Through the generosity of St. Joseph Mercy Hospital-Chelsea and the local community, St. Louis Center held its 31st Annual Fall Dinner Auction on Saturday, November 10, 2018. It was a true night of giving, as many special presentations were made to support the children and adults who call St. Louis Center their home. As the […]
Manila – The 6th Annual Dinner for a Cause was held at Ang Bahay ng Alumni at Diliman, Quezon City, Metro Manila. The Servants of Charity hold this event for the benefit of the children of Guanella Home. The evening began with a prayer led by Ate Ding Legaste, Guanellian Cooperator. Fr. Battista Omodei warmly welcomed the visitors followed by an intermission number by our special kids from Guanella Home. The money generated during the event will be saved primarily for the needs and necessities of our special kids. Fr. Charlton gave an update about last year’s Dinner for a Cause and how the funds were spent. Fr. Battista, Fr. Charlton, Fr. Charles and Fr. Loyola gave Certificates of Appreciation to people and organizations that have been constantly helping the Servants of Charity. To all the people who supported and helped in making this event a success, a simple thank you would not be enough, we really appreciate the efforts you have done.
The residents of St. Louis Center are no strangers to charity, so many people do so many wonderful things for their benefit. To do their part in serving others, the St. Louis Center Aktion Club is helping Kiwanis help people. They are once again selling Christmas cards to help raise funds to alleviate the suffering […]
This year’s Taste of Chelsea event started out with the Italian theme of “Alla Tua Salute!” meaning “To Your Health” in English. Approximately 200 people visited St. Mary Parish on Saturday, October 7, 2017 to enjoy food and drink samples from all over the area. This included new entries this year from Chelsea Big Boy […]
via St. Louis Center Supporters Enjoyed a ‘Taste of Chelsea’ — stlouiscenter
After a long silence we are back with some precious and interesting news on our past weeks after the echo of congratulations for the summit has ceased.
I was honored with personal greetings and thanks by our new Archbishop, Stephan of Freiburg, and other key religious and civil authorities for the solidarity work accomplished over the past 50 years in this blessed and generous region of Germany.
New requests for financial help have reached our entity, mainly from Africa but recently also from DPP structures in India especially from Sivagangai for their disabled center. We are quite sure to succeed at Mission Munich. We have been asked by em. Bishop Rainer Klug, during his visit to the Procure and to St. Louis Guanella Mission at Pforzheim on April 13, 2016, to stay and get more involved in the daily life of the neighboring German parishes and the Polish immigrant centers in our district, as well as Catholic refugees from Syria and Iraq relocated to the area.
The last opportunity was to join local pastors and other Catholics from E.C. in celebrating Corpus Domini in the small town of Hamberg on a splendid sunny day, crossing colorful walkways decorated with fresh flowers ending in an altar carpet of flowers with the symbols of the Mercy Jubilee. We listened and meditated on the Gospel of St. Luke 9-1-17.
During this time, I was concerned about a sad story I heard from Brother Mauro in Manila: a young woman who died simply because she and her family could not buy Penicillin. Immediately we, Puentes/Spain and the Sisters of the German Pious Union at Münstertal-Black Forest, began to make plans. We would begin an intensive fundraising campaign with them in their four hospitals, with the help of their almost 70,000 members in the St. Josef Confraternity, with doctors, and the support of the families of Italian immigrants. The specific purpose is to create at Guanella Center, Quezon City a large, well supplied pharmacy, offering necessary medicine against TBC and other infectious illnesses. This new medical center should operate as a “Good Samaritan Pharmacy” for the poor of greater Manila. We are going to print 1000 small fliers for distribution in Spain, Italy, France, Germany.
During our meeting on May 30, 2016, with General Mother Simone of the St. Josef nuns who promised that their congregation will continuously support our projects and immediately they offered Mrs. Inge Lombardo as lay ambassador for this initiative.
A painting by “Joey” one of the squatters, shows a poor child offering to the condemned and enchained Jesus a mere small glass of water. We should reflect on this gesture and on the skeletal, dying Emy, in front of her children. Emy did not need to die, simply for being too poor without an advocate. No one was there offering even a small bottle of penicilin.
We therefore encourage our confreres wherever they are, in the Name of the Merciful God and our Founder, St. Louis Guanella, to knock at our door, that of Puentes and the Abbey of our beloved and generous Daughters of St. Josef in Germany. We promise to do our best to support you in your daily efforts, tender love toward the poorest among the poor, because Jesus is hidden within them.
