PBMR and Precious Blood Volunteers at the Kroc Institute

Father Dave Kelly, C.PP.S. speaking at the Kroc Institute


Father Dave Kelly, C.PP.S.’s speech from October 2017 at the Kroc Institute for Peace at the University of Notre Dame was recently profiled on the Kroc Institute’s website. Father Kelly spoke about restorative justice and the work of Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation (PBMR).
Current Precious Blood Volunteer, Leah Landry, was quoted in the article and spoke about her work with the Young Women’s Group at PBMR. You can read the profile at https://kroc.nd.edu/news-events/news/restorative-justice-helps-rehabilitate-tough-chicago-neighborhoods/.
You can learn more about serving as a Precious Blood Volunteer at PBMR at https://preciousbloodkc.org/precious-blood-ministry-of-reconciliation/.

Hearts in Rhythm

Ash Wednesday/Valentine’s Day
February 14, 2018
Dear Members, Companions, Volunteers, and Friends,
It has not escaped the notice of media or missionary disciples, bishops and purveyors of chocolate candy, pastors, or florists that for the first time since 1945 Ash Wednesday falls on Valentine’s Day. At the Companions retreat in California recently, five young people from St. Agnes Parish in Los Angeles who are in formation to become Companions suggested we combine the two feasts by tracing a heart in ashes upon our foreheads. Instead of the traditional cross of ashes smudged upon our face, we trace a heart.
It’s not a bad idea because the ultimate purpose of this season Lent is essentially to do what Sister Joan Chittister proposed in one of her books: to “take time each day to fill myself with ideas that in the end lead my heart to the heart of the Divine. Then, someday, somehow, the two hearts will beat as one.”
One of the ways to do this, according to Jesus in today’s Gospel, is to go to our “inner room” and spend time in the solitude with the Beloved. This is the tried and true way for our hearts to beat in rhythm with the Divine. In Matthew’s gospel Jesus talks about this inner room when teaching his disciples about the proper discipline to practice the three spiritual exercises of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.
Ash Wednesday falling on Valentine’s Day may seem like a contradiction because we associate Ash Wednesday with fasting and Valentine’s Day with feasting on chocolates. But both are feasts of the heart. The heart, they say, is a strong muscle, and yet we know how fragile and prone to bruising and breaking our hearts are. As the poet, Mark Nepo, puts it, “The heart, when broken, always has this choice: to cling to the idea of what broke it; or to long like trampled grass for the heat of the sun.”
The season of Lent affords us the opportunity to examine our heart and come home to the truth that each of us is made in God’s image and likeness and that each of us is God’s beloved. Whatever is keeping us from embracing and living this truth we embrace today in the ashes traced upon our foreheads: the sin that keep us from loving unconditionally; the fear that keeps us from reaching out to others in love; the guilt that crowds out the grace and the shame that stalks our step.
Father Pedro Arrupe famously said that our vocation in life is to “fall in love with God.” Because when we “fall in love” with God and “stay in love” with God, we get a new perspective of who and what is most important in our lives. When we trace these ashes today, may we come home to the truth: I am the beloved of God, claimed by Christ. We cannot come to terms with this truth or come home to this truth without prayer. Prayer helps us deal with our false self—that self that relies on fame or fortune instead of faith to fashion and strengthen one’s identity.
While I’m tempted to trace a “heart of ashes” on foreheads today, there is no greater sign of love than the cross which guides us on this journey of Lent. Jesus expresses the unconditional love of the Beloved for us in his sacrifice on the cross because “there is no greater love than this.” I pray this journey of Lent for all of us will be a time to get our hearts to beat in rhythm once again with the Beloved.
With peace,
Fr. Joe Nassal, C.PP.S.
 
 

Vietnam Mission Updates, February 2018

by Br. Daryl Charron, C.PP.S., Vietnam Mission Director
The Vietnam Mission candidates in formation have been busy the past six weeks with various activities. Hao Pham, Hoa Vu, Ky Phung and Diep Vu are all preparing for definitive incorporation on April 7th. Dung Nguyen and An Nguyen are preparing for Pledged Candidacy that same day. Fr. Nhan Bui, formation director for the Vietnam Mission, gave all the candidates a day of reflection on St. Gaspar’s birthday, January 6th. He focused on the topic: “Living Religious Life with Joy.”

The beginning of February included further preparation for spiritual growth before the Community celebration on April 7th by going on retreat at a retreat center here in Saigon. The candidates and their formation director enjoyed a week long retreat with their retreat director, Fr. Hien, who is famous in Vietnam for giving retreats. The candidates especially enjoyed his talks on staying connected to your religious community and trying to be faithful to them even during difficult times. They were fascinated by his stories of surviving time in jail by hanging on to the strength and support of his religious community.
Another important event that happened last month was the graduation of Hao Pham from the Dominican School of Theology. Many of us in the Vietnam Mission attended this joyous occasion of Hao on January 27th congratulating him on his many accomplishments. He is currently doing ministry at our Tan Thanh Mission along with Diep Vu. They recently helped along with our candidate, Blir Ntor, in serving food baskets to 100 poor families in need in the parish for the Tet New Year.

Auf Wiedersehen Martin!

Martin Echtler serving dinner at Bishop Sullivan Center


Tomorrow morning, Sunday, February 11, 2018, Martin Echtler will be returning to his home in Munich, Germany. Martin completed his service as a Precious Blood Volunteer at the Bishop Sullivan Center on Friday, February 8. Martin’s positive personality and desire to learn from others will be missed.
At the Bishop Sullivan Center, Martin helped out in a variety of ways including supervising the community kitchen, working in the food pantry, assisting in the front desk, being part of the jobs training program, and much more!
Martin will be doing a trainee-program for teaching at a vocational school, close to the equivalent of a community college in the US. He will be teaching economics at a school in Dachau four days a week and Catholic theology in Landshut one day a week.
We wish Martin all the best and are grateful for his time as part of the Precious Blood community.
You can read Martin’s reflection from the February New Wine Press by going to https://preciousbloodkc.org/how-i-learned-to-drive-through-kansas-city-without-a-car/.
You can watch two videos Martin was featured in by going to https://preciousbloodkc.org/precious-blood-volunteer-featured-on-german-tv/
 

2018 Human Development Fund Application Available

by Fr. Joe Uecker, C.PP.S., Human Development Fund Chairperson
The application for the province Human Development Fund is available for 2018. The  application packet is available at the link below. Completed applications are due by May 1, 2018.
The criteria for the Human Development Fund include demonstrated need and a connection to the Missionaries of the Precious Blood. Requests up to $10,000 can be requested. Projects in the United States not directed by C.PP.S. or A.S.C. members will be funded for a maximum of three years. After that the project leaders are to seek funding from other sources. Other projects will be judged on an individual basis. Human Development Fund awards will be announced in July 2018.
The application is available here.