WORLDCATHOLIC.US W W W. X AV E R I A N M I S S I O N A R I E S .

O R G

News
VOL. 70 NO. 4 NOVEMBER 2022

Cardinal Sean O’Malley

Celebrates Mass During the
US Xaverian Missionaries’ 75th
Anniversary Weekend at Fatima
Shrine, Holliston MA

NEWSLETTER OF THE XAVERIAN MISSIONARIES USA

CELEBRATING 75 YEARS OF THE XAVERIAN MISSIONARIES IN THE USA
 SUMMARY
3 Life is an Adventure!
4-5 75th Anniversary of the Xaverian
Missionaries, Homily of Bishop Robert
Reed
6-7 Fatima Shrine Celebration
8-9 Fr. Michael’s Reflections

10 40 Years in Cameroon and Chad

11 USA News

4
WORLDCATHOLIC.US News Magazine
Official publication of the United States
Province of the Xaverian Missionaries
Delegation House
12 Helene Court
Wayne NJ, 07470
973-942-2975
Our Lady of Fatima Shrine
101 Summer Street
Holliston, MA 01746
508-429-2144
Xavier Knoll
4500 West Xavier Drive
Franklin WI
414-421-0831
[email protected]
worldcatholic.us
Publisher
Fr. Mark Marangone, SX
Communications Board
Fr. Carl Chudy SX
Fr. Rocco Puopolo SX

6
Fr. Alex Rodriguez SX
Pietro Rossini SX
Editor
Mary Aktay
Printer
AlphaGraphics, Totowa NJ

Please consider donating to the Xaverian

Missionaries through our Communities
listed above or online at https://www.
xaverianmissionaries.org/support/.
Please also consider naming the St. Francis
Xavier Foreign Mission Society in your Will.
Together we can help St. Guido Conforti’s
vision to “Make of the World One Family”
become a reality.

8 WORLDCATHOLIC.US NEWS 2
 Life is an Adventure!

M
any things have changed since I joined the Xaverians 12
years ago.
I’m Pietro Rossini, 30, Italian. I met the Xaverians for the
first time in my parish in a small town in Southern Italy. I was a
teenager, and I was looking for a purpose in my life.
Before meeting the Xaverian Missionaries, I thought of joining the
local diocesan seminary to become a priest. But when I went there
to visit, I said right away, “This is not for me!”
I didn’t like the formal clothes that the seminarians were wearing.
I didn’t like their distance from us, visitors. I didn’t like the luxury
of the building and their fancy lifestyle. I didn’t like that experience
at all. It didn’t fit with who I was, and I decided in my heart that I
would find something elsewhere to spend my life.
While thinking all this, I met the Xaverians who came to my parish
that summer for a mission camp. They were able to bring together
several parishes and communities in the area and organize the
activities together. I had never met a guy from the other parishes
before, and “these strangers,” the Xaverians, were making us work
together!? That was amazing!
I felt a strong appeal to their closeness to people, and the family vibes that I could experience by only standing
among them.
I didn’t know they were priests. That’s what shocked me! Can a priest be like that? That’s for me. That’s who I am!
So, that’s how my journey with the Xaverians started. Since I finished high school, I’ve been living in many Xave-
rian houses around the world and with brothers from four different continents. The most beautiful experience has
been living with people from any background as a family.
Something I learned along the way is that there is no Xaverian like another. Our training brings us in touch with
our humanity and to become the best version of ourselves accepting all our weaknesses and strengths. We are hu-
mans that love humanity and strive to make it a single family.
I’m grateful for all these years of formation and for the special assignment that I got from my community. After my
studies in philosophy and theology, to my surprise, I was appointed to the States, in 2020, to pursue a Master of
Science in Journalism at Boston University.
I’ve never imagined myself as a journalist. But that’s part of the beauty of being a missionary, you never know
where you’re going to end up. I’ll be graduating in December and in January I’ll be ordained as a deacon looking
forward to the priesthood ordination next summer.
My assignment is not a specific country like usually happens for other missionaries. I’ve been appointed to be part
of a media team with the task of traveling around the four continents where we are present as missionaries and
telling stories of our work and of the people we work with. We have the task to tell the story of missionary life in
dialogue with the secular world, using the language of secular press.
I feel very excited to start this work! When I joined the Xaverians 12 years ago, I’d never imagined myself as a
priest, a missionary, and a journalist all at the same time. Life is an adventure. And we are made to live it!
~Pietro Rossini, sx

