From the General  Custodian

Dear MCA Members,

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

The impact of the Margaret Healy Leadership Assembly of  2003, will be with for us a long time. It has given us direction for the next four years and even beyond. At the last General Council meeting the discussion centered around the following issues and suggestions from the Assembly:

leadership development; personal development;  in relationship with each other;  “market” MCA to society and church; how to attract vocations to the MCA; financial independence; region to region support; better use of technology; need for flexibility, adaptability, availability; need to bring writings of Fr. Judge into the modern era; partnership beyond cooperation with the other branches; be prepared to take up mission when the religious branches leave; reading the signs of the times; and examining the role of the MCA in found areas of missionary activity.

    Taking  into consideration the human limitations of time and energy, the MCA Council was to discern from this list those goals that the new administration would be concentrating on. This task turned out to be extremely difficult. The goals that kept surfacing were: leadership development; personal development; reading the signs of the times, and the role of the MCA in the found areas of missionary activity. The Council’s conclusion is expressed in the following statement: 

    “On September 10,2003, the MCA General Council met to review and prioritize the goals and recommendations presented at the  Margaret Healy Leadership Assembly 2003. We were especially conscious of the importance of being faithful to the vision of Father Judge and to apply it as we read the signs of the times and the needs of the Church today. After prayer, reflection, and counsel we have concluded that the most urgent priority for the MCA today is to dedicate itself to the development of highly spiritualized lay apostles in the Church. Drawing upon the richness of the Missionary Cenacle charism, we are to foster an apostolic holiness as broadly as possible among the Catholic laity. In the process of doing this we will respond to an urgent and pressing need of the Church, encourage our own personal and leadership development, foster vocations to the MCA and to the other branches of the Missionary Cenacle Family.”      

   In drafting its statement, the Council engaged in “reading the signs of the times.” Implementation of the goals will definitely require leadership development and personal development. It is our intention to continue defining the role of the MCA in missionary activity. It should be noted that "highly spiritualized laity" is a term that Fr. Judge used in describing an encouraged, instructed, and properly motivated laity.  In the past, our focus has been to pursue MCA Associates. Yes, we want more MCA Associates once we are reasonably sure that they have a vocation to the MCA, but we will need to concentrate first on the formation of apostles by sharing our charism and spirituality with them. From these apostles any one of the four branches can draw members.  If this takes place properly, we will no longer have cold, lukewarm, or invisible Associates.

    As MCA members, we will be learning the new process together. Today more than ever the church needs generous men and women, ready to give their all for Jesus. The need is for men and women committed to the truth and who are truly holy—anxious to love and to serve in the name of Jesus, convinced that their mission is vital to today’s world.

My recommendation at this time is that you be true to your baptismal calling. Don’t miss out on God’s purpose for you. If you are a leader, be the best leader you can be by promoting the greater good for the Kingdom of God. You are a living testimony that will influence and cause others to become apostles. Can your reply to God’s call wait? Can you postpone birthing Jesus in this troubled world? Every moment that we ignore our call some poor soul goes without knowing the love of God. Others will not find out that Jesus came for them. Others will continue ignoring the fact that justice also belongs to the weakest. I am challenged and frightened by these thoughts. Are you? 

     Be not afraid doesn't mean be not prepared. I pray that Jesus finds us ready to listen and to embrace his message and his call. May we never be obstacles to the fruits that God intends to obtain from others through us.

    For the outpouring of love and support that you have demonstrated to me and to each other, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I am happy and privileged to be your servant. May this Christmas Season and the New Year be joyous and grace filled.

In the Most Holy Trinity,
Josie Morales, General Custodian

From Father John Seymour

The Music of Christmas

Angels sang to shepherds when Jesus was born. And why not? How could earth and heaven not rejoice at the birth of this baby boy? Unfortunately nobody made a recording. But that doesn’t matter because the music of Christmas is an endless song. It still echoes down through the ages in a world that longs for redemption, yet can’t quite recognize the redeemer.

The music of Christmas goes on because the Music Maker cannot stop loving us, reaching out toward us, seeking to enchant us and draw us into His embrace. He wants the whole world to dance with Him. It also goes on because we are part of the music.  In the 14th Century there was a very holy man who lived in Persia. His name was Hafiz and he loved to write poems. He wrote: 

I am
A hole in a flute
That the Christ’s breath moves through—
Listen to the music!

