1

April – May – June 2013 Nº 20 Triennial 2011 - 2014

Excerpt: “Scalabrini: A living voice”:

“LOVE FOR THE TRUTH”

As we commemorate our Founder on His Feast this June one, It is

worth remembering that this holy man had a strong desire and love

for truth. All his words and action always directed to the truth, which

lead him to the foot of the Cross of Christ. Though his quest for truth

seems glary, he had been guided by his faith and love to the same

cross, the way to God.

"A soul that is full of the Holy Spirit does not fear the world. “The

spirit of the world is a spirit of duplicity and dishonesty. Since the

spirit of the world is rooted in self-love, it seeks the truth only if it is

pleasing; it stands up for religion only if religion has approving

supporters; it extols virtue only where virtue is fashionable. This,

unfortunately, is the spirit guiding people, a timid and conniving spirit. Some people are afraid to belong to

God. Whenever there is the opportunity to openly side with him, they vacillate. Whenever they have to

expose themselves to ridicule and criticism for his glory, they pull back. Cowardice is called prudence.

Whenever they have to displease someone in order to be faithful to their duty, they feel a transgression is

justified. Their first concern with the demands God makes of them is whether the world will give its seal of

approval. So as not to lose the favor of the world, they pretend they are worldly: they speak the language of

the world, acclaim the standards of the world, and take pains to conform to the ways of the world.”

“The hardest combat of all in this world is that of speaking the truth of Christ to friend and foe alike and telling

it in good times and in bad, secretly and openly, to prisoners and kings, to plebeians and patricians, in private

and in public, without compromises or shame, not with a fearful heart but with a sublime disregard for dangers,

which is the privilege of great souls.”

"You cannot but love the truth". So, kneeling at your feet, I ask one favor: call to order that extra-hierarchical

group, especially the journalists headed by the Osservatore of Milan. They make a show of devotion to the

successor of St. Peter but have none. They cloak themselves with it so as to give free play to their partisan ideas

and defend their own private interests. In the meantime, they affront the supreme authority of the bishops,

bring dishonor to the Church and, with their vicious and scandalous controversies, make the Church

contemptible in the eyes of well-meaning people. They are also demolishing that marvelous unity among the

shepherds, which till now has been one of her finest glories. They are reducing Catholicism to a handful of

fanatics and keeping out some of the finest minds.”

1414 N. 37th Avenue Melrose Park, IL, USA

2

The Concluding Message: XVI Provincial Chapter,

April 6, 2013, Sr. Marciana Zambiasi, mscs

“Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.” (Mk. 16:15)

Full of hope, vision and dreams, we now reach

the conclusion of the XVI Provincial Chapter. We tried to

seek, clarify and answer to the many concerns and

expectations set before us, in the past days. I personally

believe that the Holy Spirit freely moves in our midst,

guided and inspired each one of us to make possible all

the things we have done from the first day until this

moment. In the past days, we had taken and put into

place an arduous task to study, reflect, and foresee the

Proper Law that will guide and lead us in living as

Missionary Sisters of St. Charles - Scalabrinians through

our propose updated Proper Law.

We have chosen to adopt the theme and motto of

the forthcoming XIII general chapter. The theme:

“Scalabrinian vocation, witness of Hope and Prophecy” ushered us to the demand and challenges of the

migration reality in the present word which represent the vast “harvest” of “field” which we have to look and

to envision how we can take the steps in continuing the “harvest”. Moreover, the Spirit of Easter, where we

celebrate, gives us more vivid energy to let the Spirit of the Risen Lord, be upon us, and work in us as “His

disciples longing to see His face”. This also prepared us, to look beyond the burden and to dream, like Mary or

the disciples who walked with Jesus on the road to Emmaus who had experience the Lord goodness as a sign of

new hope, new life, and new vision. Our work for this week is a reflection of this Easter Season.

In the Scriptures today, the Lord tells his disciples “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel”

(Mark15:16). How appropriate is this message for us today when we have just ended another historic page of

the journey of our Province through another Provincial Chapter wherein we have studied, reflected the

Province’s life in the light of the XII General Chapter and the Updating of the Proper Law. As we know this

chapter is a preparatory to the XIII General Chapter with the goal of centering on the “Scalabrinian vocation,

witness of hope and prophecy”. The Gospel today gave as a clear direction of where we have to do and to be.

“Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.” We, as Religious MSCS, are called to be

“migrant among migrants” as a form of living our missionary mandate. As a prophet, a Scalabrinian missionary is

not simply someone who foretells the future. A prophet, as the Bible understands, is a person who speaks for

God. Jesus spoke for God during his earthly life, and in our case to speak in behalf of the migrants especially the

most vulnerable and needy.

As a prophet, Jesus was speaking as the Lawgiver — he was speaking for God. He continues to exercise

this prophetic ministry through his Holy Word, and through the teaching of his Church. Jesus commands us, as

he commanded that little band of disciples on a Galilean hillside two thousand years ago, to “go into the whole

world and proclaim the gospel to every creature.” In the measure in which we try faithfully to fulfill this

command, Jesus continues to do what he promised to do when he gave the command: to confirm it by “signs.”

In the pre-scientific world of the first century, there were signs appropriate to that age. Mark mentions them: the

power to drive out demons, to speak new languages, immunity to deadly snakes and poisons, the power to

heal the sick.

3

Today’s signs are different: the worldwide example and inspiration of our Patron St. Charles, our

Founder Blessed John Baptist Scalabrini; Venerable Mother Assunta Marchetti and Fr. Joseph Marchetti who

witnessed great hope and prophesy in the service of the needy and most vulnerable ones. The century which

closed twelve years ago brought us the sign of some twelve thousand “witnesses for Christ”: women and men

all over the world, who, in the bloodiest of all centuries in recorded history, gave their lives for Jesus Christ.

“The age of the martyrs has returned,” late Pope John Paul II said, as we have heard witnesses are those

martyrs, who lived out their call to incarnate the Gospel values in the present modern world of relativism,

secularism and globalized modernism.

After this, we go back to our communities, and I remind you with the mandate of Christ to his disciples:

“Go, and proclaim to the whole world… our Scalabrinian Religious way of life patterned after Christ’s lifestyle,

witnesses of hope.” Thank you.

NEWS UPDATE … NEWS UPDATE…

The Provincial Superior conducted Canonical Visit In ASIA

In taking effect the mission and living out what our charismatic call of

“stimulating and encouraging the sisters to an ever deeper realization of

their religious consecration and apostolic activity (Reg. 114/Const. #177), the

Provincial Superior, Sr. Marciana Zambiasi just arrived from her canonical

visit in Asia. She had just visited the following communities; April 16 – 21,

2013 at Our Lady of Fatima Community, Quezon City, Philippines; on

April 22 – 28, 2013 at Scalabrini Community, Quezon City Philippines; May 1 – 6, 2013 at Maumere

Mission, Flores, Indonesia on May 9- 19, 2013 at Scalabrinian Mission, Trivandrum, India;

The Annual Retreat and On-going Formation. Having done with the first set of the Annual Retreat on

April 7 – 13, 2013 with Rev. Andrew Torma, msc with the theme “The Scalabrinian Consecrated

Religious Life a Journey in Faith” and participated by about 17 Sisters, Another retreat is set on June 16 –

22, 2013, it will start in the evening of June 16 and ends on June 22, noon with Fr. Patrick McAteep, SJ.

In the same line the Sisters at Mexico will have their Annual retreat at the Jesuit Retreat House on July 8-

14, 2013 at Guadalajara Mexico.

Meanwhile the On-going Formation is scheduled on June 24 – 25, 2013 which will be given by

Fr. Miguel Alvarez, CS.

The Celebration on the 50th Jubilee of Religious Life will take place on June 16, 2013 at 2:30 p.m. at the

Provincial House Chapel, 1414 N 37th Avenue Melrose Park. The Mass will be celebrated by Rev. Santo

Cigolin, CS. The following Sisters will celebrate their 50th Anniversary in Religious Life:

SR. AURELIA KOAKOSKI

SR. GLORIA ROSSETTO

SR. MARIA CIGOLINI

SR. REINALDA ESTRAPAZZON

Lay Scalabrinian Movement Fatima Group slated IV Group Encounter. The Fourth LSM Group

Encounter, Our Lady of Fatima Group is slated on July 8-13, 2013 at Holy Family Retreat House, Nivel

Hills, Cebu City, 6000, Philippines. The theme: VISIBILITY OF THE CHARISM IN LIFE AND MISSION

OF THE LAY SCALABRINIAN MISSIONARY and its Motto: “Go fast messengers….to the people who

await you” Scalabrini. The objectives of the encounter is to strengthen the Our Lady of Fatima LSM

Group towards more expansion and better consolidation; to cultivate the spiritual dimension of the

Scalabrinian Missionarity; to update and reflect on the actual context of human mobility and the mission

of the Lay Scalabrinian Missionary; to evaluate and define concrete aspects of the organization of the

Group; to plan the work together at the nuclei and Group levels guided by the OLF-LSM Group

[4]

Triennial Plan 2013-2016 and the input of the 4th General Assembly with emphasis on formation,

lifestyle and mission.

