Fr. Clement Kuhns, C.PP.S., 86, died at 6 a.m. Wednesday, January 16, 2008, in the infirmary at St. Charles Center in Carthagena, Ohio. He had been in failing health for some time.

Fr. Kuhns was born on January 12, 1922, in Canton, Ohio, to William and Laura (Valot) Kuhns. He entered the Society in 1936 and was ordained on May 16, 1948.

After his ordination Fr. Kuhns taught Latin and Greek at Saint Joseph’s College in Rensselaer, Ind. He also served as assistant director of seminarians there. In 1962, he was appointed magister spiritus of brothers for the Congregation.

Fr. Kuhns entered parish ministry in 1970 as parochial vicar first of Corpus Christi Church in Dayton then of Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in Cleveland. In 1972 he was named pastor of St. Henry Church in St. Henry, Ohio.

He served as pastor of the Church of the Nativity in Lake Mary, Fla., from 1977 to 1983. Fr. Kuhns then lived outside the Community for several years before returning in 1994. Ill health caused his retirement to St. Charles Center, where he made his home until his death.

He is survived by a brother, Harold “Barney” Kuhns, Santa Maria, Calif.; three sisters, Sr. Naomi Kuhns, CSJ, Richfield, Ohio; Sr. Laura Kuhn, CSJ, Cleveland; and Mrs. Otto (Rosemary) Tonti, Fort Myers, Fla.; a nephew and his wife, Mike and Kim Kuhns of Canton, Ohio; three nieces, Peg Kuhns, Columbus; Kathy Donahue, Powell, Ohio; and Mrs. Charles (Mary) Sibio, Hilliard, Ohio; and a number of great-nieces and great-nephews.

He was preceded in death by a brother, William; and two sisters-in-law, Millie Kuhns and Ida Kuhns.

Fr. Kuhns was invariably described as gentle and good-hearted. He was a caring pastor who was also devoted to his family. Years of debilitating illness did not strip him of a gentle, innate sense of humor, said Connie Klosterman, the director of nurses at St. Charles. “He could find the humor in situations that a lot of people would not have seen anything funny,” she said. “He was a sweet, gentle soul but very determined. He loved to laugh, but he was very serious about his ministry.”

A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, January 19 at St. Charles, with Fr. Angelo Anthony, C.PP.S., presiding. Burial will follow in the Community cemetery. Calling hours at St. Charles will be held Friday, January 18, from 1-5 and 7-9 p.m. with a prayer vigil at 7 p.m.

Enjoy photos and PowerPoint presentation 

about Christmas time in the General House!

Informations and photo: Mario Córdova Santander, Grupos de Oración y Amistad

On 19th October 2007, on the eve of the feast of St. Gaspar, four seminarians: Frts. Wenceslaus Bamugasheki, Patrick Kimaro, Paul Ngayomela and Achiles Mutalemwa, have been incorporated into the Congregation and the day after, October 20th have been ordained deacons at Salvatorian Institute of Philosophy and Theology in Morogoro.

Congratulations!

The C.PP.S Vicariate of Tanzania considers 2007 as a year of great God’s grace and blessing. Early this year, it celebrated its 40 years of presence in the country as from 1967, the date of first arrival of three missionaries from Italy.
What has been in these 40 years of presence in Tanzania?
a) Having 49 definitive incorporated members and two of them in the current General Council;
b) Running 9 parishes in Tanzania and 1 in Italy;
c) Running 2 technical schools at Manyoni and Mtongani;
d) Building and running of St. Gaspar Hospital and Nurse Training Centre at Itigi and 2 health centres at Chibumagwa and Mkula at Mahenge in Tanzania;
e) With assistance of the Atlantic Province Canada, engaging in country wide provision of pure and safe water through Water Project and provision of education through St. Gaspar English Medium Primary School in Dodoma;
f) Having two formation centres, i.e. at Miyuji-Dodoma Ven. Merlini Formation Centre for pre and after philosophy seminarians and St. Gaspar College at Morogoro for philosophical and Theological studies.
g) Running its headquarters and St. Gaspar Conference Centre situated at Kisasa in Dodoma.
It is beyond doubt that, such success could not be attained without God’s help and hard work of missionaries themselves; they have certainly, realized a dream of Gaspar to reach peoples regardless of their origin, race and language.
It is a hope and prayer of C.PP.S In Tanzania that all initiatives bear stamp of Gaspar and especially of Christ our redeemer so that Missionaries themselves and the people they serve become heirs of the heavenly glory.

In 1946 the American Province of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood, after discernment with the membership and in consultation with the Holy See, decided to take an exploratory trip to South America in order to create a Mission of the CPPS.

Read more in an article of Fr. Antonio in english (1,15 MB; .doc)...

in italiano (1,15MB; .doc)...

en espanol (1,15MB; .doc)...

Fr. William Eilerman, C.PP.S., 82, of St. Charles Center, Carthagena, Ohio , died on September 14 at 5:15 p.m. in the infirmary of St. Charles Center, Carthagena, Ohio , of complications following heart surgery.

Fr. Eilerman was born on January 27, 1925, in North Star, Ohio, andentered the Society in 1939 and was ordained on May 24, 1951.

After his ordination, Fr. Eilerman continued his studies preparing for a bachelor's and master's degree in accounting at Saint Joseph 's College in Rensselaer, Ind. and Saint Louis University. From 1954-1970 he was assigned to Saint Joseph's College, which is sponsored by the Missionaries of the Precious Blood, where he served as accounting instructor, and professor, and business office administrator (business manager and treasurer). In 1970 he was transferred to St. Joseph 's College East Chicago, Ind., campus (later Calumet College of Saint Joseph) where he served as accounting professor and treasurer at the college. In 1975, he was appointed rector of St. Charles Center.

