SIAMO ARRIVATI -- WE'RE HERE -- YA LLEGAMOS -- NOUS Y SOMMES

OUT OF THE RUINS, A HEAVENLY TRIBUTE
DES RUINES,  UNE PRIERE ARTISTIQUE
see story below

Saluts a tous.  Salve, domini, dominaeque.  Hello to all.  Saluti.  Nous some arrives a La Salette sains et saufs.  Tous sont to de bonne humeur et tous se parlent, meme s'ls ne comprennent pas exactement ce qui se dit.  C'est la voix de l"Esprit Saint qui touche les coeurs, non pas l'arrogance de Babel.  Bienvenue a tous et a toutes.

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Welcome to the International Meeting of minds and hearts of the La Salette Lay Associates Community officially opened now at the La Salette Shrine in France.  Dedicated Lay Associates from France, Switzerland, Poland, Argentina. Philippines, United States, Angola, Italy, Spain and Brasil are here and are ready to share their spiritual lives among themselves and with their respective communities.  It is always a moving experience to come together for something other than a wake.  It is a moment that will not be forgotten.  Rubbing shoulders with people that you have never met yet are willing to give the benefit of the doubt because of the affinity of the mission endeavor.  It is a moving moment that is the fearless response of the 165 year old invitation:  "Come near my children, do not be afraid."  Yes, Mother, we are here, to hear.  We are here to learn.  We are here to obey.  

To you who are not here, the call continues for your prayers.  This is an historic moment in the aftermath of the Apparition of our Blessed Mother at La Salette.  We will keep you informed about the process of the meetings.  Stay tuned.

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Along the road of the preparatory novena we have been presenting different pictures and representations of Our Lady of La Salette.  The one in today's article is one that doesn't make anyone's art exhibit.  This is a representation of the Apparition of La Salette with a powerful background story.  We stopped by there today to pay homage to those whom it is intended to memorialize.  Read a short release of the story here and for more information including more pictures, click on the link below the short release.

1950 Tete de I'Obiou C-54 Crash

The Tete de I'Obiou accident was an airliner crash in France on 13 November 1950. Curtiss Reid Flying Services had been operating a scheduled service between Paris and Rome since 1945. On November 13, 1950, a Paris-bound C-54 aircraft crashed on the Tete de I'Obiou mountain, 48 km (30 miles) south of Grenoble. All 45 passengers and 7 crew were killed. The aircraft was 50 miles (80 km) off course.

Flight attendant Helen Johnston's body was missing for weeks until it was found in a crevasse on the mountain.

http://www.lasalette.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=590:a-sad-60th-anniversary&catid=62:la-salette-news-worldwide&Itemid=37

More tomorrow.

10TH DAY OF THE NOVENA -- 10IEME JOUR DE LA NEUVAINE -- 10MO DIA DE LA NOVENA

Non c'e altro che da viaggiare.  There's nothing   left but to travel.  Father Arnel Macabio,MS imparting the travel blessing upon Isabel M. Dion on the eve of her departure for the International Gathering of La Salette Lay Associates from around the world.  The small folded box that she holds close to her body is full of the petitions of the faithful parishioners of St. Christopher Parish in Moreno Valley, California.  These petitions are being brought to be placed at the feet of Our Holy Mother as a sign of unity and love and hope that with Our Lady of La Salette, things get done.  We named this the 10th day of the Novena because we guarantee that the prayers have not stopped.  Blessings from hugs all around.  Assurances of prayers that no silly hurricane was going to make life difficult for Belle Dion.
Since it is already 23:00 on August 27, you will all be getting this on the calendar day of our departure.  As of this date, there will be many of our beloved Saletines in the air.  We thank you all for accompanying us with your sincere prayers.

It is possible that this blog would suffer a little jet-lag.  Don't be discouraged, news and pictures will continue.  Not only here but one the two other important Internet sites which I present to you again because they are very important.
http://portalsalette.com.br/
http://www.lasalette.org/

The first one is maintained by our Brazilian brethren and is fundamentally composed in Portuguese.  It does have a button that allows the reader to get an instantaneous translation of the site.  For those of you who received the second one outside of the United States, I have no idea what the possibilities are of receiving in your vernacular.
This blog is basically written in poor English, as you've come to appreciate.  There are many reasons for that, not the least being that the vast, I say again,  VAST majority of the readers are more at ease in English than in the other three or four languages prominent at the gathering.  If I take a fit and go with another language, I'll give you fair warning.


