COMMUNITY -- ASSOCIATES -- COMUNIDAD -- ASOCIADOS

A short reflection based on a quote from Father Norman Butler, MS.  On the second day, wrapping up the reports from the small language groups, here is what he said:

 My conclusion.  <A desire to be adult lay Christians sharing responsibility in the Church and sharing responsibility with the LS missionaries to be instruments of reconciliation.  It seems to me very important that we are talking about laity “helping Father” but we are talking about shared responsibility in the Church and the accomplishing of its work.  The clergy has to know this and be able to understand this desire and this willingness to share at the ministerial level.>

Based on this, I have been reflecting on the deep meaning of "shared responsibility."  It has brought me to the point where I am forced to delve into the essential difference between "association" and "community."  It has been and continues to be a challenging exercise both intellectual and emotional.  I am going to try to make it challenging for the reader as well.  I do not pretend that I am going to propose the final word, but I pray that the thoughts will be provoking, in a positive way.

ATTLEBORO SHRINE - A NEVER ENDING STORY

This story never ends.  It never ends because it is a story of remembering.  La Salette community people remember the words of Our Mother Mary, "Well, my children, make this known to all my people."  La Salette people also remember that these words are an echo of her Son's words to His disciples, "Go, therefore and make disciples of all the nations..." (MT 28, 19)  So that's what we do.  We carry the cross through the streets to make it visible to everyone.  To be concrete, here are some telling statistics from the Shrine dedicated to spreading the message of Our Lady of La Salette located in Attleboro, Massachusetts, USA.
For the year 2010 - 2011
Masses in front of 85,800 faithful in six (6) languages
Confessions of about 42,000 people in three languages
Healing services with sacrament for 15,000 people in three
                                                                        languages
Feeding the homeless -- 5,400 people
Retreats -- 3,000 youth; 4,000 adults          
Much of all this and much more is made possible by an army of 1,000 volunteers.

Souvenons-nous du bon ministere qui s'accompli dans les pays qui sont loins du site centrale de l'apparition de notre Sainte Mere.  Dans certains pays il y a des sanctuaires, facsimiles de celui qui existe a La Salette.  Ces sanctuaires peuvent accomplir le ministere et la mission de Marie et de Jesus avec l'aide de au dela de 2.000 benevoles, pretres, religieux et laics.  A l'heure actuelle, par exemple, il y a un groupe de professionels medicaux qui se prepare a aller aux Philippines au mois de janvier pour aider aux gens d'une ville surchargee d'habitants sans les moyens d'engager un medecin.  Prions pour les missionnaires ainsi que pour les pauvres malades et blesses.


Se recuerde del buen ministerio que tiene lugar en países que están lejos de la sede central de la aparición de la Santísima Virgen. En algunos países existen capillas y sanctuarios, facsímiles de lo que tenemos a La Salette. Estos santuarios pueden hacer el ministerio y la misión de María y Jesús con la ayuda de más allá de 2.000 voluntarios, sacerdotes, religiosos y laicos. En la actualidad, por ejemplo, hay un grupo de profesionales en medicina que se preparan para irse a las Filipinas en enero para ayudar a la gente de una ciudad llena de gente sin los medios para contratar a un médico. Oren por los misioneros y para los pobres enfermos y heridos.


Prayers - Oraciones - Preghiere - Prieres
a. Annual meeting of French La Salette Laity - Oct.15
b. Annual meeting of Filipino La Salette Laity - Oct. 15
c. Prayers for Fr. Cardinal, MS - Radiation starts Oct. 12
d. Prayers for Fr. Guiab, Filipino diocesan priest, deceased
    Fr. Guiab was known by many in the La Salette mission
    territory because he graduated from a La Salette school
e. Prayers for child Benjamin Gamez
f.  Prayers for Joe Boy
g. Prayers for Pierrot Zaessinger and family, our contact in France.

EL BRAZO DE DIOS - LE BRAS DE DIEU - THE ARM OF GOD

"Si vous ne vous soumettez point, je serai forcée de laisser aller le bras de mon fils."
"If you do not submit, I will be constrained to let go the arm of my Son."
"Si ustedes no someten, me veré obligado a dejar ir el brazo de mi hijo."


