IL GIORNO 3 LUGLIO E' AVVENUTA LA PROFESSIONE RELIGIOSA DI 4 NOVIZI VIETNAMITI:
AUGURIAMO A LORO BUON CAMMINO DI SANTITA' E PERSEVERANZA
June 26, 2018 - Chelsea, MI
A new era began for the Guanellian Family in the United States, as the formal dedication of St. Louis Guanella Village and the Grand Opening of four new Children’s Homes for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) took place on the grounds of St. Louis Center in Chelsea, MI on Tuesday, June 12, 2018. Now, 58 years after arriving in the U.S. from Italy, the Servants of Charity Congregation is providing a continuum of care for children as young as five, and adults as old as 77 years of age who need assisted living services. St. Louis Center will also be serving girls aged 5-18 years of age for the first time in its history as one of the Children’s Homes is meant for their care. Each home has five bedrooms, a kitchen, a modern dining room, living room, sensory/play room, laundry room, and caregiver work areas. The homes were specially designed for the needs of children on the autism spectrum, and feature soft, natural color palates, full spectrum LED lighting in each room and plenty of natural lighting.
The concept being developed for St. Louis Guanella Village is known as an “intentional community,” where mixed housing will be provided for children, adults, and families who are caring for loved ones with I/DD. Along with future plans for family homes, there will also be additional cottage homes built for adult residents with I/DD who require support services, townhouses for independent living, a fitness center, a chapel, a rectory and a retail center for skill building and job training.
In 2010, St. Louis Center celebrated its 50th Anniversary and began an analysis of what was needed to safeguard its future. The Center’s aging facilities needed to be “updated, uplifted and upgraded,” and so a capital campaign was born. Over the course of seven years, a total of $10 million was raised with the support of a 25-member fundraising team. New construction began in 2010-11, and a Family Welcome Center was dedicated in 2011, a Special Needs Playground was added in 2012, and Fr. Guanella Hall was turned into an Assisted Living home in 2014.
The Grand Opening Celebration drew 300 people to a 4:00 p.m. Mass celebrated by Very Rev. Bishop Emeritus Carl F. Mengeling of the Diocese of Lansing along with ten priests from the Servants of Charity Congregation and the local community. Following Mass, a procession of supporters was led to the new St. Louis Guanella Village by a local Knights of Columbus color corps. Soon the crowd swelled to over 400 people to hear words of welcome from Fr. Enzo Addari, Executive Director of St. Louis Center, along with a history lesson about St. Louis Center from Fr. Joseph Rinaldo, SdC., Community Superior. Fr. David Stawasz unveiled the new St. Louis Guanella Village logo, and Legacy Campaign Chair Norman Neuman thanked all of the people who helped bring the vision of the St. Louis Guanella Village together. A tribute was received from the Michigan Legislature, and several important funders, including the Michigan Knights of Columbus represented by State Deputy Kenneth Unterbrink, were acknowledged. Christine Lindemann, the sister and guardian of one resident, told her family’s story and talked about how meaningful this accomplishment was for SLC families. Bishop Mengeling and Fr. Addari cut the ribbon to officially open the Children’s Homes, and then food and entertainment commenced, in spite of the rains that came pouring down shortly after the ribbon cutting. While Bishop Mengeling blessed each home with Holy Water, God did His part from up above. For more information about St. Louis Guanella Village and the new Children’s Homes, please visit www.stlouiscenter.org.
Other photos by Kelly Flaherty
Press Release Authority:
Joseph Yekulis
Public Relations Director
joey@stlouiscenter.org
Ordenação Presbiteral - Pe. Tiago Santos Silva - 30 de Junho de 2018 - Igreja Catedral de São José Itabúna-BA
Fifty years from now, they will look at the pictures of what we are doing this afternoon. They will look at our faces and say: this one’s dead already; this one too; and also this one. But the good things that we are starting now will still be alive fifty or even one hundred years from now. What we are doing is important and we thank the Lord for the blessing that this house is.