Mary, Mother of Holy Providence will do the rest, linking our hearts, hands and feet…
Let us thank God for His copious grace and gifts.
Gero Lombardo
Guanellian German Procure
Pforzheim – Yes, we were there! Germany, 23rd charity shelter and last born in the Guanellian family!
With two well established entities: the Guanellian Procure and the Italian Catholic Mission for the Italian, Polish and soon also for Syrian Melchite and Chaldean Iraqi Catholics, joined the 7000 joyful and enthusiastic assembly, around our beloved Holy Father, Francis, who greeted, embraced and even kissed around 500 disabled people sitting in their wheelchairs, crying with emotion for being embraced by a tired and apparently suffering Pope.
In a certain way this pilgrimage to the roots of the Christian faith happens also as physical presence at the conclusion of the Centennial birth into Heaven of our Founder, attended by Guanellians from around the globe but also as final target of my Guanellian life.
Since his visit in August 1912 to Trier, Fr. Guanella’s vision to be present in Germany has become a tangible and fruitful reality. Both German entities celebrated this unique anniversary with many initiatives in seminaries, for interested people at nearby parishes, pilgrimages to Lourdes and Medjugorie but also with the translation and printing of an Italian biography of Fr. Guanella into German. The first edition of 1500 copies was distributed to our strategic meeting point of German visitors like the St. James Path at Santiago/Spain, Grison County at the border of Guanella’s birthplace, in German speaking Switzerland as well as Barza and Como.
Our German pilgrims included 5 nuns of the German Pious Union who have been carrying the Guanellian charism since 1920 in a German speaking area, and a few friends of our procura who wish to become Guanellian Cooperators in the near future.
The highlights of my return to Rome,where my Guanellian life began in August 1949, were the meeting with my former seminarian pupils of Anzano in 1958-60 after 55 years. I taught them French, History and Geography. Ten of them became Guanellian priests with interesting activities in South America, Balkan and Afghanistan. The others remained firmly connected to Guanellian Houses near their homes.
During the 5-day stay in Rome we also attended the special GLM assembly where we met many confreres from the Philippines, India, Vietnam, Guanellian Africa and Latin America. In several brief conversations they explained the basic problem: the need of funding for their projects. The German Procure was conceived initially as a fundraising center for the DPP, but since the beginning of 2015 has been recognized by the General Council as a general office open for all Guanellian structures globally. A new procedure for seeking funds for these projects will be implemented by the General Council with recommendations coming from the Provincial Superiors.
My message to the confreres that I met, “Knock, the door is open. Even though there are new procedures, do not hesitate to contact us for advice! Simply because even in my advanced age I do not want to rest as long as there are hands begging for our love and help. Our inbox is always online to all requests from the DPP or other provinces.” We assure our professional assistance to bring positive results for their requests.
With this message I would like to march with and for you for the Reign of God and for the benefit of the good people entrusted to our sensible heart, open eyes and ears!
May the coming Advent be a source of reflection and healing Grace. Till the next meeting on DPP news all German and Italian friends wish you a Merry Christmas and a Fruitful 2016. Stay blessed, through the intercession of our Mother of Divine Providence and our Saints, Fr. Guanella and Blessed Clare.
Gero Lombardo, Guanellian German Procure
Pforzheim – The beginning of a new year full of dreams and hope obliges us to reflect upon the past 12 months and the cold experiences of a troubled world. But between the ashes of our dreams and memories, every day it rains new wishes and graces as a timid attempt to exorcize the days to come as an impulse to retake our walk along old itineraries always listening to the new growing seeds, which grow up without rumors. This suggests a Poet! We have dreamed and listened to what other religious orders do in our country, what is the aptitude and response of the conscience of the German Catholics towards increasing poverty, naked desperation, the destruction of families, and the total disorientation of an entire generation. These are the facts. We have learned what the others do and we tried to imitate their decisions. The motto for 2015 is, “Be a carrier of faith, but first become yourselves a personification of God’s blessing and loving Fatherhood.” This message of Kindermission – Aachen was mobilized on January 6th to more than 75,000 young boys and girls, who traveled thousands of streets in our cities and villages; begging financial support for the poor, sick, and disabled children around the world. Every year their carols in front of each building touch the hearts of believers and non-believers alike; each small coin helping to carry out prestigious projects, like ours in Legapzi, Manila, Congo and India.
