HOUSTON, TX —June 26, 2016

It’s difficult for those of us from developed countries to accept that there are thousands upon thousands of people who are forced to walk miles a day in the hopes of finding save drinking water. Once a river bed is reached, it’s then time to dig with hands and buckets until water is reached.

If they are lucky enough to find some water they are limited by the amount they can of water they can carry on their heads or shoulders. Once back home the process of boiling the water is required to eliminate contamination and bacteria.

This search for water becomes the sole focus of one’s life.

As I write this I am in an air-conditioned room, with a bottle of water by my side, fully connected to the world via the Internet thanks to an abundant and consistent supply of electricity.

This is, after all 2016.

The modern conveniences many of us take for granted in 2016, however, such as clean drinking water do not exist for many of the peoples of sub-Saharan Africa.

Won’t you take a moment to improve the lives of these brothers and sisters, citizens of the world?

Your donation of just $25 will change lives.

Thank you for your generous support.

Donate Now

For information on various projects in need of funding, click here.

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ROME, ITALY, June 29, 2016 – At the beginning of the second week of its Enlarged General Council (EGC) meeting in Rome, the Spiritans celebrated the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Spiritan Generalate in Clivo di Cinna, Rome, with an outdoor, multi-cultural Mass – concelebrated by the delegates — and an international buffet reception in the Generalate garden attended by the EGC delegates and many guests.

Superior General John Fogarty, presided at the open-air Mass in the front garden at Clivo di Cinna. Also present were two former superiors general, Pierre Haas and Franz Timmermanns, as well as members of the current General Council and the following former general councilors: Msgr. Sergio Castriani, Msgr. Rogath Kimaryo and Msgr. Peter Marzinkowski, Bernardo Bongo, Jeronimo Kahinga, Bernard Kelly, François Nicolas, Godfrey Odigbo and Frans Wijne.

The Spiritans Generalate was moved from Paris to Rome in 1966. Fr. Fogarty has been the superior general for the Spiritans at the Generalate in Rome since 2012. The superior general and his council are the supreme governing body of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit. They are all elected to office at the general chapter, which is called every eight years.

Representatives from across the Congregation have been meeting in Rome beginning on June 19, and ending on July 2, 2016, as part of the Enlarged General Council (EGC), which serves as a mid-point review four years after the 20th General Chapter in Bagamoyo, Tanzania, in 2012. The EGC has a three-fold purpose according to the Spiritans Rule of Life, #205.3: to evaluate and to assess the implementation of the decisions of the Bagamoyo General Chapter; to study new means of strengthening and bringing about the Congregation’s objectives; and to reinforce collaboration throughout the Congregation at the level of the circumscriptions, the Unions of Circumscriptions and the General Council.

In addition, EGC delegates were able to participate in a Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica, presided over by Pope Francis, to celebrate the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul on June 29, 2016.

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PITTSBURGH, PA – July 14, 2016

Kenneth G. Gormley became Duquesne University’s 13th president on July 1, 2016, the third lay president in the university’s 138-year history.

A native Pittsburgher, nationally recognized Constitutional scholar, best-selling author and former dean of the school of law, Gormley brings a deep commitment to the Spiritan mission and tradition of community engagement.

“Ken Gormley is deeply committed to our Spiritan mission. For the past two decades, he has exemplified the mission through his interactions with students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends of the university,” says the Rev. Jeffrey T. Duaime, C.S.Sp., provincial of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit Province of the United States, and chair of the Duquesne University Corporation.

Gormley will be officially installed as president at the inauguration on Thursday, September 22, 2016, replacing Charles Dougherty, who retired June 30.

“It is the greatest honor imaginable to be selected to lead this special academic institution—Duquesne University of the Holy Spirit—to the next level of success and excellence,” says Gormley. “My wife, Laura, joins me in expressing our deep gratitude to the board for the faith and confidence it has placed in me in making this important appointment.

“For someone who grew up in Pittsburgh and continues to be in awe of the talented faculty, students, staff and alumni of this incredible university that has been an anchor of the region for over 130 years, it doesn’t get any better than this.”

Gormley is a former dean and professor at Duquesne University School of Law. He earned his B.A. from the University of Pittsburgh in 1977, summa cum laude; and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. Gormley received his J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1980.

Following graduation from law school, Gormley served as senior law clerk in the U.S. District Court in Pittsburgh. He then taught at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, and later practiced law at the firm of Mansmann, Cindrich & Titus in Pittsburgh. He also served as a special clerk to Justice Ralph J. Cappy of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court (1990-91), and as executive director of the Pennsylvania Reapportionment Commission (1991-92).

In 1994, Gormley joined the faculty at Duquesne University School of Law as associate professor, and was promoted to full professor in 1997. He taught courses in Constitutional Law, Civil Rights Litigation, State Constitutional Law, Advanced Constitutional Law, First Amendment and a new inter-disciplinary course for undergraduate students titled American Presidents and the Constitution. He was appointed interim president of Duquesne Law School in 2008 and was named the 11th president of the law school in 2010.

During his 21 years at Duquesne, Gormley has served on the Editorial Board of Duquesne University Press (2001-2005); as associate vice president for Interdisciplinary Scholarship and Special Projects for the University (2007-2008); as chair of the President Search Committee for the Palumbo-Donahue School of Business (2012-2013); and as organizer of numerous high-profile programs featuring U.S. Supreme Court justices, the Attorney General of the United States, the President of Costa Rica, and other events that garnered national attention.

Gormley understands that his top priorities as president of the 137-year-old university will be to grow the endowment, complete a strategic plan for the institution’s future and make connections with local foundation, corporate and community leaders.

“My plan is to sit down with elected officials and the foundation and corporate community starting right away. It’s important to have these sorts of relationships,” Mr. Gormley said.

Gormley said he also is excited about raising the prominence of Duquesne’s programs to national and international levels and to shine a light on the research and other work of faculty and students that rivals that of those at top tier universities.

Gormley was named to the Office of Research’s “Hall of Fame” for obtaining grants and achieving success in fundraising (2010). As president of the law school, Gormley completed the largest fundraising campaign in the history of the school as part of its Centennial Campaign; hosted alumni events across the country; moved the law school up dramatically in U.S. News & World Report and other rankings; appointed more females to key administrative positions than any president in the history of the law school; worked with the university to obtain government grants and private funding to establish a free-standing law clinic— The Tribone Center for Clinical Legal Education—in the Uptown section of Pittsburgh to assist poor and underserved clients in the region; worked collaboratively with the faculty to support its research and dramatically increase its scholarly output; and overhauled the law school’s curriculum, international programs and student organizations to better serve its students.