WORLDCATHOLIC.US NEWS 3
C E L E B R AT I N G 7 5 Y E A R S

75th Anniversary of the Xaverian

Missionaries in the USA
From the homily of Bishop Reed given On September 8, the Feast of the Nativity of the Mary,

W
the Mother of Jesus
e celebrate this 75th Real beauty is seductive. For example, I recall
Anniversary of the the first time I attended the Holy Thursday
establishment of the Xaverian Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper. I was
missionaries here in our perhaps 7 or 8 years old. As a boy, I was
nation. so taken by the procession with the Blessed
Sacrament to the repository, with all of its
The Xaverian Community of the United States
solemnity, clouds of incense and haunting
was born from China. In early 1941, Father
chant of the Tantum Ergo, I started crying.
Henry Frassineti was on his way to Italy from
China via the USA, accompanying a sick Beauty catches your attention, and then it
brother home to Italy. The patient continued to draws you in. True beauty is so appealing
Italy. Father Henry stayed, and the rest is 75 that our souls recognize something very good
years of history we honor this day. being communicated through it – something
True.
Today the missionaries have communities here
in Holliston, in Franklin, Wisconsin and Wayne, A starry night sky, a late summer Sunset,
New Jersey. They maintain relationships with being with one’s spouse with whom you’ve
those who support their global mission, and shared the good times and bad, children and
over these 75 years, more than 350 Xaverian grandchildren: the face of a little baby: these
Missionaries have studied in the US and were communicate a profound Truth – that God is
then sent in proclaim the Gospel in Africa, Asia, here. When we really look, we see the beauty
Most Reverend Robert P. Reed and Latin America. Seventy-three Xaverians of God’s plan.
Auxiliary Bishop of Boston were ordained on this soil and two of the men Mary has only one desire – to lead us to Her
were appointed Bishops in the Missions. Son. And so, asking for her intercession on
The Xaverian mission is our mission as the your missionary activity is sensible in these
Church. In all our personal struggles, and our days that you remember the past and plan for
the future. In leading us to Jesus, she lights
corporate struggle, to be faithful to the mandate
of the Lord to baptize and teach, we need the the way to our ultimate destination in heaven,
help of the Blessed Mother who knows our much like the lights in the night sky that led
brother, Jesus the best. sailors through the darkness. She is the true
Morning Star who accompanies us through
Today, we commend the past, the present
the valley of the shadow of death.
and the future of the Xaverian community and
mission into the hands of Holy Mary. She is a On May 13, 1917, three children named
woman beautiful not only in appearance (which Lucia, Francisco and Jacinta were grazing
has been confirmed by the seers of Fatima, their family’s flock of sheep when the
and other apparitions), but MOST beautiful beautiful Blessed Mother appeared to them
in the way God prepared her a wonderful atop a small oak tree. She came to them
purpose. She gave herself over to God’s will in with a message, and it was basically this:
a most extraordinary way. Her beautiful life is their prayers and sacrifices could help stop
seductive, in a most holy way.

