SANCTUAIRE DE NOTRE DAME DE LA SALETTE
38970 La Salette – France
September 6, 2008
Dear Fathers and Brothers,
Greetings of Love and Peace from La Salette
Mountain
Our pilgrimage season is marking some
important moments, before it finally closes
on the 4th of November or there
about.
We have just finished the celebration of the
15th of August, the Feast of
the Assumption, one of the important
Feasts celebrated in Europe, and of course
here in France. Here at La Salette, we had a
stormy and wet weather. The mass was
supposed to be outside, but we were forced
to have it inside. The Basilica was
full…standing room only. The overflow crowd
went to the Chapel of Meeting, and that was
filled…standing room only. There were those
who had to content themselves to hearing
Mass in the grand gallery…fortunately, we
have a good sound system that linked all the
places, so they could hear everything. In
spite of the bad weather, we had more than
three thousand people at the Shrine.
Then the 19th of September is
coming.
We are preparing for this Feast. It is very
dear to all of us, La Salettes, but for me
in particular, because will mark my 52nd
anniversary of Profession. We expect the
Vicar General, Fr. Silvano Marisa to be with
us…he will be preaching at the main Mass. We
are looking forward to a big crowd and a
good celebration. The latest vocation of the
French Province, Bro. Alain Aujas will be
making his perpetual profession.
Then on the last week end of September,
the Diocese of Grenoble will have its annual
diocesan pilgrimage here. The Bishop uses
this opportunity to discuss with many
members of the Diocese of outline the
pastoral plan for the coming year. Again, a
big crowd is expected on that week-end.
Then on the 29th of September,
I end my 2008 season on the Holy Mountain. I
fly out from Lyons at 6:00 A. M. and will be
flying to Manila…to get there on time for
the Pre-Chapter and Chapter meetings of
the Province at the National Shrine of
Our Lady of La Salette in Silang, Cavite. I
am excited to return home…and look forward
to seeing most of the confreres of the
Province there…not only the delegates to the
Chapter. Please pray that these meetings be
Holy Spirit inspired….that we may all
courageously follow the path the Holy Spirit
will trace out for us. I will continue to
lay at the feet of Our Blessed Mother, the
Mother of Reconciliation…the success of the
chapter. Let's continue to pray for this
intention.
For those who are concerned, I will arrive
in Manila on the 30th of
September at about 1:15 p.m. aboard
Singapore aireline SQ910. See you then. God
love you all.
Fr. Efren, M. S.
Speech of Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz during
the Council of the Congregation in Zakopane
23.04.2008
My speech will be short….
Once again I would like to greet you
cordially. I am delighted to be among you
and here in the Archdiocese of Krakow in
this beautiful house in Zakopane. I am sure
that Fr General, our Guests, and all who
have arrived here appreciate how beautiful a
venue is this house.
I warmly welcome Fr
General with La Salette brothers and
Provincials, who (I am told) have arrived
from Brazil, Philippines, France, India,
Madagascar, Poland, USA, Switzerland and
Italy.
I am glad to have the
opportunity to participate in the Council of
the Congregation, taking place in Zakopane
from April 21 to May 2 of this year, to
discuss matters important to the
Congregation of Our Lady of la Salette, such
as the mission of reconciliation and
apostolic life in the modern world (Fr
Provincial was talking about it in the
chapel), as well as participation of lay
people in La Salette spirituality. The
gathering of the Council of the Congregation
is an expression of collective leadership of
the large community of La Salette
Missionaries, the development of a spirit of
co-operation and responsibility for the
benefit of the apostolic community, which
has existed in the church since 1852 and in
Poland since 1902.
This gathering certainly
gives you an opportunity to look back to the
beginnings of your charism, and to meditate
upon the mystery that was re-presented to
the church by the little children Melanie
and Maximin.
On September 19, 1846 at
La Salette , high in the Alps, they saw Our
Lady weeping and heard her words calling to
conversion, prayer and participation in
Sunday Mass. (How fresh is this message
still and also for people in Poland. I want
especially to stress the call for
participation in Sunday Mass). Our Lady with
the chain around her neck , a large
crucifix on her breast and with the
instruments of the passion (hammer and
pliers), wanted to remind us that the
disciple of Christ must choose between a
hammer(symbol of sin), that crucifies the
body of Christ today, and the pliers (symbol
of conversion and freedom).