Do you know how much this is (Bp. Soc holding a one thousand peso bill)? How much? One thousand. Do you want this? Who wants to have this? C’mon, don’t be shy. You will accept this, right? One thousand. One thousand, can it be? If I will do this to the bill (Bp. Soc crumples the bill)? Will you still accept this? Why? Because it’s still one thousand. What if I’ll throw this to the ground and step on it, will you still accept it? What if I’ll throw this above a dog poop, will you still accept it? You will wipe it. You really want it. Why? Because the value of the one thousand bill will not change even if it is crumpled. The value of the one thousand bill will not change even if it’s dirty. The value of the one thousand bill will not change even if we step on it on the ground. That is the value of the one thousand bill. If that is the value of the one thousand bill, why are we then changing the value of a human person? Why do we call an addict an animal; but if he/she is not an addict, a person? Why is it that if you are old or young, you don’t have any worth; as if you are of less worth than someone who earns for a living? Why is it that there seems to be a difference between the value of a man and the worth of a woman? Why is it that we look at the rich and the poor differently? Why? Why is it that we look at the educated and the unschooled differently?
This afternoon, Silungan ng Panangaro is telling us that all persons have the same value. We have the same value and there is no person whose value is reduced because he/she committed a mistake, because he/she got sick, because he/she has a missing eye, because his/her brain is not functioning well, because he/she cannot talk – we all have the same worth.
This is what Silungan ng Panangaro is telling us. This is a lighthouse in Pangasinan. And this lighthouse is telling everybody, you are equal before the Lord. Even if we sinned, even if we get sick. Even if something is lacking in our bodies – whether we are bald, have hair, have teeth or none, crippled or can walk, can hear or cannot hear, can read or cannot read. All of us are children of God. And because we are children of God, we have the same value.
But when Jesus Christ came, the equation changed. Because our value are not the same anymore. Because when Jesus Christ came, he chose the wounded instead of the healthy one. He chose poverty instead of riches. He chose the manger instead of a room. He chose to die on the cross as a criminal instead of dying because of a sickness, as someone holy. This means that Jesus raised the value of the wounded, the person who has disability, the person in the outskirts, the person who is rejected by the society, Jesus raised their value. In fact, it is not really equal. It is not equal because Christ gave extra attention to and additional concern for those who lack something here on earth. That is why we are here. It is our Christian duty to take care of our own people. It is our Christian duty to take care of the poor because the poor, the aged, the handicapped, the marginalized, God chose to be with them.
But before he died and rose again, our Lord left us this instruction in the Gospel of St. Matthew: Whatever you do to the least of your brothers and sisters, you do to me. Ask permission from the poor. You want to go to heaven? Ask permission from the underprivileged, from the handicapped, from the forgotten, from the weak, from the babies, from the grandparents, [from the] abandoned. Ask permission first. If these people do not endorse you, I will not let you go to heaven. This house, Silungan ng Panangaro, is gate of heaven. You want to go to heaven, pass here because it is the poor, the abandoned, the marginalized, the handicapped, the sick, the forgotten who will bring us to heaven.
This afternoon, we are starting history. This lighthouse for Pangasinan, this proclaims a very important message: we are equal before the Lord. Our value is not reduced just because we are disabled, because we don’t earn for a living, or because we are mute. We all have the same value. And if you want to go to heaven, stoop down to the poor – to the weak, to the hungry, to those who lack in life, serve them, let’s impress them because they are our way to heaven. There is no other way. There is no other way.
I am sorry to tell you, lighting a candle will not bring you to heaven. Or bringing flowers will not bring you to heaven. Only love. And love for the poor, love for the handicapped, love for the forgotten, love for the least. That is the only sure way. The only key that will open the gates to heaven for us.
This afternoon, let us renew our love for the poor. Because we should not forget that we are all poor before God. We have nothing to brag about in front of God. And we know that in this work, God will help us. Because this work is God’s work and that we only continue this work of His here on earth.
