News Highlights
You’ll find here the major news submitted to us from the various provinces and districts, and news from the Generalate in Rome.
Holy Cross Celebrates Canonization of Saint André Bessette
Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from around the world, include a group of pilgrims led by the Holy Cross Office of Vocations, gathered in Saint Peter’s Square on October 17, 2010, to celebrate the canonization of six new saints of the Catholic Church, including Brother André Bessette, C.S.C., the first saint from the Congregation of Holy Cross. Reflecting on Brother André’s canonization, Fr. Jim Gallagher, C.S.C., the Director of the Office of Vocations, said, “Gathered in St. Peter’s Square with pilgrims from around the world really reinforces the reality that we are a Universal Church. And to know that one of our own in Holy Cross is part of the reason for this great celebration is electrifying. To then add on the realization that the glory of this occasion does not compare with the glory that St. André is experiencing in the heavenly kingdom because he lived a life of fidelity to the Gospel, one cannot help but be inspired.”
To read the personal accounts of other pilgrims at the canonization in Rome, check out the Holy Cross Vocations blog Spes Unica. For more information on Saint André Bessette, his life and his ministry, visit the official web page of his canonization.
Holy Cross Anticipates Canonization of Brother André
Blessed Brother André Bessette, C.S.C., touched the lives of millions, and today more than 70 years after his death, he has become an inspiration to countless more around the world. With great joy and excitement the Congregation of Holy Cross prepares for Brother André's Canonization. He is the first member of the Congregation of Holy Cross to be named a saint.
Visit Blessed Brother André pages on the website.
- Date of Canonization: October 17, 2010
- Place of Canonization: St. Peter's Square, Rome, Italy
- Canonized by: His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI
Learn more about the canonization and on the Blessed Brother André at the website of the Oratory of St. Joseph.
Visit the Spes Unica Blog for reflections and daily posts from time of the Canonization.
Watch a video produced by Salt + Light Television on the amazing St. André Bessette.
Also visit EWTN Global Catholic Television Network for coverage of Blessed Brother André's Canonization.
CatholicTV To Air Canonization Mass of Br. André Bessette,C.S.C. The Mass will air on CatholicTV.com and on CatholicTV cable outlets at noon EST and again at 8PM.
Official Press Release from the Congregation of Holy Cross: Indiana Province
Holy Cross Launches YouTube Channel
Feb. 16, 2009
The Holy Cross Office of Vocations announces the launch of a new YouTube channel to facilitate greater awareness of the lives and work of the Priests and Brothers in the Eastern and Indiana Provinces of the Congregation of Holy Cross. This channel will feature videos that highlight different aspects of the lives of Holy Cross Religious. Videos include commercials from the University of Notre Dame highlighting the work of Holy Cross priests, samples of homilies by or about Holy Cross, and a series of short interviews with the men of Holy Cross.
The new YouTube channel may be found at youtube.com/cscvocations.
Holy Cross Blog Launched
Jan. 20, 2009
The Holy Cross Office of Vocations announces the launch of a new blog site to facilitate greater awareness of the lives and work of the Priests and Brothers of the Congregation of Holy Cross. This launch coincides with the feast of Blessed Basil Moreau, C.S.C., on January 20, 2009. Fr. Moreau, who was beatified in September 2007, founded the Congregation of Holy Cross in LeMans, France, in 1837. It was the hope of Blessed Basil Moreau to organize his fledgling community to help re-evangelize the Church in the wake of the French Revolution. From its earliest days the Holy Cross community was sent forth to be educators in the faith by founding and serving universities, colleges, high schools, parishes, foreign missions, and various other ministries. Today there are more than 1,700 priests, brothers, and seminarians serving the Congregation of Holy Cross in 15 countries on five continents.
This new blog will serve as a way to introduce the Holy Cross community to those who are just learning about us. It will also allow those who have known Holy Cross for a while to learn about new developments and work happening in the community.
The new blog may be found at: http://vocation.nd.edu/blog/.
Spirit of Holy Cross Award given to Rosalinda Sanchez Garcia of Guadalupe, Mexico
Jan. 26, 2009
This past year, the Indiana Province of the Congregation of Holy Cross inaugurated the Spirit of Holy Cross Award to acknowledge the critical importance that collaborators play in living out the vision of Blessed Basil Moreau. Rosalinda Sanchez Garcia is among the first eight award recipients—a group spanning the world from East Africa to Latin America to several individuals in the United States.
A parishioner of Parroquia Nuestra Madre De La Luz parish in Guadalupe, Mexico, Rosalinda Sanchez Garcia is a trained and professionally educated social worker. In her personal life, she is a dedicated wife, mother, and woman of faith. As well, Rosalinda is integral to the social service ministries at her parish and the development of the Holy Cross seminarians who assist in this area.
Among the many programs that Rosalinda coordinates are several weeklong student plunges for high school and college groups from the United States, a program that provides assistance to needy students in area schools, and the parish Caritas program that collects food for the hungry and provides meals for the elderly. Holy Cross seminarians regularly work with Rosalinda in her outreach programs and, through her supervision, they have developed as modernday disciples who “must have the competence to see and the courage to act.” (Holy Cross Constitution 2.14)
Holy Cross thanks Rosalinda for her efforts to carry out the mission of our founder, Blessed Basil Moreau, C.S.C., who sought to make God known, loved, and served in education, parish, and mission settings.
Holy Cross Celebrates Fifty Years in East Africa
Jan. 16, 2009
On November 4, 1958, four Holy Cross priest arrived in Entebbe, Uganda, as the first of many Holy Cross priests, brothers, and sisters who would come to serve in Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania over the course of five decades.
The District of East Africa celebrated 50 years of Holy Cross ministry in East Africa on Jan. 3 and 4 with Masses at Virika Cathedral, jubilee meals at St. Mary’s Minor Seminary and St. Paul’s Major Seminary, a march with the Uganda Police Band, and a football (soccer) match at Buhinga Sprots Grounds. Present at the celebrations were the Papal Nuncio to Ghana, Archbishop Léon Kalenga Badikebele; the Superior General of Holy Cross, Rev. Hugh Cleary, C.S.C.; Provincial of the Indiana Province, Rev. David Tyson, C.S.C.; and the Superior of the District, Rev. James Burasa, C.S.C.
The presence of Holy Cross in East Africa has been a blessing in the lives of many of the people served, but also for the many Holy Cross religious whose lives have been changed by the experience of serving there. Today 90 percent of the Holy Cross religious serving in East Africa are from East Africa. At the same time, the ties between Holy Cross institutions in East Africa and those around the world are stronger than ever.
Toward the Canonization of Brother André, C.S.C.
On March 4, 2006, the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints approved the issuance of the “Public Copy” of the diocesan proceedings documenting a healing attributed to the intercession of Blessed Brother André Bessette C.S.C. A “summarium” was prepared by the postulator of the cause, Dr. Andrea Ambrosi, for presentation to the Medical Commission, which recently recognized the healing as beyond medical explanation.
Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.
The cause of Father Patrick Peyton C.S.C., continues with the gathering of relevant testimonies in the investigation to ascertain the heroic virtues of this servant of God who unceasingly proclaimed that “The family that prays together, stays together.”
Other CSC Causes
With the approval of the General Council, the superior general has authorized an investigation toward the introduction of the causes for bishops Theotonius Ganguly, C.S.C., and Vincent McCauley C.S.C.; Brother Flavian Laplante, C.S.C., and Father William Evans, C.S.C., who served the Church in Bangladesh and Africa; and for l’Abbé Jacques Dujarié, founder of the Brothers of St. Joseph and the Soeurs de la Providence de Ruillé.