A renowned author, Gormley is the editor of The Pennsylvania Constitution: A Treatise on Rights and Liberties (Bisel 2004 and Supp. 2015). He authored Archibald Cox: Conscience of a Nation (Perseus Books 1997), which was awarded the 1999 Bruce K. Gould Book Award for an outstanding publication relating to the law. Gormley also published The Death of American Virtue: Clinton vs. Starr (Crown 2010), a New York Times bestseller that received the American Bar Association’s prestigious Silver Gavel Award (Honorable Mention) as well as critical acclaim in the New York Times Book Review (Editor’s Choice), Washington Post Book World, and other publications. Gormley has appeared on NBC’s Today Show, The Charlie Rose Show, Hardball with Chris Matthews, NPR’s Fresh Air, and hundreds of television and radio shows in the United States and worldwide.

Gormley has testified in the U. S. Senate three times, as well as in the Pennsylvania Senate. Gormley also served as president of the Allegheny County Bar Association, the first academic to hold that position in the organization’s 137-year history. From 1998-2002, he served as mayor of his community in Forest Hills, Pa., for a four year term.

He and his wife, Laura Kozler Gormley, have four children: Carolyn; Luke (a 2015 graduate of Duquesne’s Mylan School of Pharmacy); Rebecca (a 2016 graduate of Duquesne’s McAnulty College); and Madeleine.

As for his tenure, Gormley intends for Duquesne to continue, “to reflect the energy and creativity of the Spiritan tradition that founded this university back in 1878 marked by a commitment to serving God by serving our students so that they, in turn, can serve others.”

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PITTSBURGH, PA (July 21, 2016) — Liz Keller and Lydia Presper entered Duquesne University for similar reasons, and as they exited the university in May, they still shared a common bond in the form of a profound opportunity.

Keller, a graduate in biology from Boiling Springs, Pa.; and Presper, a nursing school graduate from Akron, Ohio; are the first two participants in the Spiritan Year of Service Pilot Program (SYSP) that began in June.

Lydia Presper (left) and Liz Keller.

Inaugurated this past spring, the SYSP strives to engage young college graduates in a life of faith in action, while growing spiritually in a structured “gap year” of service prior to their choice of careers or furthering their education.

During their year of service, SYSP participants have the opportunity to grow in the knowledge and understanding of Spiritan spirituality – which is rich in the tradition of prayer, community, and service to those on the margins of society — while working to be agents of positive change in the local community and beyond.

“Everything fell into place this past year for SYSP,” said Luci-Jo DiMaggio, director of mission animation in Duquesne’s Division of Mission and Identity. “In collaboration with others at the university and the Lay Spiritan Associates, the plan for SYSP was finalized this past January, and approved by the end of April.” SYSP was approved for implementation by Fr. Jeffrey Duaime, provincial for the Spiritan U.S. Province — and the provincial leadership council.

“I certainly give thanks and credit to the work of the Holy Spirit for seeing the program through so quickly,” noted DiMaggio, herself a Duquesne graduate with bachelor’s and master’s degrees, and currently in formation as a Lay Spiritan Associate. “We were also blessed by identifying two fantastic candidates for the program in Liz and Lydia.”

“Before I came to Duquesne, I never really was exposed to social service activities,” said Keller, who plans to apply to medical school simultaneously throughout her SYSP year. “After reading Duquesne’s Mission Statement and spending four years there, I realized the importance of a concrete expression of the Gospel; applying faith in action.”

Though Keller was a casual acquaintance of Presper’s while at Duquesne, both came to the university due to its urban setting in Pittsburgh and its Spiritan identity. They now both agree that being a Duquesne grad and participant in SYSP will aid their careers in healthcare in many ways.

“I believe both my years at Duquesne and now my year in the SYSP will influence my career as a nurse,” said Presper, who recently passed her nursing boards. “I always wanted to be a nurse since I was little, and these new experiences will help me to advocate for my patients and to help those in need.”

Luci-Jo DiMaggio

DiMaggio explained that the concept behind SYSP had been thought of for years by Dr. Anne Marie Hansen, a Lay Spiritan Associate and scholar-in-residence at the Center for Spiritan Studies, based upon a model utilized by other religious communities, “So why not the Spiritans?” asked DiMaggio.

Participants have two options during the year: traditional service during which they commit to 30 hours a week of volunteer work with a local social service organization, or a year with a paying job in their field, provided that their work connects in a direct way with those on the margins, plus an additional 10 hours of volunteer service. Both options include spiritual formation and commitment.

Each participant makes a commitment to live a simple existence on $300 per month in spending money. Those working in a paid position make donations each month toward a Spiritan community either domestically or aboard while still committing to live only on $300 a month. Participants who are volunteering full time, will raise funds to support their monthly spending of $300 month. All participants live at the Spiritan Center in Bethel Park, Pa., giving them the opportunity also to interact with the staff at the center — for regular prayer and liturgical celebrations, social activities and mentoring — along with the retired Spiritans at Lieberman Hall there.

For the inaugural pilot program, Keller and Presper are working with FOCUS Pittsburgh, a community outreach ministry of the Orthodox Church in Pittsburgh’s underserved Hill District. FOCUS Pittsburgh is run by Orthodox Deacon Paul and Kristina Abernathy.

“Each day at FOCUS is different,” explained Keller, who’s volunteering full-time for the program. “I really like that aspect, since I’ve always had a lot of energy, and volunteering there keeps me going since you’re never really sure what the visitors there need. You’re continually helping them with everyday life experiences and issues that confront them.”

Presper agreed, adding she enjoys working with the self-help ministry of FOCUS, since it deals with those on the margins, “overcoming life-skills issues through long-term problem-solving techniques rather than providing them with only temporary assistance.”

Liz Keller and Fr. Huy Dinh at the Spiritan Center.

Presper, who will also work in her career during the SYSP year, said it is gratifying seeing clients regularly coming back to FOCUS, since the aim is to help them resolve life issues completely; she and Keller also enjoy being at the Spiritan Center, spending time working in the garden, on the local trails and joining the community for liturgy and other activities there.

DiMaggio met Keller and Presper through other activities at Duquesne. Keller was already volunteering at FOCUS one day a week when approached by DiMaggio to consider SYSP, and Presper was involved with the university’s Pure Thirst program, and will spend three weeks this summer in Tanzania helping with a water project at a Spiritan mission there.

“Liz and Lydia were natural choices for the program, and the Holy Spirit really put them in front of us for consideration,” said DiMaggio. “They both eagerly jumped at the opportunity when I asked them.

“My prayer for them both is that they will have a ‘metanoia’ experience through participating in SYSP for the next year. The hope is that with that type of experience they will always be more willing to recognize and reach out to those on the margins in society as they go through life,” explained DiMaggio.