To be a missionary is to allow the breath of Christ to flow through our lives as air flows through the hole in a flute. Each thing we do for our neighbor and out of love for God is a note in the divine concert. During this season I hope we can all take time to listen to the music. And may it continue to flow through us to others.

Fr. John Seymour, S.T.
International Spiritual Guide

Reflecting on our History

 On November 22 Fr. Vincent Fitzpartick, ST, made a day-long presentation to Associates and Candidates of the Trinity Region (southeastern U.S.) at the Church of St. Thomas the Apostle in Quincy, FL.  Approximately sixty persons were present to hear Fr. Vincent.  Fr. Vincent, a native of Bayonne, NJ, entered the Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity after completing his secondary education at Holy Trinity, AL.   As a young student he had personal contact with Fr. Judge and with Mother Boniface Keasey, MSBT.  He related a number of anecdotes from those early years revealing the quality of life at Holy Trinity  and especially our Founders' fiery enthusiasm for spreading the message of Jesus Christ.  [Additional photos.]

Father Vincent Reminisces 

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 IN MEMORIAM 

Please pray for the souls  of the members of the Missionary Cenacle Family who have passed away. We especially remember members of the MCA who are recently deceased.

Noel Beltran, who had been active in a young adult Cenacle in California, USA, passed away on November 2, 2003, of a brain tumor. He is survived by his wife, Joyce, and their child.

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Eleanor M. Broughton, MCA associate from Attleboro, MA, USA, died on October 30, 2003. An Associate of the Followers of the Spirit Cenacle in Wareham, MA, she will be remembered as a humble, simple, gentle and generous woman of God.

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Jacqueline (Jackie) Topham of St. Patrick's MCA Wareham, MA, USA, passed away on Friday, October 24,2003. She was a long-time Associate of the MCA.

HOLY SPIRIT REGION—WESTERN US

During Advent we are united in prayer with the rest of the regions that God may continue to enlighten and guide us to carry out his work.

    Our feast of Christ the King was a big success. About 300 MCA members attended. The speakers were Fr. Stan Bosch, ST; Fr. Roberto Mena, ST; and Fr. John Joseph Seymour, ST, International Spiritual Guide. The theme was peace and justice according to the Rule of Life. Two Cenacles were accepted as candidate Cenacles. They were Our Lady of Victory and  Fr. Brendan. A new Missionary Angel Cenacle of children from 8 to 13 years old was also initiated. A total of 22 Affiliates were received as Candidates. Two new Cenacles formed by veteran Associates were instituted. They are 1) Saint Agustin, in Fontana and 2) Holy Trinity in Compton. The Custodians of the Cenacle in Fontana are Mark and Blanca McGuthrie, previously members of St. Mary’s Cenacle. Francisco and Leticia Ortiz, previously members of the Sacred Family Cenacle, are Custodians of the new Cenacle in Compton. Both Cenacles work with couples in crisis and unmarried couples. The Angel Cenacle had a special ceremony attended by the area Custodians; local and regional Spiritual Guides; Josie Morales, General Custodian; Fr. John Seymour, International Spiritual Guide, and José Castro, Regional Custodian. It was a special privilege to be present at this wonderful event. This Angel Cenacle is made up of 17 children under the supervision of the youth Cenacle, Jesus of Nazareth. Lupita Sandoval, Lili Rivera, Zulma Meléndez and Frank Ivan Vallejo are directly involved in their formation. They have already held approximately 30 orientation meetings where they learned about the Cenacle, the Founders and the meaning of mission. All of these children are the sons and daughters of Cenacle members. We congratulate their parents and families. We gladly welcome these children who told us that they wanted to be missionaries.

SAN JUAN THE BAPTIST REGION -  PUERTO RICO

A WALK IN HIS SHOES

Nothing is worth more than today – You must be the change you wish to see in the world.
 --Mahatma Gandhi

It is not easy to walk in someone else’s shoes, but we as missionaries have walked the walk and will continue to walk. Puerto Rico is not different from any other mission. We all give of ourselves in service and in love. This year in our apostolic sharing we have crossed the mountains of Pueblo Indio in reaching more souls for Christ. We traveled to Santo Domingo with determination and hope for the conversion of the people to the Triune God.