Fr. Eilerman accepted the position of treasurer of the Congregation in 1977, where he served for 10 years. During these years he served two terms on the executive committee and later, on the senate. In 1988, he was named local director of St. Charles Center. While serving in that position he became the administrator pro-tem of several parishes in northwest Ohio and in 2003 he became administrator of the Sorrowful Mother Shrine in Bellevue, Ohio. For many years, he faithfully served as a board member of Saint Joseph 's College and on the finance committee of the Congregation. Fr. Eilerman retired to St. Charles Center in 2006.

Survivors include a brother and his wife, Alfred and Joan Eilerman of North Star; and a sister, Eleanor Liette of Culver, Ind.; and numerous nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. He was preceded in death by four brothers, Joseph, Bernard, Paul and Fr. Herbert Eilerman, C.PP.S; and an infant sister, Mary.

Fr. Eilerman was deeply committed to his religious community and to the pro-life movement, said Fr. Emil Schuwey, C.PP.S., his friend of many years. His was a life of service and some adventure – Fr. Eilerman was an experienced traveler who visited 28 countries and all 50 states.

A Mass of Christian burial was held on Wednesday, September 19, 2007, at 2 p.m. at St. Charles Center, the Rev. Angelo Anthony, C.PP.S., officiating, with Bburial the Community cemetery.

Photo and information from the Cincinnati Province official obituary

Fr. Paul Schaaf, C.PP.S., 81, died suddenly of natural causes at St. Charles Center in Carthagena , Ohio , at 5:15 p.m. Sunday, September 16, 2007.

He was born July 24, 1926, in Dayton, Ohio, and entered the Society in 1950 after serving in the US Air Force He was ordained on May 28, 1960.

Fr. Schaaf served as an assistant pastor at St. Anthony Church in Falls Church, Va., before traveling to Chile, where he served as a missionary for 12 years. He worked among the rural population of southern Chile and later as spiritual director of a school in Santiago. While there, he served as director of seminarians.

In 1975, he returned to the United States. Having been introduced to the charismatic movement within the Church in Chile, he continued that ministry in the U.S., traveling extensively to give retreats, conferences and workshops in the U.S. and abroad. His special ministry was one of healing, and he presided over many healing services and pilgrimages. He was one of the founding members of the Association of Christian Therapists and served on its board of directors. Fr. Schaaf was appointed the coordinator of the charismatic program of the Diocese of St. Petersburg, Fla., in 1983. He lived and ministered in Florida for a number of years before retiring to St. Charles Center in 2002.

He is survived by two sisters, Evelyn McCarthy of Dayton ; and Pat Merck of Tilson , N.Y. ; a brother, Br. Donald Schaaf, S.M., of Dayton; and numerous nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. He was preceded in death by a brother, Norbert.

Fr. Schaaf brought a tremendous amount of energy to his work as a spiritual guide and healer, said his friend, Fr. John Zvijak, C.PP.S. “He was a strong person, yet flexible enough to move comfortably around the world,” Fr. Zvijak said. “He was a man who could travel easily among a lot of different people and different cultures. He got mail from friends all over the world – it was hard for him to keep up with it, though he tried.”

A Mass of Christian burial will be held at St. Charles Center on Friday, September 21, 2007, at 2 p.m., with the Rev. Angelo Anthony, C.PP.S., presiding and Fr. Zvijak as homilist. Burial will follow in the Community cemetery.

Information from the Cincinnati Province official obituary

The Atlantic Province held their electoral assembly from the afternoon of August 26 through the morning of August 30, with 21 members participating. In the business assembly preceding the elections, the members decided by unanimous vote to request that the mission ad experimentum in México be elevated to the status of mission. In this decision they showed their concern for the growth of the Congregation and their participation in the ministry that some Missionaries have carried out in that nation for several years. Currently two members of the Atlantic Province are working in México and there are three seminarians.

In the elections, Fr. Mario Cafarelli was re-elected provincial director, Fr. Pietro Nobili was reelected provincial treasurer. Fr. Phillip Smith was elected vice provincial director, and Fr. Sam D'Angelo was elected third councilor.

Best wishes to them on the part of the entire Congregation!

Sixteen young men entered the program of special formation in India on September 6. The celebration was held at St. Paul Church in Marikuppam with the Eucharist celebrated by Fr. Amaladoss Mariasusai, Vicariate Director, and Frs. Mahimaidass, Ruban, and Samuel. Fr. Jayasingh David preached on the meaning of the special formation program.

Information and photo: Fr. Amaladoss Mariasusai, CPPS

We can't understand why there is so much suffering…There is no Resurrection without death; none of us like to drink of the bitter chalice of trials, and for that reason, today more than ever, we are called to give hope there where there is none. Thus we live our mission as laity, missionary disciples marked by the Blood of Christ.

According to the newspaper, El Comercio, the town of St Clement , which lies five kilometers from Pisco, is one of the cities most affected by the earthquake. The situation in that city is one of total chaos. “The situation in the cities of Pisco, Chincha and Ica is one of desperation. The number of dead exceeds 510, and 30 thousand have lost their homes, and there are more than 1,615 wounded.” The Panamerican Highway is in a terrible state and the area of the earthquake is without fresh water, food, and a roof under which to live. There are hundreds of people wandering through the streets, without knowing where to go, looking for their loved one; unfortunately there can never be enough help. These cities fell apart after losing electricity and water supplies. 630 prisoners who escaped from the Tambo de Mora Penitentiary have only made the critical situation worse following the panic, anguish and suffering which followed more than 300 tremors which rocked the country.

The people have wills of steel and it is impressing to see the campaigns in Lima which have begun for Blood donations. The precious value of blood as fountain of life takes on new meaning in these moments of extreme suffering. Thanks for the humanitarian help which has begun to arrive from many countries. Thanks for the emails, prayers and Eucharists celebrated in each community.

“Let yourselves be consumed so as to give light to others”  

Our workshop for the laity of the Precious Blood was celebrated last weekend. We thank you for your prayers. About 55 laity gathered from our communities of Santa Luzmila, Comas, La Oroya, Magdalena and San Borja (both the schools and Parish).