Il y a plusieurs jours que réfléchis a propos de cette partie du message de Notre Dame.  Je pense a plusieurs passages bibliques ou  le bras de Dieu est mentionne comme étant l'instrument de la volonté divine.  Quelquefois, c'est pour le bien.  Je pense surtout a la pensée d'Isaïe,  «Il vit qu'il n'y avait personne, et il s'est étonné qu'on n'intervienne pas, alors son bras devint son soutien, et sa justice son appui."  (Isaïe 59:16)
D'autre part, nous trouvons ces mots dans le Magnificat, "I a déployé la force de son bras, il a disperse les hommes de coeur superbe." (Luc 1;51)
Il est donc clair que le message de Notre Mère a La Salette nous donne l'avis que ce qu'elle nous dit n'est pas tout simplement une idée personnelle, tout-a-fait nouvelle.  Elle nous parle avec le langage des Saintes Écritures.  Le plus que j'y pense, le plus profondément je sens que ce message est salutairement  eschatologique.  Le plus profondément je me sens touche par l'image ci-jointe.  Elle est logée au muse dans la basilique de Notre Dame de La Salette sur la Sainte Montagne.  Quand je l'ai vue pour la première fois, j'ai pense a Moise, a Isaïe et a Marie elle-même dans son Magnificat.  Je vous laisse avec ces simples reflections.  J'espere que vous prendrez quelques instants pour les approfondir chez-vous.




Through many days now I have been thoughtful about this part of the message of Our Lady.  I thought of a number of biblical passages where the arm of God is referred to as being the instrument of the Divine Will. Sometimes it's for salvation, sometimes for retribution.  I think especially at the thought of Isaiah, "He saw that there was nobody, and he wondered why there was no intercessor. So He madde His own arm His mainstay, His own integrity his support... (Isaiah 59:16)
On the other hand, we find these words in the Magnificat "He has shown the power of His arm, He has routed the proud of heart..."(Luke 1, 51)
It is therefore clear that in the message that she gave us at La Salette, Our ​​Mother gives us the view that what she tells us is not just a personal idea, entirely new. She speaks the language of Scripture. The more I think about it, the more deeply I feel this is a beneficial eschatological message. The more I think of it, the mpre deeply I am touched by the attached picture.  It is housed in the museum in the basilica of Our Lady of La Salette on the Holy Mountain.  When I saw it for the first time, I thought of Moses, Isaiah and Mary herself in her Magnificat. 
I leave you with these simple reflections. I hope you will take time for further reflection and meditation on this theme at home.

Hay muchos días que me quedo meditativo acerca de esta parte del mensaje de Nuestra Señora. Creo hay una serie de pasajes de la Biblia en donde el brazo de Dios aparece como el instrumento de la voluntad divina. A veces es para el bien. Asi se ve sobre todo en el pensamiento de Isaías: "Él vio que no había nadie, y se sorprendió de que nadie interveniera.  Entonces conto con su propio brazo y con la fuerza de su propria justicia." (Isaías 59:16)
Por otro lado, nos encontramos con estas palabras en el Magnificat "Su brazo llevo a cabo hechos heroicos, arruino a los superbios."(Lucas 1,51)
Por tanto, es claro que el mensaje de Nuestra Santisima Madre a La Salette  nos da la idea de que lo que nos dice no es sólo una idea personal, totalmente nueva.  Habla el lenguaje de la Sancta Escritura. Cuanto más lo pienso, más profundamente que este es un mensaje escatológico. Cuanto más profundamente me conmueve la imagen adjunta. Se encuentra en el museo de la basílica de Nuestra Señora de La Salette en el Monte de la Aparicion. Cuando la vi por primera vez, pense de repente a Moisés, Isaías y la propia Nuestra Madre, María en su Magnificat.  Os dejo con estas sencillas reflexiones.  Espero que se tomen tiempo para meditar mas sobre esto en casa.


Prayers:
Repose of the soul of the father of Efren Tomas, MS in the Philippines.
The success of the Provincial chapter of the Our Mother of Hope Province in the Philippines.
The continued recovery of Maurice Cardinal, MS.  He starts a regimen of chemotherapy this week.  He is doing well.  Celebrating Mass in public and joining us for a meal now and then.

NEWS AND COMMENTS + PRAYER REQUESTS

FROM THE MUSEUM AT THE SITE OF THE APPARITION

News first:
Isabel Dion, delegate from North America made a short 45 minute report to the Lay Associates of North America about the two weeks of prayer and learning that took place at the First International Gathering of Laity at La Salette in France.  Everyone listened intently.  At the end, many handshakes and pats on the shoulder expressed the satisfaction of the audience with the presentation.  Everyone present received a small token souvenir from the Holy Mountain.  The members of the Board of directors were given a CD containing all the important information that was put on the table during the Gathering.


Comment:
It is impossible for me to express in words the depth of the gratitude that I feel every time I am embraced, slapped on the back and treated with respect and politeness by the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette who know me.  Not only is their respect expressed toward me but toward my beloved spouse, Isabel.  All we can say is "Thank you."


Prayers:
Danny Newman, a young boy of 15 who is very sick.  Danny is the nephew of my brother-in-law, John Moriarty.  Let's intercede to our Mother Mary on his behalf.


