Presentation Brothers Our Lady of the Americas Province Newsletter ~ - - PDF document

Presentation Brothers

Our Lady of the Americas Province

Newsletter

~ Serving in Canada, the United States and the West Indies ~

January 2016 .. Dear Brothers, Associates, Family and Friends, It has been said “Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.” There is godly wisdom in that. Jesus makes all things new. With God’s help everything can be renewed. This new year, I encourage you to entrust to Our Lord those issues in your life, or in the life of your loved ones, that seem hopeless. In prayer, ask the Holy Spirit to bring blessings out of thosesituations in which defeat has become the status quo. It maybe illness, unemployment, depression, disagreements, whatever your trial, know that Jesus wills to bring about graces. Cling to him. Trials are indeed opportunities for your sanctification. Recognize God’s hand in the midst

• f your suffering. I pray that in 2016 you are able to see these challenges in your life with

God’s eyes, understand them with God’s wisdom, and deal with them with God’s love. Here is a New Year challenge for you. Choose a hopeless situation in your life. It may be a habitual sin, a long desired virtue, a troubled relationship. Something that you have dealt with for quite some time and it just feels like it will never change for the better. Discern it in

• prayer. Then, make a resolution to pray about this situation daily and to approach it God’s

way from now on. No longer your way. Then, let others know how Our Lord answers and how things turn out. It is with pleasure that we now share with you some of the happenings within our own Province and Congregation. Kindly know that we are grateful for your support by your prayers, sacrifices and generous donations. You are remembered by us in prayers of gratitude and petition for your various prayer requests. Wishing you a very blessed New Year!

Brother Francis Schafer Province Leader

Pope Francis’ Encyclical Laudato Si (On Care for Our Common Home)

• Br. Robert Fanovich - Grenada

During September and October, I visited three schools in Grenada and two in Trinidad where I focused on Pope Francis’s encyclical Laudato Si. The reality of climate change and the urgency of spreading our Pope’s message far and wide, was driven home to me, since we have been experiencing unusually dry spells in the midst of the wet season. Last year, Jamaica experienced a drought which destroyed most of the crops in the most fertile part of the island. Water rationing went into effect and Antigua and Barbados, St. Lucia, Trinidad, and Grenada all experienced drought like conditions this year. Dominica on the other hand, was pummeled by hours of torrential rain which washed away roads, bridges and homes with a tragic loss of life. My hope is that we all embrace our Pope’s message to care for our common home. Our religious houses ought to be living examples

• f what it means to conserve scarce

resources, care for the most vulnerable and be proactive in promoting an ecological

• spirituality. I felt hopeful that our Caribbean

Youth are getting the message that it cannot be business as usual where our earth is

• concerned. Guyana recently banned the

importation of Styrofoam in an effort to create a cleaner, healthier country. We hope that other countries would follow their example and that we, individually and collectively, lead the way by our example as Presentation Brothers.

Brebeuf College

Toronto, Ontario

Brebeuf College, has been under the direction of two very distinct religious communities, the Presentation Brothers and the Jesuits. Each reflecting, in an unique way, that special charism that would encourage educational excellence and social responsibility to build a better world. The school named after the Jesuit missionary, Jean de Brebeuf, opened with one hundred Grades 9 and 10 students in September 1963. Brebeuf’s first graduating class in 1966 consisted of 30 students. In May, 1983, Fr. William Ryan, the Provincial of the Jesuits, announced that the Jesuits were going to give up responsibilities for the operation of Brebeuf College School by June 1985. Cardinal Carter and the staff of the Archdiocese began to explore the possibilities to ensure the continual operation of Brebeuf. In February, 1984, Cardinal Carter’s office announced that the Presentation Brothers were willing to assume responsibility for Brebeuf College, and would officially take over on July 31, 1984. Brother Lawrence Maher served as principal from July 1984 to June 1996. Brebeuf has been under lay personnel of the Toronto Catholic District School Board since September 1997.