Updates:      Fr. Maurice...I have texted some missionary friends about him and not received any response.  If any missionaries on the mailing list want to provide us some info, please do so.


                  St. Christopher parish is working hard at the preparation for the September 17th celebration in Moreno Valley.  There is some heavy duty "marketing" going on.  Y'all better plan on being here.


With all that, we throw ourselves into the arms of our guardian angels and hope to see you on the other side.

LET'S GO -- ANDIAMO -- VAMOS -- PUNT NA TAYO -- ALLONS --DALZE

See that circle down there?  Yep, that's the place.  Some of us are finally going to squeeze into airplane seats and get on our way.  But before we do, we continue to pray.  The Faithful of St. Christopher Parish in Moreno Valley, California have been writing their prayers and their petitions for Our Blessed Mother for Isabel to carry to the Mountain.  There, she will be careful to find a revered place for them, at least for the time of the meeting.
It may be a day or two before we can get back to you electronically, but rest assured that we will not forget you. At  the same time, we request that you keep us in your prayers and blessings.



Update about Father Maurice Cardinal.  I just got off the phone with the nurse's station at the Loma Linda University Hospital where father's surgery was accomplished.  It has been 18 hours since Father reported for the procedure.  He is reportedly still heavily sedated, sleeping and is trouble free as far as vital signs are concerned.  Good heart rhythm, good blood pressure, good temperature and, for the moment, quiet and docile.  :-)  Those who know him know what I mean.

Allow me to suggest that you spend a moment praying the poetic song composed by Bishop Newman many years ago.  I wonder if it has ever been translated.

O Mary, Queen of La Salette

Oct 24, '09 5:06 AM for everyone

1. O Mary of Queen of La Salette, why are you weeping so

that I had never sinned and made your tears to flow.

Refrain:

I long to dry your tears

and make your message known

of penance, prayer and zeal

until God calls me home.

2. O tearful Virgin of the Alps, draw close my heart to you

that near to God forever more

I may your beauty see. (Refrain)

NOVENA: PREPARATION FOR TRAVEL, DAY 9 WE PRAY TOGETHER

Hello to all.  This is the last day of the novena preparatory to the serious business of boarding airplanes and, in some cases, flying over half the world.  Some will see no sunlight for 12 or 14 hours.  Some will see no night.  Some may even arrive at their destination before their time of departure.  Ah, the marvels of 21st century travel.

I find myself in need of begging your pardon for the transmission of the novena last night.  It seems that I forgot to attach the link to the prayers.  So now you have the two last days of the novena with but one link.  Day 9 on top and day 8 below it.
Furthermore, on the PowerPoint file that I sent yesterday, I think I forgot the name of Piotr Zaba from Switzerland.  I got confused with so many revisions and reconstructions that I found myself forgetting things and committing errors.  Please forgive me.  Better that I sin now so that I can be forgiven on the Mountain.


By the time you get this Father Maurice Cardinal, MS will be in the hospital beginning the ordeal of surgery to remove his left eye due to a cancerous lesion that migrated to his eye cavity.  Father is not a young person, so we beg Our Holy Mother to intercede for his quick and complete recovery.  We will inform you of his progress as it becomes communicated to us.  
Father Maurice has been assigned the responsibility of being the spiritual guide of the Lay Associates Community in California.


Once again, welcome to all those who have been added to the mailing group for this blog.  Thank you for your prayers.  The prayer list as usual [I forgot last night] can be found by clicking here.


The 9th day of our novena.


9.      Reconciliation
         Luke, chapter 15, verse 20   The father ran to his returning son
         2 Corinthians, chapter 5, verses 19 and 20    Be reconciled
             Mary at La Salette is a reconciler.  Am I a reconciler like her?  
             Do I forgive as readily as the father of the prodigal son?


                                 MEMORARE TO OUR LADY OF LA SALETTE
Remember, Our Lady of La Salette,
true Mother of Sorrows,
the tears you shed for us on Calvary. 
Remember also the care you have taken
to keep us faithful to Christ, your Son.
Having done so much for your children,
you will not now abandon us.
Comforted by this consoling thought,
we come to you pleading,
despite our infidelities and ingratitude. 
Virgin of Reconciliation,
do not reject our prayers, but intercede for us,
obtain for us the grace
to love Jesus above all else.
May we console you by a holy life
and so come to share the eternal life
Christ gained by his cross.  Amen.