While the pilot program will be conducted in Pittsburgh, SYSP could be replicated in any number of U.S. cities or Spiritan missions around the world in the future.

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HOUSTON, TX  July 21, 2016

Prior to his departure for Vietnam, family and friends joined together to wish Fr. Joseph Lam Nguyen, CSSp. well as he heads to Asia.

Fr. Nguyen was born in Vietnam, but this will be the first time, after 42 years, that he will actually be living there. He will serve as Director of Philosophy at the Spiritan formation house in Ho Chi Minh City, and work alongside Fathers Pat Palmer, CSSp., and Trinh Le, CSSp.

The Mass to mark Fr. Nguyen’s 10th anniversary to the priesthood was con-celebrated by fellow Spiritan Fr. Michael Begley, CSSp., and Quoc Le, CSSp., from Vietnam,  along with a priest and deacons from the host Vietnamese Martyrs Catholic Church in Houston.

Mass was followed by a family oriented meal with approximately 250 guests in the Vietnam Martyrs Catholic Church parish hall, that included traditional Vietnamese food, music and song.

Pictured left to right: Fr. Michael Begley, CSSp., Deacon Boch Nguyen, Fr. Joseph Nguyen, CSSp., Fr. Joseph Than, Deacon Cuong Nguyen, and Fr. Quoc Le, CSSp.

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COLUMBUS, OHIO (August 5, 2016).

The National Board of the Conference of Major Superiors of Men (CMSM), whose leaders represent more than 17,000 Catholic religious brothers and priests in the United States, meeting in Columbus, Ohio, formally received and accepted the Report of the Conference’s National Advisory Council for Child Protection (NAC), which the Board had mandated in 2014.

The National Advisory Council, composed of twelve professionals, co-chaired by Dr. Kathleen McChesney and Dr. Rolando Diaz, along with four experienced advisors and one liaison to the CMSM, reviewed the commitment of religious institutes of men to the principles of the USCCB’s Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. These experienced professionals contributed their services so that small working groups studied both response and prevention of abuse as well as practices associated with accountability and transparency.

Recognizing that such an advisory capacity ought to be on-going, the Council identified eight commendable actions and their results. These included the adoption and on-going development of Standards to measure compliance; the discovery of a means of external verification of compliance; establishment of safe environments through both checks on practices and training; the reduction in the number of incidents of abuse from a 17.8 annual average between the years of 1950-2002 to an annual average of 1.27 between the years of 2004-2014; the removal of offenders from public ministry; the offering of training programs for supervision of offenders who were permitted to remain in common life; guidance offered to member institutes regarding the fulfillment of Churchwide guidelines and norms; and, accountability and communication with the public.

The NAC also identified seven opportunities for improvement. These include the following: a goal of compliance of all institutes with the CMSM Standards to reach the 1,796 religious priests, deacons, and brothers who belong to institutes who had not yet achieved accreditation or have not undergone external compliance review; the development of an accurate listing of institutes in compliance; the development of a means to address the differences in quality, scope, and depth of psychological testing for candidates for religious life and seminaries; a need to address the concern that some candidates admitted may require a high level of psychological support during the process of formation; encouraging institutes to work for continuity in the role of Victim Assistance Coordinators as transitions occur in leadership; assisting the institutes in developing shared common guidelines for Review Boards; and, urging member institutes to establish and maintain effective communications between religious major superiors (religious ordinaries) and diocesan bishops (diocesan ordinaries) for the sake of handling allegations and responding in unity for the sake of the protection of minors.

Ten specific recommendations followed from these opportunities, including the continuation of the work of the National Advisory Council and the establishment of a new office at the CMSM for a “Child Protection Officer” to devote full time to further the specific recommendations offered. The National Board of CMSM accepted this report from the National Advisory Council and they have prioritized the implementation of the recommendations contained in the report.

Later, during the annual assembly which followed the Board meeting, CMSM members heard a great deal about this important aspect of the conference’s common commitment to make the Church and CMSM institutes places that offer safety for children. The members at the Assembly were reminded that this report mandated that the NAC examine the programs undertaken by religious institutes in response to the USCCB Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People and the Essential Norms for Diocesan/ Eparchial Policies Dealing with Allegations of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Priests or Deacons.

Men’s religious institutes rose to the occasion in 2002 with what has been regarded as a highly motivated and significant response to promoting the protection of children and young people. The CMSM implementation of the Charter and Essential Norms within religious institutes is contained in its Instruments of Hope and Healing Program. With sorrow and regret over the past failures of men in religious life to keep a protecting environment for children, the Conference intends to continue to work to change human and religious culture inattentive to indicators of potential harm and to adopt a positive rhetoric about response so that a message orienting all to proactive prevention may be known by all.

The Conference of Major Superiors of Men (CMSM) supports and offers resources for U.S. leaders of Catholic men’s religious institutes. CMSM promotes dialogue and collaboration on issues of religious life as well as peace and justice issues with major groups in church and society. There are more than 17,000 religious priests and brothers in the United States.

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Bishop Zubik (R) and President Gormley.

PITTSBURGH, PA (August 21, 2016) Duquesne University opened the 2016-17 academic year with its traditional Mass of the Holy Spirit on Sunday, August 21, 2016, which was attended by nearly 3,000 Duquesne University students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends. Pittsburgh Bishop David Zubik; the Very Rev. Jeffrey Duaime, provincial superior for the U.S. Congregation of the Holy Spirit; and several Spiritan and diocesan priests concelebrated the Mass, which seeks the continued guidance of the Holy Spirit for the university and its mission. 

Classes began at Duquesne on Monday, August 22, including for more than 1,550 incoming freshmen, one of the largest freshmen classes in school history. Nearly a quarter of Duquesne’s new Class of 2020 have a Duquesne University graduate in their family.

As part of welcoming the incoming freshmen students, Duquesne’s Office of Alumni Relations hosted these legacy families at a special breakfast, during which the freshmen placed their thumbprints on a canvas of branches while their family members placed theirs on the roots to make a special “family tree” for the new incoming class of Duquesne students.

Move-In Day on August 16 for freshmen marked the start of Duquesne’s award-winning, student-organized Orientation program, which selected It’s Time to be You as its theme this year. Orientation, ran through Sunday, Aug. 21, offering a variety of activities for new students and their parents to help with the transition to college. Among the scheduled events are an ice cream social, matriculation ceremony, a parent breakfast and various information sessions.

New Duquesne University President Ken Gormley and his wife, Laura, welcomed students at various activities throughout the week, including Move-In Day, even helping students and their families unpack cars and move belongings into their rooms.