Presentation Brother Lawrence Maher Fund and PresLink

Brebeuf continues to be a significant donor to the Presentation Brothers' schools in Ghana and Nigeria. Monies are raised as part

• f the campaign called the Brother Lawrence Maher Fund for

Africa, named for our former Principal. Almost $15,000 was raised last year through a variety of means, including monthly collections from the students and staff; a Euchre night; a Christmas gift catalogue; and a generous donation from the Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association. This year, a new club of students called PresLink will help in these fund-raising endeavors. PresLink is an organization founded in 2006 by students and staff

• f the Presentation Brothers Colleges. The main aim of Preslink is

to develop links within the Presentation Family and to connect with Presentation Brother’s Missions and projects in the developing world. Their first objective is educational – wanting to raise awareness about the challenges faced by members of the Presentation Family mainly in Ghana and Nigeria. Their second objective is to assist in practical ways - running a variety of fund-raising activities throughout the year.

Brother Henry Spencer - Year of Consecrated Life

This year, the Church celebrates the men and women who have entered Consecrated Life as Brothers, Sisters, and

• Priests. We at Brebeuf are blessed to have the daily presence
• f Brother Henry Spencer, F.P.M., in our school. Brother

was one of the original Presentation Brothers to arrive at Brebeuf in 1984 and taught until his retirement in 1997. Since then, he has volunteered his time daily on the school's Chaplaincy team. His work on the school morning prayer, communion service, retreats, masses, and his joyful faith greatly enriches the spiritual life of the school. He is a role model for us all. Thank you, Brother!

Presentation Brothers Associates - Grenada Beverly Steele

The Associates of the Presentation Brothers in Grenada met recently with eight members, two Brothers and one guest met at a new and exciting venue. John Pitt, who hosted this meeting, chose a recently refurbished lounge at the Grenada National Museum as the place of meeting, which proved to be cosy and

• comfortable. He explained that this was his small effort to fight

the practice of the unnecessary separation of religious activities and secular places. The experiment worked well. We were pleased to have with us as our guest Richard Hosein. Richard is an alumnus of Presentation College San Fernando, but was now living in Florida. The prayers of the Evening Office were led by Peter Bullen. This was followed by a discussion led by Br. Robert. The group was taken through the change of focus of the Presentation Brothers - from teaching to a concentration on prison visiting and working with the poor. This Option for the Poor has always been a part of the Spirituality of the Presentation Brothers, along with the better known Option of Teaching. Brother Robert expressed the view that the lack of vocations in general in Grenada and to the Presentation Brothers in particular was due to the

lack of vibrancy of the Church in Grenada, and also the Church’s challenges in the modern

• world. The group was asked to express some of the needs, challenges and strategies which

might highlight and correct the lack of enthusiasm for religion among the young. The following thoughts were offered: · The church needed to assess the influence of technology on the psyche of young people. · The Church needed to use technology in evangelization. · Young people need to see in the Church the very vibrancy we lack. They need to see meaningful activities in progress. · Religion needs to be integrated with everyday secular life. Using secular spaces such as the National Museum for a religious purpose should be commonplace. Also, there should be a Catholic column in the secular newspapers, and not just in the Church’s newspaper - The Catholic Focus. · There was a need to find out what young people were looking for in the Church and for the Church to respond. For example, how can Church services be made more attractive to the youth? One of the areas needing immediate attention was the format of sermons. · Someone noted that there was a sense of desperation among some members of the Church - that it would fail completely. But we were reminded by another member that Jesus promised that the Church would last forever, and “The gates of hell would not prevail against it.” · The suggestion was that we start a movement of reformation in small measures, and not despair. Each one of us should get the ear of someone in authority and encourage them to try new things and different ways of doing the same thing. We should also try to evangelize on a one to one basis. · We heard that the experience abroad was similar to that in Grenada. However, there was a universal need among people for peace and a holy and spiritual existence. If Catholics began reaching out to people, and the Church embrace backsliders with forgiveness and facilitated their re-entry, a good start would be made.

· Once more it was stressed that Evangelization cannot be confined to the congregation. The Church needs to expose itself in what it does, and stage activities where these can be observed. The Church must spotlight and draw attention to itself what it has to offer people. Before the meeting ended, members were told the good news that Yohan Baldeau and his wife had a bouncing baby boy about two months ago. Finally, we a shared delicious meal, prepared by John and his friends. The picture shows us enjoying that delightful repast. You don’t see me because I’m behind the camera as usual!