WORLDCATHOLIC.US
WORLDCATHOLIC.US NEWS 4
NEWS 4
a world war, and also help to rescue people the Xaverian missionaries have been taking
suffering because of their own sins. up that mission on our soil, and from here to
We live in a time of war and tremendous many missions.
confusion and division. Sin wages war on My guess (and it’s more than a guess) is that
us. Sin causes us to turn our back on Jesus. Mary’s deepest desire for us and for the
Yes, we turn our back on the Son of God, whole world, is only that the world come to
the Son of Mary! know her Son and His mercy. Like a good
The apparitions of the Blessed Mother at mother, Mary wants us to place our hope in
Fatima continued for six months and at one Him alone. Jesus is our only hope.
point the Mary asked the three children, The name of our hope is Jesus, a name
“Will you offer yourselves to God, and which means one who saves. Jesus is our
bear the sufferings He sends you…for the only hope. And He carries the title Emmanuel
conversion of sinners?” The three children because, in Jesus, God is truly with us.
responded, “Oh, we will, we will!” But to be certain that we do not fall into
Their passionate response, in my mind despair, Jesus gave us His own mother -
echoes the enthusiasm of the early Church from the cross - to be our refuge and our
and should inspire us at this moment of advocate.
global challenge. In our mission as “the Church,” in all our
I would call this: taking up the mission. And struggles, we need the help of the Blessed
taking up this mission is something every Lady who knows our friend, Jesus, the best.
one of us should do—but, as we know, it’s Holy Mary, beautiful Lady of Fatima, pray
rarely easy and we would be naïve to think it for us!
so. In a particular way, for all these 75 years,

WORLDCATHOLIC.US NEWS
WORLDCATHOLIC.US NEWS 55
 Fatima Shrine Celeb
Xaverian Mission
Three days of celebrations of the 75th Anniversary of
Our Lady of Fatima Shrine in Holliston, Massachusett

O
n September 8, 1946, Cardinal We are very grateful to our Fatima Volunteers
Cushing of the Archdiocese of who worked so hard to provide this beautiful
Boston blessed our first established occasion.
community in Holliston, Massachusetts,
On Sunday, September 11, the remembrance
Our Lady of Fatima Shrine and the high
of the attacks on 9/11 served as the stage to
school seminary. The shrine was to be a
underscore our founder’s words, “make of the
place of spiritual pilgrimage and missionary
world one family,” through the global mission of
awareness and response. From here the
the Xaverian Missionaries. At the outdoor mass
Xaverian Missionaries pushed west to
at the shrine, celebrated by Cardinal Sean
Franklin, Wisconsin, and the enlargement of
O’Malley, many friends gathered to strengthen
our first seminary founded in Holliston. Since
this unitive mission across cultures and faiths.
then we have established communities in
Chicago and San Jose, California, campus The cardinal publicly thanked our congregation
ministry positions in Illinois, and directorship for our presence in the Archdiocese of Boston as
of the African Faith and Justice Network well as our service to the multicultural Catholic
for a period in Washington DC. In 1967 we community. From the Gospel, he emphasized
established our headquarters, the Provincial the gift of forgiveness in our divided world
House, in Wayne, New Jersey. and the importance of our mission that links
cultures and faiths.
On September 8th, 2022, Bishop Robert
Reed, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of We were also so pleased to have our interfaith
Boston joined us for a special mass with local guests with us. They included Siri Karm
friends. (Read his homily on page 4.) Singh Khalsa and Maron Tracy from the Sikh
Community, and Shaheen Akhtar and Burak
Saturday, September 10, 2022 we held a
Yüzügüldü and friends from the Muslim
fund-raising project by inviting the larger
community. Our Lady of Fatima Shrine is
community to a festival that gathered local
working to become a center for interreligious
artists and craft makers. It was an occasion
dialogue and collaboration through the
to celebrate the beauty of the divine inherent
Metrowest Interfaith Dialogue Project.
in the creative gifts of our community. Baked
goods and a wonderful time were had by all. Fr. Carl Chudy, sx

WORLDCATHOLIC.US NEWS 6
brates 75 Years of the
naries in the USA
f the Xaverian Missionaries in the USA were held at
ts where the first founding of our presence took place.