President Gormley (far left) and wife Laura (far right) help on Move-In Day.

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GRANBY, QUEBEC, CANADA (August 19, 2016) Members of the three Spiritan North American provinces (TransCanada, Canada, and the United States) gathered in Granby on August 14 – 19, 2016, for Spiritans Beyond Borders: A Time to Dream Together, “to share our histories, our hopes, and to forge a path towards a more collaborative future.”

The Spiritans Beyond Borders assembly was conducted at Centre Jean-Paul Regimbald in Granby, Quebec.

A primary goal of the gathering was to generate a deeper insight into the Spiritan charism and to find new ways of living it.

Representing both professed and lay Spiritans, the Granby meeting reflected on Spiritan spirituality, “to be of service to those on the peripheries, the poor, the refugees, the immigrants, the marginalized while living in communion with all creation. This Spiritan vision includes our entering into intergenerational, intercultural and interreligious (interfaith) dialogue. This vision is in fact an opening to the great challenge of listening to the Holy Spirit. We experienced joy, energy and harmony as we share together what we have lived up to now.”

Marc Tyrant in a small group discussion.

Speakers at the gathering included: Jean-Claude Ravet, editor-in-chief of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) magazine Relations, who spoke on the topic of Society and Culture in North America – Trends and Challenges; Fr. Anthony  Gittins, CSSp, anthropologist and theologian, who addressed the theme, Living Mission Interculturally; and Br. Marc Tyrant, CSSp, general assistant, who presented a contribution from  Superior General Fr. John Fogarty, CSSp, entitled Responding Creatively to the Needs of Evangelization of our Times.

According to Jean-Claude, “the crises of today are a time for discernment; one example is global climate change. It is a Kairos moment – choose life or death; it is easy to become cynical and paralyzed and incapable of choosing – we must be believers in the God of life.”

Fr. Gittins challenged attendees that speaking about the intercultural community “is not optional; but it is imperative that we come to be communities that are radically welcoming. This requires intentionality and conversion. Our current model of community can be dysfunctional and leads to fragmentation and tribalism. A harmonious community is always at the service of mission.”

Fr. Gittins during his talk.

In Fr. Fogarty’s message he tells us that the increasingly international and intercultural character of our worldwide community is not simply an inevitable consequence of the geographical spread of our commitments, but that it is integral to our mission as Spiritans in the contemporary world.

During regular break-out sessions and group discussions, Spiritans from all three provinces shared their reflections on their personal journey and the story of their province. They reflected on the fact that all three provinces are international in scope and history, with an emphasis on charity and education.

Among the challenges discussed were to develop a sense of unity internationally and multi-culturally, while seeking to live the Gospel message personally and to proclaim it to others through a common vision.

Also stressed was the importance of human dignity and the necessity of working towards peace and justice for all through relationships with God and each other. One of the topics of concern for attendees was the current refugee crisis in various parts of the world.

Following are personal reflections on the assembly by a participant from each of the provinces represented at Granby:

Fr. Milamba offers prayer.

“For me the Granby meeting is a great sign of the Holy Spirit. The enthusiasm, energy, joy, and above all the reminder of who we are and what we must continue to be was evident. We have experienced concretely our Spiritan motto “Cor unum et anima una” – Fr. Augustin Kasongo Milamba, CSSp, provincial superior, Province of Canada.

“I was touched and encouraged by the willingness of all at Granby to embrace the need for personal and communal transformation. The challenges of creating intercultural communities of radical welcome will be many but so will the rewards.” – Joy Warner, Province of TransCanada.

Joy Warner addresses the assembly.

Fr. Cottingham makes a point.

“I’m both excited and uplifted by the powerful sense of openness and honesty among us this week as we address the situation of our North American provinces today. This sense of hope that we are discovering together in the face of these crises have given me the strength to see real positive possibilities in these challenges as we move into an intentional, intercultural community.” – Fr. Dave Cottingham, CSSp, Province of the United States.

As attendees returned to their home provinces, the group believed that the Spiritans Beyond Borders gathering in Granby created a true way of hope which all the members of the three provinces are invited and encouraged to embrace, always allowing themselves to be guided on this pilgrimage by the Holy Spirit.

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PITTSBURGH, PA (September 9, 2016)

Blessed Fr. Jacques-Desiré Laval, C.S.Sp., was born in Croth, Normandy, France, on September 18, 1803. He became a medical doctor, but always felt God’s call to be a priest and a missionary. Of his vocation, he commented:

“True. I hesitated all along between the priesthood and medicine. I chose medicine, and now I see that I was wrong. God is calling me. This is my vocation. As a priest I shall be able to do more good. I must follow the voice of God.”

He is known as the “Apostle of Mauritius,” and was the first member of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit to be declared Blessed. His Feast Day is celebrated each year on September 9, the date of his death and a holiday on Mauritius, an island off the coast of East Africa in the Indian Ocean.

Laval was the child of a successful farmer. His uncle was a priest, and he grew up in a devoutly Catholic household. His mother died when he was seven years old.

Laval was educated at Évreux, and the Collège Stanislas de Paris. Though initially uncertain whether to pursue the priesthood or the practice of medicine, he received his medical degree in 1830, and set up a practice in Saint-André and Ivry-la-Bataille in his native Normandy.

He reexamined his choice after a near-fatal riding accident. Feeling he was called to the priesthood, he closed his practice and entered the seminary of Saint-Sulpice; he was ordained in 1838, and worked as a parish priest for two years. He desired a more active ministry, however, and entered the Society of the Holy Heart of Mary, later renamed as the Congregation of the Holy Spirit.

In 1841, he began to work with Fr. Francis Libermann, C.S.Sp., a founder of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit, and was sent as a missionary to the 70,000 recently liberated slaves on the island of Mauritius. Three out of four of the inhabitants had been baptized, but no one had taught them the elements of Christianity. Fr. Laval spent the next 23 years evangelizing the marginalized people of that island nation.

Many of Laval’s parishioners were poor and uneducated former slaves. He lived with them, learned their language, fasted when supplies were short, and slept in a packing crate. His medical training was useful to his ministry, as he worked to improve conditions in agriculture, sanitation, medicine, and science.

He first taught those whom he contacted to love God and love one another. He taught some of them to become his helpers in preparing others for reception of the sacraments, caring for the sick and leading groups in communal prayer. From the start, Fr Laval was deeply conscious that prayer was the most important human contribution, more vital even than skilled organization.