Presentation Brothers Associates - Kissimmee, Florida Richard Sikorski

The Presentation Brothers Associates are the lay ministry that works along with the Presentation Brothers around the world. The Presentation Bothers began in Ireland and was founded by Blessed Edmund Rice in 1802. Presentation Brothers - Jude Collins, James Needham, Francis Schafer and Gregory Rich, came to Holy Redeemer Church in Kissimmee in 1983 to minister within the parish, branching out to other local Catholic Schools and serving the needs within the Osceola County Community. In 1994, the Brothers initiated the start of the Presentation Associates group. The group met monthly at the Brothers residence as a prayer group and always ended with a social time sharing homemade pantries and refreshments.

In January 2009, a directive was sent to the Associates from Ms. Anne Barry-Harty Murphy, Director of the Associates with the Edmund Rice Office in Cork, Ireland. The directive being presented to the lay co-coordinators was to continue the work of the Bothers within the local community. The Associates accepted this directive and began working in the community of Osceola County assisting those most in

• need. The first project was to

raise funds to support the new Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) of Osceola County and adopting the project to decorate an examination room with a hand-painted mural making the room child-friendly so th abused child could be examined by a physician and law enforcement personnel. The Associates also provided each child with a soft cuddly teddy bear to hold during their time in the examination room. They were then able to take the bear home with them upon leaving the facility. Once this project was completed, it was time for the Associates to take on a new challenge within the community. The Associates along with the Brothers began to furnish the homeless children of the Kissimmee Elementary school in 2011 with a backpack

• f non perishable food items each
• weekend. Normally, these children would

receive breakfast upon their arrival at the school in the morning and lunch in the

• afternoon. On weekends, because these

children were homeless, they would lack food for the two days. The Associates raised and continue to raise funds with events to keep the EDMUND RICE KIDS FOOD PROGRAM solvent each school year. The Associates have been blessed by the Mormon Church of Latter-Day Saints when their Church was approached to support the Associates' Food project which the Mormon Church has graciously donated $1000.00 worth of food for the past four years since 2012. In 2012, the Presentation Brothers departed Holy Redeemer Church after serving for over 25 years to other ministry assignments. Brother Francis Schafer left for the Provincial House in Toronto, Ontario as Province Leader, Brothers James, Raphael and Sebo journey to a new foundation in San Antonio, Texas. There were concerns if the Associates would stay together after the Brothers departure. With much prayer and a great desire to keep the memory and work of the Presentation Brothers alive in the area, the

There are things we don’t want to happen but we have to accept, things we don’t want to know about but have to learn, and people we can’t live without, but have to let go.

Associates have continued and have grown in number under the leadership of Sharon and Richard Sikorski assisted my many fine men and women who have a desire to follow in the footsteps of Blessed Edmund Rice reaching out to the very poor, especially children. The Kissimmee Associates have been highly praised for the continued efforts and example to the Brothers and Associates around the world. The Associates continue their fund-raising efforts and have also started a sponsorship program where a person can sponsor to feed a child for an entire school year which is renewable yearly. This will bring a total

• f four schools in the backpack program. With the

continued support by the local church and the county community, this program can survive and continue to feed these children each weekend. All donations are accepted no matter the amount. For additional information or how to make a donation you can contact the Associates via e-mail at presentationaccosicates@yahoo.com

Remembering Associate Member George Giamarino - R.I.P. Sharon Sikorski

A member of the Associates in Kissimmee, who was one of the founding members, passed away on the morning of January 10, 2016, after battling cancer for many years. George was an extraordinary person. When the Associates started meeting in the 1980s, when the Brothers first came to Kissimmee, George and his wife Jean, were one of the first people to join the Associates. George loved being an Associate and held the Brothers in his

• heart. He helped to lead the Associates Group with Avalon

Fontan for a number of years. Whenever you visited or spoke with George, he would always end the conversations with "God bless; I love you." George is at peace now celebrating 85 years of life and no longer in pain. Even though we are happy George is at peace and not suffering, the ones who remain will miss him terribly. His wife Jean never left his side during the past few months while he was home and under Hospice care. Well done, good and faithful servant! Rest in the Peace of Christ.