NOVENA: PREPARATION FOR TRAVEL, DAY 8 WE PRAY TOGETHER

There are many of you who will be receiving this novena preparatory prayer for the first time today.  It is because I became aware that I had not turned to the proper source of information.  So forgive me.
Je dois avouer qu'il y en parmis vous qui recevront cet email pour la premiere fois aujourd'hui.  C'est parce que je ne me suis pas rendu compte que je n'avais pas fourre assez profondément dans les sources d'information.  Et naturellement, j’écris tout le temps en anglais.  Mais n'importe, je vous envoie les nouvelles quand même parce que je sais que c'est plus facile de lire que de parler ou d’écrire.  Et vous pourrez toujours jouir des photos. :-)  Et vous voyez que mon ordinateur, bien que je l'ai réglé  ne connait pas très bien le français.
Debo pedir perdon por no aver escrito anteriormente.  No me di cuenta que faltavan varios elementos de informacion por cuanto mira los nombres de personas seleccionadas como representativos (ambassadores?).  Y mas, se ve que no escrivo muy bien a fuera de Ingles.  Ahora, el mail ira a todos, o quasi todos.  Todo ira mejor cuando podemos compartir ideas ojo a ojo. 
A los Brasileiros damos un gran agradecimiento por el sito Internet, aun que no en el vuestro idioma.  Me fío mas a mi español en este caso.  No quiero correr el riesgo de comunicar una mala grosería sin darme me cuenta del dano que poderia causar.  Eso me sucedo varias veces in algunos países en los cuales viví y trabaje.  A mi edad, es mejor que evite calamidades de esta natura.

Now, to follow the pattern to which we have become accustomed, I owe you a picture.  
This is an artist from the Philippines, as far as I know.  It comes from a website where you can find a gallery full of creative renditions of statues of Our Lady of La Salette.  You are invited to click here to travel to Manila and take a few moments to enjoy the collection.
http://www.flickr.com/groups/la_salette/pool/

When we meet the representatives from the Philippines, we will be able to ask them if they are familiar with this collection.  

Tonight we are sending you the list of delegates as a PowerPoint show attached to the introductory email.

Now we pray.

8.      Mary leads us to her Son.

                John's Gospel, chapter 2, verses 1 to 5

                Do I think like Jesus?  Do I look at the world with love as Jesus did?  

                Do I act with compassion as Jesus did?

                                  MEMORARE TO OUR LADY OF LA SALETTE
Remember, Our Lady of La Salette,
true Mother of Sorrows,
the tears you shed for us on Calvary. 
Remember also the care you have taken
to keep us faithful to Christ, your Son.
Having done so much for your children,
you will not now abandon us.
Comforted by this consoling thought,
we come to you pleading,
despite our infidelities and ingratitude. 
Virgin of Reconciliation,
do not reject our prayers, but intercede for us,
obtain for us the grace
to love Jesus above all else.
May we console you by a holy life
and so come to share the eternal life
Christ gained by his cross.  Amen.

NOVENA: PREPARATION FOR TRAVEL, DAY 7 WE PRAY TOGETHER

Click here for copyright information

We hope that you will enjoy this original work of art.  It is visible in better quality by clicking on the link.  We hope that you will enjoy it as much as we do.  I wonder how many of our Polish brothers and sisters whom we will meet at La Salette in France are aware of this.  Since we do not have any of them on our emailing list, we will have to wait until we meet them to find out.

Yesterday's picture of Our Lady is a statue designed and cast by Brother Juan, MS who lives in Spain.  You can see the picture from yesterday by scrolling down.
                                                             
The prayer list is growing.  The faithful members of the St. Christopher parish are praying for us and asking us to support them with our prayers as well.  As usual, you can see the intentions that we have on the list by clicking on the words in red above.  


We also invite you to continue praying for Father Maurice Cardinal.  He is patiently awaiting his eye surgery scheduled for the 26, this coming Friday.  We ask also that you think of Brenda in your prayers.  She is a nurse, member of our parish community, who has been helping with the dressings on Father Maurice's wounds.


Our Novena.
7.     After the apparition, water was flowing in the previously dry ravine. [It flows to this day]
        John, chapter 4, verse 10   "He will give you living water."
        Faith, like water, sustains life and growth.  Am I living water for others?