Sono rifiutati dalla famiglia. Esclusi dalla società. Nella Repubblica Democratica del Congo, i ragazzi disabili mentali vivono una condizione di marginalità. Per loro non esiste una rete di strutture pubbliche. Così diventano gli ultimi degli ultimi. Da alcuni anni però al loro fianco sono scesi i padri Guanelliani, una piccola congregazione religiosa fondata tra l’800 e il ‘900 da don Luigi Guanella, un sacerdote italiano.
“Il sostegno ai disabili - spiega a Fides fratel Franco Lain - è una parte importante del nostro carisma, ma l’impegno a favore dei ragazzi disabili mentali in Congo è nato quasi per caso agli inizi degli anni Duemila. Da tempo, ci occupavamo dei ragazzi di strada a Kinshasa, la capitale del Paese. Li raccoglievamo e offrivamo loro cure, assistenza e cercavamo di reinserirli in famiglia o di renderli autonomi attraverso il lavoro. Alcuni di questi ragazzi soffrivano di disturbi mentali legati a traumi (incidenti, percosse, ecc.), epilessia, disagio. Le famiglie li rifiutavano ed era difficile reinserirli in società. Abbiamo così deciso di intervenire”.
I Guanelliani hanno un tenuta al Plateau de Bateke, un ambiente agricolo, con molti piccoli villaggi a 100 km da Kinshasa. È un luogo sereno, lontano dalla vita frenetica della capitale. Trasferiscono un primo gruppo di ragazzi disabili e iniziano con loro un percorso di riabilitazione (attualmente sono 25 gli ospiti della struttura). “Le condizioni di vita di queste persone sono drammatiche”, continua fratel Lain. “Credenze locali e la predicazione delle sette (purtroppo anche quelle che si definiscono cristiane) li accusano di essere legati agli spiriti malvagi e di essere portatori di disgrazie. Per questo vengono allontanati dalle loro comunità. Sono picchiati. A volte, bruciati vivi”.
Nella Repubblica Democratica del Congo, ci sono solo sei ospedali psichiatrici con 500 posti lett. Mancano anche i medici e gli infermieri: ci sono solo 34 neuropsichiatri e 33 psichiatri. Quasi tutti questi professionisti della salute mentale lavorano nella capitale, pochi a nessuno nelle aree rurali.
I padri Guanelliani accolgono i ragazzi che sono spaventati e fragili: “È necessario assicurare loro - sottolinea fratel Lain - un ambiente che trasmetta serenità e fiducia. La località in cui li accogliamo ci favorisce perché non ha muri né reti, intorno c’è solo campagna. Le persone che li accudiscono li trattano con dolcezza. In questo modo gli ospiti si sentono a casa”.
Poi vengono avviati al lavoro. “Cerchiamo di capire le attitudini di ciascuno - specifica il Guanelliano - e di avviarli alle attività che loro preferiscono: agricoltura, allevamento, artigianato. Sono piccoli lavori, ma li aiutano a recuperare fiducia in sé stessi, cercando di reinserirli nella società”.
I Guanelliani si stanno interrogando sul futuro della struttura e su come proseguire la loro opera con ragazzi che stanno diventando uomini. “Stiamo progettando di coltivare a manioca i campi intorno alla comunità e di costruire un mulino per produrre farina”, spiega fratel Lain. Il progetto però è ancora solo sulla carta. La situazione politica e sociale della nazione non offre le garanzie necessarie per creare qualcosa di nuovo. “Speriamo che il prossimo futuro ci regali una maggiore stabilità che ci permetta di portare avanti le nostre idee”, conclude. (EC) (16/6/2018)
Fonte - (Agenzia Fides) - http://www.fides.org
“First Religious Profession “
“To Serve him Gladly” With these motivating words and a humble attitude our novices on a very special day of the Solemnity of the Visitation of Blessed Virgin Mary professed their Vows and entered the Guanellian Institute as Religious with great joy and enthusiasm. The 12 months of Novitiate under the guidance of Fr. Adaikalam was definitely a time to introspect their call and as Samuel heard the voice of God and answered “Here Iam Lord”, today our Brothers have said ‘yes’ to the call. In the august presence of our most Rev Fr.SoosaiRathinam,the Provincial, his Councilors , Guanellian Fathers & Brothers from other community, religious from other congregation, Guanellian Cooperators & Laity, Parents & families of the professed Brothers had a solemn Mass praying for these five. The purity shone on the faces of these five, giving them an angelic look as they wore their white Cassock. The Joy radiated while the Parents of these Brother stood by offering their Sons for the holy ministry of God. They are truly blessed. Fr. SoosaiRathinam in his message to the Brothers concluded that God alone will be by your side in this journey. The community hosted the guests and shared sumptuous food.