Our Lady appeared at La
Salette as servant but also as queen. The
heavy chain on her shoulders seems to
overwhelm and crush her. This expresses the
truth about the misfortunes and sins of
God’s people. Our Lady appears to the little
children as if she was locked by a chain
with everything that imprisons human beings.
Mary came to repeat after St. Paul: “I
resolved to know nothing while I was with
you except Jesus Christ and him crucified”.
On September 19, 1851, bishop de Bruillard
issued a pastoral letter, in which he
declared that the apparition at La Salette
was genuine.
Dear La Salette Fathers!
Many years have passed since that apparition
took place but it has lost nothing of its
significance. It reminds us of our
infidelities and negligence, particularly as
far as prayer and reverence for the
Eucharist are concerned. It reminds us of
the need for continuous conversion and
transformation of our lives in the light of
the teaching of the cross.
On the occasion of the
150th anniversary of the apparition at la
Salette the Servant of God, Our Holy Father
John Paul II said significant words
indicating that your task is to bring back
to people their lost hope. He also said: “La
Salette is the message of hope, because our
hope is being sustained through the
intercession of She who is Mother of people”
(Letter to Luis Dufaux, Bishop of Grenoble,
May 6, 1996). Let the proclamation of that
hope be always in the centre of your
encounters with contemporary men and women!
Thanks to that hope, we can always assure
modern people, that the breaking of ties is
not beyond repair and that conversion from
unfaithfulness is always possible in order
to build reconciled humanity and to follow
our Lord, since nothing is impossible to
God. It is the same Christian hope that Our
Holy Father Benedict XVI proclaims in his
encyclical letter Spe Salvi. He stresses
that hope not only opens man for future
meeting with God, but even today brings God
to man. (Spe Salvi,6)
Dear Missionaries of Our
Lady of La Salette. Here in Zakopane, at the
foot of the Cross on Giewont.
I wish to ask you not to
be afraid to give witness to Christian hope.
This hope originates from the encounter with
Christ, who shared to the end in our destiny
accepting a human body, so that we could
have a share in his divinity. This hope
stems form the cross. Proclaim with courage
the truth about the death and resurrection
of Christ, which is the power transforming
human hearts.
Here in our Tatra
Mountains, at the foot of the cross on
Giewont I want to remind you of the words
spoken (in this very place) by John Paul II
to the multitude of faithful assembled here.
These are his words: “Beloved Brothers and
Sisters do not be ashamed of the cross.
Every day try to take up the cross, and
respond to the love of Christ. Defend the
cross and do not allow God’s name to be
taken in vain in your hearts and in social
and family life”. At the end John Paul II
encouraged all gathered here to bravery:
“This cross overlooks the whole of Poland,
from the Tatras to the Baltic. This cross is
a proclamation to the whole of Poland:
“Sursum Corda! – Lift up your hearts!” The
whole of the country, from the Baltic to the
Tatras, (we could add the whole of Europe,
indeed the whole world) must look towards
that cross on Giewont, to hear and repeat:
“Sursum corda!- Lift up your hearts!”
Dear La Salette Fathers,
gathered here today with your Superior
General in Zakopane at the foot of the cross
on Giewont. I wish to say again these words
of John Paul II “Sursum corda!- Lift up your
hearts!” Be faithful to your charisma rooted
in the mystery of the Cross. Be faithful to
this love of Christ, which Our Weeping
Mother of La Salette teaches us. Call
unceasingly to conversion, communion, and
solidarity. Do not hesitate to proclaim to
your brothers that God walks with his
people, calls them to new life and gives
them courage, in order to bring them to
authentic freedom. God Bless You!
«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»
January 2, 2008
Greetings from the Sanctuary of our Lady of
La Salette, France!
I am writing this letter to share some news
from the Mountain of La Salette, France. I
came to La Salette Mountain on 21st
December, 2007 to preach retreat and to give
some classes to the participants of PPP..
There were 38 participants from 9 different
countries. This year we were having the 10th
batch of the PPP and it was the biggest
group we ever had. There were also 7 La
Salette sisters from Angola, Madagascar,
Philippines, and Myanmar. Fr. General and
the formation in charge Fr. Andrej Zagorski
M.S were the main organizers of the PPP.
Frs. Comeau Gerard, Skalba Antoni, and
Tchindau Antonio dos Santos were the
translators. The translations were to
English, French, Portuguese and Polish. Bro.
Cardozo David R, the only student from
Bolivia could follow very well Portuguese.