                                  MEMORARE TO OUR LADY OF LA SALETTE
Remember, Our Lady of La Salette,
true Mother of Sorrows,
the tears you shed for us on Calvary. 
Remember also the care you have taken
to keep us faithful to Christ, your Son.
Having done so much for your children,
you will not now abandon us.
Comforted by this consoling thought,
we come to you pleading,
despite our infidelities and ingratitude. 
Virgin of Reconciliation,
do not reject our prayers, but intercede for us,
obtain for us the grace
to love Jesus above all else.
May we console you by a holy life
and so come to share the eternal life
Christ gained by his cross.  Amen.

NOVENA: PREPARATION FOR TRAVEL, DAY 6 WE PRAY TOGETHER

Another artistic creation of Our Lady of La Salette by a local artist in North America.  I will try to get his / her name before publishing.
I did not receive the name of the artist.  When  get it, I'll tell you.
I understand that some of you did not received the Blog Post about "Day 5" of the Novena.  It is perhaps that I sent the email out before the Blog Post was scheduled to publish.  I hope it will not happen again.  I'll force myself to publish the Post and the Email at the same time.
Now to the novena.

6.     If they are converted
             Mark, chapter 1, verses 14 and 15
             Be converted and believe in the Good News.
             Does my style of life invite other people to
             change of heart? or conversion?


We have received some more prayer requests.  You can visit them by clicking here.
There will be more tomorrow as they will be submitted by the daily Mass community from St. Christopher.
We are still awaiting yours.

NOVENA: PREPARATION FOR TRAVEL, DAY 5 WE PRAY TOGETHER

Please let me introduce you to a piece of art that we do not see too much, at least not in North America, that I know of.  It is an icon of the Weeping Mother of La Salette from the Province of Our Lady Reconciler of Sinners, Switzerland.  It graces the cover of the book <All My People> Written by Father Marcel Schlewer,MS in 1998.  I am looking forward to seeing Father Schlewer again after about 50 years of separation.  That should be quite an experience.  

We intend to exhibit this picture at the September 17, 2011 event to be held in Moreno Valley, California at St. Christopher Parish.

Yesterday we received the Newsletter from the Province of Mary, Mother of the Americas.  It gives me the incentive to give you the link one more time.  There are some fascinating historical articles to be found there.  I myself will spend more time there this evening.  Click on this link and explore.

We now continue our novena.  It is not the 5th day.  Takeoff is fast approaching.

5.  Mary cried.

     John 19, 25 - 27 

     At the foot of the cross there stood Mary.

     What happens to me when I see a mother cry? How do I feel knowing that, at La Salette, 

     Mary cried for me?

I know that we have a crying mother, homeless, with her 14 year old son by her side on the prayer list.  

                                   MEMORARE TO OUR LADY OF LA SALETTE
Remember, Our Lady of La Salette,
true Mother of Sorrows,
the tears you shed for us on Calvary. 
Remember also the care you have taken
to keep us faithful to Christ, your Son.
Having done so much for your children,
you will not now abandon us.
Comforted by this consoling thought,
we come to you pleading,
despite our infidelities and ingratitude. 
Virgin of Reconciliation,
do not reject our prayers, but intercede for us,
obtain for us the grace
to love Jesus above all else.
May we console you by a holy life
and so come to share the eternal life
Christ gained by his cross.  Amen.

NOVENA: PREPARATION FOR TRAVEL, DAY 4 WE PRAY TOGETHER

Hello to all.  Prayer requests are pouring in.  Click here and you will be sent to the Prayer Page
Now to the 4th days of our novena for and with those who are preparing to travel to the international gathering of La Associates of the La Salette Community.

Let us pray:
4.     Famine, children dying, mother-earth is sick
        Exodus, chapter 10, verses 12 to 20 The plague of the grasshoppers
        Do I understand how ecology is related to reconciliation and to the quality of life of human
        beings?
                           MEMORARE TO OUR LADY OF LA SALETTE
Remember, Our Lady of La Salette,
true Mother of Sorrows,
the tears you shed for us on Calvary. 
Remember also the care you have taken
to keep us faithful to Christ, your Son.
Having done so much for your children,
you will not now abandon us.
Comforted by this consoling thought,
we come to you pleading,
despite our infidelities and ingratitude. 
Virgin of Reconciliation,
do not reject our prayers, but intercede for us,
obtain for us the grace
to love Jesus above all else.
May we console you by a holy life
and so come to share the eternal life
Christ gained by his cross.  Amen.
                              Update about Fr. Maurice Cardinal,MS