In 1853, Laval wrote about his pastoral work:

“Port-Louis, where I am working, with around 30,000 people, all of whom have to be visited. We have to teach, catechize, console, visit and administer the sacrament to all these people, so you can see that there is much work to be done. The good Lord for whom we are working has blessed our efforts and has made his word bear fruit. This country, and above all the poor for whom we have been sent here, did not even know that there was a God when we first arrived.”

Fr Jacques Laval died on September 9, 1864. About 40,000 people – half the population of the island – turned out for his funeral, a witness to their appreciation of his work. Fr. Laval was declared Blessed by Pope Saint John Paul II on April 29, 1979, among the first beatifications conducted by the pontiff.

Duquesne’s Laval House

A building on the campus of Duquesne University in Pittsburgh is named “Laval House” in honor of Blessed Jacques Laval. In addition, Sr. Rosemary Donley, S.C., PhD, APRN, FAAN, holds the Jacques Laval Chair for Justice for Vulnerable Populations in Duquesne’s School of Nursing. The Laval Chair spearheads the nursing school’s community service efforts to provide health care services to vulnerable populations, including the very young or very old, and those whose access to health care is limited or for any reason does not meet their needs.

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BENSALEM, PA – (September 13, 2016)

Holy Ghost Preparatory School (HGP) opened its 2016-17 academic year with the traditional Mass of the Holy Spirit on Sunday, September 11. In his welcome address to those in attendance, HGP President Gregory J. Geruson ’79, invoked the Holy Spirit, “to bless and strengthen the United States on the 15th. Anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. We also ask the Holy Spirit to be present in the hearts and minds of our 485 students, along with the faculty, staff, administration and families of our students as we begin this 119th school year.”

Several hundred students, staff, administration, friends of the school and their families attend the Mass and opening ceremonies in the main courtyard of the school.

Featured during the day’s activities were an overview of HGP’s new Arts and Athletic Activity Center, which will house a performing arts theater and music and choral instruction, along with indoor athletic facilities with a multi-purpose gymnasium. In addition, the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Initiative is a new facility in the school’s Cornwells Hall, which will allow students to participate in hands-on, inquiry-based learning to prepare HGP students for future careers. All are meant to showcase Holy Ghost Preparatory School as the area’s premier Catholic college-prep institution.

President Geruson (right)

President Geruson pointed to the incoming freshman Class of 2020 of 124 students as being a sign of the continued robust class enrollment at Holy Ghost Prep. He indicated that the school is on solid financial footing with exciting plans for the future.

Holy Ghost Prep was founded in 1897 as Holy Ghost Apostolic College, a six-year seminary for the education of the Holy Ghost priests and brothers. HGP today is a vibrant community of nearly 500 young men from more than 100 elementary feeder schools from throughout metropolitan Philadelphia counties and New Jersey. HGP students prepare for college and adult life through a challenging program which stresses the cultivation of students’ unique gifts and talents, academic excellence, and generous service to the poor, forming young men morally, intellectually, and spiritually in the Spiritan tradition.

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PITTSBURGH, PA (September 27, 2016) More than 2,000 Duquesne University students, faculty, staff, dignitaries and honored guests attended the inauguration of Ken Gormley as the university’s 13^th president on September 22, 2016, at the A. J. Palumbo Center. 

Among the distinguished guests included Pittsburgh Bishop David Zubik, a Duquesne University alumnus; Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto, who called Gormley “a true Pittsburgher” during his remarks; Fr. Jeffrey T. Duaime, C.S.Sp., provincial for the U.S. Congregation of the Holy Spirit; Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald; and Art and Dan Rooney, owners of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Hundreds of Duquesne University students lined the campus as President Gormley led nearly 400 academics and dignitaries in procession along the Academic Walk to the inauguration ceremonies. Inside the A.J. Palumbo Center a crowd of about 2,000 students, faculty, staff and honored guests gathered for the inauguration. 

The former law school dean and professor was appointed to the fill the position of former Duquesne president Charles Dougherty in the fall of 2015.

“I accept this appointment with awe and a deep sense of gratitude,” Gormley said during his inauguration remarks. “It seems like a unique fit for me in this moment in Duquesne’s history. I truly believe that we’re poised for the next important stage in this university’s future, especially if we’re prepared to think big.

“This is a new moment for Pittsburgh history. If we harness and put Duquesne at the epicenter of this change…we can allow this change to reflect Spiritan traditions,” said Gormley.

Duquesne University is proud of its Spiritan heritage that provides students with a transformative education focused on scholarship, ethical leadership, social justice and service. Under President Gormley’s leadership, Duquesne is committed to continuing this legacy and achieving the next level of excellence

In the photo below, President Gormley is pictured with his family from left: daughter Rebecca; daughter Carolyn; wife Laura; President Gormley; daughter Maddy; and son Luke.

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PITTSBURGH, PA (October 6, 2016) On the anniversary of the passing of the founder of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit, 11 new Lay Spiritan Associates were installed on October 2, 2016, as members and pledged to live the spirituality of the Congregation and its founders.

Claude Poullart des Places, one of the youngest founders of a religious organization, organized the Spiritans in France in 1703, while still in the seminary. He was ordained a priest in 1707, and died of pleurisy two years later on October 2, 1709. A scholar who came from a wealthy family and studied to become a lawyer and, he later dedicated his life in service to the poor and marginalized.

In this spirit of des Places, the new Lay Spiritan Associates assembled at the Spiritan Center in Bethel Park, Pa., the culmination of a multi-year probationary and formation process to enter into membership.

New Lay Spiritan Associates following the installation ceremony are, (L-R): Ilena Yurochko, Carol Serafin, Rose Velgich, Janet Berna, Deacon Tom Berna, Fr. Jeff Duaime, C.S.Sp., Fr. Vince Stegman, C.S.Sp., Luci-Jo DiMaggio, Kate Lecci, Adam Wasilko, Ed Bayer, Ian Nettleship and Carmen Acetta.

Earlier in the day, the new Lay Spiritans participated in an afternoon of prayer and reflection entitled, Embracing My Lay Spiritan Vocation, facilitated by Dr. Anne Marie Hansen and prior to making the commitment. Later that afternoon, Fr. Jeffrey Duaime, C.S.Sp., provincial of the U.S. Province of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit, presided at the installation ceremony.

In reflecting on their call to becoming a Lay Spiritan Associates, each of the new members expressed hearing God calling them individually and collectively to this vocation. As Ian Nettleship said, “Becoming a Lay Spiritan has been the journey home to the real person God meant for me to be. A simple, authentic life in the service of the poorest in this world has always been written on my heart. Now I listen, and now I know that this is where I need to be.”

Carol Serafin felt a sense of community with the Spiritans, after raising a family and the loss of her husband left her feeling lonely, she said that becoming an Associate, “means being part of something larger than myself and being open to what and where the Holy Spirit wants me to be.”

