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- Mission Mentions -
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Work in Medellin

In our Basilian parish Ecce Homo, the estimated unemployment is about 70% with about 10% more who may work one day a week, often single mothers with a number of children or countless widows with their families, a result of the violence which has touched this area. About sixteen young people of the parish work in our taller, or workshop, which makes different artisan products and serves the community with carpentry as well. In 2002, the artisans of the workshop crafted thousands of little wooden crosses for World Youth Day, and in 2004 they made 5,000 mementos for Salt and Light Television in Toronto. The taller continues to be a beacon of hope for young people in the parish. The Basilians try and encourage these youth to eventually develop their own businesses. A group of women started a small home industry making pillow covers. Eventually, they hope to start making some stoles and chasubles and other ornaments for liturgical use.

In Blanquizal we started a small community store, which is able to offer people who are sub-employed food products at cost. We also sell used clothes to help finance the project.

Recently we have built a three story building in another area of the parish which one day will become it’s own parish center, and we have laid the foundation for a new church which will serve Barrio Olaya Herrera. The present building, which is now completed, will be used for different social projects. We are working with a local foundation, Fundacion Saciar, to establish on one of the floors a dining room for children in which 100 or more children will have breakfast and lunch served to them everyday. The Marianitas sisters will run this service with our help. Another floor will be set aside for teaching different trade skills. This floor will also serve as a temporary chapel.


First Vows

On August 14th, Morgan Rice and Christopher Valka celebrated the First Profession of Vows in the Congregation of Priests of St. Basil at Angelton, Texas. We welcome Morgan and Chris to service in the joy of Our Lord.

A Note From Father Jack:

Dear Co-Missionaries,

We all need reminders of our supernatural solidarity with our deceased loved ones. We often tend to think of All Souls Day in solemn terms, when we should celebrate with joy because of our faith in the Resurrection, when God sent His only Son to Redeem us. Since apostolic times, the Church has called for prayers for the dead. Saint Paul himself entreated for Onesiphorus, “may the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that Day.” [2 Timothy 1:18]. Just as Paul interceded for a deceased brother, we, too, should pray for our deceased loved ones, asking God to be merciful to them on Judgement Day.

I urge you to send in the attached card (on the following page) with the names of your beloved dead which you wish us to remember during our special Novena of Masses from October 25 to November 2.

More than ever, in words which are contemporary for our times and in accord with scripture, we must make known to as many as possible the treasures of our Catholic faith. As Pope John Paul II often reminded us, we are all called to be part of the new evangelization. We live in troubled times with the destabilization of family life and isolation among many people. Our Basilian missionaries take an active part in the diffusion of the wonderful Christian hope, and daily announce the coming of the Savior who suffered, died, and rose again so we might have life in abundance.

As co-missionaries, you also are called to an active service of the Living God by your prayers and your alms. As our patroness, St. Therese Lisieux, said, “You know well enough that Our Lord does not look so much at the greatness of our actions, nor even at their difficulty, but at the love with which we do them.” Won’t you please say a prayer for our missionaries today, and, when possible, send an alms to our missions?

Blessings,

Rev. John Whitley, C.S.B.