In This Issue:

º Words of Welcome

º Bishop Scalabrini on ôthe Peopleö

º Committee Member Roster

º News from Montreal, Ontario, the Filipino Community, Rhode Island, Brooklyn, and Florida!

º Central Committee Meeting

º New York Regional Meeting

º Upcoming Events

Dear Friends,

            The Scalabrinian Lay Movement in Saint Charles Province is moving!  In these pages, you will see what laity are already doing.  The laityÆs activity is a sign that the Spirit is already among us. 

            It is time to think of the spiritual meaning of our activity, and to use our spiritual meditations to lead us to more effective action.

            Make sure your groupÆs information gets in the newsletter!  Our second issue is planned for October 2000.  Deadline is Saturday, September 30, 2000.

Thank you!

Your Editor

Antoinette Abbruzzese

3 Midwood Place

Glen Cove, NY  11542

Timoteo Aldaba

654 49th St. Brooklyn, NY  11220

(718) 438-4196

timhera@aol.com

Loudette Avelino

80-15 41st Ave., #403

Elmhurst, NY  11373

(718) 426-9471

lavelino@aol.com

Mary Brown

131 Bancroft Ave.

Staten Island, NY  10306

(718) 987-8994 mbrown@panix.com

Luis and Reina Cardoch

P.O. Box 7056

Newark, NJ  07107

Anna De Lisa

279 Hillcrest Lane

Oyster Bay, NY  11771

Alcido Fank/Lucie Mouro

1 Edwin Ave.

Toronto, Ontario MOP 3Z5

(416) 533-3415

fank@sympatico.ca

Sandra Ferreira

3631-NE 13th Ave.

Pampano, FL  33064

(954) 784-0634

ALVSANDF@aol.com

Ellice Flores/Nimia L. Lacebal

132 Evans Rd.

Bloomfield, NJ  07003

(973) 388-4668 HelpingHand@prodigy.net

Rosanna Grillo

310 Atwells Ave.

Providence, RI  02903

(401) 331-8620 RGrillo61@msn.com

Mario Rodriguez

97 Troutman St., #2R

Brooklyn, NY  11206

(718) 456-8441

Juana Rolffort and

Washington Villacis

49 Grant St.

Brooklyn, NY  11208

(718) 964-1293 jrolffort@compuserve.com

Maria Luisa Scrabbi

9227-8th Ave.

Montreal, Quebec H1Z 2Y4

(514) 389-8360

Maria Sorrentino

9999 LaRose

Montreal, Quebec H2B 2Y7

(514) 381-9418 marysorrentino@hotmail.com

Anna Maria Vertullo

404 A. Mignault

Laval, Quebec H7M 4G6

(450) 669-6418 Dalcan@netwerx.net

Matilde Zozzaro

59 Kott Dr.

Glen Cove, NJ  11542

Notes from all over

From Montreal

Maria Sorrentino sends word that the Scalabrinian Lay Movement in Quebec is based at Our Lady Of Pompei Parish in Montreal. This group of laity, committed preserving Blessed John Baptist Scalabrini charism, is organizing a mission experience to Haiti.  Eight people will leave on February 27 and return March 5.  It is hoped that this will become an annual event for the region and will serve to sensitize the more affluent to the plight of the poor and the ScalabriniansÆ work in the mission fields. A pilgrimage is also planned to the Holy Land and then to Rome for the ôWorld Day of Migrationö on June 2, 2000.

From the Filipino Community

Tim L. Aldaba forwarded a copy of The Filipino Catholic for December 15, 1999-January 14, 2000.  Page 12 featured an article by Tim on the November 20 Central Committee Meeting, and page 14 featured TimÆs reflection, in Tagalog, on the Book of Revelation.

            The Filipino Catholic is an independent newsmagazine.  Father Bobby Sison, pastor of the Filipino community at Our Lady of Pompei, a Scalabrinian parish in Greenwich Village, New York, is the spiritual director, and the staff is composed of volunteers.  Each issue contains reflections on spiritual topics, features on Filipino Catholic life in the New York area, and news reports from around the world

            Two issues currently occupy community effort.  One is a planned pilgrimage to Europe to see the Oberammergau Passion Play and participate in the Jubilee Year in Rome.  The other is the beatification of Mother Ignacia del Espiritu Santo (1663-1748), foundress of the Religious of the Virgin Mary in the Philippines.  If her cause is

successful, Mother Ignacia will become the first native of the islands raised to the honors of the altar.

From Rhode Island

Rosanna Grillo sends the following information regarding Holy Ghost Parish:

            The name of the church is appropriate because the Holy Spirit is truly present.  Prayer comes easily in this spiritually inspired haven.  Roman style architecture with a Florentine flare and with its beautiful stained glass windows and marble floors certainly make a lovely house of worship.

            Fr. Ignatius Battaglia, our pastor, celebrates Mass in Spanish, English, and Italian.  He oversees and is involved in all the parish committees as well as the administrative aspects of the church--a holy and conservative priest who cares about his parishioners and their well-being.

            Fr. Angelo (who is from the Scalabrini residence) helps celebrate Mass on Sundays.  His sermons are always interesting and well prepared.  He is dedicated and always available to anyone in need.

            Our parishioners, who seem to blend in perfectly well with each other regarding of their ethnic backgrounds, are welcoming and charitable.  They are supportive of their parish and their friends.