Fr. Jeffrey Duaime, C.S.Sp., leads the new Associates in a commitment prayer.

To be eligible to become a Lay Spiritan Associate, applicants must be practicing Catholics over the age of 21 who have completed a prescribed probation period and a two-year formation program. The formation process consists of regular meetings, prayer and discernment, reflections on the writings of Spiritan founders and other Spiritan documents, organized group discussions on various Spiritan topics, apostolic action and participation in various Spiritan liturgical and social gatherings.

Initial annual commitment is three years, with subsequent three-year commitments offered to those who wish to continue as Associates. After nine years, the member can apply for permanent status as a Lay Spiritan Associate, accepting a life-long commitment to engaging with the poor and supporting the on-going work and charisms of the Congregation.

As the new Lay Spiritan Associates begin their initial commitment as members, they do so in the footsteps of Claude Poullart des Places, who combined scholarship, life-long learning, devotion to God and the Catholic faith and service to others as a standard for living. In fulfilling such a life lived, des Places’ final request before he died was to be buried in a simple grave among the poor he served and not in acknowledgement and grandeur.

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VATICAN CITY (October 9, 2016) With great joy, the Generalate of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit received the news, announced by Pope Francis during Sunday’s Angelus on October 9, 2016, of the creation of 17 new cardinals, among whom are two Spiritans:

Archbishop Dieudonné Nzapalainga C.S.Sp., Archbishop of Bangui (Central African Republic)

He was born on March 14, 1967, in Mbomou, in the Diocese of Bangassou, Central African Republic. After primary school, he entered the junior seminary of St Louis of Bangassou and, afterwards the senior seminary, the Holy Apostles of Otélé, Cameroon, to study philosophy. He then continued his theological studies at Daniel Brottier Senior Seminary, in Libreville, Gabon.

He took his first vows with the Congregation of the Holy Spirit on September 8, 1993, and his final vows on September 6, 1997. He was ordained to the priesthood on August 9, 1998. Following ordination, he completed a licence in theology from the Jesuit college, Sèvres Centre, France. He then returned to the Central African Republic to become the regional superior of the Spiritans there.

When he was in France, from 1998-2005, he was chaplain to the orphans in the Auteuil Foundation as well as a curate in St. Jeronimo’s parish, Marseille. After returning to the Central African Republic, as well as becoming regional superior of the Spiritans, he was also parish priest in Bangui from 2005-2009. During his final year, 2008-2009, he was president of the Conference of Major Superiors of Central Africa.

In 2009, he was appointed as apostolic administrator of Bangui, and on May 14, 2012, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him metropolitan archbishop of Bangui. He received his episcopal consecration on July 22 of the same year.

In July, 2013, he became the president of the Episcopal Conference of the Central African Republic, and as such, in October, 2014, attended the III Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the Family.

In November, 2015, he received Pope Francis in his diocese, who, in Bangui, opened the first holy door of the Holy Year of Mercy.

In 2013, being personally committed to the peace process in his country, together with the president of the Islamic Council and the president of the Evangelical Alliance, he participated in the foundation of an inter-religious platform in Bangui for peace in the Central African Republic.

Archbishop Dieudonné is the first cardinal from the Central African Republic.

Bishop Maurice Piat C.S.Sp., Bishop of Port-Louis, Mauritius.

Bishop Maurice Piat was born in Moka, in the Diocese of Port-Louis, on July 19, 1941. After secondary studies in Holy Spirit College, in Quatre-Bornes, Mauritius, he entered the novitiate of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit in Ireland, where he made his first religious profession on September 8, 1962. After obtaining a bachelor’s degree from University College-Dublin, he was sent to the Pontifical French College in Rome and completed a licence in theology at the Pontifical Gregorian College in 1972.

He was ordained to the priesthood on August 2, 1970.

On the completion of his theology studies in 1972, he spent three months in pastoral ministry in Bangalore, India. Returning to Mauritius, he was appointed as professor and catechist at the Holy Spirit College in Quatre-Bornes. Up to 1982, he was responsible for the Spiritan aspirants at Foyer Mons. Murphy, Vacoas. From 1977-1979, he spent two years in Paris pursuing a course at the Institut pour la Formation des Educateurs du Clerg. Returning to Mauritius, in 1979, he also participated in Sunday ministry in the parish of Saint-François-d’Assise in Pamplemousses until 1985 after which, in 1986, he was appointed parish priest of the Coeur-Immaculé-de-Marie parish in Rivière-du-Rempart.

From 1981, he was also responsible for the diocesan pastoral project for the care of basic Christian communities as well as episcopal vicar for the formation and coordination of diocesan pastoral ministry. During those year, he contributed towards the creation of a formation center in Thabor, Beau-Bassin.

On January 21, 1991, he was appointed as coadjutor to the then Bishop of Port-Louis, Cardinal Jean Margéot, and was ordained a bishop on May 19 of the same year. On March 15, 1993, he was appointed Bishop of the Diocese of Port-Louis. He was president of the Episcopal Conference of the Indian Ocean (C.E.D.O.I) from 1996-2002, and again from 2013 until September of this year (2016). Since 2000, he was a member of the Permanent Committee of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (S.C.E.A.M.)

When he heard the news of his elevation, Bishop Piat said he “was certainly not expecting it. I am very touched by the confidence shown to me by Pope Francis. I ask you to pray for me, you my brother and sister Mauritians, both Christian and those of other religions.

“My nomination as cardinal appears to me also to be an encouragement that Pope Francis has shown to our Mauritian Church in this Jubilee Year of Mercy, an encouragement to continue to welcome this mercy which does so much good for us and above all to act as humble witnesses to mercy.”

In October, 2015, he participated in the Synod of Bishops on the Family.

Pope Francis has, as in previous years, stuck close to his vision of having a broader, more universal representation of the Church in the College of Cardinals, elevating many bishops who come from small countries or islands that have never before had a cardinal, as well as from countries which present particular challenges in terms of pastoral outreach, such as those stricken with violence or persecution.

Out of the Pope’s new nominations, six come from countries that have previously never had a cardinal, including: the Central African Republic, Bangladesh, Papua New Guinea, Malaysia, Lesotho and Albania.

With the 17 new cardinal-elects included, the number of voting cardinals comes to 121, and the number of non-voters to 107, for a grand total of 228.

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HOUSTON, TX (October 13, 2016) This message and photographs were received today  from Fr. Jean Patrick Eugene, CSSp.

“I’m back in Port-au-Prince, from Ducis. My countryside is devastated. I feel bad and I have a terrible headache. After celebrating mass, I’ve visited the sites that are damaged:

They include the rectory, primary school, the national primary school, and the sisters’ house.

