Not long ago, at the end of February, you have probably read the news about the recent 8.8 (Richter) earthquake and tsunami in Chile. Some areas of the country have been literally erased and human lives lost in a yet unknown number. We want to express our deep gratitude for your prayerful support and concern right from the beginning, when the first strike hit us. As I write this article, we have experienced some two hundred aftershocks, which have a powerful effect on the already scared population. As time goes by though, people are already in the process of rebuilding their homes, lives and hopes. International aid it has been of help, but much work will have to be done in order to accomplish what is necessary to restore things to back normality. Please keep us in your prayers.

In the last week of January the Chilean Vicariate met for its annual Assembly at Villarrica, a resort town in the south, located at the shores of a lake and a snow caped active volcano with beautiful surrounding scenery. At the end of the Assembly we had the Incorporation ceremony of Gregorio Hernández and Santiago Cárdenas, plus the renewals of Reinaldo Melgarejo, Danilo Sacchetti, Claudio Varas and the Definitive Incorporation of Jorge Gómez. Jorge will be ordained transitory deacon on April 24th. At the end of the Assembly we all traveled to Valdivia, to participate at a farewell ceremony, as we departed from Cristo Rey Church. This parish was served by the Missionaries of the Precious Blood for the last thirty eight years.

Back in Santiago the school year it has already begun, and also our formation program, which has filled our Center House with enthusiastic young people. We cannot thank God enough for sending us vocations in the middle of struggle.

A word of appreciation goes to Fr. Wojciech Czernatowicz, CPPS a member of the Polish Province who has worked wholehearted at the service of the Chilean Vicariate for the last twelve years and now goes back to his homeland for good. We also welcome Fr. Edgardo Chero from the Peruvian Mission, who will be working with us for a few years and now it has been assigned to Precious Blood Church at Valdivia.

As you can see life at this side of the hemisphere is going with ups and downs, I guess like anywhere else, don’t you think? Praised be the Precious Blood of Jesus!

Text and Photos: Fr. Antonio Baus, CPPS
March 10, 2010

The Chilean Vicariate gathered in Assembly

For his work in defense of indigenous Amazonian peoples.

Editorial, February 26, 2010

Bishop Erwin Kräutler, missionary Bishop, has been nominated for the Alternative Nobel Prize of Human Rights for his "pastoral and prophetic work with the weakest and indigenous peoples" as ratified today the presidency of the Brazilian Bishops Conference in a letter posted to the Foundation of the Right Livelihood Award .

Bishop Kräutler was born in Koblach, Austria in 1939; he is 70 years old and came to Brazil in 1965 and since then, has lived in the Amazon. Consecrated bishop of the Prelature of Xingu in 1981, Monsignor Erwin has acted prominently in the defense of indigenous peoples, being president of the Missionary Indigenous Council (CIMI) over two terms.

He also show himself by his defense of the rights of traditional communities in Pará and the environment, and by his denouncement of the sexual abuse of children and adolescents and the impunity of the killers of Sister Dorothy Stang. Currently, he has raised his voice against the construction of the hydroelectric plant of Belo Monte, on the river Xingu.

Alternative Nobel Prize, which was created in 1980 by Germany-Swedish writer Jakob von Uexküll and is also known as the "Sustainability Award" is awarded by the Swedish parliament and seeks to honor individuals working for sustainability and positive changes for the planet.

Text and Photo: Religión Digital.com
(March 3, 2010)

Bishop Erwin Kräutler , C.PP.S.

At the Symposium on Mission held in Salzburg, July 2009, an idea was revived that began at the European Regional Assembly held a few years ago. That idea was to create a CPPS community made up of several missionaries from various countries to work with immigrants in Europe. At the Symposium, the European Provincial Directors and the Moderator General took steps for the beginning this new CPPS missionary adventure. Everyone knows the reality of immigration in Europe over the past 20 years has changed the social profile of certain European countries (Italy, Germany, France, Spain, Portugal, etc.). These immigrants come from Latin America, Sub- Saharan Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe. This growing flood of immigration is caused mainly by extreme poverty and lack of a hopeful future in their areas of origin. Given this situation and seeking to respond to the cry of the blood, the Italian, Teutonic and Iberian provinces have created an CPPS international community to work in this field.

