The newest member of the Congregation is Xavier Thanagaraj Susai of the Indian Vicariate, who was incorporated on December 16, 2006, in Kithiganore, India.

Fr. Amaladoss Mariasusai, CPPS, Director of the Vicariate, presided at the Eucharist, held in Precious Blood Church.

Xavier, 31, is a native of Vellore, Tamil Nadu, and entered the CPPS formation program in 1996.

Congratulations, best wishes, and prayers for our new member!

The members of the Iberian Province gathered from December 27-29th in Portugal to celebrate their annual assembly. The Moderator General joined them for the Assembly and gave two conferences to the members who were discussing the present and future direction of the Province.

All was not work, and one afternoon was dedicated to touring the region and enjoying community fellowship. The day ended with a traditional Portuguese meal in a local restaurant.

The closing Eucharist was celebrated by the Bishop of the Diocese of Evora, Mons. José Alves.

The week before Christmas the full General Council gathered in Rome for our end-of-the-year Council Meetings. Our attention this time focused on the preparations for the upcoming meeting of lay associates/companions, Merlap II, and for the General Assembly to be held in July.

One evening we hosted a gathering of our Italian seminarians. We celebrated the Eucharist together and then enjoyed pizza and an evening of fellowship. Fr. Luigi De Fazio, the new Director of Formation for the Province, and Fr. Ernesto Gizzi, of the Tanzanian Vicariate, accompanied the seminarians.

The house was beautifully decorated, inside and out. As usual the Sisters worked very hard to prepare a wonderful Christmas in a festive atmosphere. Fr. Mauricio Restrepo, of Colombia, who has been with us for four months at the Generalate as part of his special formation program, showed his special gifts for decorating. It has been a joy for us to have Fr. Mauricio with us and we wish him well as he leaves us to continue his special formation in Peru.

After the crib blessing and vespers on Christmas Eve we took our yearly house picture which we share with you. At the same time we wish all of you a blessed holiday season and a grace-filled New Year!

As part of the visitation of the Polish Province, the Moderator General visited the Province's Mission House in Zagreb. During the three day visit in early December, Fr. Barry not only met with each of the four C.PP.S. Missionaries and three students, but also blessed a grotto and grounds which have been donated to the Missionaries by generous lay benefactors for future use by the Missionaries. He also met with the Auxiliary Bishop of Zagreb, Mons. Posaic, with members of the lay associates (USC) and visited the Provincial House of the ASC Sisters.

The principal apostolate of the Missionaries in Croatia is working in the formation of lay associates and the preaching of retreats and missions. Three Polish Missionaries and one Croatia are stationed in Zagreb. There is also one C.PP.S. Croatian priest doing ministry in Poland.

At right, CPPS and friends at the blessing ceremony

On December 3, 2006, the Tanzanian Vicariate marked 40 years of the C.PP.S. in Tanzania , the 500 th anniversary of St. Francis Xavier, and the inauguration of a new Precious Blood youth ministry with a youth concert.

The concert had as its themes the spirituality of the Precious Blood and the youth came from C.PP.S. and neighboring parishes. The program included choirs, traditional dances, poems, and songs. Attending the festivities were Mr. George Mlawa, secretary for the Tanzanian parliament and state youth formator, Fr. Walter Milandu, C.PP.S., vice vicariate director, and Fr. Reginald Lyamuya, C.PP.S., director of youth ministry for the Vicariate of Tanzania.

Above, left to right: Mr. George Mlawa, Fr. Walter Milandu, and Fr. Reginald Lyamuya.

Right: the choir from Manyoni Parish

Bishop Erwin Kräutler, CPPS, of the Apostolic Prelacy of the Xingú in the state of Pará, Brazil, continues to be threatened with death for his courageous witness to corruption and injustice in the Amazon region. An anonymous letter stated: "Remember that some religious have been assassinated for much less." Bishop Kräutler, along with Bishop Antonio Possamai, received the threats after a the publication of a manifesto in which the Catholic diocese, the local Lutheran church, and the Transparency Forum invited the people not to vote for a local governor and 23 state legislators in involved in acts of corruption.

