From the General Custodian

Dear Family,

"May the grace and peace of the Holy Spirit be with us forever!"

Recently we marked the passing into eternity of Rosa Parks, an ordinary woman of great courage, character, and wisdom. This African American woman realized that being required to take a back seat on the bus because of the color of her skin was an injustice, and she made a decision that altered the course of American history and set in motion the Civil Rights movement. As I watched her story unfold during the television coverage surrounding her burial, I was inspired by her courage and humility.

Just as Rosa Parks’ story inspires me, so do the stories and testimonies of MCA members who have understood the meaning of their “call.”  I am convinced that, like Rosa Parks, the MCA members are transforming the world. They know how to listen to the Spirit and they have the courage to “seize the moment” when called upon.

My own personal call at this time is to lead the MCA until Pentecost 2007, when my term as General Custodian ends. The goal set by the present administration for the MCA is to form apostles. For this reason, the Regional Assemblies were conducted, and now, the follow-up of those Assemblies is taking place. You have all shared with me that these are meaningful and very positive gatherings where the regions’ leaders work, share, plan, take counsel, and become aware of their role in the MCA community. You have also told me that your commitment to the MCA has become stronger and that you value being a  part of the Missionary Cenacle Family.   

I desire very much that the MCA members be clear about their identity and their missionary vocation. Every one invited into the MCA should be well formed and informed about this identity. Though many are attracted to our charism and spirituality, not all are called to become MCA Associates. Although the Regional Assemblies have been positive, I also realized that we still have much work to do to make each MCA member aware of the call to be an apostle within the MCA. One way that we can strengthen our commitment is to read and study our Rule of Life regularly. 

Finally, I would like to ask you that you pray for leadership in the MCA, particularly for the persons who will replace Joanne Jones and me as Assistant General Custodian and General Custodian, respectively. Ask the Holy Spirit that the call to these persons be revealed and that they respond with generosity, humility, and courage.

   Lent is a time to search our own hearts and be ready to say at any time: “Lord, here I am to do your will.”

Happy Easter and Blessings during this holy season!

Your servant always
In the Most Holy Trinity

Josie Morales, MCA
General Custodian

STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM UPDATE

In the year 2000, the MCA General Council took steps towards making  the MCA more financially self-supporting through a program of voluntary giving of our time, talent and treasure. This was a prominent feature of the early Christian community of Jerusalem and a powerful sign of the presence and action of the Holy Spirit in the community (cf. Acts 2:44-45; and 4:32-37). Stewardship  encourages the free-will sacrificial sharing of our goods and resources. Think of the three aspects of stewardship – time, talent and treasure – as a three-legged stool. All three are necessary! If it is not done freely, is has little spiritual value.

Each member has much to offer the MCA, the Cenacle Family, and the entire Church. Our funding is a critical need that we must address if we are to continue to grow and become the independent community of lay missionaries we are called to be. This stewardship program, directed by Pat Regan, replaced the annual $25.00 dues that members were asked to contribute (which was too much for some, and too little for others). There is a significant difference between the dues-based model and the stewardship model. Stewardship is truly an expression of our faith based on prayer, personal reflection, and gratitude in response to what has been given to us.

Though our finances improved considerably under the stewardship program, we are still requesting, and receiving, considerable money grants from our religious branches for MCA projects (i.e, Regional and General Assemblies) for which I am very grateful. However, I know that we can do much better if we all pull together responsibly. I am most grateful to those of you who are contributing regularly through stewardship. Your generous sharing has enabled us to fund our present administrative expenses.

Since the inception of the stewardship program, the MCA General Council elected Peggy Clark of Light of Christ Cenacle, Tallahassee, FL, as the General Treasurer of the MCA. The General Treasurer is responsible for handling the finances for the MCA and will make regular reports to the General Council and to the membership. Each region is to continue to have an appointed MCA member to be responsible for leading the stewardship mission for the MCA membership in the Region, including the promotion of the stewardship program and the collection of monetary contributions to the MCA. These individuals will send all MCA contributions for their regions to Peggy Clark (1601 Green St, Tallahassee, FL 32303).