Update on the condition of Father Maurice Cardinal, MS, whom many of you know.  Father was operated on for a skin cancer near his left eye.  It was discovered that the cancer had invaded his left eyeball.  Therefore the decision was taken to remove the left eye.
Isabel and I visited Father Maurice this evening [August 20, 2011] and chatted with him for about an hour.  Father Maurice is comfortable with his situation.  He is thanking God that he will still have good eyesight from the remaining eye [right].  He is in good spirits and is not indulging in anything close to self pity.  In fact he is praying for some missionaries of Our Lady who are in the process of loosing their eyesight to macular degeneration.  He feels bad for them because they are still only half his age.
Father Maurice is a source of inspiration to all of us.  Many years ago he was cured of asthma during a visit to La Salette.  He then told Our Lady, "If you want me to continue working, you have to spare me from this asthma."  He went back to the Philippines and hasn't had asthma ever since.  Many decades have passed and he knows that we are going to La Salette.  We told him that we are praying that Our Lord and His Holy Mother will keep him strong because there is still a lot of work that he can do.  Besides, it will be only half bad, right? ;-)
Father made a joke about the operation.  Once the eye is removed, the doctors will take a sheet of skin from his thigh.  They will then do some reconstructive surgery to make the face easier to look at.  Father asked the doctor is he would consider putting a nice tattoo on the graft.  We laughed.  When we asked if the doctor had laughed, he said, "No, not really.  Maybe it's because he's Korean.  They don't laugh as easily as we do."
Father's surgery is scheduled for August 26, 2011.  Let's pray for another miracle.

NOVENA: PREPARATION FOR TRAVEL, DAY 3 WE PRAY TOGETHER

Hello again.  Allow me to share some news with you about the La Salette Missionaries in the Philippines.  They have missions in Hawaii and in Southern California on the mainland of the USA.  Father Joven Junio sent us this little newsnote after yesterday's Blog Item:
Thank you...the Novena is prayed and offered for you and Belle (+all those praparing for the long journey.)
Fr. Maurice's 2nd operation has been moved to the 27th...he seems to be in good spirits...The Community went out for a dinner last night: it was to celebrate our Feastday and the 30th year of Foundation as a Province, Mother of Hope.
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3.   The hammer and pincers
      Deuteronomy, chapter 30, verses 19 and 20, [¹⁹ This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live ²⁰ and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.]
      Do I in the way that I distribute my time, of the way that I eat or the        
      way that I relate to people?


MEMORARE TO OUR LADY OF LA SALETTE
Remember, Our Lady of La Salette,
true Mother of Sorrows,
the tears you shed for us on Calvary. 
Remember also the care you have taken
to keep us faithful to Christ, your Son.
Having done so much for your children,
you will not now abandon us.
Comforted by this consoling thought,
we come to you pleading,
despite our infidelities and ingratitude. 
Virgin of Reconciliation,
do not reject our prayers, but intercede for us,
obtain for us the grace
to love Jesus above all else.
May we console you by a holy life
and so come to share the eternal life
Christ gained by his cross.  Amen.


Our Lady of La Salette, Reconciler of sinners
Pray without ceasing for us who have recourse to thee.








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AY, YAY, YA - YAY, canta y no llores porque cantando se alegran, cielito lindo, los corazones 
Sing it even if it means you made a mistake.  Yesterday I wrote that we were leaving our residence on September 27 ...NO, no --           AUGUST 27
Thanks to Father Joven Junio, MS, Regional Superior and Pastor of St. Christopher Parish.  He is the Missionary welcoming us all to Moreno Valley for the September 17, 2011 event.

NOVENA: PREPARATION FOR TRAVEL, DAY 2 WE PRAY TOGETHER

Good morning:  We present you with the theme and the details of day two of the novena dedicated to the safe travel of the Lay Associates Community members on the way to La Salette in France.


2.    
        Matthew's Gospel, chapter 6, verses 7 to 13 -- When you pray, say Our Father...
        What are my moments of personal prayer like?  Do I manage to make my entire 
        day a kind of extended prayer, listening to God's voice in every event and person?



Memorare to Our Lady of La Salette:


Remember, Our Lady of La Salette,
true Mother of Sorrows,
the tears you shed for us on Calvary. 
Remember also the care you have taken
to keep us faithful to Christ, your Son.
Having done so much for your children,
you will not now abandon us.
Comforted by this consoling thought,
we come to you pleading,
despite our infidelities and ingratitude. 
Virgin of Reconciliation,
do not reject our prayers, but intercede for us,
obtain for us the grace
to love Jesus above all else.
May we console you by a holy life
and so come to share the eternal life
Christ gained by his cross.  Amen.