Sav Moreton (center seated)

Presentation Brothers Associates In St. Lucia R.I.P. Sav Moreten

• Br. Mike McGath

Sav was a member of the Presentation Brothers Associates in St. Lucia and a great friend and supporter of the Brothers. She served as the secretary to Archbishop Robert Rivas and often would pay a visit to the Brothers residence after work as she passed the house after completing her work for the day. One Brother shared some thoughts about Sav, noting how impressed he was with

• her. She was a great woman of faith

very dedicated to her family, the Archdiocese, her parish and always happy to greet all those who crossed her

• path. She was one who spoke from her

heart and said exactly what she was

• thinking. She was sincere and helped

those Brothers new to the island better understand life as lived in St. Lucia. If someone did not understand a certain happening or event, she helped to make it clear. She was a very loyal and active member of the Associates. She was clear in her thinking on how the Associates should be run. She always put the Brothers first. There were many one to one chats with her and she enjoyed a glass of whiskey from time to time. Her advice on spiritual subjects was clear, reflective and useful. She was of great support to so many and will be truly missed. May our prayers be with her and her family as we mourn her loss. May God bless her soul.

Reflection of the Seasons

• Br. Raphael Mario Toodle

AUTUMN

Oh piercing chill of Autumn’s night, How agile is the gashing wind Empty roads and tress silhouetted against the moon’s saturnine light. Oh rejoice, the reign of loneliness has gone. The sun’s first rays shine brightly. The warmth and dawn are both welcome.

Citizenship Program - San Antonio Community

• Br. James Needham

Each year in America, many immigrants face the daunting task of becoming American

• citizens. It is an important event in their lives

as they strive to be full and active members of American society. The steps to naturalization can be long and in some cases rather expensive for those who require the services of an immigration attorney. Requirements for citizenship include: being at least eighteen years of age or having a permanent resident card for five years or if married to an American citizen having the card for three years. Presentation Ministry Center offers citizenship classes in both English and Spanish. Clients who are 55 years old and having a permanent resident card for twenty years, are entitled to have their interview in Spanish. There are eight students in the English Program and four students in the Spanish Program. Students are required to study 100 questions and demonstrate a working knowledge of

• English. They must be able to speak, write and read
• English. The application fee is $680. The majority of

class time deals with the questions that might be asked, but time is also given to reading and writing. As they approach their interview, we concentrate of doing mock interviews preparing them for the day they have waited for. Each year we have at least two participants who successfully complete the program. Currently, we have two who completed the process and should be sworn in as citizens within the coming

• weeks. In the past, others who have completed the program and received their citizenship

noted they felt relaxed and confident during the interview. The preparatory work provided by the staff and volunteers at the Ministry Center made it all so easy.

Sister Dina Brother James Presentation Ministry Center Co-Directors

• Sr. Dina Potter,

a Presentation Sister, and Br. James Needham, a Presentation Brother, currently co-direct the Presentation Ministry Center.

The Presentation Ministry Center opened in August 2005 to respond to the needs expressed by Spanish-speaking immigrants, primarily women, in the west side of San

• Antonio. The immigrants were longing for a safe place where they could gather. In

response, the Union of Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, USA Province (also known as Presentation Sisters), missioned two of their sisters, Dina Potter and Jocelyn Quijano. The first Ministry Center was a small two-room apartment. By the end of the first year, it became very apparent that a bigger space was needed. The second year the classes were separately held at the rented apartment and at a classroom in St. Agnes Parish. In July 2007 the Ministry Center moved to a rented 1500 sq. ft. house at 710 Ruiz St. and stayed there until the Presentation Sisters purchased a property in March 2014 for the purpose of the continuing ministry to immigrants. On June 28, 2014, the Presentation Ministry Center moved to its permanent home at 2003 Ruiz St. It was officially opened with the celebration of the Eucharist and the blessing of the facility on September 8, 2014, feast of the Nativity of Mary.