The community has been established in the city of Madrid where the phenomenon of immigration is very great. The community now lives in the neighborhood of Orcasitas (Madrid) where there already is a CPPS parish and community. The CPPS members of the community, created for this purpose, are: Fr. Alois Schlachter, CPPS (Prov. Teutonic), Fr. Valerio De Vita, CPPS (Italian Province) and Fr. Juan Eugenio ("Queño") Mora Prior, CPPS and Fr. Juan Pedro Ruiz, CPPS from the host community of the Iberian Province. The community immediately began its to work with the immigrants.

Currently, the main ministry is to visit those in the Internment Centers for Foreigners. These internment centers hold immigrants without legal residency permission in Spain. Detainees are "imprisoned" for up to 60 days as they await expulsion from national territory. These Internment Centers for Foreigners respond to immigration policy where immigrants without legal residency permission, are deprived of their fundamental right to freedom. They are treated as criminals although they have only committed an administrative mistake. Many NGOs and other social groups have denounced this systematic violation of human rights and the humiliating work and the way immigrants are treated because they lack legal residency. This whole structure of pressure and fear of immigrants is a result of the immigration policy of the State and the European Economic Community. In order to face this reality, we created a visiting team linked to an organization of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits): Centro Pueblos Unidos. The Center for People United is a collaboration and work of several religious congregations. Mainly the missionaries of the Precious Blood, together with other volunteers, take care of these internment centers and their work can be summarized as: personal accompaniment of people during visits to inmates, legal advice, assistance to families of inmates, prophetic denunciation of violation of human rights, and, if possible, pastoral and religious care.

It is a joyful thing to see that the presence of religious congregations in these centers and for the Missionaries of the Precious Blood this is a good innovation. Formation for psychosocial, pastoral and legal intervention is a crucial factor in the beginning of this interprovincial project. The community is starting to walk with great enthusiasm and we hope to expand this project to other pastoral and social interventions, without the certainty that it will be strengthen. No doubt, St. Gaspar is a model to be followed that teaches us to be with those who suffer from exclusion, the forgotten and those that suffer, with an attitude of closeness, accompaniment, support and solace.

Text and Photos courtesy of : Fr. Queño, Fr. Valerio, Fr. Alois and Fr. Juan Pedro
(March 01, 2010)

Detention Center for Foreigners "Aluche" in Madrid (Spain)

The following message was received by the Moderator General from F. Antonio Baus, CPPS in Chile

Dear P. Francesco:

Many thanks for your prayerful support. Indeed we have experienced one of the worse earthquakes in recent years. The earth begun to tremble at 3:34 a.m. All of the CPPS members are fine and in good spirits. We are experiencing continuous earthquakes ever since we had the first strong one. Right know as I write, is happening another one rather strong. We are still evaluating the damage caused to our houses and institutions but is seems it was not too serious. Some 120 people have already died in the country and the center of the earthquake it was some 150 miles south of Santiago. Telephone lines and electricity is coming back little by little.
We will keep you informed. Take care,

P. Antonio Baus

(February 28, 2010)

On December 11 and 12, 2009, the Central American Mission celebrated in Bogotá, Colombia the reception of minor ministries and Temporary Incorporation of three candidates and the Definitive Incorporation of three new members for the C.PP.S..
On December 11, at the headquarters of the mission in Colombia, Cesar Augusto Tiul , José Luis Gatica Barreno and Felipe Caal Coy received the ministries of lector and acolyte.

The next day, at the parish of the Mother of God, candidates Cesar Augusto, José Luis, and Felipe renewed their Temporary Incorporation into the congregation. At the same time, Antonio José Hernández Vásquez, Sebastián Antonio Argueta Blanco and Rony Roberto Díaz Quino celebrated their Definitive Incorporation into the community.
At the end of the celebration, Father Abel Cruz said: "It was a very special moment for the entire community, and it was very exciting and rewarding for me. This is my first time presiding this ceremony. I am grateful to Father Angelo, our Provincial, for delegating me this very special celebration. "

Text: Cand. Juan Acuña, Cincinnati Province
Photos courtesy of: P. Abel Cruz, C.PP.S
(February 23, 2010)

Back: Fr. Abel Cruz. From left to right in the front row: Rony Roberto Díaz, Antonio José Hernández and Sebastián Argueta Blanco.