The origin of the threats against Bishop Kräutler lay in his defense of poor farmers, the indigenous population, and of the environment, particularly his opposition to the construction of a hydroelectric dam which would put dozens of villages under water. The bishop, whose name appears on a blacklist of 120 persons "marked for death" by certain large landowners and lumber companies, has been described by one daily newspaper a man to be "driven out and eliminated."

Seminarians from the Chilean Vicariate had a day off and a cookout after they finished their studies and were getting ready for summer break.  Currently there are six students in the various stages of the formation program: two in philosophy and four in theology.  At the beginning of the next year two more students will join the group, both from Saint Sebastian's Church, Purranque, the southernmost CPPS parish in the world.  Also next year, two of our seminarians will join the special formation program that will take place in Guatemala.

(left to right):Jorge Gómez, Santiago Cárdenas, Claudio Varas, Danilo Sachetti, Fr. Donald Thieman and Fr. Wojciech Czernatowicz. Kneeling: Gregorio Hernández, Reinaldo Melgarejo and Fr. Antonio Baus

Fr. José Lämmle Müller, a member of the Iberian Province, died on December 8, 2006, at the age of 91.

Born in Bischofszell, Canton Thurgau, Switzerland, on February 1, 1915, Fr. José was definitively incorporated into the Congregation in 1943 and ordained in 1945.

For the past several years he lived in the Galician city of Pontevedra, in a house in which Sr. Lucia Dos Santos, one of the children of Fatima, had received a vision of the Blessed Virgin. Fr. José was very devoted to Our Lady of Fatima. He also founded a small congregation of sisters, who now have care of the house and who were very devoted to Fr. José in his last years.

The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated for Fr. Lämmle on December 9.

Fr. Deardorff writes: “The construction has advanced little by little thanks to the people's optimism, their willingness to give of their time and to work at different activities in order to raise funds. To come up with the money for the roof might take a few years yet but we are proud of what we have achieved up to this point. Luckily we live in a desert climate and we can do without a roof for awhile.”

The anniversary was marked by celebrations for the youth, a procession with the image of Our Lady through the streets, and a Mass at the construction site.

The General Curia has received copies of two recent books by CPPS members.

Don Beniamino Conti has collected all of St. Gaspar's texts on the Precious Blood in a 500+ page volume, Testi sul Sangue di Cristo negli Scritti di San Gaspare Del Bufalo. In the preface he notes that all of Gaspar's writings have now been published, except for his academic notes which comprise about 2000 pages. (There are no references to the Blood of Christ in these notes.)

Fr. Ernest Ranly of the Peruvian Mission has published a memoir of his childhood entitled Pick Up Stuff: Family Farm Life. In forty-two chapters, Fr. Ernie presents vignettes of what is what like to grow up in a family of thirteen on a farm in northwest Ohio.

Congratulations to our confreres on the publication of these two volumes!

On the weekend of October 28-29, one hundred twenty-five Companions of the Cincinnati Province gathered at the Maria Stein retreat center in Ohio for their yearly retreat. The theme, preached by Fr. Barry Fischer, was “Witnessing to the Precious Blood in our Everyday Lives.” His input sparked much reflection and dialogue among all. The Provincial, Fr. Angelo Anthony, celebrated the closing Mass on Sunday during which many Companions renewed their Covenants while others entered first covenant with the community.

The participants warmly welcomed a new group of Companions from Cleveland , Ohio who participated for the first time in this yearly event and made their first covenants.

The Iberian Province held its eleventh study days on Precious Blood Spirituality from October 20-21. This year's theme was "The Hope that Flows from the Blood of Christ."

The afternoon of the 20th was devoted to welcoming the participants, a presentation on the workshop, and a missionary prayer service to celebrate the 5th Centenary of St. Francis Xavier.