To grace the event, the Vice General Coordinator, Guiseppe Morsia and Sr. Zenaide Ziliotto, the LSM

General Adviser will be accompanying the LSM Group. May the Lord grant us all the graces necessary for

the full participation of the LSM Nucleus from different countries, Canada, Mexico, India Philippines and

USA. To help finance the activity, the LSM- USA will do the dinner dance for the needs of the event this

coming June 20, 2013.

SHARING …. AROUND THE PROVINCE… and OTHERS…

MY FIRST STEPS IN THE MISSION IN BRAZIL

Sr. Melany Grace Illana, mscs

The Superior General, in agreement with the

community of CSEM, had decided that it was good

to learn the Portuguese language course in CENFI

(Centro de formação Intercultural), and that was

such blessing for me. "The CENFI course is an

introductory course to the Mission in Brazil for the

Missionaries who came from abroad. It is sponsored

by the Centro Cultural Missionario (CCM) in Brasília,

DF, an organization linked to the National

Conference of Bishops of Brazil (CNBB)." I am

grateful to the Congregation of the Missionary Sisters

of Charles Borromeo – Scalabrinians, especially to the

Superior General, Mo. Alda Malvessi and her

Counselors, and my community – Bom Samaritano. I

am very happy and thankful for this opportunity to

stay at CENFI, from February 9th to May 1

st 2013.

I learned not only the Portuguese language, but also the brief history and culture of this big country and

my integration process with the new missionaries in my group. Our Portuguese course consisted of 18 priests,

religious and lay missionaries from 9 different countries: USA, Italy, Colombia, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Ecuador,

Poland and Philippines.

In the closing of our Portuguese course, we had a special Eucharistic Celebration with Fr. Stephen

Raschietti, sx, the Director of the CCM and concelebrated by most of our colleague Priests. I am very grateful to

God who strengthened and enlightened me throughout my process of learning the language and the experience

of immersing myself in the Brazilian culture. I would like to thank the rest of my co-sisters especially Mo.

Marciana Zambiasi, mscs and the sisters of the Our Lady of Fatima Province, who accompanied me in their

prayers and support. I would also like to thank Fr. Stephen Raschietti, sx, the CCM staff and especially my

colleagues and my teachers who journeyed with me.

I would like to extend my big hug of gratitude to Prof. Lia and Prof. Raquel who patiently taught me the

language so that I would learn it with courage and perseverance.

Likewise, my friendly hug to all the people who walked with me during my days in the Portuguese

course. Now, I'm starting to learn my mission at CSEM with the help of sisters Terezinha, Madalena, Leocádia

and the staff. Deo Gratias et Mariae!

Photo of the Foreign Missionaries at CENFI with our three Professors. (February 3rd to May 1st 2013)

[5]

Taiwan, the second time around

by Sr. Maruja S. Padre Juan, MSCS

The promotion of diversity and a culture of openness to the

world motivated my trip assignment to Taiwan last January 2013. The

trip carried out strategy towards expanding the depth and breadth of

the international exposure of our university/academic community. I

was happy for the chance to see Taiwan the second time around.

Kaoshung to Hsinchu

My first trip to the country was way back in 1995. Then, my

visit was in the port of Kaoshung and my encounter was with the

reality of violated Filipino fishworkers, domestic and factory workers.

This latest trip however brought me to Hsinchu County, and I was

awed by the successes of our Filipino professional workers who are

making it big time in the city. They are engineers, managers, service

specialists, teachers and administrators. They form part of the

economic miracle of Hsinchu City, fast growing and brimming with opportunities.

Hsinchu has gained considerable prosperity and an international reputation with the creation of

the Hsinchu Science-based Industrial Park, where Filipinos join the tech-workforce. Hsinchu Science

Park (HSP) is significant for its semiconductor manufacturing. Around 400 high-tech companies

involved in the semiconductor, computer, telecommunication, and optoelectronics industries, are

located in the park including the world's top two semiconductor founders, Taiwan Semiconductor

Manufacturing Company (TSMC) and United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC).