Just three days before his 94th birthday, Father Nicola Misto of the Italian Province was called to the Father. He had been living in the C.PP.S. house in Albano Laziale, south of Rome.

Don Nicola was born in Putignano on February 7, 1916. He entered the Congregation in 1927 and was ordained on October 23, 1938. After ordination he was appointed professor at the C.PP.S. minor seminary in Albano and remained there until 1950, when he became spiritual director for the major seminarians at the Collegio Preziosissimo Sangue in Rome, first at Piazza Crociferi and later at Via Narni. In 1965 he returned to Albano as spiritual director. He also served as rector of the sanctuary there for several years.

Always happy in his ministry, he gave pilgrims to the sanctuary in Albano a gracious welcome. Afflicted with health problems for many years, he never considered his illness an obstacle to service of the Church. In a touching letter of prayerful support to the provincial director of the Italian Province in 1959, Don Nicola wrote: “For my part, I will seek to work more for the Congregation. I wish that I could become four, ten, or a hundred persons, so that the Institute would grow and flourish. The Lord has not given me great possibilities, but I will do what He wishes.”

C.PP.S. Missionary Mario Proietti recalled Don Nicola as “a holy Missionary who loved the Institute and was a wise spiritual guide for entire generations of Missionaries.”
In his final hours Don Nicola was accompanied in prayer by his fellow Missionaries and the young men in the initial formation program at Albano.

Text and photo from the Italian Province Web site
(February 8, 2010)

Father Nicola Misto, C.PP.S

Some 500 young people from all over Italy gathered in Frascati from January 2-5 for the twenty-fourth meeting of young adults of the Union of the Blood of Christ (USC). The event was sponsored by the Missionaries of the Precious Blood.

The Missionaries, as well as Adorers of the Blood of Christ helped participants respond to a theme proposed by the Conference of Italian Bishops (CEI): “I have good news, I have met him!” This year guest speakers were Father Luigi Verdi, founder of the Romanian Fraternity, and Professor Rosanna Virgili, who teaches Sacred Scripture at the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome.

On the afternoon of January 3 the young people participated in a penitential liturgy followed by the Eucharist at which Bishop Raffaello Martinelli presided. Father Giuseppe Montenegro, Provincial Director of the Italian Province, presided at the Eucharist of the final day.

The event was well organized by Father Domenico D’Alia and Laura Marangoni. We give thanks to God for the abundant fruit of the meeting and above all because it shows that there are so many young people who thirst for God and his presence in their lives.

From the blog of the Italian Province by Simone Masone, CPPS
Provincial Secretary of the Italian Province.
(January 19, 2010)

On the December 17th, the Polish Province came together for prayer at the Basilica of Our Lady of Czestochowa. They gathered with more than 1000 members of the Union of the Blood of Christ. They conducted an all night vigil at the shrine which holds the icon of the “Black Madonna.”

The basilica is a national shrine that receives more than a million pilgrims each year. Each of the four regions where the members of the province have houses and where they work with lay associates, participated in the vigil. Also participating were Adorers of the Blood of Christ, students from the seminary and many youth.

At midnight, Eucharist was celebrated, with Fr. Francisek Grzywa, CPPS, Provincial Director presiding and preaching. The vigil continued until 5:00AM, when they returned to their houses.

Text and Photo: Luke Tarnowski, CPPS, Province of Poland
(January 14, 2010)

The icon of the Black Madonna.

The Missionaries of the Precious Blood, along with their lay associates, C.PP.S. sisters and friends of the Congregation, celebrated the dedication of a new altar in the Chapel of the Assumption at St. Charles Center, Carthagena, Ohio, on January 3.