On the morning of the second day were presentations by D. Enrique Barrios, spiritual director of the seminary of Cáceres, Spain, with the title: "Christian Hope," and by Luis Filipe Cardoso, CPPS, on the theme "The Hope that Flows from the Blood of Christ." In the afternoon were three workshops dealing with hope today. On the last day, Provincial Director José Luis M. Ferreira, CPPS, talked about his hopes and dreams for the Missionaries of the Precious Blood. The study days concluded with the celebration of the Eucharist.

All of the participants, numbering about fifty, agreed on the value of these study days. It was a time of fellowship, reflection, and prayer.

CPPS Members and Companions at St. Joseph's College in Rensselaer, Indiana, were featured in the Fall 2006 issue of Contact, a publication for alumni/ae of the college. The articles highlight the commitment of CPPS people and of the college, a CPPS institution, to social justice and outreach.

Fr. William Stang, CPPS, professor of biology at SJC, wrote a moving feature article on his experience visiting Srebenica, Bosnia, site of the massacre of Bosnian Muslims by Serbian troops bent on "ethnic cleansing." He entitled his article "A Demand for Justice: Surviving Bosnia with a Christian Mind." Stang, who is also a reserve US Army chaplain, relates how these horrible crimes have elicited a call for the truth that heals from a group called the "Mothers of Srebenica."

The Mothers have erected a memorial there with the following prayer: "In the name of God, the most merciful, the most compassionate. We pray to Almighty God, may grievance become hope! May revenge become justice! And mothers' tears may become prayers that Srebenica never happen again to no one anywhere!" Stang reminds us that a Christian response to such horror requires the courage to act, to find and to speak the truth.

In the same issue, Companion H. Don Kreilkamp, professor emeritus of the college, is the subject of an article on his volunteer work in Tanzania. Don and his wife Companion Mary Ellen Kreilkamp have worked as volunteers along with the Missionaries of the Precious Blood of the Tanzanian Vicariate. They no longer travel to Tanzania but continue to support the work of the Missionaries in other ways.

Speaking of Tanzania, the work of the CPPS in Tanzania is also supported by the Saint Joseph's College Missionary Outreach (SJCMO). The organization is made up of faculty, alumni, and friends, and provides financial support as well as opportunities for students of the college to work there. An article in the same issue of Contact highlights the work of SJCMO with the Village of Hope in Dodoma.

Finally, another article noted the participation of Brother Rob Reuter, CPPS, in a recent Habitat for Humanity team of students, faculty, and alumni/ae that assisted in construction of housing in Limache, Chile. Habitat for Humanity is an organization that helps build affordable housing in the United States and in other countries.

To see a copy of the full issue of Contact, go to contact.saintjoe.edu.

J. Stack, cpps

During the week of October 23-27, the Chilean Vicariate held the annual retreat for all of its members. The theme for the week was reconciliation as a mission of the CPPS.

The retreatmaster who led the week was Pedro Pablo Garín of the Diocese of Santiago.

first row: P. Deusdedit, P. Nicanor, P. Juan Carlos, P Miguel,
P. Richard, P Omar, P. Donald, P. Antonio.
second row: P. Wojtec, P. Juan Falter, P. Luis,
P. Pedro Pablo (retreatmaster), P. Richard, P Magnus, P. Humberto 

On October 21, 2006, Jochen Jakob marked the end his special formation at the Kolleg St. Josef with his temporary incorporation into the Congregation. In his homily, Provincial Director Ferdinand Zech referred to the message of salvation which formed St. Gaspar and which also challenges us to active commitment today.

As a remembrance of the occasion, Jochen and his parents planted a tree that his parents had brought to the celebration.

Informationen: F. Zech, CPPS
Photos: T. Wunram, CPPS

After completing the study of theology and earning his master's degree at the University of Salzburg, George Widemann of the Teutonic Province was ordained to the diaconate in Unterroth (Allgäu) by Bishop Erwin Kräutler on October 24, 2006. Many members of the congregation and the deanery as well as his friends and members of his home town participated in the celebration.

