER FOR PARIS TERROR VICTIMS
Attleboro - Less than a week ago, 129 ordinary and ill-fated people went about their lives in Paris. They had plans for Friday night, Nov. 13, 2015. Some were headed to a rock concert. Some were meeting friends at cafes with the idea of sitting outdoors at sidewalk tables on an unusually warm fall night.
What their stories were, we don't know. What their hopes and dreams were, we don't know. What their troubles were, we don't know.
But, we do know how they died. Bullets shredded their lives in a sudden and savage attack by terrorists from the Islamic State group who exploded out of the dark with only one aim – to kill. And that they did, drenching the floors of a concert hall and the streets of Paris with the blood of innocents, shocking the City of Lights and the world.
At least 350 more were wounded, many severely. It was an end to the night none of the 129 could have imagined. Waves of sadness and anger swept over all civilized nations, washing into the smallest corners of countries, everywhere prompting prayers for peace, for comfort and for an end to senseless slaughter.