Fr. Leslaw Panczak M.S the General
Councilor, was here in the beginning of the
month to organize the PPP. Then on 18th
December he went back to Rome to prepare his
visa to go in India. But he got his visa
only on 31st December and he can
participate only in one ordinations.
In the beginning of December there was huge
snow fall and When I came to La Salette the
whole mountain was under the blanket of
snow. The snow gave a pure and radiant face
to La Salette mountains. For those
seminarians who came from Asia and Africa to
view snow for the first time was a beautiful
experience. Since most of them wore heavy
Jackets, even the thin fellows looked very
fat.
This year the shrine opened for pilgrims
only on 20th December. Therefore
the number of pilgrims for Christmas was
very less. Fr. Isidro Perin has organized
two retreats for pilgrims; one was before
Christmas and another one after Christmas.
In Winter most of the members of the Shrine
community go to other communities of the
province. Only few members remain in the
sanctuary throughout the winter season.
There are few members came from other
provinces to form an international community
at La Salette. Fr. Jerome from Myanmar is
one of them and he lives in Grenoble during
the Winter. Many members told me that there
is a real need of having more young members
from other provinces to work in the
sanctuary at la Salette.
There are number of changes in the
leadership of the La Salette community in
the sanctuary. As you know Fr. Isidro Perin
M.S is the superior of the community. On
January 1, 2008, Fr. Herve took charge as
the new rector in the place of Fr. Louis who
was rector for about 9 years. It was during
the new year day Mass, the key of the
sanctuary was given to the new rector by the
Provincial Superior. Fr. Bernard is the
assistant rector and the in charge of the
Magazine La Salette. Fr. Raphael from
Madagascar is still the treasure. We hope
much will change and the Sanctuary will
continue to have its place in the hearts of
millions of people across the World.
I had wonderful experience in the sanctuary
giving retreat to the PPP participants. It
is the second time I am at La Salette during
winter; the first was in 1999 during my PPP.
It was an experience to feel the
internationality of the congregation. Since
there are translations, one can not cover up
a lot of materials for the talks. However I
gave my best to give the talks. After the
retreat on the last day I gave them talks
about La Salette from an Asian Perspective.
Most of the participants liked to hear the
relevance of La Salette in another context.
On 30th December the 7 Angolan
brothers professed their final vows in front
of Fr. General. It was a joyful program for
the entire PPP group and the shrine
community. On 31st December 2007, the PPP
program ended with evaluation and Mass. Fr.
General said next year there will be much
changes in the PPP program. I am going back
to Bangalore, India on January 4, 2008 with
Bro. Sijo Thekkekunnel the only PPP
participant from India. I am grateful to the
Lord for having given me this opportunity to
give my service to the International
community. I found it joyful to help our
younger generations in their preparation for
perpetual profession. May the Lord Jesus
continue to give us many more good vocations
to serve His people around the world. Wish
you all abundant blessings in the year 2008.
Fr. Biju Chempottickal M.S
Email- frbiju@yahoo.com
*************************************************************************************************************************
October 31, 2007
Greetings
from the Holy Mountain of La Salette
As we come to the end of the 2007 Pilgrimage
Season on the Holy Mountain, I thought it
might interest you to know some of the
distinguished visitors we had at the Shrine
these past three months. Their visit here at
the Shrine has been a source of blessings
not only for them, but for all of us, as
well. We are grateful for their presence.
-
I hasten to mention the short visit of
Fr. Castelli of the Diocese of
Armidale. He is the Treasurer of the
Diocese of Armidale. He was on his
vacation and combined to it a pilgrimage
to some of the Shrines of Europe and
France. He managed to come to La
Salette, in spite of the difficulties
and made it a point to look for me. He
was of course all praise for the beauty
of the location chosen by our Blessed
Mother. During a short conversation we
had, he conveyed his surprise that the
Philippine Province has not as yet sent
additional Missionaries to the Diocese,
in spite of the promise made to Bishop
Luc Mathys when he came to visit the
Philippines. I could only assure him
that efforts are being made to
re-enforce the presence of our two
confreres (who have been there for more
two years without help)….and that
hopefully they will be given help soon!
-
The Great Joe Nax, came to La
Salette in pilgrimage for his Golden
Jubilee of Ordination. Unfortunately his
other peregrination did not turn out
well for him, as he had an accident some
where…and sprained his legs and forced
him to move around in a wheel-chair and
later with crutches. He was still
dependent on a crutch when he arrived at
La Salette and was hampered by his
inability to move around as he wanted.