In his homily, Bishop Erwin noted that the service of the deacon is a lifelong commitment and is not taken away by ordination to the priesthood or to the episcopate.

Deacon Wiedemann will begin his year of pastoral theology in November 2006 with the Pallotine community in Friedberg and will sharing in the pastoral ministry of the parish of Ottobeuren.

Information: F. Zech, CPPS
Photos: T. Wunram, CPPS

Handing over of the gospel book

St. Gaspar spent much of his time in the vicinity of what is today the Piazza Venezia in Rome. The church of San Marco was the parish church of the Del Bufalo family, even if the church of the Gesù was more important in Gaspar's early life. Later, Gaspar would be a canon of St. Mark's as well. Much of what people see today when they visit the Piazza -- especially the huge monument to King Victor Emmanuel II and its surroundings -- did not exist during in Gaspar's day.

Recent excavations in preparation for a new subway line (line C) have unearthed the remains of several of the buildings that Gaspar would have known, among them the Palazzo Torlonia, the Palazzo Parracciani, as well as a now vanished street that was the scene of some kind of horse race during the time of the carnival. (Perhaps Gaspar's father would have been cheering them on.) They have also found the remains of the cloister and foundations of the Palazzetto Venezia, the building that was moved to the other side of the Palazzo Venezia around the turn of the last century.

Another area that was important in the life of Gaspar, the Piazza Montanara, was destroyed about thirty years later during the Mussolini era in the construction of the present-day Via del Teatro di Marcello. It would be interesting to know if something still remains of the Santa Galla Hospice and Santa Maria in Vincis, for example.

But perhaps we must wait until the construction of a new subway...

J. Stack, CPPS

On October 7, Fr. Domenico Berardi of the Italian Province was ordained to the priesthood in his home parish, Divin Cuore di Gesù, in Mirto Crosia, Calabria. The ordaining prelate was Archbishop Santo Marcianò, of the diocese of Rossano-Cariati.

The church was full of family, friends, and members of the Congregation for the ordination Mass as well as for the Mass of thanksgiving that was celebrated on Sunday, October 8.

After his ordination, don Domenico will continue his ministry in the CPPS parish of Santa Maria di Gesù in Messina.

As the Italians say, "Auguri, don Domenico!"

The month of October saw two members of the general curia engaged in preaching retreats. While Fr. Francesco Bartoloni preached two retreats in Tanzania (see the article below), Fr. Barry Fischer also conducted retreats for members and Companions in the United States, where he is presently doing the official visit of the Cincinnati Province.

From October 9-13, forty-seven priests and brothers of the Cincinnati and Kansas City Provinces gathered in Belleville, Illinois at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows, for a retreat which centered on the theme of “Precious Blood: Balm for our Journey.”

All enjoyed a wonderful spirit of brotherhood as was experienced in the table-sharing following each retreat reflection, and in the different moments of recreation. The extraordinary surroundings of the Shrine certainly added to the beauty of those days.

On October 8, Fr. Francesco Bartoloni presided at the official opening of the year of initial and special formation for the candidates of the Congregation in Tanzania. Ten young men began the year of initial formation which precedes acceptance of a candidate into the Congregation and the beginning of his studies in philosophy.

Nine candidates began their year of special formation, which takes place after completing three years of philosophy. One of the nine is a brother candidate and the other are candidates for the priesthood.

The ceremony, in typical African style, emphasized the uniqueness of a CPPS vocation and as well as the singularity of each individual's call.

Fr. Francesco Bartoloni of the General Curia preached two retreats for the Missionaries of the Tanzanian Vicariate from October 2 through 13. All of the Missionaries in the Vicariate took part in the spiritual exercises, which were held at the new St. Gaspar Conference Center in Dodoma.

The traditional themes of community, mission, and spirituality were treated from a historical and anthropological perspective, with a special emphasis on the culture and environment of Tanzania along with the part that these themes paly in the life of the young church of Tanzania.