As in other highly industrialized cities, labor importation in Hsinchu appears to be corporate

driven. Big multinational manufacturing corporations look outside of Taiwan`s borders for workers

who will provide manpower. These laborers generally come from third world or other less

industrialized countries, like the Philippines.

Attention to understand migrants’ needs

Kaoshung and Hsinchu are distant from

each other, the former located in the country’s

south and the latter in the north. Nevertheless,

both depend on importing workers from abroad

to compensate for their labor shortage; and as

they rapidly and significantly integrate into the

global economy, they need to pay more

attention to understanding the needs of migrant

workers in their midst, and to educating their

people on the importance of foreign workers

for their economy and society.

[6]

Participation of the CSEM in the IX National Meeting of the

Network of Protection

By Sr. Melany Grace D. Illana, mscs

The Centro Scalabriniano de Estudos Migratórios, represented by Sr. Leocadia Mezzomo and Sr.

Melany Grace Illana, of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Charles Borromeo-Scalabrinian (MSCS),

participated in the IX National Meeting of the Protection Network, held at the Cultural Center of

Brasilia, the 07 May 9, 2013, along with representatives of several organizations who work for the

migrants and refugees in Brazil.

The meeting was organized and promoted by the Institute Migration and Human Rights

(IMDH), by Human Mobility Pastoral Sector of the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (CNBB)

and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), with the support of CONARE and

CNBB. The theme discussed was "Migrants, Refugees, Returnees and Stateless persons: Challenges of

Integration", with the general objective to contribute, by means of economic analysis, contributions,

debates and exchange of practices and experiences, in the reflection and the formulation of proposals

to overcome the challenges of access to social benefits and the effective integration of migrants,

refugees, returnees and stateless persons in Brazilian society.

The invited speakers presented the following themes: "Analysis of the situation involving the

theme of migrations, refuge, and stateless persons", by Roberto Marinucci - Director REMHU Journal;

"Stateless – Exposition of the proposed Charter", by Gabriel Godoy - UNHCR; “The social basic rights

welfare and their access mechanisms, by Dr. Daniel Seidel – Secretary of the State for Social

Development of the DF; "Brazilian returnees", by Reimei Yoshioka-President of Niatre-Isec (´ 45);

"Human trafficking: II PNETP, migration, refuge and participation of civil society; Haitian migration to

Brazil and human rights ", by Doctors Paolo Abram - President of CONARE and Fernanda Angels -

Ministry of Justice; "Guide to the CF 2014 with the theme human trafficking" by Pe. Luis Carlos Dias;

"Care to unaccompanied refugee or immigrant children" by Isabela (UNHCR), Gabriel (IMDH), Pe.

Marcelo (Caritas S. Paolo) and Sr. Patrizia (Tabatinga Pastoral).

Participants also worked in groups to deepen the topics in the meeting with proposals and

suggestions, such as the preparation of a petition for inclusion of articles on stateless persons in the

Migration Act. The meeting was concluded with a prayer by Gelmino Costa, cs, highlighting the text of

the Book of Ruth 01:16: "Wherever you go, I will go; your people are my people.

[7]

We celebrate God’s gift of the Holy Spirit.

Psalm 104:24-35 praises the power of the Spirit in our midst. When we refer to

the Spirit, we always point to the Spirit’s work in the entire creation (and not only

in and through human beings). “When you send your Spirit, they (God’s

creatures) are created, and you renew the face of the earth” (104:30). Through

God’s Spirit, God creates (104:24-26). But more than that, God also cares for his

creation through the work of the Spirit (104:27-30). God’s continued creation

and every day provision require a response of praise (104:31-35). Pentecost is our

opportunity to embrace the work of the Spirit in our midst and to celebrate its

power in our lives and environment where we live. Blessed Pentecost!

Engaging in the work of Justice and Immigration Reform: A test to Humanity

Sr. Elizabeth Pedernal, mscs

The journey towards justice, peace, and integrity of

Creation is a par dream for some. Yet, for some, it is a

participation of the project all humanity to the Divine plan of

God. What ever it may call, the observation and the fact that, in

faith and hope, the tapestry of justice is weave together with a

commitment and desire to live in a harmony with one another,

no barriers of language, faith, race or ethnic origin. There is an

equality, and compassion to all and for all.