     Some of us have had moments of sadness and sickness, yet we recuperated and brought back our joys. We shared the loss of loved ones and the joy of new births. We have had many activities and absence of activity. We have experienced happiness in serving and carrying the cross of service. All this was done for the love of God.

     During our Retreat “ Dios Familia” we heard Bro. Pedro Escalante, ST, in his reflection on the Holy Eucharist, the center and light of our life. He said, “You are the word of God for others to hear, the written word for others to read. You are the Eucharist that you will take to others.”  We have walked together to give of ourselves in communion to the poor and abandoned. We have walked together to bring hope to a desolate family, to bring a new way in finding God through our children. In Ponce during the anniversary of our Founders, we reflected and questioned ourselves as to “Where are we? What do we see? What is our reality as a family and as missionaries in Puerto Rico?”

     “A missionary is an apostle that is concerned, is worried, takes initiative, takes action, promotes action—a proactive person who will hold on because he is faithful and persistent to the end.” This is how Father Vicente Pascualetto, ST, illuminated our missionary hearts. We listened to  Sister Margarita Rivera, MSBT, in “The Founders Activity.” We asked ourselves: Where are we? What do we see? What is our reality? We need to think as family, and talk as family. Sister invited us to multiply; she challenged us to work as family and with the family. Fr. Francisco Conkle, ST, walked us through forgiveness as an act of love and not rejection . Father Stan Bosh, ST, also visited us and talked of the need to give of ourselves. In sharing your experience of life to reach others, he said, go beyond the walk, for it is there that God will meet you.

     We all leave footprints. Some are deeper than others, some are real, some are false, but we will never reach our goals with just one try, or reach heights with just one flight. We must try, try again and be persistent. We need to walk the arid desert to find the “well of God.”  The only way we can get there is by giving all we have, and if we continue to “be good, do good, be a power for good” our walk will not have been in vain.

     During an MCA Family luncheon to celebrate Advent, our Spiritual Guide, Sister Rose Morales, MSBT, shared with us that as missionary the wait is worth waiting for, because, in the end, the joy will be greater, for it is in Him that we wait.

     This is the beginning of a new day. You have been given this day to use as you will. You can wait for it or use if for good. What you do today is important because you are the one who exchanges a day of your life for it. When tomorrow comes, the day will be gone forever, in its place is something that you have left behind, LET IT BE SOMETHING GOOD!

            With Love, in the Trinity Always,
            Linda Landin, MCA

Our Lady of Guadalupe Region—Mexico

Trinity Region—Southeastern US

Leadership Conference—2003

During the weekend of September 8-10, Custodians, Assistant Custodians, and Spiritual Guides from the Trinity Region met at Holy Trinity, AL, for their annual Leadership Conference. There were about 40 participants representing Cenacles from throughout the Region. The Trinity Region Leadership Conference had its beginning in the early 1990s when the late Sr. Josepha McNutt, MSBT, as Regional Spiritual Guide, called Custodians and Assistant Custodians together for a day-long meeting to help officers understand their duties and responsibilities. From those early meetings the Leadership Conference has expanded into a two day conference with emphasis on MCA spirituality and helping newly elected officers grow in their roles as leaders. This year the Conference took on still another look as Spiritual Guides met as a group while Custodians and Assistant Custodians met as another. This change was prompted by the fact that many Associates have now become Spiritual Guides. Father Francisco Valdovinos served as the facilitator for the Custodian/Assistant Custodian group, while Father John Seymour directed the Spiritual Guides. The two groups came together for prayers, meals, and Eucharist. One session of the Conference was devoted to a business meeting conducted by Gerry Shook, Regional Custodian, and Kay Knott, Assistant Regional Custodian. Kay reported on the meeting of the MCA General Council that she had attended. Gerry announced that the Pentacost retreats for the year 2004 will be held on May 21-23, May 28-30, and June 4-6. The 2004 Leadership Conference will on September 24-26. 

A highlight of this portion of the Conference was the report from the individual Cenacles on  what their Cenacles are doing. It would take much more space than we have on these pages to record all the individual and corporate works of mercy that are taking place among the Cenacles. The Founders must be pleased!   