Our Lady of La Salette, Reconciler of Sinners
Pray without ceasing for us who have recourse to you.

LA SALETTE LAY ASSOCIATE COMMUNITY TRAVEL PREPARATIONS DAY 1

We start by inviting you to join all those La Salette Lay Associates who are preparing to travel from their home countries to La Salette in France in prayer.  Isabel Dion who is one of the representatives of the La Salette Lay Associate Community in North America is scheduled to begin her travel on August 28, USA West Coast time.  The entire community of participants in the meeting will be praying this novena to Our Holy Mother as they prepare to board the planes that are to take them to France.  Some will be traveling very long distances.  They will be leaving from Brasil, Argentina, Bolivia, Poland, Angola, Madagascar and of course, The United States of America.  Every day from now until Friday, August 26, 2011 you will receive the same prayers that the representatives will be offering for a safe journey and a successful convention.
                      xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Each day of the novena there is a theme, a Bible Reading and a question for personal reflection.  The theme of the day is taken from something the Virgin said to the children during the Apparition.
This is the first day.
1.  Do not be afraid.  Draw near.
     Luke's Gospel, chapter 1, verse 30  
     John's Gospel, chapter 16, verse 33  
     Do I believe in a God who controls and punishes us, or in a God of mercy and love?
After your personal reflection, recite the Memorare as is found just below.



Memorare to Our Lady of La Salette:


Remember, Our Lady of La Salette,
true Mother of Sorrows,
the tears you shed for us on Calvary. 
Remember also the care you have taken
to keep us faithful to Christ, your Son.
Having done so much for your children,
you will not now abandon us.
Comforted by this consoling thought,
we come to you pleading,
despite our infidelities and ingratitude. 
Virgin of Reconciliation,
do not reject our prayers, but intercede for us,
obtain for us the grace
to love Jesus above all else.
May we console you by a holy life
and so come to share the eternal life
Christ gained by his cross.  Amen.


Our Lady of La Salette, Reconciler of Sinners
Pray without ceasing for us who have recourse to you.

MAKE THIS KNOWN TO ALL MY PEOPLE

This unposed, "stolen" shot says a lot.  Left to right we see the Pastor of St. Christopher Parish, Moreno Valley, California, Fr. Joven Junio, MS.  Then there is Ronette, Cathy and Rosa  [ F - W - M ].  In true Filipino style, of course, we take his picture,and theirs, while it is time to eat.  He happens to be at the table where the culinary contributions of the African Americans are offered.  You'll notice that the African Americans are conspicuously absent from their own table.  Hmmm?  Actually, to be kind and fair about it, they were all gathered around the Mexican and Filipino fare.  Just as two Filipinos, a Caucasian and a Mexican are regaling themselves here.  What you are seeing here is the "show and tell" part of a reflection day that featured four 60 minutes - long presentations by people of four major culture groups in the Saint Christopher Parish Community.  It was the first of three importrant multi-cultural events scheduled for the formation in the faith of the faithful in this huge parish under the tutelage of the La Salette Missionaries.  Those of you who follow this blog already know that this is a very special year for "Salettinians."  This first event was but the beginning of about six or seven weeks of landmark events here and elsewhere to mark the 165th anniversary of the Apparition.  

The second large multi-cultural event will take place in Moreno Valley, on September 17, 2011, Saturday, when many of Our Mother's "People" will join to celebrate the 165th anniversary of her apparition to two young cowherds at La Salette in France.    This is an event to which all of you are invited.  This invitation also contains a challenge to everyone to invite a friend, of any religious conviction, to participate in the celebration.

There will be an added attraction during this day.  There will be a collection of pictures and statues of the Virgin that are especially meaningful to people from different parts of the world.  You are invited to bring your favorite for display.  Mark it well so that you can easily locate it before you return home.  The last time such an exhibit took place at Saint Christopher, it was the result of an inspiration given to Father Ronald de Guzman, MS,  some five years ago.  It was a booming success.  We have pictures to prove it!  So, good ideas are worth emulating.  Let's do it.