The Catholic commitment to the dignity of the

immigrant comes from exactly the same roots as our

commitment to the dignity of the unborn child. Any Catholic

who truly understands his or her faith knows that the right to

life precedes and creates the foundation for every other human right. There’s no getting around the priority of

that fundamental right to life. But being “prolife” also means that we need to make laws and social policies that

will care for those people already born that no one else will defend.

Today, in the United States today, we employ a permanent underclass of human beings who build our

roads, pick our fruit, clean our hotel rooms, and landscape our lawns. Most of these men and women, like

millions of immigrants before them, abide by our laws and simply want a better life for their families. Many

have children who are American citizens, or who have been in America so long that they don’t know any other

homeland. But they live in a legal limbo. They’re important to our economy, but they have inadequate legal

protections, and in recent years many families have been

separated by arrests and deportations.

We need to remember that how we treat the weak,

the infirm, the elderly, the unborn child and the foreigner

reflects on our own humanity. We become what we do, for

good or for evil. The Catholic Church respects the law,

including immigration law. We respect those men and women

who have the difficult job of enforcing it. We do not

encourage or help anyone to break the law. We believe

Americans have a right to solvent public institutions, secure

borders and orderly regulation of immigration.

[8]

At the same time, we can’t ignore people in need, and we shouldn’t

be silent about laws that don’t work — or that, in their “working,” create

impossible contradictions and suffering. Despite all of the heated public

argument over the past decade, Americans still find themselves stuck with

an immigration system that adequately serves no one.

We urgently need the kind of immigration reform that will address

our economic and security needs, but will also regularize the status of the

many decent undocumented immigrants who help our society to grow.

Congress and the president, despite their serious differences, do have an

opportunity in the coming months to act justly to solve this problem.

Legislation could begin moving in Congress as early as this spring.

The bishops of the United States have suggested at least five key elements needed for any serious reform:

(1) a path to citizenship for the undocumented; (2) the preservation and enhancement of family unity, based on

the union of a husband and wife and their children; (3) the creation of legal channels for unskilled laborers to

enter and work legally in this country; (4) due process rights for immigrants; and (5) constructive attention to

the root causes of migration, such as economic hardship, political repression or religious persecution in the

sending countries.

As many as 11 million undocumented persons now live and work in our nation. We can’t refuse to see

them. Catholics of good will can legitimately disagree on the best way to bring about immigration justice. In an

age of terrorism and organized drug violence, public safety is a pressing and understandable concern. There are

also pitfalls and unhelpful agendas in some elements of the immigration debate that need careful discussion. But

again, we can’t simply continue to posture and delay in dealing with an issue that impacts so many lives.

We become what we do, for good or for evil. If we act and speak like bigots, that’s what we become. If

we act with justice, intelligence, common sense and mercy, then we become something quite different. We

become the people and the nation God intended us to be.

Our country’s chronic immigration crisis is a test of our humanity. Whether we pass that test is entirely

up to us. That’s why the Catholic community needs to engage the issue of immigration reform as prudently and

unselfishly as possible — not tomorrow or next week, but now. The future of our country depends on it.

SOME FACTS from Justice for Immigrants, USCCB

What, in a nutshell, is the U.S. bishops’ position on immigration reform?

The Catholic Church believes that the current U.S. immigration system

is broken and needs to be reformed in all aspects, or, comprehensively. This

would include a path to citizenship for the 11-12 million undocumented in the

country; a temporary worker program to allow migrant workers to enter

safely and humanely; and family-based immigration reform which allows

families to be reunited more quickly. The Church also teaches that the root

causes of migration—namely, global economic disparities---need to be

addressed.

The Church has taken a position on immigration because, besides being an economic, social, and legal

issue, it is also a humanitarian one, and, ultimately has moral implications. Each day church social service

programs, hospitals, schools, and parishes see the human consequences of a broken system: families are divided,

migrant workers are exploited and abused, and human beings die in the desert. This impacts human dignity and

human life and should be addressed.

[9]

Migration is a major theme in the Gospels. Jesus and the Holy Family were

refugees who fled the terror of Herod and Jesus, the Son of Man, was an

itinerant teacher while on Earth, with “no place to lay His Head.” Jesus also

taught us to “welcome the stranger,” for “what you do to the least of my

brethren, you do unto me.” (Matthew: 25:35-41)

Does the Church have the right to speak out on immigration reform, which is

largely a political issue?

