SOLT
MISSI N
m
a
g
a
z
i
n
e
•
a
u
t
u
m
n
2 0 1 5
A Message from the Gener al Priest Servant
“¡ S i e m p r e a d e l a n t e ! K e e p M o v i n g F o r w a r d ! ”
Dear Friends of the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity,
This past September 23, six of us from SOLT had the great privilege to attend
the Papal Mass in Washington D.C. for the canonization of St. Junípero Serra. As
with most Papal Masses, coinciding with the extraordinarily beautiful liturgy was
a very long line
and wait prior
to Mass. In this
case, it was
a three hour
crawl through
the line and
then two more
hours of waiting prior to
the beginning
of Mass. When
moving through
the very slow
moving line, there were a few different thoughts which entered my mind: a)
This restaurant looks pretty good to sit, rest, eat and get comfortable; b) This
line is moving so slowly that maybe we won’t make it in time and I should bail
out now and head back to the comfort of my room!; and, c) Please, just keep
moving forward.
Of course, given the fact that we travelled to Washington D.C. for the
purpose of attending the Papal Mass, and given the extraordinary opportunity
to be present at a Papal Mass in the United States, the first two options were
really just very fleeting thoughts. There was no way I was going to give up my
place in line for the temporary comfort of a restaurant, and no way I was going
to return to my room. The prevailing and consistent thought was simple, keep
moving forward and we will get there eventually.
Interestingly, in his homily, Pope Francis pointed out that the motto of St.
Junípero Serra which inspired his life and work was, “¡siempre adelante!” Keep
moving forward! Pope Francis stated that St. Junípero Serra continued moving
forward because he knew the Lord and his brothers and sisters were waiting. Regardless of his past accomplishments, he never got too comfortable or
secure, as the Pope put it, he kept “his heart from growing numb, from being
anesthetized” to others. Pope Francis went on to challenge us to not give in to
the temptation to merely seek our own comfort, security and habitual routines,
but to constantly move forward with purpose as missionary disciples, ready to
evangelize and offering Jesus Christ as hope and ointment for every person we
meet, especially those who are marginalized.
Returning to the image of the line, it can be quite easy in the lineup of life to
pull off into a restaurant seeking our own comfort, security and rest, and then
simply to remain there. It can be easy to look back and get stuck in the past and
forget that the destination is in front of us, not behind. And, it can be easy to
forget that Jesus and others are waiting for us! In summary, let us pray that we
will be true missionary disciples who keep moving forward.
God bless,
Fr. Peter Marsalek, SOLT,
General Priest Servant
fr. peter marsalek, solt
originally from burlington, canada, was elected general priest
servant during the july 2013 chapter in corpus christi, tx.
ON THE COVER:
Bridge to mission parish in Guatemala
opposite page:
Fr. Brady Williams, Fr. Peter and Sr. Megan Thibodeau after the
Canonization Mass of St. Junípero Serra
Autumn 2015 | SOLT Mission Magazine | 1
sharing in God’s
fatherhood
“
¿Puedo pasar?” (“May I come in?”)
Angel asked if he and his mother could enter my office in Colón, Mexico.
“Sí, pasale.” (“Yes, come in.”)
Angel and his mother both looked on the verge of tears.
“Me voy.” (“I’m leaving.”)
Angel had been having problems
at Santa Maria del Mexicano, SOLT’s
boarding school for troubled youth. I
had only spoken with Angel a handful
of times but I knew him to be a smart
and personable young man who had
run with the wrong crowd before
coming to Santa Maria.
Angel’s eyes and those of his
mother began to water. I didn’t know
what to say so I told him that I would
pray for him. As they were leaving we
hugged and Angel quietly said, “Gracias, Padre.”
After he and his mother walked
out I stared blankly at the desk. As a
new priest, in a new country, working in a different language, I didn’t
know what to do. I just sat there and
prayed that God would care of Angel
and his mother.
2 | SOLT Mission Magazine | Autumn 2015
Ten minutes later, I left my office and found Angel, his mother, and Fr. Mike
Sanchez (Colon Mission Director) standing there. Angel had been re-admitted.
What a grace-filled moment! I threw my right arm around Angel and exclaimed,
“You’re staying!” He couldn’t help but smile. Then his mother looked at him and
said, “You see how they love you.”
It surprised me how much I cared for Angel in such a short time. I’ve
been here in Mexico for
less than two months,
but with His grace,
God can make room
in the heart of man
for others. I’ve been
a priest less than
four months but
the children here at
Santa Maria don’t
care about that.
They want a father
who loves them.
As their spiritual
father, I want to
show them the
love of their
heavenly Father.
These kids
long for a father’s love. The
As their spiritual father, I want to show them the love of
their heavenly Father. These kids long for a father’s love.
Clockwise fRom opposite page: Child at Santa Maria, Fr. Jeremy greeting the boys
after Mass, Sr. Helen de la Pena visiting the teenage girls during their afternoon sewing.
Autumn 2015 | SOLT Mission Magazine | 3
children run to me when they see me and yell “Padre!” They hug me and ask
me, “Who painted your eyes that color?” The girls see me and immediately
want to sit and talk or get me a glass of juice. The boys sprint towards me, asking me to play soccer with them. The teenage boys and girls open their hearts
to me and tell me of their difficult pasts. I try to teach them all how to pray.
I’m a novice all over again. Everything is new and at times challenging But,
it is not difficult for me to love the children for whom I celebrate Mass. It seems
easy to love those who come to me for confession. God helps me to pray
for them. I share
in their joys and
sorrows. As a
priest here at
Santa Maria, I
will never be
far from the
Kingdom of
God, for it
belongs to
the children
who reside
here.