We shared unforgettable moments as we shared our experiences and our apostolates. Dr. Jose Luis Perez Guadalupe, a layman, shared an enlightening reflection on his experience of the Vth Latin American Bishops' Conference in Aparecida , Brazil . Among the issues discussed were: Why do catholics leave the Church?

What can be done in order to better our life's witness in order to be more coherent, hospitable, and more responsible for the development of our communities? Fr. Emanuele Lupi nourished us with his reflection on the importance of the Eucharist for the Christian life and even moreso for the life of the missionary disciple of the Blood of Christ. The warmth of the Blood of Christ is a fire which purifies our Christian life.

In one of the group discussions we made a synthesis of the three “A”s of AMOR (LOVE). “A” of openness (apertura). God opened Himself to humanity just as one day a missionary of the Blood of Christ or an Adorer of the Blood of Christ approached us and opened his/her heart to us. The second “A” is that of welcoming (acogida). In the footsteps of Christ, we feel the need for conversion and to open ourselves to the call of the Blood and to reach out to others whenever we feel their need. The third “A” is that of walking with others (acompañamiento). It is here that we laity feel responsible for our Church and especially for our community of the Precious Blood as we commit ourselves to share our live with a friend along the way of our life's journey.

Br. Gerald Hall, C.PP.S., age 59, died unexpectedly on August 25 after a brief illness at St. Catherine Hospital, East Chicago, IN. Born March 2, 1948, he entered the Congregation in 1966 and was incorporated in 1969.

Br. Jerry was a teacher and was also involved in parish ministry. He held a master's degree in geology from Case Western Reserve University, and a master's in computer science from De Paul University. He was also enrolled in a doctoral program in environmental science at the Illinois Institute of Technology.

He taught at Brunnerdale High School Seminary, Canton, Ohio, at St. Joseph's College, Rensselaer, Indiana, and at Calumet College of St. Joseph, Whiting, Indiana. He was involved in parish ministry at Immaculate Conception Church, Celina, Ohio, and was business manager at St. Charles Center for six years. He was actively involved with the CPPS Companions in Celina and in Whiting.

He is survived by a brother and his wife, John and Mirtha Hall of Miami, Fla.; a sister and her husband, Georganne and Sam Stephens, of Altha, Fla.; and a nephew, Tom McCroan, Lianhaven , Fla.

He was a gentle man of steadfast faithfulness, said longtime friend and colleague, Br. Ben Basile, C.PP.S. “He was a brother who walked with people in a number of different ways,” Br. Ben said. “He had a strong pastoral life, and made himself available to serve those who needed him. I also always admired his academic professional life. He had a deep interest in geology, astronomy and environmental concerns.”

A lover of nature and the natural world, Br. Jerry was also a bicyclist and a birdwatcher.

A funeral mass will be held Wednesday, August 29 at 10 a.m. at St. John the Baptist Church in Whiting, Ind. Calling hours will be held Tuesday, August 28, at Baran's Funeral Home, Whiting, from 2-5 and 7-9 p.m. with a wake service at 4 p.m.

A Mass of Christian burial will then be held at St. Charles Center in Carthagena, Ohio, on Friday, August 31, at 2 p.m. Burial will follow in the Community cemetery.

Calling hours at St. Charles will be held Thursday, August 30 from 1-5 and 7-9 p.m. with a wake service at 7 p.m.

Information from the official obituary, Cincinnati Province. Photo by B. Fischer, cpps

In November 2006, a small group of USC members from St. Roch's Parish, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, led by Fr. Phil Smith, C.PP.S. made a pilgrimage to the sites closely associated with St. Gaspar, St. Maria De Mattias and Ven. John Merlini. Included in the pilgrimage were visits to Giano (left) and Acuto (below right) besides Rome.

Part of the pilgrimage also included a visit to the tomb of the first C.PP.S. Missionary, Fr. Oreste Cerbara, who founded the parish in 1968. Fr. Oreste, born and raised in Gavignano, a small town near Acuto, is buried in the family plot in the local cemetery (below left). The pilgrims believed that it would be important to visit this tomb since the parish of St. Roch's has begun to celebrate 40 years of existence (1968-2008) and Fr. Oreste was such an important person in the early years of the parish history.

Fr. William L. O'Neill, C.PP.S., died unexpectedly of natural causes in his home in St. Paul, Minn., on July 23, 2007.

Fr. O'Neill was born on July 10, 1926, in Janesville, Wisc. He entered the Society in 1940 and was ordained on May 18, 1952.

After his ordination he served as an assistant pastor at St. James the Less Church in Columbus, Ohio, until he joined the U.S. Air Force as a chaplain in 1956. He served at bases in the U.S. and overseas. After he left the Air Force in 1960, Fr. O'Neill returned to graduate school then became a teacher, and spent much of the rest of his life educating others and himself – he held three PhD and five master's degrees in the fields of psychology and special education.

From 1965 to 1974 Fr. O'Neill taught at Saint Joseph 's College in Rensselaer, Ind. , and Calumet College of St. Joseph in Whiting, Ind., both sponsored by the Missionaries of the Precious Blood. In 1974 he joined the faculty of St. Thomas College in St. Paul, Minn. , where he remained in ministry for over 20 years. While at St. Thomas he also served in parish ministry at St. Clement Church in Minneapolis.

Fr. O'Neill was a spiritual advisor and a tireless advocate for the disabled. He organized retreats for the disabled and for their caretakers. He worked with the parishes to make religious education programs more accessible to those with disabilities. Fr. O'Neill received many honors for his work with the disabled, including the Social Justice Disability Award from Catholic Charities.

Fr. O'Neill retired from St. Thomas in 1993, but continued his work with the disabled and also compiled scholarly bibliographies on the lives of the mystics St. Theresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross. He retired to St. Charles Center in Carthagena, Ohio, in 2002, but returned to St. Paul in 2005.

On Tuesday, July 31, a Mass of Christian burial will be held at St. Charles Center in Carthagena, Ohio, at 2 p.m. Burial will follow in the Community cemetery.