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Living Waters Cenacle, Pensacola, FL 

   Recently, our cenacle asked Sister Mary Ann McIntyre, MSBT, if there were any areas where we could be of help at the Catholic Charities Family Counseling Center. As a result, four of our members  have become volunteers at the Center office. Another member is a long time volunteer at the Outreach Center. We are enjoying our collaborative effort with the Sisters.

—Marianne Beckman, 
Custodian

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Resurrection Cenacle,  Dothan, AL    

The Resurrection Cenacle in Dothan continues to meet once a month. Every third month, we are blessed to have Father Walter O'Donnell, who is the pastor of Holy Family Catholic Church in Blakely, GA, join us and celebrate Mass for us. We always enjoy his wisdom and insight into the gospel readings. After the celebration of Mass, we enjoy dinner together and our prayer service. At our monthly meetings we are once again studying the virtues, this time more in depth. We miss Pat Sears, who has moved to Myrtle Beach, SC; Dianne Rasponi,who moved to St. Louis, MO; and Helen Medlock, who has moved to Gadsden, AL. Our Cenacle has been invited to join Holy Trinity Cenacle at Blessed Trinity Shrine Retreat on Sunday, December 21. We are looking forward to gathering with our Cenacle sisters and brothers.

—Betty Wittekind, Custodian

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Spirit of the Annunciation Cenacle 

Spirit of the Annunciation, Decatur, AL, hosted the 2nd Annual Advent Reflection day in Montevallo, AL, on December 13th. Approximately 22 people from Eufaula, Selma, Montgomery and Decatur attended. Fr Dennis Berry, ST,  give the reflection on “hope” and presided at mass at  St Thomas Parish Church at the end of the day. It was truly a wonderful day. Everyone enjoyed the reflections, the prayers, and the food. Special thanks go out to Fr. Dennis and St. Thomas Parish for saying “yes” to us.

—Stacy Roll, Custodian

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MCA Associate Receives Service Award

Alice McLendon, member of Holy Spirit Cenacle in Dublin, GA, received the 2003 Bishop Gartland Service Award in Savannah on November 23, 2003. The Bishop Gartland Service Award is an honor bestowed by the Diocese of Savannah on persons who have given distinguished service to the church in the tradition of its first Bishop.

Bishop Gartland became the first Bishop of the Diocese of Savannah in 1850. He was a missionary bishop of this newly erected diocese that included all of Georgia and part of northern Florida, ministering to a population of about 5,500. In the fall of 1854, yellow fever struck the city of Savannah killing more than a thousand in three months. Bishop Gartland ministered to the sick until he too became ill with this terrible disease. He died shortly thereafter at the age of forty-nine.

Alice has selflessly served many years as a member of Immaculate Conception Parish in Dublin. Her apostolic works as an MCA Associate are many and fruitful. This award was well deserved.

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Father Vincent Fitzpatrick, ST; Father Alexis Zuniga, ST; and Br. Dave Sommer, ST, at Quincy, FL, November 22, 2003.

Miryea Encisco; Edgar Encisco; Sr. Xóchitl Contreras, MSBT, 
at Leadership Conference, Holy Trinity, AL, Sept 9, 2003

Marianne Beckman and Anne Stout, busy planning during 
Leadership Conference, Holy Trinity, AL, September 9, 2003

Taking a break, Leadership Conference, Holy Trinity, AL, September 9, 2003

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MCA Directory and Mailing  List 

Please help us maintain the mailing list for the newsletter and the MCA Directory. Each mailing of the newsletter results in numerous returned copies because of address changes. Aside from having to pay extra for returned issues, we lose track of MCA members. Please let Jim Bolner know by e-mail or regular mail of any changes in your mailing address. It is also important that he be given the names of new Candidates and Associates in order to add them to the MCA Directory. Also, please notify him of any changes in your Cenacle’s officers and Spiritual Guide. Jim’s mailing address is: 460 Bancroft Way, Baton Rouge, LA 70808-4805.  His e-mail address  is jimbolnersr@cox.net. 

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The Spirit of the Cenacle is the official Newsletter of the Missionary Cenacle Apostolate. It is published three times during the year in conjunction with the liturgical seasons of Advent, Lent/Easter, and Ordinary Time. The deadline for the next issue is March  15,  2004. Please submit materials for the newsletter to Smittie Bolner, 460 Bancroft Way, Baton Rouge, LA  70808.-4805; E-mail: sbolner@cox.net. 

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