            Activities in our parish include:  the Legion of Mary (in both English and Spanish), the Saint Vincent de Paul Society, Holy Name, Catholic WomenÆs League, Circolo Giovanni XXIII Society, Liturgical Committee, Parish Council, a childrenÆs liturgy every Saturday, and First Friday Eucharist Adoration.  Holy Ghost also has a day care and an elementary school.

            Rosanna also sends the following regarding the Scalabrinian Lay Movement:

            An announcement was placed in all church bulletins in the Rhode Island/Massachusetts area regarding the Scalabrinian Lay Movement for Young Adults.  An all-new and exciting youth group is being formed.  If you are between the ages of 18-30, have a genuine love for your neighbors, the migrants, and a sincere desire to help them, you have what it takes to join us.  A mission experience to Haiti, the Dominican Republic, or Tijuana will also take place.  Be part of the Scalabrinian spirituality by imitating his traits and teachings that are valid for the times in which we live.  For more information, please contact your pastor or the rectory.

From Brooklyn

Juana Rolffort sends a description of herself and her parish:

            I reside in the Cypress Hills community in Brooklyn, NY.  My parish is Saint Joseph Patron, which I have attended for over 10 years.  Recently, in 1998, I began attending classes to receive the holy sacraments of communion and confirmation.  This is where my interest began.

            Through my parish and the priests of the church that I assist, I have come to understand what being a Scalabrinian entails.  This attracted my attention because it has always been a dream of mine to help my brothers and sisters in one form or another, the way God wants us all to help one another.  This is the reason why I feel to motivated to inform myself about Bishop Scalabrini,  who was the founder of that great gesture of love and justice.

            I also experienced, on November 27, 1999, together with a group of people all united for that same justice.  This has filled me with the energy that has motivated me even more.

From Ontario:

The Scalabrini Migrant Centre, with which Alcido Fank and Lucie Mouro are closely associated, sent a pamphlet describing its work.

            In the fall of 1996, Scalabrinian Missionaries and laity from around the world assembled in Rome for an symposium on Scalabrinian spirituality.  This inspired a group of Ontario laity, and, with the support of the Scalabrinian Missionaries, the Scalabrini Migrant Centre opened in the summer of 1997.

            What makes the Scalabrini Migrant Centre different is that services are provided for immigrants by immigrants and the children of immigrants--people who have themselves lived the experiences of migration.  As a non-profit charitable organization, the Scalabrini Migration Centre has no vested interest except to assist those in need.  It is sponsored by various parishes and parish organization, and with private donations.

            The Scalabrini Migrant Centre offers a welcome to those who need information regarding accommodations, employment, education, and health care.  It provides translations and information on legal rights and privileges regarding pension applications, labor laws, landlord/tenant relations, and citizenship.  Special attention is given to family reunification, refugee claims, humanitarian issues, and visas for various categories of migrants.  The Scalabrini Migrant Centre aims to intervene with policymakers, the public, and the Church to ensure fair policies toward migrants and refugees are adopted.

News from Florida on page 4

A Thought from Bishop Scalabrini

"In the future, it will not be with the princes and parliaments, but with the great masses, with the people, that the Church will deal.  Whether we want it or not, this is our work, a work for the accomplishment of which we need a new spirit, a new direction of life and activity.  To lose influence with the people will be to lose the entire future, and it will be by the heart, more than by the intellect, that one holds and guides this immense power for good or for ill.  Of all the glorious titles of the Church that her history has earned her, there is none that at present has more influence than that of 'Friend of the People'. . . .

            "And also, everyone recognizes that the grand questions of the future will not be questions of war or commerce or finance, but social questions, questions that touch on the improvement of the condition of the grand masses of population, and especially the class of workers, and it is of sovereign importance that the Church be found always and firmly allied on the side of humanity, and of justice toward the multitudes that compose the body of the human family."

            (From Giovanni Battista Scalabrini, LÆEmigrazione Italiana in America, reprinted in Studio Emigrazione V [1968], pp. 228-229.)

News from Florida

Sandra Ferreira sends a description of Our Lady Aparecida Mission, which reaches communities in Miami, Kendal, Hollywood, Pompano Beach, and Delray Beach, and will soon extend to Ocachobee (West Palm Beach).

            Portuguese-speaking people can come to Our Lady Aparecida for catechesis and for the sacraments of baptism, communion, confirmation, and

            The mission is home to a rosary group, Renewal 2000, a Charismatic Renewal group, a choir, coupleÆs meetings, stewardship meetings, the Brothers of San Vincent, and Eucharistic Ministers.  Social activities also take place there.

            Brazilian immigrants in Delray Beach now have access to social assistance such as medical attention (general medicine and pediatrics), basic dental care, immigration counseling, a thrift shop selling clothing and used furniture, and emergency financial aid for families with children.

            In December 1999, a council of lay men and lay women representing the various groups at Our Lady Aparecida established norms for improving lay preparation and formation.  Thus, the involvement of the laity can be made more efficient, and the effort of priests and laity more unified.

Calendar of Upcoming Events

The New York Committee meets Saturday, February 19, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the House of Studies in Jamaica.

The Central Committee meets Saturday, March 25, 2000, time and place to be announced.

Sunday, March 19 is the Feast of Saint Joseph.  Saint Joseph is venerated in Sicily, and links the Italians the Scalabrinians originally served to the people served today.  The figure of Joseph leading Mary and Jesus on the Flight into Egypt is important in Scalabrinian iconography.

Thursday, June 1 is the 95th anniversary of ScalabriniÆs death.  It is also the Feast of the Ascension, which it was in 1905, the year Bishop Scalabrini died.  Saturday, July 8 is the BishopÆs 161st birthday.