Presentation Brother Prayer Link

“And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives" Luke 11:9-10 Prayer is simply a two-way conversation between us and God. As Brothers, we dedicate ourselves to a life of prayer and service. Prayer is the foundation

• n which our lives are nourished and without it, we would not be able to carry out the

mission entrusted to us. The Presentation Brothers throughout the world pray daily in community, participate in daily Mass, come together for Morning and Evening Prayer and engage in meditation, the rosary, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and spiritual reading. So often, people ask that we pray for various requests - for healing, conversion, idleness, family disturbances, troubled marriages, troubled children, other various needs along with prayers of thanksgiving and gratitude. We enjoy praying for others and their needs - trusting in God’s unconditional love and mercy. When prayers are answered, we give thanks - when prayers are not answered in the manner in which we might have hoped, we remind others and ourselves that the Lord knows best. If we could only see things from his view point, we would not change a thing. If you would like us to remember a particular intention during our prayer times, please let us

• know. Prayer requests can be sent to olaprovince@gmail.com or you cam visit our web page

at PresentationBrothers.org. Click on the icon on the main page as seen above.. Click on, Send us your Prayer Request. Your intention will be remembered in the daily prayers and Masses of the Brothers and Associates of the Congregation.

Preparations for the Congregation Chapter Initiated

On November 21, the Feast of Our Lady of the Presentation, we received the Letter of Convocation from Br. Martin Kenneally, Congregation Leader, informing us that the next Congregation Chapter will take place in Rome, Italy at the Villa Palazzola from April 11 - 27, 2017.

Referencing Directory Number 44, he adds: Twelve months before an Ordinary Congregation Chapter takes place, all communities of the Institute shall be notified about the date and venue of the Chapter and communities, as well as individual Brothers, shall be invited to submit to the Congregation Leader any resolution concerning the whole Institute which they would like to propose for consideration by the Congregation Chapter.

• Br. Martin writes: “Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum” (I announce to you a great joy). This

is the traditional greeting which precedes the announcement of a new Pope. The world held its breath on the evening of 13 March 2013 when Cardinal Jean Louis Tauran came to the central Loggia of St. Peter’s to announce “Habemus Papam” ( We have a Pope). Brother Dave McCormick, a member of our Province begins the Novitiate with three other Novices in Ireland! The election of Jorge Mario Bergoglio as Pope Francis was indeed evidence that our God is a God of surprises! Francis is the first Jesuit Pope. The first from the Americas, the first from the Southern Hemisphere, and the first non-European Pope since the Syrian, Gregory III, in 741. In the election of Francis, the Spirit was decisively leading the Church on a new path. And what a journey of surprises it has been! We certainly have been called to see in a new way, to find new hope and engage in mission.

Novice Dave McCormick Departs Toronto for Ireland

Dave McCormick, second from right, joins fellow Novices Stanislaus Visuvasam, Colins Thirugnanaseelan and Douglas Mariya Williams, with Novice Director Br. Barry Noel, center. Wednesday, 16th September 2015, on a gentle autumn evening at the Presentation Brothers’ International Novitiate in Killarney, the Brothers received four men into the Novitiate. Stanislaus Visuvasam, Colins Thirugnanaseelan and Douglas Mariya Williams, each from Sri Lanka, joined Canadian David McCormick in successfully requesting for admission into the Presentation Brothers. An intimate gathering of Brothers, Presentation Sisters and the wider Presentation Family joined in the celebration. Mass was celebrated by Fr Jim Lenihan.