Our structure at Legapzi was selected as the best developed project in the Philippines, with support from the Stern Singers and the help of Mrs. Steiner of Aachen for 3 long years! An interesting article was written by the Kutsch Family reporters of Aachen, who had visited Sagrada Familia in 2013. The news appeared in the local press on January 5, 2015. Fr. Battista Omodei, with one of his special pupils, is happy and his smile speaks for itself! Mrs. and Mr. Kutsch also organized a private Charity Gala and collected 5000 Euros for the a.m. Sagrada Famila at Legapzi.
Following this appreciation we have proposed to Mrs. Beate Jantzen to select both our projects in RD Congo for 2016. There, Kindermission has donated a brand new ambulance for the Lemba Mission which collects Aids patients, street stranded and abandoned youth 24 hours/day.
Now we await the authorization from the Bishop’s Office at Freiburg in order to continue our activity as agreed “Mission Procura.” The General Council has already appointed our entity as an integral part of the missionary Guanellian work in Germany in favor of our missions around the Guanellian provinces.
Therefore during Lent let us pray, “Indue me Dominen, novum hominem.”
O Lord make of me a new charitable person!
Gero Lombardo, German Guanellian Procura
Manila – This year’s annual fundraising drive of Servants of Charity and Guanella Center “Dinner for a Cause-Year 4” was very successful. Held on the feast of St. Guanella October 24th, the event was supported by various Guanellian Lay Cooperators, benefactors, friends, staff, seminarians and the religious community. Fernwood Gardens sponsored the beautiful nature-inspired event. About 400 persons attended the event. Performances from the special children, seminarians and priests added enjoyment to the evening. To all our supporters, maraming salamat po! Our prayers for all of you!
Legazpi – October 4th, Harong Kan Sagrada Familia hosted the 6th Annual ‘Dinner for a Cause.’ It was quite challenging; selling the tickets, collecting donations and the event itself. About 500 people attended the event. Our special children preformed dances and skits with the help of the staff. The other performances were by the Sagrada choir, seminarians, novices and guests. The visitors enjoyed the programs and dining together. There was also raffle with prizes for the winners. As a send off, the superior expressed his heartfelt thanks to all the visitors for their encouraging support to the least and the lost in society.
Pforzheim – On Palm Sunday the two Guanellian confreres made their official Epiphany with the celebration of the solemn entrance of Jesus in the historical Jerusalem. More than 500 believers of the Italian Community participated at St. Bernhard Church at Pforzheim-Arlinger for this first solemnity of Guanellians on German soil. It was clear proof that Frs. Wieslaw and Rocky have been well accepted by their parishoners. The religious service was accompanied by beautiful Italian songs and music by our organist, Enzo Camella. The organization was supported by long time secretary of the MCI, Mrs. Tina Marsella, and the affectionated sacrestan Mr. Antonio Trovato. I was allowed to capture the emotional moments with my camera, and the pictures speak for themselves.
On Easter Sunday the Holy Mass was celebrated in the Italian parish church Barfüßer Kirche. During the ceremony little child Daniele D’Eugenio was baptized. His father, the famous tenor actor of German television, sang a joyful Halleluia! As the mother of the neophite is from Naro, the church was mostly occupied by Naresi emigrants.
During the past week Holy Providence was generous with our Procura, because our friends and benefactors of Kindermission at Aachen made a significant financial donation in support of our irrigation project at Beteké, Kinsaha Congo.
Unfortunately our Vatluru kitchen project was rejected due to repeated discrepancies found in the documents. For the mini-bus of Sivagangai we can report that the corresponding project was submitted to the awarding commission. After the return to the office of the responsible director, Mrs. Lioba Stenner, we will seek a final response.
We are also in touch with Frs. Felicks and Jerin as well as our Provincial Tresaurer, Fr. Joseph Rinaldo, to receive a completed file for the new project in Ho-Chi-Minh,Vietnam. This project will be submitted to our fellow Catholic agency, “World Religious Buildings Support Organization,” in the Archdiocese of Cologne, who supported the construction of the Kumbakonam Church.
May is the floral month dedicated to our Lady of the Rosary. For the first time our Guanellian parish, MCI of Pforzheim, will guide a pilgrimage to Lourdes. This is a new milestone in our fresh presence in Germany. Members of the MCI and the Procura will also activate many meetings with the diaspora for our large territory.
Finally a nice picture of Our Lady of Divine Providence is now decorating the religious chapel and our Procura’s office. May the Lord through the intercession of our Patroness and our Saintly Founder, sanctify our work and efforts in order to intensify the search of other generous benefactors.
Maria stella maris ora pro nobis!
Gero Lombardo, German Guanellian Procura
Servants of Charity 