WORLDCATHOLIC.US NEWS 7
Fr. Michael Davitti, sx, reflects on his
personal anniversary celebration and
pilgrimage
“Jesus said to them, ’Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.’ People were
coming and going in great numbers, and they had no opportunity even to eat.”

family and, if I was happy to be back. is my family, that you have brought me this
I have to admit that I enjoyed my stay: At far?”
home I could use my own language; the During the three weeks at Reggello I gave
places and the people around me were presentations to various parishes on the
familiar from my childhood, few things had “signs” of our time, what God wants of us,
changed, and several new houses had been and how to give sense to what seems to
built over the years. At the beginning it took have no sense. I had chosen to reside at the
a while to get readjusted, but then I fitted in rectory to meet people for a chat or for the
again perfectly. Sacrament of Reconciliation. Many people,
During my stay at home, I realized how my from all walks of life, shared their sorrows
relatives and friends had aged and how my and hopes. I was surprised and honored by
many nephews and nieces had grown up. their trust and encouraged by their faith.
My family had expanded, and I was now the The chance to have a deeper look in the
eldest in the family, the one to whom the hearts of people made me realize that every
whole group was looking for guidance and time we approach a human being we are
advice. approaching an invisible Cross and I prayed
that I could be an “helper” in carrying those
My family could be divided in two large crosses.
groups: one residing in the northern part

R
of Italy and the second one in the southern. During the epidemic my brother Guido
est, He said, not relaxation The composition of the two groups got sick, and I had planned to go with him
or escape from what is tiring. and their cultures were so different, yet to Lourdes to ask for his healing, but it
complimentary to each other. was not possible. He died two years ago.
Rest par excellence is that of
Nevertheless, I wanted to keep my promise
God who after creating, rested, The main event that brought my family to Blessed Mother, so I went to Lourdes and
contemplating creation. together was the celebration of my Priestly prayed for his eternal rest. I brought a bottle
Rest takes place in silence and relative Golden Jubilee. We gathered at my of the water which I sprinkled on his grave
solitude, to guarantee a distance from hometown, Reggello (Florence) where I was upon my reentry to Italy.
business, allowing not an escape from born, and where I celebrated my First Mass
and my Silver Jubilee. The rest of my stay was spent in the south
reality but affirming the primacy of
of Italy where the other side of the family
meaning over things. Here, one discovers Many of my relatives and friends who had lives. I stayed at Alberobello with my sister-
that Christ is our real rest. He said, in fact: be present at those celebrations, were no in law who owns a building and a piece of
“Come to me, all you who are weary and longer there. The mayor of my town, who land.
burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my had been an altar server at my First Mass,
yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am was. Tuscany and Puglia are quite different, and
gentle and humble in heart, and you will I had to adjust accordingly. In northern Italy
find rest for your souls” (Mt 11: 28-29). The Readings of the liturgy expressed people tend to be more reserved in showing
deep gratitude for the past. I made my affection or friendship. To them, deeds
My vacation was an ‘intense’ resting in own the gratitude of King David who, after speak louder than words. They would give
God and I’d like to share some reflections the promises made to him by the prophet you the house-keys with the words: “make
about this period spent at home. Upon my Nathan, sat before the LORD, and said: yourself at home.”
reentry to The States a few friends of mine “Who am I, O Sovereign LORD, and what
asked me if it was hard to leave behind my
WORLDCATHOLIC.US NEWS 8
In the south people tend to sort of “kidnap” you! of devotees, to make sure that everybody is
They like to show affection: I never received known to them and put under their protection.
so many kisses and hugs in my life as during The heavier the statue, the more abundant
the days I spent in the South. They shovel the sweat, the more blessings you receive!
food in your plate: more food, more love (more The saints know that to be a human being is
weight!). Eating together strengthens relations not easy and that is impossible to keep all the
and friendships. The more guests at table the commandments and they will put a good word
merrier: you don’t need an official invitation; we for us with God.
can always squeeze up and there is room for Leaving Italy, the clergy asked me if I wanted
everybody. Friendship and cordiality seem to to remain behind: “there is a lot of work to Fr. Michael’s ordination in 1971
take precedence over order and organization. also do here!” They forgot that I belong to
A host in the north would get crazy, almost a Religious family and my “richness” and
faint if a uninvited guest shows up because diversity compared to the local clergy come
the table has been set for a certain number of from the vast experience of my Missionary
people only. In the south this is a secondary Congregation.
detail: people come first!
Missionaries are “prophets” and their job is
They like to be close to show love! They to point the way while working to become
shout and gesticulate to make their point. No redundant. Missionaries are the people of the
breakfast or supper, only a long lunch at 2:00 dreams, the people who, because carried on
PM when all the stores are closed and nobody the shoulders of the local clergy can see far
is in the streets because of the heat. This year and show the direction towards which direct
we had temperatures round 104-110 F. our steps. Fr. Michael’s celebration this year
Although the majority of Italians are Catholics, I love my country, my people and leaving them
the way religion is lived is quite distinctive. behind is an act of faith. I realized, in fact, that
Two world-views so beautiful and so different I was saying goodbye to people whom, given
and so complimentary at the same time. In the age and their ailments, I would not see
northern Italy religion seems to be quite simple again. But I consider the Xaverians my real
and clear: one has to be upright, hard working family in God. What unites us is not the fact
and generous. that were born by the same physical parents,
In southern Italy there is the so-called popular but by the Holy Spirit: “Children born not of
devotion, consuming all of one’s time. Pope natural descent, nor of human decision or a
Francis commenting on this said: “If you want husband’s will, but born of God” (Jn. 1,13).
to KNOW about Mary, ask a theologian, if you Besides, our faith reminds us that “we don’t
want to LOVE Mary, ask the people.” People have here a permanent city.”
also, tend to believe that there is only one “Our This is why I am happy to be back, grateful to
Lady,” the one in my village, the one they are God for the ten years I could spend in Wayne Fr. Michael with his family and friends in Italy
familiar with. with you because you are my real
In the south, saints seem more important than family.
God, who is too busy running the universe to
be disturbed by petty problems such as the
loss of keys, a typical case for St. Anthony to Fr. Michael Davitti, sx
come in.
The saints are “our protectors and defenders”
and patrons. They talk to people in dreams to
advise or worn them. Their statues are carried
along the streets of the village on the shoulders