Above all it was a moment of encounter with the Lord and of fraternal dialogue that spoke of vitality and creativity to all.

F. Bartoloni, CPPS

In August Brother Jerzy Czerniawski, C.PP.S. and Brother Ivan Varga, C.PP.S., were featured on “Radio Marija” in Croatia. The two brothers live in the C.PP.S. community in Zagreb together with two C.PP.S. priests and several lay associates. During the program they spoke about the role of a brother in the mission house.

Brother Ivan came from Serbia. After serving in the army, he decided to enter the mission house. He says: „In the mission house, everything was strange to me. It was hard to live in community because before I had spent a lot of time alone. I didn't see the sense of such a way of life and returned home. I thought I would find Jesus again in loneliness and peace. But I didn't. I found only pain, sadness, disappointment and the roughness of my surroundings.

"There was little delight… I quickly returned to the mission house and began a second time… I still wondered somehow about such a life. I began to open myself and found joy, slowly I began to find meaning… But frequently I thought about the freedom I had at home, about my homeland that I had left, about my free and simple life in the woods… and turned back home.

"At home I felt still worse than before: I found little peace in my heart and my free life didn't make sense any more… I felt ashamed to return to the mission house and confess my failure… But it seems to me that Jesus wanted me to live in that mission house and -- I don't know how – I returned again. Thanks be to Jesus who saved and returned me again.”

Brother Jerzy : “I wish to live only for God. It is not important what I am doing. What is important is only to fulfill the will of God in the different situations and to observe our Statutes… I have the task of economist, handling the paperwork, the mailing, and working for our periodical Living Cup. I go to town when something is needed.”

One of the Missionaries added: “Brother Jerzy is very open and kind with other persons. Whenever I have needed something and asked him for, he did it always very well and quickly...” Brother Jerzy has studied information technology and electrical engineering and has skills that are much needed in the mission house.

Left: Fr. Willi Klein, center, with other CPPS Missionaries and lay associates at a retreat in Kufstein, Austria.

Information and photos by Willi Klein, CPPS

The Sisters of the Precious Blood welcomed the Precious Blood Leadership Conference to Salem Heights in Dayton , Ohio , on September 14 – 17, 2006. Present were: Fr. Angelo Anthony, CPPS; Sr. Maryann Bremke, CPPS; Fr. Mario Cafarelli, CPPS; Sr. Jan Renz, ASC; Fr. Jim Urbanic, CPPS; Sr. Mary Whited, CPPS, and executive director, Sr. Joni Belford, CPPS. Sr. Eva Janning, CPS, province leader of the Missionary Sisters of the Precious Blood, joined the group as her community continues to discern a call to membership in the PBLC.

Sr. Carolyn Hoying, CPPS, representing the Precious Blood Vocation/Formation Committee (PBVFC) spoke about next summer's spirituality workshop that will be offered to men and women in initial formation at Maria Stein Retreat Center on July 30 – August 3, 2007.

The PBLC acknowledged the many ways in which the Human Rights Initiative, (HRI), Committee has brought the Precious Blood congregations in North America together around issues of social justice.

The PBLC expressed special thanks to each member of the Human Rights Initiative Committee, both past and present: Sr. Rosemary Russell, CPPS; Sr. Mary Whited, CPPS; Sr. Carol Boschert, CPPS; Sr. Jeanette Buehler, CPPS; Br. Daryl Charron, CPPS; Fr. Matt Link, CPPS; Sr. Stephanie Mertens, ASC; Fr. David Kelly, CPPS; Fr. William Delaney, CPPS; Fr. Jerry Stack, CPPS; Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, CPPS; and Fr. James Reposkey CPPS.

The PBLC prayer book committee is planning to publish a joint Precious Blood Prayerbook in 2007. It will contain information about our founders and foundresses, prayers specific to the spirituality of the Precious Blood, prayers for personal and communal use, music, poetry, and art.