Information and photo courtesy of the Cincinnati Provincial Office.

On July 2, 2007, Fr. Mauricio Restrepo of the Colombian Mission ad experimentum was welcomed as a temporarily incorporated member of the Congregation. He completed his year of special formation in Rome and in Peru.

Fr. Ernest Ranly, CPPS, Director of the Mission, presided at the Eucharist at the CPPS house "Santa Teresita," located in Bogotá.

CPPS Fathers Armando Rivas, director of formation for the theologate, Angelmiro Granados, and Fr. Abelardo Ibaceta joined in the celebration, along with the temporarily incorporated students of the Latin American theologate in Colombia.

At present the Latin American theologate in Colombia is made up of six temporarily incorporated members of the Central American (Guatemalan) Mission. Fr. Armando Rivas of Central American Mission is the director of formation.

In the photo at right, first row: theology students Antonio José Hernández, Sebastián Argueta Blanco,  Alex Jacobo Ramírez. Felipe Caal Coy, José Luis Gatica Barreno, Rony Roberto Díaz. Second row: Frs. Armando Rivas, Mauricio Restrepo, Ernesto Ranly, Angelmiro Granados, Abelardo Ibaceta.

Fr. George Wiedemann of the Teutonic Province was ordained on June 29, 2007, in the cathedral of Salzburg, Austria. In Celebrating with Fr. Georg were province members, his parents and brothers and sisters as well as many friends from his hometown of Unterroth (Swabia) and from the parish of Ottobeuren where he had ministered during his pastoral year. The ordaining bishop, Andreas Laun, invited the ordinands to a lifelong search for God.

In the presence of the many parishioners of St. Roch's, St. Alphonsus, numerious friends, and the members of the Atlantic Province, Alarey (Rey) Abella was ordained to the priesthood on July 1, 2007. Axuilary Bishop John Bousineau of Toronto, a good friend of the Congregation, presided. He noted that "it is fitting and most proper that Rey be ordained on this day, on the feast of the Precious Blood and Canada Day. He is a gift to the church and to the community and to those who he will serve. May St. Gaspar continue to protect him and inspire him."

He will begin pastoral ministry at St. Roch Parish, where he will join Frs. Phil Smith, Carlo Della Vecchia, and Luciano Baiocchi.

On the following day, June 30, Juan Pedro was ordained to the diaconate at noon in the Parish of San Fortunato in the neighborhood of La Fortuna, located in the city of Leganés (Madrid). The ordaining prelate was Bishop Joaquín Lopez de Andujar y Canovas del Castillo, bishop of the diocese of Getafe. Joining in the celebration were many CPPS and diocesan priests, family and friends from Precious Blood Parish, Orcasitas, and of San Fortunato Parish, La Fortuna. After the Mass there was a reception for about 200 people.

Juan Pedro and the Iberian Province were happy to be able to celebrate these two events together with the feast of the Precious Blood, which occurs on July 1.

Fr. Eduardo Torres Márquez of the Iberian Province died suddenly on June 19 in Guadalcanal, Spain.

Fr. Eduardo had spent many years working at the Colegio San Francisco Saverio in Fuente de Cantos, Spain, and in the minor seminary, where he was rector. After his ministry in education he worked in the parish of San Mateo in Cáceres, Spain, and then for the past fourteen years was pastor of the parishes in Guadalcanal and Alanis.

His funeral was held on June 21, attended by many people including about thirty priests.

Information: J. L. Morgado Ferreira, CPPS
Photo: B. Fischer, CPPS

More than fifty lay associates and CPPS members gathered in Rome for the second international meeting of lay associates of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood ("MERLAP II"), held at the central house of the Italian Province in Rome.

During the nine days of meetings and excursions, lay associates and members from sixteen countries prayed together, shared the stories of their journeys in faith and ministry, and were able to visit some of the sites significant for our Founder, St. Gaspar del Bufalo. (For a copy of the schedule, click here.)

At right, the opening prayer service in the chapel of the Collegio.

The members of the Teutonic Province met in assembly at Kufstein, Austria, from June 10-13. Elected for four-year terms were Frs. Andreas Hasenburger, provincial director, Josef Gehrer, first councilor, Josef Klingele, second councilor, Willi Klein, thrid councilor, and Georg Becher, fourth councilor.

At the assembly members also approved changes to the provincial statutes and the renovation of the Kolleg St. Josef in Salzburg.

The assembly closed with a morning of recollection on the theme of reconciliation given by general councilor Fr. Robert Schreiter.

Information: A. Hasenburger, CPPS; photo: T. Wunram, CPPS

The Indian Vicariate opened the St. Gaspar Home for the Aged in Gedaganhalli, Kolar Gold Fields, on June 12th, the anniversary of the canonization of St. Gaspar. Fr. Amaladoss Mariasusai, the Vicariate Director (pictured at left), presided at the opening ceremonies, with about ten Missionaries along with various sisters and a hundred lay people of the village in attendance.

The new home can accommodate forty persons and was made possible by the support of the Italian Province.

A week before, on June 2nd, the Vicariate inaugurated a temporary mission in Tamil Nadu, Chennai Archdiocese, in a village called Pinjivakkam Kandigai. The Catholic population there is 1750 and there are 11 substations. The Chancellor of the archdiocese was present to mark the installation of Fr. Anthonyraj Thota as pastor and Fr. Christopher Ramchetti as associate pastor.This is the first CPPS mission in the Chennai Archdiocese.

The Business Assembly of the Tanzanian Vicariate took place at St. Gaspar Conference Centre in Dodoma from the 7 th to the 11 th of May. The main objective was to review decisions and programs previously established by the Business Assembly of 2003.

The majority of our confreres were present at the Assembly. Fr. Oliviero Magnone, representing the Italian Provincial Council, was also present.

Photos and text: F. Mushobozi, CPPS

Seven young men were definitively incorporated into the Congregation in the Indian Vicariate on May 25.