WORLDCATHOLIC.US NEWS 9
World Mission News “Making of the World One Family...”
FORTY YEARS OF XAVERIAN MISSIONARY PRESENCE IN
CAMEROON AND CHAD, AFRICA Fr. Antonio Lopez Villaseñor, SX

F
athers Gianni Abeni and of the international theologate, In the south of Cameroon, the Church
Franceschetti Benigno were young Xaverians from different is well organized and is moving towards
the first Xaverians to arrive countries arrived. The Xaverians autonomy. The Xaverians work mainly
in Cameroon on September were also open to local vocations in the outskirts of the cities, with the
5, 1982, in Douala, in the parish of and founded a formation house in exception of a temporary presence in
Oyack. Fathers Armando Coletto, Bafoussam (Cameroon). Currently, the Benakuma. The priorities of pastoral
Michele D’Erchie, and Mario Maniero Cameroon-Chad Region has about work are to form basic Christian
came to the diocese of Yagoua, thirty missionaries and about forty communities in the neighborhoods
parish of Djougoumta, the north of young people in training, including and to train leaders to take charge of
the country. A few weeks later the philosophers and theologians. Thus, the various ecclesial services. The
group composed of Fathers Sergio slowly, the dream of the founder of catechumenate, especially that of
Favarin, Salvador Romano and the Xaverian Missionaries, St. Guido young people and adults, is always
Gianfranco Sana, destined for Chad, Maria Conforti, is realized: “To make one of the priorities. Communities
opened the Xaverian presence in the whole world one family in Christ.” organized by the Xaverians grew. After
the mission of Gounou-Gaya, in the a few years of missionary presence,
Diocese of Pala. Missionary work in Chad is usually
the need arose to leave their charge
carried out with people with little or
to the local priests in order to be able
The opening in Cameroon and Chad no schooling, in rural areas such as
to open new missionary fronts where
was born following the expulsion Gounou Gaya and Djdo-Tagal or in
there was a greater need.
of the Xaverians from Burundi in centers of relative importance such as
the years 1980-81. The Xaverians Bongor and the outskirts of N’Djamena A strategy that is still being developed
decided to settle on both banks of (Chadian capital). Here, the work of is that of Missionary and Vocational
the Logone, a river that separates evangelization is accompanied with Animation in a Church where there
the two countries. They opened human development. In recent years, is already a sufficiently important
further south a presence around the the Xaverians have been running the apostolic potential: men and women
large city of Douala and later another radio of the Diocese of Pala, which religious, priests and laity sufficiently
in the capital Yaoundé (Cameroon). is committed to human rights and mature. There are also missionaries
discreetly transmits Christian values. In who work abroad. Gradually, it is
The Congo Region was looking for
northern Chad, the Xaverians opened believed that the laity can also join
a place to install the theological
a new presence, a little over four years the mission ad gentes.
community, which is how historical
ago, in a Muslim environment in the
circumstances led to its opening in
small town of Bitkine.
Yaoundé in 1986. With the foundation