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PITTSBURGH, PA (October 26, 2016) This past summer,  Dr. Anne Marie Hansen, Lay Spiritan; and Dr. Jaime Munõz, chair of the Department of Occupational Therapy (OT) at Duquesne University, led a group of four Master’s in OT students and two occupational therapy alumni on a 16 -day cross-cultural, community-based learning experience.

(L-R) Dr. Munoz, Fr. Msongore and Dr. Hansen.

Entitled Focus on Tanzania: Health, Disability & Social Justice, the course explored culture, global health, disability and poverty with a social justice lens in the context of Tanzania, East Africa.  Students learned from listening to the stories of many people they met — including people with disabilities — and members of local interdisciplinary rehabilitation professionals who work with people with disabilities and how they address the complex challenges they face every day.

“This experience is a valuable learning activity, bringing to life the tradition of Catholic social teaching and Spiritan charism,” said Dr. Hansen. “It included academic instruction, meaningful service, and critical reflective thinking to enhance student learning and social responsibility.

“It differs from volunteerism, community service, internships, and field education through its use of structured, critical inquiry and emphasis on reciprocal partnerships between the students and the international partners.”

(L-R): Duquesne OT students Emily Reilly, Megan Lonergan, Alex Watts, Pallotine Sr. Matilda Cosmas, Fr. Kastory Kisuda, C.S.Sp., Quinn Terrersall, Kate Bowers and Nikki Yeckel, at the Spiritan health center.

While in Tanzania, students engaged in other meaningful activities, such as providing craft activities and games for children with disabilities at the Plaster House, a local children’s rehabilitation center.  They also prepared, in advance, a continuing professional development workshop for local occupational therapists at KCMC Hospital and KCMC College University in Moshi, co-sponsored by the Tanzania Occupational Therapy Association.  The group also presented a day long health and wellness in “body, mind and spirit” workshop for Lay Spiritans.

“This course reflects an on-going commitment to the Spiritans in Tanzania and various health and rehabilitation organizations in the Arusha region, grounded in an understanding of their expressed interests and needs,” said Dr. Hansen.  “The overall purpose of this experience was to continue and sustain an on-going commitment of Duquesne University, its department of occupational therapy and the Rangos School of Health Sciences to meet local needs while students learn about global health, disability, poverty and social justice.”

DU Students with patients at Pope St. John Paul II Rehabilitation Center.

The students and practitioners thanked their many gracious hosts, including Frs. Josephat Msongore, C.S.Sp.; Pat Patten, C.S.Sp.; John Assey, C.S.Sp.; and Evod Shao, C.S.Sp; to experience a taste of what it means to become a more globally engaged citizen with a commitment to advocate for those at the margins of society. “Tutataonana!” “ We will return!”

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HOUSTON, TX  (November 9, 2016)

World Mission Sunday, organized by the Pontifical Mission Society for the Propagation of the Faith, is a day set aside for Catholics worldwide to recommit themselves to the Church’s missionary activity through prayer and sacrifice. In 2016, World Mission Sunday is celebrated on October 23.

Our Church’s celebration of the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy casts a distinct light on World Mission Sunday 2016.  It invites us to consider the missio ad gentes as a great, immense work of mercy, both spiritual and material. On this World Mission Sunday, all of us are invited to “go out” as Missionary disciples, each generously offering their talents, creativity, wisdom and experience to bring the message of God’s tenderness and compassion to the entire human family.

Pope Francis’ sentiments above for the celebration of the 90th World Mission Sunday, on October 23, call each of us to be a “Witness of Mercy,” the theme of this year’s Archdiocesan celebration.

Missionaries know from experience that the Gospel of forgiveness and mercy can bring joy and reconciliation, justice and peace. The mandate of the Gospel to “go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them and teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” _{Mt 28:19a-20}  has not ceased; rather this command commits all of us, in the current landscape with all its challenges, to hear the call to a renewed missionary “impulse.”

This Jubilee year marks the 90th anniversary of World Mission Sunday, first approved by Pope Pius XI in 1926, and organized by the Pontifical Mission Society for the Propagation of the Faith. Your prayers and material support will help the Society provide resources to Missionaries in 1,111 Mission dioceses throughout the world to care for Christian communities in need and for the proclamation of the Gospel to the ends of the earth Gospel.

In Houston Fathers Michael Begley, CSSP., and David Cottingham, CSSP. were among the 80 plus who gathered on the 23rd for discussion and information exchange about their mission ministries.

Seen at far left: Fr. Michael Begley, CSSP., and Fr. David Cottingham, CSSp.

Picture at top: Fr. David Cottingham, CSSp. manning Spiritan booth in exhibit hall

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Work in progress on the deck and windows.

Matthew Nestler of local Boy Scout Troop 228 led a project for his Eagle Scout rank at the provincial offices in Bethel Park, Pa., the weekend of October 15-16.  Matt and 30 other members of Troop 228 spent two days extending a deck, building ramps on the deck to enable a landscaper to transport a tractor/mower to an interior courtyard; painted the window frames and cleaned the windows of the office of Provincial Fr. Jeffrey Duaime, C.S.Sp.; and power washed and stained the deck.  They also cleaned out two flower beds, and transported and burned brush from around the property in preparation for winter.

Matthew planned the Eagle Scout project — which had to be approved by troop leaders and the province — solicited several local businesses to donate the necessary materials to complete the work and raised funds to pay for some of the materials and for food for the volunteers, some of which was also donated.

Matthew Nestler completes staining the deck.

Matthew chose to help the province with his Eagle Scout project since his mother, Jennifer, works in the provincial offices as a bookkeeper, and he has gotten to know some of the priests and staff while delivering holiday treats the family makes. He wanted to enhance the property to make it more user friendly for the staff and priests.

Matthew is a junior at Bethel Park (Pa.) High School, where he plays tenor sax in the school’s marching band. He is also head soundperson for the stage crew for the fall play and spring musical, attends the Westinghouse Science Honors Institute and just finished a year-long term as the senior patrol leader for Troop 228.  Matthew and his family are members of Westminster Presbyterian Church, in Upper St. Clair, Pa. Matthew plans to study biotechnology (such as genetics or bioengineering) or pre-med upon graduating from high school. He is also interested in studying abroad at some point.

Finished project ready for use.

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HOUSTON, TX  November 17, 2016

Fr. Pat Clark, CSSp. left his home country of Ireland in 1976 to minister in Brazil where he remains 40 years later. Asked what his overall objective has been, he responded, “to meet people, be present to them, to perhaps plant a seed, and to share something that I believe is worth sharing and that people want to listen to”.

