LETTER TO THE STIGMATINE LAITY – FOR OCTOBER, 2016

Mundelein Seminary
1000 East Maple Avenue
Mundelein IL 60060

September 30, 2016
64th anniversary of our departure for Rome!

Dear Stigmatine Laity,

On this date in 1952, the North American Professed students left New York by boat [AN OLD Italian liner, the SATURNIA – mentioned by Winston Churchill in his classic history of the World War II years!]  for Rome and our studies there! By a strange happenstance, we landed first in Genoa – from which Christopher Columbus has been reputed to have departed in 1492 – to discover American! We had it backward but for many of us, the Roman years were indeed a blessing to which we often look back with much nostalgia.  There were 26 of us who sailed from New York on that date, with the late Fr. Charles  Egan, who had been appointed the ‘Prefect of the Professed Students.’

Saturnia
Saturnia

During these recent weeks, we all rejoiced on hearing of the accounts of the meeting of the Stigmatine Lay Members in Rome, Verona and Milan, and the royal retreatment they received from our Italian confreres who hosted them all. What we have all learned in all this history and sharing with one another is that St. Gaspar Bertoni used Eucharistic terminology in writing his Original Constitutions. He said the Stigmatine is called to work, serving the Bishops, for the Church, anywhere in the diocese and world [CF # 5], striving to develop as a community some real expertise in some aspect of the very broad field For any service of the word of God whatsoever [cf. CF # 185].  The term St. Gaspar [CF # 2] used to express his own total. This, like the offertory of the Host, offered for the Consecration of God’s power, and the Holy Communion with God and our fellow human beings.  Abandonment to God through the Church as obsequium from Rm 12:1: makes of your bodies [i.e., lives] an oblation to God’s Mercy!].

Abp. Francis Sogaro [1839- +1912]
The documents of the Second Vatican Council reminded us that there is one Priesthood of Mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ – but two ways of sharing in it:

  • on the one hand, there is the Priesthood of the Baptized – empowering each of the baptized to make an oblation of their own lives through their own self-giving in life;
  • then there is the Priesthood Holy Orders, in which the ordained priest acts in the Name of Jesus Himself especially in Eucharistic Consecration, and Sacramental Absolution in the sacrament of Penance: – My Body – My Blood – I absolve you.

Father Joseph Sembianti [1836- +1914]
During the international gathering of the Stigmatine Laity earlier this month, our historians remind us that St. Gaspar was ordained a priest on September 20, 1800. As a rather lowly contribution to this  second centenary year of Stigmatine life – and to call to mind these dates in our Stigmatine history, with this letter I submit two documents for your reflection:

  • the actual, official Minutes of the meetings of the first 18 General Chapters from 1871-191 These  Minutes were translated some years ago from the  Stigmatine General Archives in Rome and I do not think they have every appeared before in any language   for those interested in Stigmatine History – [It is interesting to note that the great Jesuit Society did this some years ago, and published their Minutes, as: “For Matters of Greater Moment – an expression from St. Ignatius’ written Constitutions] – The First 30 – A Brief History of a Translation of  the Decrees -1994];
Father Dominic Vicentini [1847- +1927]
  • the second document we are sending is a study on these Chapter Minutes, zeroing in on two points: CF # 5; # 185 – epitomized in Latin as quocumque [anywhere] and quodcumque – any ministry of the word of God whatsoever. Three good men left the Stigmatines at the time in an around the 12th General Chapter [of 1890]. They assumed some prominence in other communities: Francis Sogaro [Archbishop], Joseph Sembianti [Director General of the Comboni Missionaries]  and Dominic Vicentini [Superior General of the Scalabrini community].   That period was a difficult one in our history.

With this letter, we send to you the Minutes of all the General Chapters from 1871-1911 – and also the reflections on the History of the 12th General Chapter and its trials. This is sent not so much for your information, but your good prayer that we Stigmatines might continue seeking a fuller way of seeking the perfect work of the Priesthood [cf. CF # 7].

In these gigantic tasks of Stigmatine History, I owe a debt of gratitude to the Stigmatine Laity member, Mrs. Tereza Lopes, of Plano, Texas.

Respectfully submitted:

Fr. Joseph Henchey, CSS
Acting Spiritual  Director

NEW COORDINATION OF THE STIGMATINE LAITY IN THE HOLY CROSS PROVINCE, BRAZIL

During the annual province-wide retreat of the Stigmatine Laity of the Holy Cross Province, in Brazil (known as FABER), there was elected the new coordination for the next 2 years.

Just after the counting of the votes, the elected members were consulted and all accepted their assignment.  The elected coordinator and vice-coordinator, respectively Lena Martins and Cidinha Paiola, who were in Rome, accepted their assignments by phone calls.

This is the new coordination of the Stigmatine Laity (FABER), for the next 2 years:

Lena Martins (Praia Grande – SP): Coordenadinator
Cidinha Paiola (Marília): Vice-Coordenadinator
Ana de Jesus (Itararé): 1st Councilor
Kelci Santos (Campinas): 2nd Councilor

Substitutes:
Carlos Dalpino (São Caetano do Sul, SP)
Maria Antonia Bernava(Marília, SP)

Carlos Dalpino
FABER – São Caetano do Sul, SP