Brother Joe Fisher, C.PP.S., announced that grants totaling $50,000 were disbursed from the Father Brunner Peace and Justice Fund in September. Among those receiving the grants for special projects were the following C.PP.S. members:

• Fr. Armando Rivas for “Formación Permanente para catequistas y Agentes de Pastoral,” Guatemala

• Fr. Jerry Steinbrunner, C.PP.S. for “Stop the Madness,” St. Andrew Catholic Church Cincinnati, Ohio.

• Br. Hugh Henderson, C.PP.S. for “Hispanic Ministry Parish Initiative (MMPI)", St. Mark Church Cincinnati, Ohio.

• Fr. David Kelly, C.PP.S. for “ Detention Center Drumming Circle,” Chicago, Illinois.

• Fr. Joseph Deardorff, C.PP.S. for “Helping the Elderly Help Themselves,” Lima, Perú.

• Fr. Ernest W. Ranly, C.PP.S. for “Funding for the Latin American Center for Precious Blood Spirituality,” Bogotá, Colombia.

• Fr. Darío Caal, C.PP.S. for “Escuela para Adultos Preciosa Sangre,” Guatemala.

The C.PP.S. general curia has just published C.PP.S. Heritage II: Community, Mission, Spirituality. Along with C.PP.S. Heritage I, published in February, this volume is meant to provide some basic resources for initial, special, and ongoing formation. This volume provides articles on what have come to be known as the "three pillars" of the Congregation: community, ministry, and spirituality. (Please note that through an editorial oversight the title is incorrect on the cover and title page. "Ministry" should be "Mission.")

Copies have been sent to the directors each province, vicariate, and mission of the Congregation. The intent of the general curia hope is that a copy will soon be in the hands of each C.PP.S. candidate. A translation of the first volume into Spanish is currently in process.

A copy of the index page is available on this site. Eventually both volumes will be available online.

Contact the C.PP.S. generalate for more information.

J. Stack, cpps

On Sunday, September 24th, two young men made their first incorporations into the congregation and four others renewed their commitments for another year at our house of formation in Ozarów, near Warsaw. The provincial of the Polish Province, Fr. Jarek Jablonski, presided over the festivities and the moderator general preached. The house chapel was filled with the families and guests of our seminarians. Following the Eucharist all enjoyed a wonderful luncheon during which songs were song and gifts given to the young men making their incorporations.

The moderator general has been visiting the Polish Province since September 7th. The province presently has twenty-one definitively incorporated members, six in temporary incorporation, and five candidates in earlier stages of formation. Our members live in five houses in Poland and work principally in the formation

Filip Pawel Pieta (on right) and Lukasz Tarnowski (on left) made their first incorporation.

Renewing their incorporation are: Mariusz Szykula Zachariasz, Marcin Urbanski, Piotr Sidel, and Dominik Tylski .

Mass of Incorporations in Ozarów, Poland

Article and photos: B. Fischer, cpps

The three congregations of the Precious Blood serving in Chile (CPPS Dayton Sisters, Chilean Sisters of the Precious Blood, and the Missionaries of the Precious Blood) met in Santiago for a two-day workshop on Precious Blood Spirituality.  The theme was"Communion in the Blood of Christ with the world today".  This gathering is part of a series of six seminars and wokshops that were initiated in 1983, as a way of sharing our common spirituality in the Precious Blood of Jesus.  The three congregations met for the last time in 1997 and we thought it was time to pull together again.  The gathering welcomed 34 participants and it was a success.  Wonderful talks on the topic were given by Italian CPPS Father Emanuele Lupi, who is currently serving in Perú.

Antonio Baus, cpps

From August 21-August 26, directors of CPPS provinces, vicariates, and missions met with Moderator General Barry Fischer and members of the general council in Belém, Brazil. These meetings are held at least every two years, in accord with provisions of the CPPS Normative Texts.