Pictured in the photo are Sunil Pallipovika, Arokiaswamy Suran, Salomon Raju Thumula, Lazar Nattalathen, Amalorpavaraj Kuppala, Ambrose Kumar Bernard, and Anand Diviyaraj.

With these incorporations the Indian Vicariate now numbers 62 members, a threefold increase since the formal establishment of the Vicariate in 2003.

Photo and information: A. Mariasusai, CPPS

Fr. Andoni Ledesma Sánchez, Vicariate Director,
receives the temporary incorporation of Almiro de Sousa.

The Brazilian Vicariate welcomed Almiro de Sousa as its newest temporarily incorporated member on Sunday, May 27, 2007. Almiro is currently studying philosophy in Belém and has just completed the program of special formation in Guatemala.

Almiro is 26 and was born in Santarém, in the state of Pará. His parents, Pedro Marino and Maria Dulcineia de Sousa, shown in the photo above, joined with the CPPS family to celebrate the occasion.

Photos and information: M. Rohde, CPPS

Twenty-four lay women and men, Companions from the USA , and one of our Missionary priests, journeyed to Rome in May for an eight-day pilgrimage. They wished to discover the roots of our Congregation by following in St. Gaspar's footsteps.

Fr. Barry Fischer, the Moderator General, accompanied the Pilgrims the entire time of their stay. Points of attraction which were visited by the Companions were: the Church of St . Maria in Trivio where St. Gaspar is buried, San Nicola in Carcere, our house and the St. Gaspar museum in Albano , and San Felice in Giano. Three days were spent at our retreat house there and Fr. Barry offered the group four conferences on different aspects of our C.PP.S. identity.

The group also visited the ASC house of foundation in Acuto and our community house in Sonnino and enjoyed walking through the narrow streets once roamed by the bandits and by our Missionaries!

Everywhere the Companions were welcomed in typical C.PP.S. hospitality. Their stay at our Provincial House in Via Narni in Rome was most enjoyable.

This was the second such “Gaspar Pilgrimage” in recent years and there are already rumors about another.

Photos and text: B. Fischer, CPPS

In the presence of his birth family and his C.PP.S. family, Bob Jansen made his first commitment to the Missionaries of the Precious Blood during a liturgy held on May 16 at the Cincinnati provincial assembly. Jansen, a native of St. Henry , Ohio , and a graduate of Saint Joseph 's College in Rensselaer , Ind. , has now completed initial formation. He will move on to special formation this fall at St. Agnes Church in Los Angeles . His parents are Paul and Judy Jansen of St. Henry.

Jansen has been involved with ministry since he was in school at St. Henry, as he followed in the footsteps of his parents, both active members of their parish. He continued his service to the people of God as a student at Saint Joseph 's, where he was involved with retreat and campus ministry.

For the assembly of the Cincinnati Province this year, team from the Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation led the members and Companions through reflections, exercises and group discussions meant to explore the bonds and bounds of reconciliation – how we see ourselves as peacemakers and healers, what we bring to conflicts and what we take away.

The assembly was held May 14-17 at the Spiritual Center of Maria Stein. During an evening liturgy Tuesday at the assembly, 31 Companions (lay associates) made or renewed their covenant.

On Wednesday afternoon, the community gathered for a liturgy that included the first commitment of candidate Bob Jansen, who has completed his initial formation and will now move on to special formation at St. Agnes Church in Los Angeles.

In the Wednesday evening session, Fr. David Kelly spoke of the ministry of reconciliation, which is inherently difficult. “Reconciliation does not happen readily. In fact, Fr. Bob Schreiter says it rarely happens,” he said. “But first and foremost, it is the work of God. It begins with the victim. And it makes of both the victim and the wrongdoer a new creation.”

Also during Wednesday evening's session, Fr. Denny Kinderman spoke on the dynamics of the circle, a method of purposeful dialogue in which each person is valued and has the opportunity to speak without fear of interruption or censure. The small-group discussions at the assembly were conducted within the circle setting, said Fr. Kinderman, who added that the method is used often and very effectively at the Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation.

In its Thursday morning business session on May 17, members approved the renovation of the auditorium at St. Charles Center , at an estimated cost of $260,000. Renovating the auditorium would create a versatile meeting space for the C.PP.S. Community and local church and civic groups, said Fr. Jim Seibert, C.PP.S., director of St. Charles . The renovation would also complete phase II construction at St. Charles.

The Atlantic Province welcomed Michael Mateyk, pictured at left with his parents, into his time of special formation. The occasion was marked by a special service of prayer at the Merlini House of Studies in Toronto, Canada.

Michael has been an elementary school teacher with the Catholic School Baord for the past four years and has been in the process of discernment with the Missionaries of the Precious Blood for two years. He will be spending this summer with Brother Anthony Canterucci and Fr. Tim Coday in Tanzania.

Photo and information: L. Santi, CPPS

On April 11th, Fr. Sahaya Celestine Soosai was ordained for the Indian Vicariate, at Our Lady of Miracles Church in Annainagar, Tamil Nadu. The ordaining prelate was Rev. Dr. Peter Remijius, bishop of Kumbakonam.

The celebration was held in the open air, since the church in Annainagar, located on the coast in south India, was destroyed in the tsunami. Fr. Soosai's father was killed in that disaster. About 20 priests participated in the ordinatioon. Fr. Soosai celebrated his first Mass the next day.

Information and photo: A. Mariasusai, CPPS

Racial Sobriety, a program developed by Fr. Clarence Williams, C.PP.S., has been adopted as a model of race relations by the 1,400 agencies of Catholic Charities USA. Racial Sobriety encourages people to rethink long-held notions about race and culture.

Fr. Williams has done training with Catholic Charities personnel throughout the country and in April will conduct a board retreat on Racial Sobriety. Catholic Charities decided to adopt Fr. Williams' program throughout its agencies nationwide as it grew more familiar with his training programs. The national roll-out will take place at Catholic Charities' September conference in Cincinnati.