Dave McCormick

Congregation Leader Br Martin Kenneally gave a powerful and inspiring homily, encouraging the young novitiates in their faith, and stirring in them the determination necessary to move forward in their vocation. Director of Novices, Br Barry Noel, shared with the novices that formation is about creating a visible community where young men can joyfully and wholeheartedly respond to who God wishes them to be their truest self. The Scripture readings echoed simply but effectively the important steps that were being taken. The First Reading detailed Abraham’s calling; with the Lord’s command to “leave your country, your relatives…and go to a land that I am going to show you” very much reflecting the physical and spiritual journeys of each of the novitiates themselves. The Gospel of John laid out in clear terms to the novitiates the extent of their vocation. Stani, Colins, Douglas and David were then each presented with their habits, a Bible, and the Presentation Constitution, by Vocations Director Br Rupert O’Sullivan, as they each made their novitiate promises. Fr Jim spoke of the sacrificial nature of love and of how blessed the Congregation were to have four more men willing to engage in such sacrifice for the mission. The ceremony was very prayerful, showcasing a wonderful sense of humor, hope and joy. This is an exciting time for the Presentation Family, as we gather in four more humble men so willing to give their lives to God’s call. Such a living example of the current international dynamism of the Brothers is to be celebrated, while the evening also deftly retained the essential sense of close-knit community that bonds the wider Presentation Family together. This is truly a time where the Brothers are responding to Pope Francis’ invitation to religious to “wake up the world”.

Life Awareness Retreat - San Antonio, Texas

• Br. Raphael Mario Toodle

The Vocation Committee for the Archdiocese of San Antonio held its annual Life Awareness Retreat in San Antonio at the Oblates Renewal Centre from 15th-17th January 2016. There was a mixed group of 30 young men and women discerners who participated in the discernment weekend. The Presentation Brothers and Sisters were represented by Brothers Raphael Mario and Mike McGrath and Sr. Sharon Altendorf. The Presentation Brothers and Presentation Sisters shared a display table for the retreat.

My Experience of Clinical Pastoral Ministry (CPE)

• Br. Mike Mc Grath

With the encouragement of the late Br. Ted Murphy, with whom I worked on the missions in Lima, Peru, I decided to do a

• ne-year CPE course. It was with joy that I was accepted into

this post-graduate degree program at St. Mary's in Twickenham, London, England. The course began in June 1981 and ended in June the following year. There were four of us doing the course, a Jesuit, a Franciscan Sister, a Methodist Minister and myself. At the start of the program, we received the general

• utline of the course. We were expected to attend classes five days a week. Twice a week,

we would meet as a group for “therapy” sessions. These were considered most important as they allowed us to share our experiences with each other about our visits to patients in the various wards, allowing each to learn more about themselves and from others in the group.

• Sr. Agnes was a gentle and caring person who was well able to lead these most important
• sessions. At first, it was not easy but eventually but as we began to feel more at ease with
• ne another, we gradually could talk about our fears, frustrations, doubts, concerns, insights

and joys. For me, this was a time of conversation where we could be free to share our experiences and to learn from others. These sessions allowed for life-changing moments. My work in pastoral ministry was being done at Ben Taub know as a Charity Hospital and had more than 500 beds. If the patient didn't have an income, they received free medical services. A good number of the patients in this area were Latinos and so some who came in only spoke Spanish. As I was the only one of the CPE courses who spoke Spanish, I was asked to visit these patients. As the course progressed, it became much easier to enter patients’ rooms. For many, this time of illness provided a time to reflect on their spiritual lives. Many would ask for a special pray of healing, comfort or strength. Others enjoyed hearing a reading from the Bible. Others just appreciated having someone visit who had a real concern for their well-being. In my 20 months working in Ben Taub only once did a patient refuse to have a visit from me. Normally a visit would last about 15 minutes as there were so many to see. We each had night duty at least once a week, during which time we were expected to visit every patient who was going to have an operation the next day. There were usually about 20. I began my

visits at 8:00 p.m. and would work until midnight. These visits were clearly appreciated as they were so happy to be remembered in such a special way prior to their surgery. It was a time to offer a prayer with them for the success of the operation and the guidance of the medical team. We also address some of the fears that facing such a procedure might present. After completing my rounds, I would settle in a room made available to us allowing a space from the hustle and bustle of hospital life and a place for rest if needed. While still on call, one would patiently wait for the surprise call from the emergency room. We were asked to help deal with accident victims and their families, and those involved in shootings, alcohol or drug abuse. Needless to say, these situations were not easy. We tried to deal with the needs of the patient and be an intermediary between the patient, medical team and the family. There also were times, in the sudden death of a young person, when a family might be approached to donate the

• rgans of their loved one to a person in need.