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There are but two weeks left before the departure of the representatives of the lay associates of North America headed for the International Reunion of Lay La Salette Associates from around the world.  They will be gathered for two full weeks at the site of the Apparition itself, deep in the French Alps.  This blog, as well as the Newsletter from the official site which I encourage you all to visit and to bookmark is http://www.lasalette.org  will furnish you with updates from the meeting on a regular basis.  You will find many good La Salette things there from around the world. 

I personally am looking forward to meeting many La Salette Missionaries, some of whom  have not seen in fifty [yes, 50] years.  I think that I should make myself a name tag with an avatar.  What do you think?

Now it is time for Isabel's French lesson, so I'll drill her some more and get back to you a little bit down the road.

THE LAY SUMMIT IS OVER -- THE LAY SUMMIT CONTINUES

PREVENTION & RESCUE, CHILDREN & PARENTS WORKING TOGETHER

This is the season when a parish under the guidance of the La Salette Missionaries has its annual Ministry Fair.  It is a time when the church courtyard is prepared with tents to protect the leaders from the scorching Southern California sun.  They have tables, snack foods to sell and drinks.  They decorate the tent and the table with colorful pictures and have sign-up sheets for people to indicate that they want to join the community in the ministerial work that is represented by the people in the tent.  Besides the "usual" Catholic Parish fare, this parish has some ministerial outreaches that it thinks are unique and challenging.  Besides that, this year a new one is making an appearance.  About which, more later.  Here are the names of some of the work that our lay people do for the spiritual welfare of the St. Cristopher Parish [that's our name] faithful.
First is the Adult Sessions of religious formation that the parents of the children who are registered in the Faith Formation Program for children must attend.  This is an eight week program.  The first four weeks are consecutive and are offered for parents only.  The other four are divided into four other seasons during the normal school year.
Second is the Adult Faith Formation Program that has several components.  There are two six weeks programs that feature presentations on some basic doctrines of Catholicism, tailored for adults.
There is one entire week devoted to presenting topics tailored for the enlightenment of adults concerning Catholic Living.  A series of outside speakers is included in this program.  The other stuff is meat and potatoes that everyone else has, like Bible Study 101, Welcome Home and the RCIA.
There is also a Dramatization Ministry Community on campus.  Adults and children, of course.  Very active and very effective. 
We have what is called The Committee of Social Solidarity.  It deals with social issues like unemployment, job training, immigration and the education of people preparing to enter the work force.  Finally we have a ministry to those people who have been found eligible by the court for alternative sentencing.  All these things are apart from the run of the mill normal ministerial work that goes on universally.
Finally, this year, we are prepared to invite the members of our congregation to the La Salette Lay Associates Community.
There are many of the parishioners here who have been working side by side, shoulder to shoulder with the La Salette Missionary priests for many years.  These people are loyal to God, to our Weeping Mother Mary and to the Church.  We think that these faithful disciples should at least be introduced to the possibility of actively sharing the spirituality of the La Salette Missionaries.  In this area, we join the many La Salette guided parishes around the world.  We ask, therefore, that you think of us in your prayers.
Two important things are on the calendar for the La Salette mission here in Southern California.  One, there is a big celebration of the 165th anniversary of the Apparition that will take place in Moreno Valley, California on September 17th of this year.  This will take place on the St. Christopher church campus and last all day.  10:00 AM starts the day off with Mass and there will be many other activities that day.  You have all been invited to bring a picture of the Blessed Virgin Mary that is special to you ar to your family and it will be displayed in the meeting hall.  During the afternoon the La Salette Lay Associates Community concept will be communicated to you and meaningful material will be distributed.
Two, Isabel Dion has been desigated as a representative of the La Salette Lay Associates Community at the International Meeting of La Salette Lay Associates at the site of the Apparition in France, from September 1 through September 10.  She will be back in town for the 165th anniversary celebration in Moreno Valley, to which all of you are invited.
I don't want to let you go without some souvenirs of the Ministry Fair.

THE COMMUNITY OF THIS ONE WAS SHY

ALICIA, BELLE, AURORA, JOE

It was a great day.  Our Lady of La Salette was very generous with her love on this day.

Several people asked about the process of joining the Lay Associates Community.  

There was a lot of food.  It's cultural.  The faithful of St. Christopher love to cook and prepare food to help one another.  There are people in the community who consider the preparation of food for events like this to be their calling.  They were out in force today.  They even came up with a new one on me.  Click here to find out about it.  

See what's in store for you on 9/17!  Don't miss this one.