The following persons are in charge of stewardship for their respective regions. Cenacle members in the region should send their MCA stewardship contributions to these individuals.

I end this brief update in the words of Fr. Judge: “Do give this much thought, do hold yourselves responsible for the future of the Cenacle.” Please pray for the grace to respond generously to this beautiful gift we have been given!

Josie Morales, MCA
General Custodian

Immigration in America

Recently legislation was introduced in Congress dealing with the issue of illegal immigration. There have been widespread protests against the legislation in some cities in the United States, and we have been bombarded with news reports and analyses in the media. The issues are controversial, and many of us are confused as to the stance we should take regarding the outcome. As Catholics we have a duty to become informed on the teachings of the Church with regard to immigration. A starting point is A Pastoral Letter Concerning Migration from the Catholic Bishops of Mexico and the United States. It can be found at: http://www.usccb.org/mrs/stranger.shtml#1. Beyond this we should pray that legislators will  have the wisdom to act justly and wisely not only with regards to the current legislation but in dealing with the issues of immigration at all levels. The following prayer was forwarded to the Newsletter by a member of the MCA in Puerto Rico. —--Smittie Bolner 

In Memoriam

Margaret M. Johansson, MCA, Our Lady of Light MCA, Trenton, NJ, died on February 22, 2006.  Marge was a faithful member of the MCA for 42 years and a daily communicant of St. Ignatius Church, Yardley, PA.  Marge will be greatly missed by her four children, their  spouses, eleven grandchildren, her brother, sister-in-law, MCA members, and many other relatives and friends.

Patricia Mantzouris, MCA, Holy Trinity Cenacle, Silver Spring, MD, died on February 10, 2006, after a long and difficult battle with cancer. Pat had worked for the Mission Procure Office of the STs since 1979. 

Maria Luisa Hernandez, a long time member of the MCA in California died on February 17, 2006. 

Maria Tornin, for years an active parishioner at St. Brigid’s Church in Manhattan, and a candidate with Sagrada Familia Cenacle, died on March 2, 2006, at the age of 61. A native of the Lower East Side, New York City, Tornin was a parishioner for more than 40 years of historic St. Brigid’s Church in Lower East Side in Manhattan. When the church was slated for dissolution by the archdiocese of New York City, Tornin was active in a group which fought unsuccessfully to keep it open. Built in 1849, the church is considered to be a haven to waves of immigrants, beginning with the Irish, and later to all ethnic groups. It served as a refuge for the poor and abandoned. Tornin played a vital role as the church’s youth group organizer and as the recruiter for altar servers. She continued to be active in youth ministry at Most Holy Redeemer after St. Bridgid’s was closed. She was also very active in her tenants association. Edwin Torres, a fellow parishioner at St. Brigid’s said of  Torres, “She was a simple person, She didn’t often take credit for things she did. She was not looking for glory or praise. She did it and she didn’t care who knew about it. Her life touched many lives, and in many aspects. We’re going to miss her.”¹ Tornin is survived by her husband, three sons—two of whom are police officers— and a daughter.

 ¹The Villager, Vol. 75, No. 43, 15 -21, 2006, at http://www.thevillager.com/villager_150/mariatornin61.html.

Missionary Cenacle Family Centennial

Planning has begun for the celebration in 2009 of the one-hundredth anniversary of the Missionary Cenacle Family. MCA Associates and Candidates are invited to submit a design for a logo to be used in connection with the celebration .

The title of the celebration is: Missionary Cenacle Family Centennial - Familia Cenáculo Misionero Centenario
The theme is: Glorifying the Triune God 100 years -  Glorificando a Dios Trino 100 años.

Central idea: (From Father Judge): "I hope and pray that your affairs will be so conditioned that you must depend upon one another, that you cannot do without one another, that you may realize that you need one another." 