Promise Renewal – Guanellian Cooperators
It takes a second for God to touch, few days to realize the call, a blessed moment that draws you close to what God wants and a life time to Sanctify one’s Soul. If not for this we will not have our 8 Cooperators being with us for 8-10 yrs from being benefactors, Lay members and finally saying yes with Promise to follow the life as a Guanellian. This is the 3rd year of renewal and by the grace of God the flock has stayed together, grown in Guanellian spirit and today stand with an experience to share with the aspirants. The World offers beautiful things, there are struggles in their lives, each one is busy doing some work but God has called them to serve his people. Today these 8 have renewed their Promise to continue as Cooperators and join hands with the Congregation to support in ways possible by them. They promise to be like yeast among the world and setting example to live a life of goodness and as good Catholics. The members made sure they prepare themselves for this big day through a day of recollection with Adoration, Reflections, Holy Mass & Confession. Fr. Adaikalam the Delegate who has formed them looked with great pride and joy. The Renewal was done during the Holy mass amidst the Religious and the Laity. The Holy mass was celebrated by our Provincial Fr. SoosaiRathinam, Con-celebrated by his council members Fr. Visuvasam, Fr. Kulandai, Guanellian Fathers and joined by Brothers, Sisters from other community, Laity from around the community. This was indeed a memorable day for our congregation.
Pledge Renewal by GLM
Our Founder trusted in joining hands with the Laity and making them part of the mission for he understood that we can go those extra miles with Laity and this will spread the Charity among many where the religious cannot reach. The dream of our founder has been accomplished while we saw 20 Members making their pledge, out of them 14 members renewed and 6 were added. The GLM has no boundary with caste, race or religion. The only thing we need is the heart to serve the needy. The members have been instrumental in many ways helping the Community and the congregation. They actively take part in the mission activities and thirst to grow in the Charism of our Founder. The members under the guidance of Fr. Adaikalam were formed & have prepared to make their pledge. This day was a very memorable with a grand mass celebrated by our Provincial Fr. Soosai Rathinam. This was a witness to other Laity who will be motivated to join the good works of Charity.
Inauguration of the Tent of Love
“It is God who does”, these are the words our Founder clung to. It all began with a thought to provide shelter to the needy, to have activities like evening school for needy children, open house ministry, activities for children, place of payer and much more. This is why we call it a Tent of Love where we could have many activities to glorify God. It gives the community a great joy to have this Tent blessed and inaugurated by our Provincial Most Rev. Fr. SoosaiRathinam. The joy was added when his councilors Fr. Visuvasam, Fr. Kulandai, Guanellian Fathers from other community, Guanellian Brothers, Guanellian Sisters, Religious from other Congregation, Guanellian Cooperators, Guanellian Lay Movement Members, Benefactors, Beneficiaries and well-wishers joined and prayed together. It definitely was not our plan but the will of God as we have seen the hands of Providence that worked through a lot of generous hearts and the toil of our Guanellian Brothers who have been playing different roles as Carpenters, Engineers, painters etc. Fr. Gnanaraj the superior was the backbone for planning, mobilizing and realizing this dream project. It was a beautiful experience for the community since they started this with no financial support from the Congregation but God took them through and helped them to accomplish his will. There were times of distress and they were lost but God stood by and provided for them. They are very happy today that they have a Multi-purpose hall which can host around 300 people. The good works of the Guanellians will continue.