We did our best to make his stay as
comfortable as possible…and he was
mentioned in a special way at the Vigil
Mass on 18th of September as
the Rector invited every one to join him
in giving thanks to God for 50 years of
priestly ministry.
-
The Bishop of Grenoble…Most Rev. Guy
de Kerimel, came to La Salette three
times, during the season. He came with a
group of young people in June, and then
again for the perpetual profession of
two Sisters of La Salette – Nur from
Madagascar and Carol from Burma.
Then he was back with many members of
his Diocesan Flock for the annual
pilgrimage of the Diocese of Grenoble.
In fact, he uses the week-end after the
19th of September each year
to outline the Diocesan Program and
Priorities for the coming year. It is
really a beautiful and prayerful way to
instruct the faithful of the important
events in the life of the Diocese.
Bishop Kerimel, like his predecessors is
very much devoted to La Salette, as it
is one of the sources of many blessings
for his Diocese.
-
A pilgrim asked me once if there were
Bishops who came to La Salette in
Pilgrimage. This year, there have been
several of them…including one from
Australia, the U.S. and Mexico.
Naturally, there were other
French Bishops who came. This year
we also had the Bishop of Chambery for
the 15th of August. I am
particularly impressed by the presence
of the Bishop of Chihuahua in
Mexico, who accompanied a group of
pilgrims from his Diocese. He came with
no pomps…very simply attired… and did
give a good homily to his pilgrims on La
Salette.
-
Fr. General Dennis Loomis
and his council came in September to
hold their quarterly meeting at the
cradle of the Congregation. All the
Councilors were present, including the
Secretary General, Fr. Rojan Cheriyadan,
M. S. of India. Fr. General also
presided at the main Mass on the 19th
of September. You may soon receive
whatever decisions they have taken that
will concern you. I have not seen any
decision as yet.
-
Another distinguished visitor is Fr.
Rafael Di Orio, the reputed
priest-healer from the East Coast of the
U.S. Some of you may recall that the
late Fr. Albert Fredette, M. S., Bro.
Armand’s brother, collaborated with him…
in the healing ministry before Fr.
Albert died. Fr. Di Orio came with a
group of pilgrims from the U.S. – many
of whom are Charismatic devotees. They
stayed for two days….and celebrated Mass
twice in the Basilica. I was with them
on the first day…when, during the
prolonged Mass, at communion time, two
or three of the members were “slain” by
the Holy Spirit…and fell on their back
and remained in a “trance”. Our
Sacristan, not knowing what was going
on, thought that the ‘slain” persons
fainted and needed medical attention.
She immediately called the infirmary and
before we knew it, the whole team of
nurses and aids were there at the
sacristy, complete with wheel chairs and
stretchers ready to help out in the
“emergency”. It was nice to know how
prepared our staff were and quick to
come to the rescue. But their well
intended help was not necessary, as the
persons in a “trance” soon got up, as if
nothing had happened. It took quite a
bit of explanation on my part to let the
staff know what was going on, to the
chagrin of the French, who are not used
to such demonstrations of personal
“faith” and devotion.
A couple of weeks later, a charismatic group
from the La Salette parishes in England also
came and spent 6 days of retreat at the
Shrine. This group was composed of English
and Polish parishioners. Apparently, they
also had prayer sessions and Masses where
the Holy Spirit was active “slaying”
members. This time, our medical staff was
no longer summoned to action. The French
people, our volunteers and staff, had a
grand time “talking” about these events, and
many of them reacting with much incredulity.
In conclusion, I would like to share with
you some of the changes that will take place
shortly at the Shrine. Fr. Louis de
Pontbriand, the Rector, ends his third
term as Rector and will be replaced by
Fr. Herve Bougeard effective December 1,
2007> Fr. Bernard Gaidioz, the
Superior at La Tronche will serve, on a part
time basis as Vice-Rector, as Editor of the
magazine “Les Annales de La Salette.” Soon,
a replacement for Andre Zontek, who was
spiritual animator of the volunteers, will
also be announced. Fr. Andre will be
Superior at a new house, the Shrine of Notre
Dame des Chenes, in the area of Besancon.
Another interesting phenomenon in
France…the Provincial is very actively
pursuing La Salettes from Madagascar and
Poland to join the French Province, in
addition to Fr. Jerome and an Angolan priest
who are assigned to the Shrine during the
pilgrimage season.
And I say “Bravo” …. It will assure the
continuing existence and ministry of the
French Province, in spite of dwindling
number of French La Salettes.
God bless you all
Fr. Efren, M. S.