Submit your drawing by April 15, 2006, to:  

Regional Reports

San Juan Bautista Region (Puerto Rico)

Santa Maria Madre De Dios Parish Celebrates Thirty-five Years

      Recently the parish of Santa Maria Madre de Dios celebrated its 35th anniversary. Participating in the celebration were the pastor, Father Vicente Pasqueletto, ST, and other members of the Missionary Cenacle Family. A special guest was  Roberto Octavio González Nieves, O.F.M,, Archbishop of San Juan de Puerto Rico. Santa Maria Madre de Dios is the home parish of the Regional Custodian, Alma Robles, and her family. There are three Cenacles in the parish, each of them active in missionary work in the parish and in the communities of Pueblo Indio and La Central. The parish is very proud of two of its former members, Leilany Dávila, MCV, and Allen Rodriguez, ST.
     Everyone enjoyed seeing photographs of Leilany and Allen through the years along with other members of the parish. The photographs brought back fond memories of the early years when the parish was just beginning. The festival was a wonderful gathering of the Missionary Cenacle Family. Those attending enjoyed a delicious meal, listened to music, and sang songs. In the words of Father Judge, "All that is done in God’s love, is much easier.”

---Alma Robles, MCA

From left to right, Sr. Rose Morales, MSBT; Francisco Marrero, MCA; Alma Robles, MCA;
Archbishop Gonzalez, OFM; and Sarai Melendez, MCA

Incarnation Region

We in the Incarnation Region are still struggling to improve communication within our region. I have been  trying to get together by e-mail with the committee that is assigned the task of dividing our region into areas. I had convinced myself that because we now have e-mail, the task would be easy. But sometimes it seems we do less and less because it is so overwhelming. St. Teresa of Avila reminds us that God has no hands on earth now but ours. On March 3rd, the Feast of Katherine Drexel, a friend sent me this quotation: "With God's help you were able to get through last winter's privations. Years ago you would not have believed you would have had the strength. Who gave you the strength? God! He will give you more strength this year...."

   With St. Theresa of Avila, Katherine Drexel, Maria Tornin, and all the wonderful MCA saints we know as examples, we can do what needs to be done. If we keep in mind that our strength comes from God, who will never let us down, we will be able to solve the problems in our region. 

---Respectfully submitted by Margaret A. Flanagan, MCA, Holy Redeemer Cenacle, New York

Trinity Region

Blessed Trinity Shrine Retreat, A Blessing for the Trinity Region

The Blessed Trinity Shrine Retreat located at Holy Trinity, AL, is truly holy ground for the MCA and the Missionary Cenacle Family. It is the place where the MCA Associates and Candidates of Trinity region have their Pentecost retreats. The spirit-filled atmosphere of the place, the hospitality of the sisters, and the natural beauty of the environment give it special appeal. For the past several years the retreat center has not been able to accommodate all of the region’s MCA Associates and Candidates at one time. Pentecost retreats are scheduled on three weekends to accommodate those wishing to make their retreat at Holy Trinity. Following is the retreat schedule for 2006.

June 2-4 - Fr. Austin Walsh, ST, Presenter; Jan Shiplett, Facilitator
June 9-11 - Suzi Law, MCA, Presenter; Sylvia Ramos, Facilitator
June 16-18 - Fr. John Seymour, ST, Presenter; Leo Sabatini, Facilitator

Pensacola Cenacle Hosts Day of Reflection

On Saturday, April 1, 2006, Living Waters Cenacle of Pensacola, FL, hosted a day of reflection for area members of the MCA. The facilitator, Sr. Chris Wiltrakis, MSBT, engaged participants in examining their commitment to their baptismal vows by reflecting on the three "scrutinies" which catecumens undergo in preparation for full acceptance into the Christian community.

    Those in attendance included Sr. Terry Bretthauer, MSBT, from Montgomery; Srs. Siena Wahl, MSBT, and Carmen Rivas, MSBT, from Pensacola, and MCA Associates and Candidates from Fort Walton Beach, Tallahassee, and Milton, Florida, and from Baton Rouge, LA. 
 