Seventeen attended the meeting, held at the Centro Mariapolis Gloria, just outside the city of Belém. Prior to the meeting a number of the participants traveled to Altamira, where the center house of the Brazilian Vicariate and the offices of the Prelacy of the Xingú are located. C.PP.S. members have been here since 1929. From nearby Victoria they traveled down the Xingú River by boat, a trip of six hours, to Porto do Moz for the ordination of Brazilian Vicariate member Arcelino Batista Magalhães.

1st row: Dionicio Alberca, Luis Briones, Angelo Anthony, Joachim Ndelianaruwa, Darío Caal, Ferdinand Zech, Amaladoss Mariasusai.

2nd row: Mario Cafarelli, Andoni Ledesma, Jim Urbanic,
Luis Filipe Cardoso, Francesco Bartoloni, Barry Fischer, Giovanni Francilia, Jerry Stack, Jarek Jabłonski, José Luis Morgado.

The first part of the meeting was devoted to short reports from each of the provinces, vicariates, and missions. Each director was asked to discuss not only how he was spending his time, but how he might choose to change his priorities if he were able to do so. Each was also asked to highlight significant events, positive and negative, that had occurred in his province, vicariate, or mission.

Most of the time was spent preparing for the general assembly which will take place in July 2007. Participants reviewed proposed changes to the Normative Texts of the Congregation. These revised proposals will be discussed in district meetings that will take place during the coming months so that a final draft can be presented to the delegates for review in preparation for the general assembly. In addition, the participants voted to establish policies on regions in the Congregation and on the rights and responsibilities of members from one unit who live and work in the other.

Other topics were reports by the economic commission on the funding of the general curia, proposals on formation, a progress report on the development of an international center for Precious Blood spirituality, a discussion of vocational perseverance, and the creation and signing of a document of solidarity and support for those who are working for justice in the Amazon region, especially for the rights of the poor and in defense of natural resources.

The time in Brazil was not all hard work, however. The members of the Brazilian Vicariate offered outstanding hospitality and participants were able to enjoy a variety of activities during their stay. The trip to Brazil and the generosity of the members of the Brazilian Vicariate will always be remembered.

Along the Xingú, one sees the beauty of the tropical jungle marred by the smoke from areas being burned and cleared for agricultural use. The forest of the Amazon is disappearing at an alarming rate and members of the Brazilian Vicariate are among those seeking to protect this resource from exploitation.

It wasn't all hard work! At right, dancers entertained on a boat cruise along the river in Belém.

Matthew Schaefer, C.PP.S., was definitively incorporated with the Missionaries of the Precious Blood on August 13, becoming the newest brother in the Congregation during a liturgy at St. Charles Center in Carthagena, Ohio.

Br. Matthew made his profession before Fr. Angelo Anthony, C.PP.S., provincial director of the Cincinnati Province of the Missionaries, and a chapel filled with Missionaries, lay associates, family and friends.

Br. Matthew will begin teaching English this fall at Calumet College of St. Joseph in Whiting, Ind., which is sponsored by the Missionaries of the Precious Blood.

Making their temporary incorporations to the Congregation during the same liturgy were Cincinnati native Kevin Scalf, Antonio Sison of Manila, the Philippines, and Fort Wayne native Vincent Wirtner.

Juan Carlos Barajas and Omar Cerda were ordained to the priesthood as Missionaries of the Precious Blood on July 21 at La Barca, Mexico.

The two Mexican natives joined the Chilean  Vicariate several years ago, when they decided to travel to Chile and asked to be part of the C.PP.S., continuing their theological studies at the Pontifical Seminary in Santiago.

The ordinations took place in their home town in Mexico, where many relatives, friends and parishioners could attend. First Masses followed in the next days, which included receptions, dinners and musical performances by several mariachi groups that included musicians from Fr. Cerda's own family.

A delegation of 13 people from Chile traveled to the ordination, including priests, laity from Saint Sebastián Parish in Purranque and students from St. Gaspar College in Santiago.

In Porto do Moz, Brazil, Arcelino Batista Magalhães was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Erwin Kräutler, CPPS, on August 15. Fr. Magalhães is a member of the Brazilian Vicariate, which has members working in and around Belém and Altamira in the state of Pará.