The son of Rosario and Joe Manligot needs our prayers.  He is fighting the drug demons.  Rosario didn't give me his name.  The teen-age boy has been placed in the capable hands of one, Robert (Bob) Garon and his team of drug rehabilitation professionals in the Manila area of the Philippines.  Bob has spent the majority of his life helping young Filipino people to get out from under the influence of drug use.  Bob too, and his spouse and his team need our prayers and our support.  The Mangligot family has been by the side of the La Salette Missionaries for years.  They too need our prayer support.  
When you pray for me, pray for Bob too, we are classmates.


Marcel Douillard (Brother Luc) who is in Silang, Cavite suffering from dementia.  Many of you who are reading this know Brother Luc.  He was one of the very first La Salette missionaries to reach the province of Isabela, Philippines.  He and his brother, Father Paul are remembered to this day as valiant and holy carriers of the Good News to the hard working population of the Cagayan Valley on Luzon Island.  Marcel is in Silang with so many of his fellow missionaries, and, in his case, his loving and devoted spouse Gina.  Please pray for this suffering family who still has an adult daughter who resides in the United States.  When you pray for Brother Luc and his family, please remember also to intercede for the La Salette Missionaries who never abandon those who serve as well as those who served.  If you seek a place to share your talent and your treasure, please think of the La Salette Missionaries.  Marami kayo na mayrong utang na loob sa mga La Salette Missionaries.  Hwag niyo nakalimutan sila, paki... 


Father Maurice Cardinal, MS is doing well in his recovery.  He needs continued prayers so that the follow-up care given to him will be successful.  We will be visiting him in a day or two.


Finally:
There is a medical mission planned for Santiago, Isabela in January of 2012.  The professional in charge is Jessie Cristobal and she lives in Riverside, California.  If you are interested in joining her and her team for this very important mission, you can email me Puttss.dion@gmail.com and I can put you in touch with her for more details.


That's enough for now.  I'll be back.  
Peace and joy to you all.

WHO AM I?

WALL SILHOUETTE ENTREE TO THE
MONASTERY IN ATTLEBORO,
MASSACHUSETTS, USA

Si tu sais qui je suis, ce sera plus facile pour toi de savoir qui tu es.
If you know who I am, it will be easier for you to know who you are.
Si sabes quien son, sera mas facil para ti saber quien eres.
Se sai chi sono, sara piu facile per te sapere chi es.
wmwmwmwmwmwmwm


Sometimes it helps to introduce a communication with words that will make the mind grind a little bit and wonder what is meant by the introduction.  This blog has spent some time presenting new expressions of the apparition of Our Blessed Mother Mary at La Salette.  As we gathered for the Annual North American gathering of La Salette Lay Associates in North America, we came face to face with this creative silhouette.  I have been here often.  Never have I been moved by this silhouette.  Never, that is, until now.  I therefore present it to you as an object of admiration and a stimulus for prayer and reflection.
I present it in the spirit of the search for completeness in life.  Most of our lives are spent seeking out the true and full meaning of the realities that stimulate our curiosity.  The most intriguing and demanding of these realities are brought to us through the grace of faith that is given to us early in life.  We find ourselves delving deeper and deeper into it in order to stay allied with the Will of the Creator, His Son, the Savior and their Love, the Sanctifier.  In order to make this effort more productive, God permits us to experience on-going teachings that He puts before us through the inter-mediation of His Holy Mother.  We, La Salettes, live in the spirit of the last.  We live with God together with His Son's Mother.
This thought brings me to the echoing reflection of what Father Norman Butler said at the La Salette Lay Gathering in France at the beginning of the month.  We are here not because we want to encourage people to be better helpers for "Father" but because we want to remind the laity that they too have a vocation to the mission.  The presenters at the Annual  gathering of Lay Associates of North America reminded us of the Vocation of Association.  They reminded us of the words of Father Joseph Bachand, MS, Provincial Superior of Our Mother of the Americas Province, to wit, "We are called to embody the message of reconciliation."  Further down, Father Bachand, addressing the question of mutuality, was quoted, "Our Province in North America recently put together a vision statement.  In the middle if that statement there is the simple sentence, "  The entire day was one of solid teachings about the Lay Vocation to Association.  There were many reminders of the call to mutuality between the Laity and the Vowed Religious.  In simpler terms, and without the strong emphasis on the La Salette Mission, the day was an echo of the La Salette Experience on the Holy Mountain.
The closing few minutes focused on the process of defining our identity, personal and congregational.  The lead presenter hit it on the head when he talked about the call to Reconciliation expressing itself in the warm hospitality that suffuses itself in so many details of La Salette life.  I, of all people can attest to that.  I have said it often, and continue to do so.  It made me happy to see someone from the "outside" moved by it.  Thank you, Mother Mary.

I leave this page here.  I will put some extraneous thoughts on the page that follows this one.