At a recent meeting, the provincial council of the Cincinnati Province congratulated Fr. Williams for his success in having this program acknowledged at the national level. “It is a program rooted in the spirituality of the Precious Blood and will help further promote our charism,” said Fr. Larry Hemmelgarn, C.PP.S., provincial secretary.

The Provincial of the Iberian Province, Fr. José Luis Morgado and our General Councilor, Fr. Luis Filipe Cardoso, were also in Guiné during the first week of the Moderator's visit. The highlight was the temporary incorporation of Lima da Silva in a beautiful ceremony presided over by the Bishop of Bissau, D. José Câmnate. A number of religious sisters and seminarians joined our community for the festive occasion. Besides Lima there is one other temporarily incorporated member, Rui Méndez, as well as three more seminarians in their initial years of formation. While in Guiné Bissau we met with a group of young men discerning a possible vocation with us and there is hope that as many as five might join our program next year.

To prepare for the Holy Week celebrations, Fr. Barry preached a three day retreat to our seminarians with reflections on the Paschal Mystery.

Guiné Bissau is perhaps the poorest and most challenging mission we have as a Congregation and our missionaries would appreciate your prayers and support.

Fr. Anthony Gamble, C.PP.S. , died on April 8, 2007 at 3:00 A.M. Easter Sunday morning in Coldwater (Ohio) Hospital at the age of 93, the result of post-surgical complications following the repair of a broken hip.

Fr. Tony was born on September 12, 1913, in Auburn, New York. He entered the Congregation in 1932 and was incorporated in 1934. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1942.

During his long life he held a variety of positions in ministry: parish priest, hospital chaplain, college librarian, seminary rector, province secretary. Those who knew him remember Fr. Gamble as a kind and dedicated priest, conscientious in fulfilling his responsibilities, always with a gentle sense of humor. He retired to St. Charles Center in 1990, where he remained a man of deep faith and prayer, always available to minister to other members of the Congregation. He was often called upon to pray with them and to minister the sacrament of the sick.   

The wake service will be on Wednesday, April 11, 2007 at 7:00 P.M. at St. Charles Center. The funeral Mass will be Thursday, April, 12, 2007 at 2:00 P.M. in the Assumption Chapel at St. Charles Center, Carthagena, Ohio with burial following in the community cemetery.

Fr. Jeff Keyes, CPPS, pastor of St. Edward Parish in Newark, sent us this photo that reflects a bit of the diversity of our members and of the collaboration in ministry that continues to grow with the Congregation. Pictured here (left-right) are Frs. Gerald Irudayanathan, CPPS, of the Indian Vicariate, who is an associate pastor in the parish; Fr. Juan Carlos Barajas, CPPS, a native of Mexico who belongs to the Chilean Vicariate and who was in Newark to celebrate his sister's 25th wedding anniversary; Fr. Wojciech Czernatowicz, CPPS, from the Polish Province, who also works in the Chilean Vicariate and was visiting with Fr. Juan Carlos; Fr. Jim Franck, CPPS, associate pastor (a native of Ohio, which some Californians think is a foreign country); and pastor Fr. Jeff Keyes, CPPS, a genuine native Californian.

Saturday, March 10th, marked a happy occasion for the Chilean Vicariate.  Two new candidates were accepted into the formation program.  Messrs. Edinson Zúñiga and Diego Gallardo from our southern parish in Purranque. After finishing a period of discernment they were accepted to start with the CPPS formation program that takes place in Santiago, Chile. 

This year both will be living at Our Lady of the Precious Blood Church and taking their classes at the Religious Conference Institute, to continue then in 2008 at the Pontifical Seminary for their philosophical and theological formation.  Currently the Chilean Vicariate has eight students in different levels of formation.  Besides Edinson and Diego we have Gregorio Hernández (Mexican) and Santiago Cárdenas at the philosophy level, Claudio Varas and Reinaldo Melgarejo in their special formation with the Central and Latin American candidates at Guatemala City, and Danilo Sacchetti (Italian), and Jorge Gómez at the level of theological studies.  

The second meeting of representatives of CPPS lay associates -- MERLAP II -- will take place in Rome from June 13-22, 2007. More than 40 participants are expected to attend.

Information on MERLAP II has been sent to the participants via e-mail and regular post. Those documents are also posted here on our web site.

On Tuesday, February 27 th, Valerio De Vita of the Italian Province made his definitive incorporation in the Congregation. The site was the parish church S. Maria di Gesù in Messina, Sicily. Several Missionaries traveled to Messina for the celebration as well as Valerio's family members who came from Rome.

The incorporation took place during the solemn vesper service presided over by the Moderator General. D. Giovanni Francilia, Provincial of the Italian Province, preached and received Valerio's incorporation. The Church was filled with members of the parish community, showing the great esteem the people have for our young team of C.PP.S. Missionaries who have been serving in the parish since September, 2005. A festive reception followed for all in the parish hall.

At right, Valerio with family members

The month of February was filled with important events in our Indian Vicariate. Our five Indian confreres in ministry in Germany , Austria , Italy and the United States , returned to their homeland to participate in the events.

First of all, the members of the Vicariate gathered at a diocesan pastoral center in Bangalore for a retreat preached by the Moderator General, Fr. Barry Fischer.

The day following the retreat, fifty-two Vicariate members were joined by another twenty diocesan and religious priests at the St. Gaspar Ashram in Bangalore for the ordination of five CPPS priests and one deacon. The Indian Vicariate now has fifty-one ordained priests and four deacons. It is now the third most numerous unit of the Congregation.

The newly ordained: (l-r)Frs. Christopher Ramchetty, Franklin Fernando
Thumma, Ilayaraja Panjalathan, Fr. Barry Fischer (Moderator General),
Deacon Xavier Thangaraj, Frs. Peter Pradeep and Marianna Ramaji.