All public policy issues---abortion, euthanasia, stem cell research, poverty

reduction, and immigration reform---have both political and moral aspects to

them. The Church is well within Her rights to speak out on public policy issues

of moral consequence and often does. In fact, the Church has a moral

obligation to speak out on issues which impact human dignity and human life.

In the immigration area, the Church brings special expertise to the table because we are an immigrant church

and we have helped assist immigrants assimilate into the nation for years. Moreover, many immigrant families

who attend Catholic parishes would be

positively impacted by immigration reform and a legalization program.

Like David and Goliath Story

Stone Park residents and community of

faith fought back and triumphed over strip club

next to convent Celebrate 1 year blocking

opening of adult establishment, announce new

steps of action to prevent future opening of

establishment

On Monday, April 22, 2013 ay 3:30

p.m. a Press Conference was held by Missionary

Sisters of St. Charles Borromeo, Scalabrinian, in

front of strip club (westbound sidewalk) 3801

W. Lake St. Stone Park, IL 60165. Together with

MSCS was the Stone Park community residents

who along with P.A.S.O.- West Suburban Action Project organized a grassroots campaign last year to prevent

the strip club “Get It” from opening next to the convent. The efforts resulted in a 500 people vigil in Stone Park,

(the largest public demonstration in the town’s history) as well as over 3,000 signed petitions against the strip

club and garnered international, national and local media attention. The community sent a resounding message:

“Get It, get out!”

And they accomplished keeping Get It out! The strip club, slated to open on Good Friday of last year,

has yet to open and an investigation by Better Government Association and Fox News recently found that the

initial owners of the strip club were suing each other, alleging the club “ran out of funds” and have numerous

liens filed against property.

Proud of this initial victory, the group will continue forward. At the press conference, next steps of

action were publicly announced to insure this strip club remains shut and out of this community. We hope that

this establishment will not open and that proper means to augment the economic situation of the city will be

address by the authority nit through building those kinds of business but towards the total development of the

residents and the neighboring cities.

[10]

Vietnam, XIN CIAO!

by Sr. Maruja S. Padre Juan, MSCS

It is a pleasant experience to be out in another country and

meet fellow Filipinos around town. I was in Ho Chi Minh City

(more popularly known as Saigon) in Vietnam for a week,

March 4 to 7, 2013, and I was overjoyed to see a lot of

Filipinos, had the chance to chat with them and get to know

their life situation as migrant workers in the commercial center

of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

While the Filipino migrants’ experience of the city and people

are positive, they would still rather hope for a chance to work

in the Philippines and receive the same competitive salary.

Actually, they feel close to home, what with Jollibee

Restaurants and other known food chains usually frequented by Filipinos on weekends in the malls in

the Philippines.

In Vietnam, particularly in the city of Ho Chi Minh, Filipino migrant workers are all professionals

employed in different private corporations and schools. And surprisingly, there are no Filipino

domestic helpers.

There are more than 70,000 foreigners working in Vietnam and only half of them are said to have

legal papers. Sources disclose that there are also foreigners who travel to Vietnam on tourist visa and

later on stay on to seek for jobs even after the expiration of their visa. Among them are foreigners

from African countries who Vietnamese authorities find very difficult to expel as many of them have

no embassies or diplomatic representative offices

in Vietnam.

Filipino workers are preferred over other Asian

nationalities due to their known professionalism at

work and, more importantly, for their ability to

speak in English well.

Filipinos have adapted in the Vietnamese lifestyle.

Most find the country`s vibe as traditionally

conservative and laid back compared to Manila.

The Journey to Jerusalem:

ISRAEL BREATHES WHILE PALESTINE CHOKES! The Complex Reality of Israel Palestine

Sr. Elizabeth Pedernal, mscs

Dr. Samah Jabr is a Palestinian psychiatrist who told us, in our Lecture on the complex reality of Palestine

Israel, during my Study trip to Israel about her personal and family story. Her family has experienced great

changes in a few generations going from a successful business family in Jaffa to distrusted and dispossessed

residents in Jerusalem struggling to secure a future for the family. Her wise father saw education as a key

component to this survival, helping his sisters and then his own children receive this key.

[11]

This inspiring well published woman has studied in Palestine,

America, France and currently at the Israel University. Her one hope for the

Palestinian people is peace.