As I was normally free on weekends, I was called on to do extra night duty and to be available for Christmas and New Year’s Eve. On Christmas Eve more than 55 people were brought to the emergency room for gunshot wound, car accidents and drug overdoses. What a blessing to learn that no one died that night. The worst things I saw there were children with burns. I had never seen bodies burned before and how these caring, dedicated nurses dealt with them was inspiring. One night while I was

• n duty, a boy was brought in with his back badly
• burned. The nurse during his time of healing would

have to change the bandages. While this was a painful procedure, she did it so tenderly. I know the boy was in great pain but he did not cry out or ask her to stop. This was a moment of grace for me. He was later sent to a special hospital for burns and I'm told made a full recovery. The children's cancer ward was also a special place. Most of the children I saw had brain cancer and would undergo various treatments and operations that were difficult and

• ften caused pain and discomfort. No matter the situation, I must say my experiences were

mind opening, fulfilling and contained moments of both sadness and joy. At the end of the program, I was presented with my Certificate of Completion. What a joy to be with my fellow students, the pastoral and medical staff and the many patients I was privileged to be with during this time.

First Mass Celebrated in Brother’s Residence San Antonio

• Br. Raphael Mario Toodle
• Fr. Kuha Indyer ,CSSp, a long-time friend of Br. Raphael Mario Toodle from their days in

Ghana made a visit to the San Antonio community of Presentation Brothers. Fr. Kuha was a young seminarian from Nigeria studying in Ghana when they first met. It happened that Fr. Kuha was invited to present a paper at the National Association for Media Literacy Education (NAMLE) in Philadelphia from 25th-27th June 2015. His topic was "Promoting Media Education in Africa: Nigeria as a Case Study. " After the conference, Fr. Kuha took a flight to San Antonio arriving 28th June. One significant part of Fr. Kuha's visit was that he was the first priest to say Mass in the community chapel since the Brothers arrival in Texas 1st April 2012. The first Mass was joyfully celebrated 1st July 2015. In all, Father spent a week with the community before returning to Nigeria.

Presentation Brothers

• Called to be Faithful Stewards
• With Profound Gratitude to our Benefactors

As Presentation Brothers, we honor four principles of stewardship . . . . . . to receive God's gifts with gratitude. Receiving engenders dependence on God. Gratitude acknowledges abundance. . . . to cultivate God's gifts responsibly. Literally "steward" means "manager of the house". God has entrusted His house to us. We are accountable to God for managing gifts given to us and we do so for the glory of God and in the service of humankind. . . . to share God's gifts lovingly and in justice with others. The self emptying sacrifice

• f Jesus on the cross is for us a model of sharing with love and

in justice. . . . to return God's gifts with increase of the Lord. The Gospel urges us not to hoard or be content with the status quo. Faith in God's love and abiding care gives us the confidence to give so that our gifts may bear fruit. In Gratitude, we offer thanks to those who support us by their prayers, encouragement and financial donations.

May God’s blessings be yours in abundance!

The Province Seeks Funding Through Foundation Search

The Presentation Brother Associates in Kissimmee and the Provincial Development Office seek funding to support the work of the Associates in Kissimmee to feed homeless school children, to seek funding for Presentation Ministry Center in San Antonio, to support prison ministry in St. George’s Grenada and offer support to our Missions in West Africa. Foundation Search is North America's leading source of fundraising information for non- profits and charities. The online resource includes more than 120,000 foundations, representing billions of dollars in annual granting, and includes tools to locate grants by type, value, year, recipient, donor and historical giving trends, and much more. Please pray that

• ur efforts and search will bring funding to support these various ministries.

Prayer for Vocations

Father you call each one of us by name and ask us to follow you. Bless your church by raising up dedicated and generous men and women who will serve your people as sisters, priests, brothers, deacons, lay ministers and married couples. Inspire us as we grow to know you, and open our hearts to hear your call. We ask this in Jesus name. Amen.