On Sunday, February 18 th , the community gathered once again at the pastoral center for a two-day Assembly. First on the agenda was the election of a new leadership team to animate the Vicariate for the next four years. Fr. Amaladoss Mariasusai was re-elected for a second term. Congratulations and best wishes to those elected!

The rest of the Assembly was dedicated to the election of the two Vicariate delegates to the General Assembly, the proposed revisions to the Normative Texts, and to economic matters.

Breaking for tea during the assembly.

Ton's mentor Rober J. Schreiter contributed the foreword to the book. He writes, “This book opens up for us an exciting intersection between cinema studies and theology in a way that few other books have done... he (the author) looks at how elements of style and cinematography relate to deep, fundamental turns in theology's exploration of how God yearns for and guides human liberation. ”

Brother Sison holds a doctorate in theology from the Catholic University of Nijmegen (now Radboud University) in the Netherlands.

The book is available on Amazon.com

Right: Fr. Robert Schreiter, CPPS, with Bro. Antonio "Ton" Sison, CPPS

Joseph Grilliot, C.PP.S., was temporarily incorporated into the Community during a liturgy on January 7 at St. Charles Center in Carthagena, Ohio. Grilliot a native of Versailles, Ohio, entered initial formation with the Missionaries of the Precious Blood in 2004, and now moves on to advanced formation for the priesthood. He will now begin advanced studies at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.

Grilliot, 26, the oldest of four children, credits his family and especially his parents, John and Louise, with unwavering support of his discernment to the consecrated life. Active in church activities from his childhood, he was in college when he heard the call to consecrated life. Grilliot holds a bachelor's degree in philosophy from the University of Toledo. While in special formation, he lived at St. James the Less Church in Columbus and Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Ottawa, Ohio, both pastored by Missionaries of the Precious Blood.

Fr. Michael Norton, CPPS, died peacefully at his home on Sunday, February 4, 2007 in San Antonio, Texas.  His adopted family was at his side. 

There will be a rosary on Thursday, February 8, at 7:00 pm in the St. Joseph Chapel at the Incarnate Word Retirement Center, 4707 Broadway, San Antonio, Texas, 78209. The funeral Mass, with Fr. Mark Miller, CPPS presiding, will be at the Main Post Chapel at Ft. Sam Houston, at 9:00 am Friday, February 9, with military burial following at the Ft. Sam Houston Cemetery.   A reception for family and visitors will follow at the Dodd Field Chapel on the Post. 

Condolences may be sent and the guest book signed at PorterLoring.com Funeral Home in San Antonio. Cards may also be sent to the home:   7611 Mountain Bluff, San Antonio, TX  78240.

Fr. Mike was a member of the Kansas City Province of the Society of the Precious Blood.  He was active in the military, primarily in parish work.  Most recently he worked as a hospital chaplain.  He had an engaging smile and was well loved by many, especially the poor and those suffering.  May God bless him.

January 21, 2007 marked a significant turning point for our C.PP.S. presence in Vietnam . That day, some twenty religious and diocesan priests, as well as women religious, family and friends, joined the C.PP.S. community and our candidates to celebrate the elevation of our presence in Vietnam to that of an official C.PP.S. Mission . Fr. Barry Fischer, Moderator General, and Fr. James Urbanic, Provincial of the Kansas City Province, traveled to Vietnam to celebrate the occasion.

Left: The Moderator General reads the decree recognizing Vietnam as an official CPPS mission.

Fr. Dien Truong presided at the Mass and Fr. Lac Pham served as translator for Frs. Barry and Jim. At the beginning of the Eucharist the Moderator General read the official decree recognizing our presence as an official mission of the Congregation. Following the Moderator's homily, Fr. James Urbanic received the commitment of three “pledged candidates”. These join another three young men already pledged. Following the Eucharistic Celebration, a festive meal was enjoyed by all in the parish hall.

Right: CPPS members,
candidates, and concelebrants.

The Vietnam Mission is under the direct care of the Kansas City Province. The Congregation thanks the Province membership and Frs. Lac and Dien, for their untiring efforts and support which have made this moment possible.

In the days that followed the celebration, Frs. Barry and Jim visited with the seminarians and aspirants, as well as made a day trip with all the candidates to the Mekong Delta region. They also enjoyed two wonderful days in Hanoi and in Ha Long Bay.

The entire Congregation joins in wishing our members in Vietnam a fruitful future and promises them our prayerful support.

Right: Relaxing during a trip to the Mekong Delta region.

General Councilor Robert Schreiter has become widely known around the world for his work in peacebuilding and reconciliation. His two books on the subject, Reconciliation: Mission and Ministry in a Changing Social Order (1992), and The Ministry of Reconciliation: Spirituality and Strategies (1998) have appeared in seven languages. Since 1996 he has served as the theological consultant to Caritas Internationalis, the umbrella organization for 162 relief and development agencies in the Catholic Church. In the past year, this work has taken him to Sri Lanka , Peru , and the Philippines.

Left: Fr. Bob Schreiter at the WCC consultation on cruelty
held in Geneva in December 2006

C.PP.S. Heritage I: Historical Studies has been translated into Spanish by candidate Fr. Mauricio Restrepo, who spent four months last year at the generalate and is now completing his special formation in Perú.

The first of two volumes published in the past year by the general curia, this book offers historical perspectives on the Rule of St. Gaspar, community life, formation, the Archconfraternity of the Precious Blood, the general curia, the Madonna of the Precious Blood, and Mary, Woman of the New Covenant.

Aimed at being a resource for candidates in formation, the two volumes provide a valuable resource for all members, Companions, and others interested in the history of the Congregation. The second volume contains articles on the "three pillars" of the Congregation: community, mission, and spirituality.

To view or download this document as well as many others related to CPPS spirituality, history, community life, and mission, please visit our documents page.

Saint Charles Senior Living Community – formerly St. Charles Seminary - was officially dedicated on January 28.

Fr. Angelo Anthony, CPPS, provincial director of the Cincinnati Province, offered prayers of thanksgiving in the main lobby of the building, surrounded by CPPS members and friends, including the many contractors who worked on the two-year renovation.

