Catholic Global Mission Lenten Update 5

Thank you for responding to our survey on A-Cross Borders. The majority of you asked to keep it it weekly. But for those of you who prefer monthly we understand if you open it only once a month. :-)

In this issue:

Blessed Oscar Romero

Global Youth Ministry Services

Conforti Update
The Search for Justice Peace and Truth

Let go of 'false lights' that lead down the wrong path, Pope says

"If now I were to ask you, do you believe that Jesus is the Son of God? Do you believe that he can change your heart? Do you think you can see reality as he sees it, not as we do? Do you believe that he is light, that he gives us the true light?" the Pope asked March 26, telling pilgrims to respond in silence. Discover more.

Xaverian Family News

St. Romero of America, pray for us!

In March 1980, I visited my brother in Venezuela on my way back from my first mission period in North Brazil (the Xaverians then called it the Amazons). On 25 March, my niece showed me the newspaper with a photograph of Bishop Romero, who had been murdered during Mass. I knew this bishop by reputation, thanks to my friendship with Bishop Pedro Casaldaliga of Conceição do Araguaia, in Mato Grosso. My niece said to me: "Be careful uncle, they will kill you too!" And I jokingly replied: "don't worry, for now they are going after bishops and I am just a simple priest!"

37 years have passed since that day and Bishop Romero has since been beatified. Perhaps this year he will be canonized. In all truth, he has already been canonized by popular piety, not only by Catholics but by Anglicans too. Read more of Xaverian Missionary Fr. Luigi Anzalone's reflection.

The GYM Experience

One of our students from Cameroon, Africa, sharing his vocation story. It is in French but there are English subtitles. Take a look.

Fr. Carl Chudy SX is organizing a group to attend the local masjid in Framingham, MA on this special occasion. If you are in the area and wish to attend, contact Fr. Carl.

Conforti Institute

Spring is here! The grass is beginning to grow; daffodils are blooming and nature is coming alive again. The good news is that the Conforti Institute has been busy working away through the long, cold, dark winter! Over the past few weeks we have helped over 80 primary school pupils prepare for their First Communion; helped three secondary schools with the preparation for The Caritas Award for their senior pupils; continued to form our Prison Mentors; lead Cardinal Winning Secondary School inn their Lenten reflections; helped with Pastoral Ministry in local prisons; worked with our partners in helping bring local communities together through the "In Wi' the Mix" Project and developed new ideas and ways of bringing Global Education to schools.

This has been a busy start to the year and we are looking forward to keeping this level of work up in the coming months! We have a few more projects and ideas that are being developed and we hope to share them in the coming months!

~Fr. Paddy

Cardinal Winning Secondary School 'thriving' after difficult times

Fr. Paddy is on the right in the background

From hairdressing to car washes and construction - pupils at Cardinal Winning Secondary School are being prepared for the future.

And the success of teachers in getting young people with additional support needs into work has been hailed by education watchdogs.

Learn more.

The Search for Justice, Peace and Truth

O God Source of Life, Creator of Peace,
help Your children, anguished and confused,
to understand the futility of hatred and violence
and grant them the ability to stretch across
political, religious and national boundaries
so they may confront horror and fear
by continuing together
in the search for justice, peace and truth.

With every fiber of our being
we beg You, O God,
to help us not to fail nor falter. Amen.

~Rabbi H. Rolando Matalon

XAVERIAN MISSION NEWSLETTER

Travel the world with the Xaverian Missionaries. Learn about "Symphonies of Peace" in Japan and miracles of healing in Bangladesh. Read the loving tribute to Fr. Larry Crosara SX and about the ordination of the first Sierra Leone-born Xaverian Missionary. Discover Global Awareness and catch up on the latest world and USA Province news. Read it here.