His primary work involves collaborating with residents of the Favela de Vila Prudente  in Sao Paulo in activities to involve youth providing alternatives to following a life of addiction, unemployment or crime.

He was recently in Houston where he updated his confreres Fr. Michael Begley, CSSp. and Fr. Mike Grey, CSSp. with the challenges and successes he encounters in his ministry.

Fr. Mike Grey, CSSp., Fr. Pat Clark, CSSp., Fr. Michael Begley, CSSp.

One of his stops in Houston was to St. John Vianney Catholic Church where he spoke to a prayer group, con-celebrated Mass for the Brazilian diaspora of the city, and delivered a presentation on his work in Sao Paulo.

His hope is that he will engage people to travel to Sao Paulo to witness first hand the universe in which those he serves live.

For more on Spiritans in Brazil…

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VATICAN CITY (November 21, 2016) – Pope Francis installed 17 new cardinals at a consistory on November 19, 2016, the evening prior to the close of the Jubilee Year of Mercy at St. Peter Basilica on Sunday, November 20. Among the cardinals installed were the first ever from the Congregation of the Holy Spirit in its more than 300-year history: Cardinal Dieudonné Nzapalainga C.S.Sp., and Cardinal Maurice Piat C.S.Sp.

In his homily during the consistory, Pope Francis welcomed the new cardinals with the greeting, “My dear brothers, newly created Cardinals, the journey towards heaven begins in the plains, in a daily life broken and shared, spent and given. In the quiet daily gift of all that we are. Our mountaintop is this quality of love; our goal and aspiration is to strive, on life’s plain, together with the People of God, to become persons capable of forgiveness and reconciliation.”

Cardinal Dieudonné Nzapalainga C.S.Sp., Archbishop of Bangui (Central African Republic) was born on March 14, 1967 in Mbomou, in the Diocese of Bangassou, Central African Republic. After primary school, he entered the junior seminary of St Louis of Bangassou and, afterwards the senior seminary, the Holy Apostles of Otélé, Cameroon, to study philosophy. He then continued his theological studies at Daniel Brottier Senior Seminary, in Libreville, Gabon.

He took his first vows with the Congregation of the Holy Spirit on September 8, 1993, and his final vows on September 6, 1997. He was ordained to the priesthood on August 9, 1998.

In 2009, he was appointed as apostolic administrator of Bangui, and on May 14, 2012, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him metropolitan archbishop of Bangui. He received his episcopal consecration on July 22 of the same year.

In July, 2013, he became the president of the Episcopal Conference of the Central African Republic, and as such, in October, 2014, attended the III Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the Family.

In November, 2015, he received Pope Francis in his diocese, who, in Bangui, opened the first holy door of the Holy Year of Mercy.

Cardinal Dieudonné is the youngest among the new class of cardinals, and the first ever from the Central African Republic.

Cardinal Maurice Piat C.S.Sp., Archbishop of Port-Louis, Mauritius, was born in Moka, in the Diocese of Port-Louis, on July 19, 1941. After secondary studies in Holy Spirit College, in Quatre-Bornes, Mauritius, he entered the novitiate of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit in Ireland, where he made his first religious profession on September 8, 1962. After obtaining a bachelor’s degree from University College-Dublin, he was sent to the Pontifical French College in Rome and completed a licence in theology at the Pontifical Gregorian College in 1972.

He was ordained to the priesthood on August 2, 1970. On January 21, 1991, he was appointed as coadjutor to the then archbishop of Port-Louis, Cardinal Jean Margéot, and was ordained a bishop on May 19 of the same year. On March 15, 1993, he was appointed Archbishop of the Diocese of Port-Louis.

He was president of the Episcopal Conference of the Indian Ocean (C.E.D.O.I) from 1996-2002, and again from 2013 until September of this year (2016).

Since 2000, he was a member of the Permanent Committee of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (S.C.E.A.M.) In October, 2015, he participated in the Synod of Bishops on the Family.

Out of the new cardinals, seven come from countries that have previously never had a cardinal, including: the Central African Republic, Bangladesh, Mauritius Island, Papua New Guinea, Malaysia, Lesotho and Albania.

With the 17 new cardinals included in the College of Cardinals, the number of voting cardinals comes to 121, and the number of non-voters to 107, for a grand total of 228.

In concluding his remarks to the 17 new cardinals, Pope Francis enjoined them to be like Jesus, “who constantly desires to enter the crossroads of our history to proclaim the Gospel of Mercy. Jesus continues to call us and to send us to the ‘plain’ where our people dwell. He continues to invite us to spend our lives sustaining our people in hope, so that they can be signs of reconciliation. As the Church, we are constantly being asked to open our eyes to see the wounds of so many of our brothers and sisters deprived of their dignity, deprived in their dignity.

“Today each of you, dear brothers, is asked to cherish in your own heart, and in the heart of the Church, this summons to be merciful like the Father. And to realize that if something should rightly disturb us and trouble our consciences, it is the fact that so many of our brothers and sisters are living without the strength, light and consolation born of friendship with Jesus Christ, without a community of faith to support them, without meaning and a goal in life,” the pope said.

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HOUSTON, TX (December 14, 2016)

With the launch of its first website, the thriving Spiritan school on the outskirts of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, can now cross borders and engage with the world at large. You can visit the site at  libermannschooltz.org/-Visit. Libermann Pre and Primary Catholic School in Kipawa, classified as an English Language Medium School,  is operated in the tradition of the Holy Ghost Fathers who have ministered to Tanzania since 1868.

The school was founded in 1972 and consisted of only a nursery.

In 2005 the Spiritans assumed responsibility for the school, and three years later in 2008, after locating a generous family foundation,  construction began on classrooms and adjacent secure water resources.

The secondary school dedication in 2010 was attended by then Tanzanian President Mkapa, along with Spiritan Confreres, Archdiocese representatives and members of the Wilkinson Family Foundation.

In 2014 Fr. Joseph Triphon, CSSp. became the school administrator, and in the following year the school attained government registration.

In 2015 the first floor of the new classroom wing and the IT lab were completed.

2016 saw Wi-Fi  installed throughout the campus and  air-conditioning of the IT lab.

In 2017 the second floor of the new classroom wing will be completed, and a new kitchen will be constructed adjacent to the Parish Hall, thus allowing the Parish Hall to accommodate events requiring food.

The school has been recognized nationally as in the top tier of institutions in its class. and students have achieved impressive scores in National Examinations.

Test scores, grade point averages and learning retention have seen significant year over year gains.

As of December 2016 enrollment stands at 140 nursery and 244 primary students.

http://libermannschooltz.org

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