WORLDCATHOLIC.US NEWS 10
USA NEWS
DELEGATION HOUSE, WAYNE NJ
Pietro Rossini, sx, has created a website for the 75th anniversary of the
USA Xaverian Missionaries, https://usa.xaverians.org/. It contains his video
series, detailed information about the Xaverian Missionaries, and lots of
“extras.”
OUR LADY OF FATIMA SHRINE, HOLLISTON MA
Christmas at the Shrine
December 3rd from 6:00 - 10:00 PM there will be a Pasta Supper at Fatima
Shrine. $18.00 per person. Cash wine bar. Tickets are available after Mass
at the Shrine.
Christmas lights open on December 8th and run through December 27th.
5:00 - 9:00 PM. Gift shop hours extended from 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM during
the Festival of Holiday Lights. Hot chocolate will be available in the Hall.
Christmas Concert at Fatima Shrine presented by St. Cecilia’s Choir of
Ashland Sunday, December 11th at 3:00 PM.
Save the Date!
Ordination of Pietro Rossini to the Diaconate. Saturday, January 7th at 5:00
PM at St. Mary’s Church, Holliston. Ordaining Bishop will be Most Reverend
Vitus Rubianto, sx, Bishop of Padang, Indonesia.
~ Fr. Rocco Puopolo, sx
Fr. Rocco Puopolo, sx, Honored by NRVC
The Governing Board of the National Religious Vocation Conference
is honoring 4 members of the conference with the Outstanding Member
Recognition Award at their National Convocation on November 5, 2022,
in Spokane WA. The honorees are: Sister Donna Del Santo, SSJ, Sister
Michele Fisher, CSFN, Brother Chris Patiño, FSC, and our own Father
Rocco Puopolo, sx. This award recognizes their leadership in vocation
ministry by promoting a culture of vocations in the Church and in society and
highlights creative programs that they initiated and developed that had
a broad impact on vocation ministry. Xaverians have been members of
the NRVC for many years. Fr. Rocco joined in 2011 and recently served
as the New England Member Area coordinator for four years.
XAVIER KNOLL, FRANKLIN WI
Xavier Knoll conducted its 39th Annual Mission Banquet on October
2nd. We thank all who attended and participated.
~ Fr. Alex Rodriguez, sx

Help the Xaverian Missionaries celebrate their 75th Anniversary and continue their ministry in the USA. Either clip this paper and send it to the
address below or help the environment by donating online at: https://www.xaverianmissionaries.org/support/

Name: Donation Amount:

Address: City: State: Zip:
Email: Phone:

Mail to: Fr. Mark Marangone sx Xaverian House Supported:

12 Helene Ct. □Xaverian Knoll, Franklin, WI; □Fatima Shrine,
Wayne, NJ 07470 Holliston, MA; □Delegation House, Wayne, NJ

WORLDCATHOLIC.US NEWS 11
 Answer the CALL to Missionary Life!
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