the Provincial House - Wayne, NJ

Vocation Awareness Committee in Paterson, NJ

s part of the Diocesan Strategic Action Plan for creating a "Vocation Culture", STIRRING INTO FLAME, the Vocation Awareness Committee for the Diocese of Paterson asked all parishes to participate in a Holy Hour for Vocations Project. 

All vocations stem from prayer. Therefore, the Vocation Committee proposes that every day of the year there will be at least one Holy Hour for vocations within the diocese of Paterson. 

Each parish is asked to choose at least one day in the year when they will prepare a Holy Hour for vocations. It may be part of an existing Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, First Friday Adoration, Praying the Rosary, Prayer Chain, or included in Religious Education Classes and/or school. 

Think of all the prayers that would be offered for vocations should different parish groups all devote an hour. 

The project would start on World Day of Prayer for Vocations, April 13, 2008, to World Day of Prayer, May 3, 2009.

Bercetese Annual Banquet

he Bercetese Foundation of New York gathered once again for its traditional Fall Banquet on Oct. 14th benefiting the Xaverian Missionaries, represented by Fr. Frank. 

Translating from Peter Racassi’s article on Valtaro.it, “Fr. Frank Grappoli spoke of the work of the Xaverian Missionaries in diverse lands, present in all continents. Missionary activity is understood as First Proclamation of the Gospel and attentiveness to human promotion, allowing for the formation of Christian communities in the world. This work was made possible because of the vision of a great son of Parma, Blessed Guido M. Conforti, Bishop of Parma and Founder of the Xaverians. This saintly Bishop of Parma is pride and inspiration not only for Italians, but also for those hailing from the Parma province. He was able, in fact, to go beyond the borders of his diocese to collaborate for making the World one Single Family through his missionaries. Fr. Frank thanks the members of the Bercetese and all their friends attending the Banquet, because their presence helps the Xaverian missions.” 

Fr. Domenico Costella guest at Valtarese Foundation 

n Apr. 15, Xaverian Fr. Domenico Costella, who was visiting the New Jersey area from Curitiba, Parish of the Good Shepherd, Brazil, was a guest of honor at the Valtarese Foundation in New York, for their 17th Annual Dinner Dance in Bronx, NY.

Having had the chance to stay with his niece’s family in Wayne, he also visited the Provincial Headquarters of the Xaverians in this country.  And thanks to Fr. Frank and Fr. Herondi, he was able to enjoy the sights and the flavors (ice-cream!) of New Jersey.  The Valtarese Foundation is a charitable organization from Valtaro (Parma), and Fr. Costella is from that town.

Surgical Efforts in Sierra Leone from Morristown, NJ

n the Sierra Leone page, check out the brief synthesis of the trip to Sierra Leone of our friend Tom Johnson Jr. of Assumption Parish in Morristown, NJ. Fr. Frank, who has been following closely the efforts of this young man, shares this article. It’s his 8th visit. Tom has been very instrumental in setting up a Surgical Team Effort with the Xaverians in Sierra Leone, poor people who receive surgical treatment for their disabling hernias. You can find out more at AfricaSurgery.org.

he Xaverian Missionaries were included in the August page of the 2007 Calendar of Our Lady of the Valley Parish, as a sign of the faithful friendship through the years. Pictured in that page are images of Fr. Rabito and the people of Binkolo, Sierra Leone.

OLV has been twinning with the parish of Christ the King, Binkolo for quite a few years, supporting its many efforts. Also included in that page is the Eucharistic celebration of thanksgiving that Bishop George Biguzzi offered at OLV this past Sept. 17, 2006. 

Xaverian Missionaries at Wayne, NJ