OPENING OF POSTULANCY IN NORTH AMERICA

Ever since 1858, February 2 has had a special significance in the life of the La Salette Congregation, Provinces and Regions. For it was on that date that the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette took the vows of religious life for the first time, thus becoming a Religious Congregation.

That is why, 158 years later, February 2 was chosen as the date for the beginning of Postulancy for three candidates of the North American Province.

One of them, Dimitri Demesmin, from Haiti, is already a diocesan priest who feels drawn to the La Salette way of life. He will spend most of his postulancy ministering in the parish of Mary Queen in Friendswood, Texas, while maintaining frequent contact with the Directors of Postulancy, Fr. Brian Schloth and Fr. Ronald Beauchemin, and with the other postulants.

The other two, Joseph Everton and Eric Burtchell, both came to know La Salette through the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette in Attleboro, Massachusetts. They will remain in Washington, DC, taking courses for four or five months to ensure their readiness to begin theology studies in the fall of 2017.

The Novitiate will begin this summer.

The Postulancy began with a simple ceremony during a celebration of the Liturgy. On hand for the occasion were members of the Province Formation Committee: Fr. Raymond Cadran (also a member of the Provincial Council), Bro. David Eubank, and Fr. Ted Brown, as well as the Provincial Superior, Fr. René Butler.

Photo above:

From left: Fr. Ted Brown; Bro. David Eubank; Fr. Brian Schloth; Fr. Raymon Cadran; postulants Joseph Everton, Eric Burtchell & Fr. Dimitri Demesmin; Fr. Ronald Beauchemin.

Below: Fr. René Butler, Provincial, with the three postulants: Joseph Everton, Eric Burtchell, and Fr. Dimitri Demesmin

Fr. René Butler MS

January18-26, 2016
Mendiolaza, Argentina

The Regional Assembly and Chapter took place at a retreat center in Mendiolaza, about an hour’s drive from Córdoba.

Besides the 12 perpetually professed and the 2 in temporary vows, two candidates were also present, as well as several lay persons, all from Argentina with the exception of one from the USA. They were joined by the North American Provincial.

The Assembly focused on the Year of Mercy, with talks given by a Chilean priest, Fr. Cristian Mauricio Cárdenas Aguilar. He laid special emphasis on the tendency to indifference which so concerns Pope Francis.

During the Assembly the two candidates, Cesar Atahuichi Ochoa and Germán Ojopi Dasilva began their novitiate. After the meetings they traveled to Brazil where they joined the Brazilian novices at the La Salette Shrine of Marcelino Ramos.

Also, Fr. Joseph Peethuruthel, who had worked in Argentina for about 8 years, came to say goodbye before returning to India.

Friday, January 22, was a free day for the La Salettes, but for the laity it was a day to reflect together on their identity and role in the Region. They then went their separate ways before the “Ad Instar Capituli” meeting began on the Saturday.

Besides the various reports and the election of the Regional Council, the Chapter devoted its energy in particular to three areas:

 Vocations. This remains the most important issue that the Region must face. Plans were made for a Regional event drawing candidates from the different parts of the Region.
 Formation. Strategies and policies were reviewed.
 The 170th Anniversary of the Apparition. The hope is to organize three or four days of recollection in the course of the year, in each of our parishes.

Just before the Assembly, In Córdoba, we celebrated the birthday of Javier Pereira. During the Assembly we celebrated Alfredo Velarde’s 40th Anniversary of Religious Life. Two scholastics, Ariel Muratore and Diego Diaz renewed their vows on the same occasion.

In the photos, it is obvious that Alfredo has not been well. He was operated on for cancer just weeks before these meetings. Nevertheless, his spirits were excellent and his vitality was not much diminished.

Fr. René Butler MS

Missionaries of La Salette from Poland, working in Ukraine renewed their website. It is edited in two languages, Polish and Ukrainian. There are currently 9 Missionaries 8 priests and 1 brother  in 5 towns; Łanowice, Busk, Krivoy Rog, Zaporozhye, Nikopol. Each parish has its own website.

We invite you to visit the new page.

The New Provincial Council elected during the chapter of La Salette Matha Province.

From left

Rev. Fr. Rojan Cheriyadan MS (Provincial Vicar)

 Rev. Fr. Roy Parayil MS (Provincial Superior)

Rev. Fr. Benny Thadathilkunnel MS (Provincial Councilor)

The 4th Provincial Chapter of La Salette Matha Province was held from January 25th to 29th. The Chapter began with a recollection day, adoration and confession. On the first day of the evening the community had the Christmas celebration and exchange of gifts. Rev. Fr. Thomas Vellappallil M.S (The Director of North American La Salette Mission Center) was the delegate of Most. Rev. Fr. Silvano Marisa M.S the Superior General, to preside over the Chapter. There were fruitful discussions and decisions in the Chapter. On January 28th Rev. Fr. Roy Parayil M.S was re-elected as the Provincial Superior of La Salette Matha Province for the second term. Fr. Rojan Cheriyadan M.S was elected as Vicar Provincial and Fr. Benny Thadathilkunnel M.S as the Provincial Councilor. The Chapter came to an end on January 29th Friday with solemn Holy Eucharistic celebration of the New Provincial Council.

Left to right: Fr. Fernando Altamiranda, M.S., Second Assistant

Fr. Alfredo Velarde, M.S., Regional Superior

Fr. Norman Butler, M.S., Regional Vicar

‘’We found in YouTube some videos about ‘’La Salette world’’. For the moment we invite you to see:

1. La Salette Shrine Drone Aerial and East Boston Madonna Shrine
2.Procession of statue of  Our Lady of La Salette Paete, Laguna, Philippines
3. Sanktuarium Saletyni ( Sanctuaire La Salette ) Dębowiec 38-220 Poland
4. Street Dance Competition and Showdown Competition
Brgy. Muzon, City of Jose Del Monte, Bulacan
5. Le restauration Août 2015 - La Salette

And others…

Go to the menu VIDEO.

Please, look for  other films and let us know so we can put them in the list.

Our meeting this year took place in the Eternal City. Now it becomes annual, this time of sharing is a privileged time, a moment where we enriched each other in our different experiences of collaboration: for formation, for the service of our shrines, for the mission, in a common prayer, especially for our deceased and the monthly La Salette Novena. Our charism is enriched with the contribution of different sensitive concerns and together- we realized and became aware - we already really live something beautiful that only needs to be deepened.

To give thanks this path and process and continue to entrust to the Lord, we participated together in the audience with Pope Francis on Wednesday, 18. We took with us his invitation to "keep our doors open to bear witness to Christ, the only true and real Door that opens to the Father".

It is also a chance for us, MS and SNDS to share together moments not only in formal and business meetings but of fraternal and informal sharing of presence – where we can relax in the presence of one another, the complimentarily of the Melanie and Maximin as La Salette.

We experienced also the generosity of one another to be available to experience the history of Rome. We were able to share our common friend through the presence and visit of Cardinal Luis “Chito”Tagle who had a close connection also with both the SNDS and MS.

Our meeting, “Rendez-vous” for next year is already set!

S. Elisabeth Guiboux, snds