At the celebration, members of the vicariate were joined by major superiors and members of the general curia from from the United States, Italy, Poland, Tanzania, Portugal, and Austria, who journeyed to Brazil a week prior to the meeting of the major superiors held in Belém.

Text: Cincinnati Province web site and J. Stack, cpps
Photos: A. Baus, cpps and J. Stack, cpps

Precious Blood brothers from around the world met in Maria Stein, Ohio, from July 24-28, to celebrate their unique vocation and to encourage others to follow in their path. The Precious Blood Brothers International Symposium was the first of its kind in the history of the Congregation.

Mandated by the Eighteenth General Assembly in Rome in 2004, the symposium honored brothers past and present, and spoke of ways to encourage more brothers in the future. “The symposium far exceeded my expectations,” said chairman Br. Tom Bohman, C.PP.S., as he thanked all the participants for their enthusiastic presence.

On the final day, members at the symposium unanimously approved a final report that affirmed and encouraged the vocation of brothers as a vital part of the Congregation. “We believe that the vocation of the Precious Blood brother must be affirmed and promoted by each individual member of the Precious Blood family,” the statement reads in part.

Many brothers expressed the hope that another such gathering could be scheduled in a few years. “This gathering is 40 years late but it is here and there is hope for the Church and hope for the Society of the Precious Blood,” said Br. Hugh Henderson, C.PP.S., preaching on July 27 during the symposium.

Fr. Amaladoss Mariasusai, director of the Indian Vicariate, writes that they have a welcome by Provincial Director José Luis Morgado Ferreira and the opening prayer, Fr. José Rodier Malheux, of the Congregation of the Sons of Charity, offered reflections on "Community and Mission." In the Eucharist of the first day, Juan Pedro Ruiz Luengo was instituted into the ministry of lector. (See photo at right.)

The second day was devoted to reflecting on the theme that had been proposed for its consideration. The provincial director began with a presentation that was followed by a dialogue that continued into the afternoon.

The final day was dedicated to discussion and voting regarding the establishment of Guinea-Bissau as an official mission of the province. The assembly voted in favor of this and now the necessary steps to make this official are being taken.

Text: José Luis Morgado Ferreira, CPPS

The first event of its kind, an international symposium on the vocation of Precious Blood brother, will be held at the Spiritual Center of Maria Stein in Maria Stein, Ohio , on July 24-28, 2006. The idea for the symposium was put forth during the 18 th General Assembly in Rome in 2004, to promote the vocation of the brotherhood.

At the symposium, Brs. Wayne Fitzpatrick, M.M., and Bernie Spitzley, S.V.D., will speak to C.PP.S. brothers from around the world. Also scheduled to attend are members of the C.PP.S. general counsel, provincial directors, formation directors and Companions.

“We hope that the best C.PP.S. brothers that we have to offer – by which we mean all of them – will head to Maria Stein for this memorable event,” said Br. Tom Bohman, C.PP.S., who is the chairman of the planning committee.

The theme of the symposium is "Celebrating C.PP.S. Brothers, Past, Present and Future."

The goals of the Brothers Symposium are:

• To affirm the vocation of brother within the C.PP.S.
• To identify the experiences of the vocation of brotherhood, and to share information about the vocation of brother
• To enhance a world-wide awareness of C.PP.S. brotherhood.
• To design a process to bring awareness of this vocation back to all regions of the Congregation.
• To celebrate our global bond of charity.

There will be time for prayer, reminiscing and recreation during the four days of the symposium. Sessions will be in English and Spanish with simultaneous translation.

“This will be a time for us to enjoy the international flavor of our Congregation,” Br. Tom said. “It promises to be very memorable. There has never been an international gathering for C.PP.S. brothers, and there may not be another gathering of this nature for quite some time. So we're hoping that all brothers will find a way to Maria Stein to join us.”

Brothers Symposium Planning Committee