Il 30 Maggio ultimo scorso, l'Opera Don Guanella Napoli è stato luogo di incontro, giochi, laboratori creativi e animazione. LA FESTA DELL'INCONTRO, questo è stato il nome scelto per l'evento, spunto dal tema su cui si è lavorato per tutto l'anno con i ragazzi e i bambini che frequentano l'Opera. Incontri tra culture, tra bambini, incontri di differenze, incontri di speranze e di strade diverse che si incontrano. All'evento hano aderito i Centri diurni della rete Uneba Napoli, numerose associazioni e cooperative che a diverso titolo si occupano di minori e giovani residenti nelle diverse Municipalità di Napoli.
VAI AL LINK PER VEDERE ALTRE IMMAGINI
Dal 26 al 27 maggio, 22 giovani guanelliani si sono incontrati presso la Casa San Giuseppe di Roma per eleggere, insieme a insieme a don Salvatore Alletto, referenti dei Servi della Carità, e a Suor Annalisa Pezzotta, referente delle Figlie di Santa Maria della Provvidenza, la nuova equipe di coordinamento del Movimento Giovanile Guanelliano del Sud Italia e per redigere le linee guida che essa dovrà seguire nel prossimo triennio.
Le attività dell’assemblea sono iniziate sabato mattina con la lettura della relazione del triennio 2015-2018 curata dalla coordinatrice uscente Irma Fosso, in cui è stato analizzato il percorso del movimento negli ultimi tre anni. A questo momento è seguita una viva e costruttiva discussione a cui hanno preso parte i giovani presenti e provenienti da quasi tutte le realtà giovanili guanelliane del Sud Italia, in numero proporzionale al totale dei loro membri. In questo dibattito ognuno ha avuto modo di esporre il proprio parere riguardo i punti di forza e di debolezza del movimento e dell’equipe, suggerendo spesso dei consigli su come migliorare alcuni aspetti.
Il pomeriggio del sabato è stato invece dedicata allo studio del documento preparatorio al Sinodo dei Vescovi dedicato ai giovani e di altri documenti ad esso relativi, funzionale all’elaborazione delle linee guida per l’operato della futura equipe. Queste sono state poi raccolte all’interno di un messaggio che sarà presto divulgato e che affronterà, sulla falsariga del sinodo, i temi legati ai giovani, alla loro fede e al loro discernimento, provando anche a suggerire delle modalità per attuare le riflessioni fatte.
L’elezione dei membri della nuova equipe è invece avvenuta la domenica mattina. Dopo lo spazio lasciato ai presenti per esporre le loro candidature, si è proceduto alle votazioni al termine delle quali sono stai eletti:
Annamaria Centorrino (M2G Messina) in qualità di coordinatrice;
Michele Colaianni (M2G Bari) in qualità di vice-coordinatore;
Emanuele Galletta (M2G Messina) in qualità di segretario;
Maria Chiara Capriotti (M2G Roma) in qualità di referente della zona Lazio- Campania- Umbria- Toscana;
Laura Starace (M2G Bari) in qualità di referente della zona Puglia;
Antonino Dimondo (M2G Laureana di Borrello) in qualità di referente della zona Calabria;
Gabriella Calì (M2G Messina) in qualità di referente della zona Sicilia.
Costoro, insieme a don Salvatore Alletto, referente dei Servi della Carità, e a Suor Annalisa Pezzotta, referente delle Figlie di Santa Maria della Provvidenza, comporranno la nuova equipe che guiderà il Movimento Giovanile Guanelliano fino al 2021.
A loro auguriamo di lavorare serenamente e in unità per tutti i giovani guanelliani nel nome del nostro carisma e del nostro amato San Luigi.