Holy Spirit Region

Gratitude for Donation

Holy Spirit Region is grateful to SCI Hispana Funeral Services for the very generous donation towards the MCA leadership development of the region.  This donation was used to cover costs of the Assembly Follow-up which took place in November, 2005.

Rest in peace, beloved Fr. Vincent Fitzpatrick, ST

Anyone who knew Father Vincent was quickly aware that they were in the presence of a holy man of God.  Fr. Vincent lived here at the Shrine of St. Joseph for many years up until he drew his last breathe, surrounded by those with whom he lived and worked.  It was a special blessing that we were able to get Fr. Vincent “home” from the hospital to the hearth where he shared and received so much love. Fr. Vincent was well known and loved by so many.  He will be remembered as a pillar, not just to his own Missionary Servant brothers, but to the entire Missionary Cenacle Family, the embodiment of a man on fire with the Missionary Cenacle spirit.  As you pray for his eternal rest in the loving heart of the Trinity, please remember his family, and the Missionary Cenacle Family who has lost a hero, a friend, a great man, and a holy apostle of God. 

--Father Peter Krebs, ST, Director, St. Joseph Shrine Retreat  

Remembering Father Vincent Fitzpatrick

—Jim and Smittie Bolner

We recall that the first time we met Father Vincent was in 1978, on the occasion of our first retreat at Holy Trinity, AL. It was a Missionary Cenacle Family retreat and consisted mostly of telling the story of the MCF. There were a number of people there who had known Father Judge and Mother Boniface or who had been involved in the early days of  the Missionary Cenacle Family. Among them were Sister Peter Claver and Father Vincent Fitzpatrick. To use the current vocabulary of our grandchildren, it was awesome! Through the years we continued to see Father Vincent, first at Lawtell, LA, in 1981, where he served as Associate Pastor in a predominately African American parish, then at various retreats and MCF gatherings. This quiet, gentle man inspired us with his intellect and deep spirituality. The last time we saw him was in the fall of 2003 in Quincy, FL, where he gave a day long Conference to the MCA on the history of the MCA and the meaning of living out our baptismal call in our commitment to the MCA. Following is the text of a homily delivered by Fr. Vincent at Holy Trinity, AL. A copy of this text is attached to the door of Father Judge's Chapel at Holy Trinity. We believe that it embodies the spirituality of this man more than any words we could use to describe it.

Holy Trinity's present vocation is to be a place of prayer,
          a vehicle of renewal.
  We do not come here for a nostalgia trip.
  The simplicity, impracticality, out-of-the wayness and quiet
          make for renewal here.
  Our history is shouting here.
  Our infancy, our childhood, our past here unite us
          for what we will do together.
  We can renew our belief in ourselves.
  We can discover God's part in our development as communities.
  We can strengthen our conviction that God has something
          he wants of us.
  Holy Trinity is not our Capernaum, Jerusalem, or Galilee;
  It is our Bethlehem, our Nazareth.
  The events that developed later are explained out of this context.
  Here at Holy Trinity we are immediately in touch
         with Father judge and Mother Boniface.
  Here we find not dead memories of a bygone past,
          but an awareness of the dramatic achievement
          of the Holy Spirit through their relationship.
  To us there is no other ground so hallowed, so sacred,
          so consecrated with their sweat and tears.
  As such, it is the only place where we can meet them.
  If we meet Father and Mother any place else,
          we don't truly meet them.
  To meet our founders, we must come here, we must be here.
  We must think of the events of their lives they shared here.
  Out of this hallowed ground we were formed as communities.
  Holy Trinity is the cradle of our spirit.
  The holiness that is here is not ours. It is theirs.
  But we want to absorb it and here we can, as it were,
          let it rub off on us.
  Here we can see the unbelievable work the Holy Spirit did,
          through them, as a contribution to the Church.
  The Spirit is here to be caught!

                                     — Father Vincent Fitzpatrick, S.T.

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