She spoke of her work with the Palestinians, many of whom struggle

with poverty and mental issues in a repressive land with few medications

available to treat them. She also spoke of the difficulty of moving through

Israeli check points from one medical center in Ramallah to another in

Bethlehem and back to Jerusalem and the indefinite time it can take to do so.

This was all done in a matter of fact manner. No big political

statements about Palestinians being without water and electricity or of

dispossession. No bitterness. No anger. Only hope.

Hope that one day, all these ancient peoples can coexist in peace with the other.

While Rev. Dr David Neuhaus, SJ, patriarchal vicar for Hebrew-speaking Catholic communities in Israel,

shared to us about the Complex Reality of Israel Palestine. What caught most of my interest was the reality of

the migrants in the Catholic communities of Israel that comprises about 45-55% of the total population. What is

most striking is that these migrants are not counted as part because of their status not as citizen or permanent

residence. Another challenge that presented was the language issue, the first generation migrants speaks of their

native tongue while the second generation adopts the Hebrew language which in some extent becomes issues in

reconciling the mediums of instruction in the catechesis and evangelization of the two.

The Hebrew speaking community has an enormous mission, they are few in numbers as Israeli citizens

because the vast majority are really the most marginalized, the foreign workers, the asylum seekers…. they are

working to establish a presence in South Tel Aviv which is

one of the poorest neighborhoods in Israel, populated by

those very people …the poor, the marginalized, those

with no rights…Relations between the Holy See and

Israel are complex, the negotiations have been dragging

on for a very long time….here again Relations with the

State of Israel are intimately connected with relations

with the rest of the Middle East and as they move

forward for change, they really hope that the Church will

be able to be a bridge to bring the parties closer together,

so that they will adopt a discourse of respect and

understanding of each other, so that Christians in the

Middle East can live in an atmosphere where peace and

justice are part of their daily live.

Novices Saved the Date for Graduation

As Catechists, the Novices; Makriana Barbara Fiti, Dalhia Yumari Robledo,

Yadira Lizeth Haro Cano; Vineetha Jaseentha and Angelina Barek Tupen had

undergone the Fostering Faith Program of the Archdiocese of Chicago. They

are entrusted with opening hearts and minds to the message of Jesus alive in

the Church and must have a solid understanding of the faith and skills

necessary to proclaim that message to others. They participate in ongoing

formation in faith, catechetical training and education and on Thursday, June

6, 2013, they have save the date to join the graduation and certification

ceremony at St. Ferdinand Parish. Chicago.

Rev. Dr. David Neuhaus, SJ

& Sr. Violinda, RA & Sr. Elizabeth

A usual routine, lifestyle, business and tourism in the Old City Jerusalem, where I stayed, Ecce Home, Jerusalem

[12]

Birthdays to Remember

APRIL

08. Nov. Angelina Barek Tupen

15. Sr. Vianey M. Cedillo

23. Sr. Maila Miciano

26. Sr. Hortencia Da Costa

MAY

3. Sr. Crucita Ortega

5. Sr. Zelide Ceccagno

5. Sr. Eufrocina Sumampong

6. Mo. Marciana Zambiasi

6. Sr. Stella Joseph

8. Sr. Ma. Delcia Xavier

24. Mo. Alda Malvessi

JUNE

11. Sr. Maria Cigolini

12. Sr. Grace Parayakattil

Those who Rest in PEACE!

Eunice Bodanese 18-04-2013

Angela Cavalli 08-04-2013

Anna Fascina 05-04-2013

Adelina Zattera 31-03-2013

Edelcio Da Costa – 20-05-2013

(nephew of Sr. Hortencia Da Costa)

MISSIONARY SISTERS OF ST.

CHARLES BORROMEO

- SCALABRINIANS-

Our Lady of Fatima Province

1414 N. 37th Ave. Melrose Park, IL. 60160

U.S.A.

Email: secretarymscs@sbcglobal.net

Second Quarter Issue

2013

The MSCS Sharing Road is the official newsletter of the

Province of Our Lady of Fatima and is printed quarterly.

Articles submitted may be edited for brevity and clarity. We

thank all who contributed for this issue.

Your cooperation for the continuity of the Sharing Road

is always sought. Please send us updates, news, activities to

inform our Sisters of what is happening to your community.

Send your contributions, articles and news update at

secretarymscs@sbcglobal.net on or before July 15 , 2013.