Archbishop Dennis Schnurr of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati presided at the liturgy and anointed the new altar, which was one of several improvements to the chapel made in the past year. The Congregation is now enjoying improved acoustics and lighting in the 100-year-old chapel, as well as new paint, new restrooms and a ramp that makes the sanctuary accessible to all.

At the Mass of thanksgiving and the dinner that followed, the Missionaries also celebrated meeting a $1.5 million matching gift that was an important part of their Missionary Hearts comprehensive fundraising campaign. Thanks to the generous support of the Congregation’s benefactors, the match was met by the December 31, 2009 deadline.

Text and photos: Jean Giesige, Cincinnati Province
(January 14, 2010)

A few years ago I was reflecting upon one of the messages that the Moderator General Barry Fischer gave to the Chilean Vicariate at the end of his canonical visitation. My reflection took me back in time as to start thinking what other Moderator Generals have said to the Vicariate on their visitation during our almost sixty years. After that initial thought, I started working on a project to “rescue” all messages given to our Chilean CPPS community, from its foundation to present time. This project also was expanded to collect messages given by Provincial and Vicariate Directors as well. To begin my research, I went to our archives in Chile, only to discover the lack of available written material. So I wrote to the Cincinnati Province’s Archivist, the late Fr. Milton Ballor and to former General Curia secretary, Fr. Jerry Stack, asking them to provide me with the first hand documents for my investigation. I am truly indebted and grateful to this them for their valuable support.

The whole process of collecting and doing the research took me about a year. In addition, I obtained much information of the CPPS community bulletins such as: The Gasparian, the Precious Blood Messenger and the CPPS Cincinnati Newsletter. Another year elapsed in translating into Spanish almost a half of the written documents. Finally the digitalizing process begun, resulting in a book of 226 pages, containing a total of forty four messages for the period 1950 to 2008.

In was very interesting to discover through the reading of such materials the different issues the Congregation was facing over the years and also to see its response to the signs of the times. For instance, it was of great interest to me to see how the Vicariate was becoming more “Chilean” over the years and how the North American priests shifted from a goal, in some cases, of implanting a North American Church model in Chile, to implement a more local one. This shift took a good deal of time and awareness that happened over time and was supported by the new perspectives and views of the II Vatican Council.

Readers will be able to find many patterns that can be traced from this investigation that will help them to better understand how our CPPS Chilean Vicariate has evolved over the years and where it goes into the future.

Text and photo courtesy of: Antonio Baus, CPPS of the Chilean Vicariate
(January 14, 2010)

Chile Assembly 1957 (in the list of names, the first name should be John Wilson, not John Kostick)

Each year, between Christmas and New Year, we celebrate the Provincial Assembly of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood. The Iberian Province consists of Spain, Portugal and Guinea Bissau and is one of the seven provinces of the Congregation.

Our Assembly is usually meets for three days. The first evening is dedicated to reflect and meditate. This year, Fr. Luis Manuel Bairrada, CPPS helped us to reflect on our priestly identity and mission, based on the biblical passage: revive the gift that is within you. (2 Timothy 1:6). We wanted to be in tune with the whole Church and to live as well as possible the current Year of the Priest in the Church.

The second day was dedicated to the analysis and reflection of the document: Elements for a theology of mission. This document was the outcome of the meeting about the CPPS Mission, held in Salzburg in the last week of June 2009. It contains the 6 elements on which we have reflected, first in small groups and then in the plenary session:

1) witness and proclamation
2) liturgy, prayer and contemplation
3) Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation
4) Interreligious Dialogue
5) Inculturation
6) Reconciliation

The intent of this discussion was to participate with the whole congregation, as we try to reach a common approach to the Theology of CPPS Mission.

On the third and final day we dedicate our time to reports. The provincial and the local directors reported on the life of the community.

Each year the Assembly is an excellent opportunity to socialize, reflect and pray together. At the end of each year, we want to evaluate as a province, our personal and community life as a province and to better fulfil our mission in the Church and the world.

Text and Photo: José Luís Ferreira Morgado
(January 14, 2010)