St. Charles was the major seminary of the CPPS in America for more than a hundred years. It closed as a theologate in 1969, but continues to be home to a large community of active and retired members. Now St. Charles Center has become a senior living center open to lay people.

Above, Fr. Angelo Anthony
blesses the library.

During the worship service that followed in the Assumption Chapel, Fr. James Seibert, CPPS, director of St. Charles Center, spoke of the long and difficult process of renovation, reminding the congregation that the original construction in the 1920's required thirteen years of planning and six years of construction.

“Today, a new era begins as we open our doors to lay people, who will live with us and share our community lives,” Fr. Seibert said. “We have tried to read the signs of the times to continue the legacy of St. Charles in a slightly different way . . . We hope to show the same vision, courage and trust in God as the early Missionaries who first built St. Charles as we ask for God's blessing on Saint Charles Senior Living Community. May this building be a sign of faith, a haven of peace, and a symbol of God's enduring love.”

Right, Fr. Jim Seibert at the thanksgiving service.

At the electoral assembly of the Peruvian Mission held in January, Fr. Dionicio Alberca, CPPS, was elected for a third two-year term as director of the mission.

Members also discussed current ministries in the mission and proposed the construction of housing for retreatants at the Casa Merlini in Chaclacayo, a center for Precious Blood spirituality.

On January 24, Henry Carhuancho Trujillo and Alex Chasnamote Puga made their first temporary incorporations, while Fredy Campos Toribio and Rufino Flores Vidal renewed their incorporations.

Deacon Edgardo Chero Frías will be ordained to the priesthood on March 10 and Hilton Rodríguez Roca will be ordained to the diaconate on the same day.

Fr. Dennis Chriszt, C.PP.S., has authored a book to help new Catholics deepen their faith. Entitled Fifty Days of Joy: Easter Reflections for New Catholics, the book offers daily reflections designed for those who were baptized or received into the Church at Easter.

The book includes reflections for each day of the Easter Octave as well as for all the Sundays of the Easter season, the Ascension of the Lord, and Pentecost.

Published by World Library Publications as part of its “Fountain of Life” series, the book is available for $19.95 from the WLP website, www.wlp.jspaluch.com

Fr. Chriszt leads the Precious Blood Parish Missions.

Article and photo: J. Giesige, CPPS Companion

Secretary General Jerry Stack has uploaded an article offering some technical tips for computer users based on his experience. Topics include backing up files, defragmenting the hard drive, protecting your computer from attack, a free "Office" suite, Acrobat or PDF files, and online sources for free or cheap software. The document is available in Word-compatible rtf format or as a pdf file.

Your comments and suggestions are welcome!

Each year, the secretary general is required to make a report to the Vatican Secretariat of State, giving the statistics of the Congregation for the past year. Part of this information comes from the annual reports that each province, vicariate, or mission is obliged to send to the general curia. The following tables are based on information on definitively incorporated members in a database maintained by the secretary general. They reflect the status of the Congregation as of December 31, 2006.

In both of the tables, "candidates" refers to those who are definitively incorporated. There are obviously more candidates who are temporarily incorporated or in other stages of formation. That information will be submitted with the annual reports from the provinces, vicariates, and missions due in February.

The following table shows where CPPS members were at the end of 2006.

The next table shows the number of definitively incorporated members in each province, vicariate, or mission, as of the end of 2006.

Since 2000, the total number of members has remained fairly constant, 2000=514; 2001=513; 2002=524; 2003=530; 2004=521; 2005=520.

The median age for all CPPS members at the end of 2006 was 56 and the median number of years of definitive incorporation was 30.

Fr. Austin Herrmann, CPPS, died Thursday, January 18, 2007 at Carthagena, Ohio. 

A member of the Kansas City Province, he was born in Kinsley, Kansas, in 1922. He entered the Congregation in 1940, was definitively incorporated in 1946, and ordained to the priesthood in 1948.

Visitation will be 7:00pm Monday, January 22, at St. Charles Center and the Mass of Christian Burial will be at 2:00pm Tuesday, January 23, also at St. Charles Center.  Fr. Al Ebach will preside. 

Burial will follow in Community cemetery in Carthagena.

Numerous guests and CPPS members gathered to celebrate the definitive incorporation of Alarey Abella on December 3, 2006, the feast of St. Francis Xavier, at St. Alphonsus Church, Toronto, Canada. A "great cloud of witnesses" were present in the family and friends who wanted to share with him this important day. The previous day Rey spent the entire day in quiet prayer to recollect and reflect on the commitment he was about to make so that he could center himself and joyfully say his "yes" to God and the Congregation.

Later on January 6th , 2007, the birthday of St. Gaspar, Alarey was ordained to the Order of Diaconate at St. Roch's Church, Toronto, by Bishop Peter Hundt, the Vicar for Religious of the archdiocese of Toronto. (Bishop Hundt is also a classmate of Atlantic Province members Frs. Mario Cafarelli, Brendan Dougherty, and Lui Santi.) Again we give Thanks to God for Rey's life in our Community and wish him many blessings as he takes leave of Merlini House and moves to St. Alphonsus for his diaconate experience.

Alarey 37, was born and raised in Davo City, Phillipines. He emigrated to Canada nine years ago and met the CPPS community here. From then on his life took a turn. Part of Rey's cross-cultural experience was spent in Florence, Italy, studying Italian and visiting the various sites of St. Gaspar and CPPS houses. It was a deep and profound experience that has enhanced his outlook on missionary life, our spirituality, and understanding of community.

Congratulations, best wishes, and prayers. Alarey!

After receiving the results of the electoral assembly of the members of the Central American Mission, the provincial director with the consent of the provincial council has approved the following positions of leadership for the Mission for the next two years, effective December 4, 2006: Mission Director: Fr. Dario Caal; First Councilor: Fr. Abel Cruz; Second Councilor: Fr. Marco Antonio López.

Information: Cincinnati Province Newsletter