As a priest here at Santa Maria,
I will never be far from the Kingdom of God, for it
belongs to the children who reside here.
Sisters with a few of the boys from the Casa de Niños.
Fr. Jeremy Davis, SOLT
from prairie village, ks, was ordained to the
sacred priesthood june 2015.
4 | SOLT Mission Magazine | Autumn 2015
the gift of
education
A
s a sister, a common question
I get asked by
the youth in our parish is, “So, what do you
do in your free time?”
When I respond,
“homework,” their
confusion always
gives me a chuckle.
For the past three
years I have had
the blessing of being a student. I can still remember the day that Sr. Mary
Peter asked me if I would be interested in continuing my education. At
first, the pursuit of education didn’t seem like a big deal, but as the years progressed I began to see it as a gift from Our Heavenly Father. In particular, it has
blessed me in apostolic ministry, personally, and spiritually.
I entered religious life after completing one year of college education at
Our Lady of Corpus Christi. The first step to pursuing my degree was to enroll
at the local community college. I vividly remember the day I registered for my
first semester. I felt very out of place and I recall feeling the invitation from
Our Lord to be “meek and humble of heart.” Going to the community college
provided an avenue where I could meet today’s youth in an area of their deepest apostolic need. I recall sitting in my Philosophy class as the teacher openly
Sr. Caritas at the convent in Holman, New Mexico
Autumn 2015 | SOLT Mission Magazine | 5
advocated homosexuality as something permissible because man is longing for
love and identity. I presented my disagreements and I was edified when other
young people followed the lead by stating their own disagreements with what
was being taught. As a religious sister, I felt like I was participating in Christ’s
missionary mandate by bringing His presence into these lecture halls. This
became evident when students and professors would ask for prayers. Luna
Community College became the evangelical mission field in which Jesus had
taken me and for that I am forever grateful.
In the midst of pursuing my associates degree at Luna Community College I discovered a program for a certificate in youth ministry at the Augustine
Institute in Denver, Colorado. Since youth ministry is a passion of my heart,
I was graced to be able to enter this program. I truly believed this program
would benefit my ability to minister to youth and that has proved to be true.
Through these courses I could hear God speak so clearly to my heart, especially through a course titled Youth and
Family Ministry. In it I encountered the
healing power of Jesus in my own life.
As I pursued both my associates
degree and the youth ministry certificate, I ran across an advertisement
for The Catholic Distance University
(CDU) that offered a Bachelor’s degree in Theology. It was clear that
Left: Sr. Maria Stella Maris feeding a
child at the orphanage in Mexico
Opposite Page: Sr. Mary of Divine
Love at the Casa de Niñas (young
girls home) in Mexico
[T]he day I registered for my first semester.
I felt very out of place and I recall feeling the invitation
from Our Lord to be “meek and humble of heart.”
6 | SOLT Mission Magazine | Autumn 2015
College became the evangelical mission field in which Jesus
had taken me and for that I am forever grateful.
this was the next
step for my ongoing education. I
remember the very
first course I took
at CDU, The Documents of Vatican
II, and how that
course had a
powerful impact
on my spiritual
life. When I read
and began to understand the document “Gaudium et Spes”,
my heart was transformed. I began to see the predicament of fallen humanity
and how Christ’s love is the only healing balm to rid the mark of sin from the
world. I also saw how it is through this love that man is invited to encounter
radical joy and supernatural hope in the person of Jesus Christ.
In the spring of 2015 I graduated from Catholic Distance University with
a Bachelor of Arts in Theology. I cannot express adequately how much ongoing education at all three schools has blessed my life. These past three years
have been a time of many graces which I will always treasure. My heart is full
of gratitude to all those who have helped me pursue my education through
encouragement, monetary support and prayers. Praised be
Jesus Christ!
Sr. Maryam Caritas Sparke, solt
a native of dayton, oh, professed her perpetual vows in may 2014.
Autumn 2015 | SOLT Mission Magazine | 7
SOLT
I
North Dakota: n a series of small towns near the Canadian border, St. Ann’s
Mission, a historical region of missionary activity, has five
Catholic churches nestled in the hills of the Turtle Mountain
Band of Chippewa Reservation. History is revered in this region, as an
observer would notice, though pictures and art recording memories of joys
and sorrows throughout the years.
Situated in the heart of the mission, St. Ann’s Church and School in Belcourt,
ND is once again witness to a revitalization of missionary activity. The city of Belcourt itself was named after a missionary priest, Fr. George Anthony Belcourt who
lived among the people he served and participated in the biannual buffalo hunt. Two
missionary orders preceded SOLT’s arrival—first French Canadian Jesuits then the
Benedictines—and from 1968, the mission was served by diocesan priests.
SOLT priests were invited to serve in 1995 at the request of the Bishop of Fargo
Diocese. Since then, the SOLT family team has grown to serve all five parishes as well
as St. Ann’s school providing education to children grades K-5.
Presently, Fr. Jeff Eppler oversees SOLT missionary activities for the St. Ann’s Mission. He and three other SOLT priests, Fr. Dennis Mary Dugan, Fr. Fred Alexander and
Fr. Patrick Prajzner minister to the five parishes and provide pastoral care to the sick
and elderly on the Turtle Mountain Reservation. Sr. Kateri, Sr. Mary Joseph, Sr. Maria
Hostia and Sr. Mary Immaculate also serve the people of this region, along with a
steady stream of volunteers.
Sr. Kateri has taught sixth grade at St. Ann’s School in Belcourt for many years.
Students in the area have many challenges. Many of them have had to shoulder adult
burdens at a very early age. At St. Ann’s such burdens are lightened by the light that
comes from Christ.
“The students at St. Ann’s absorb and soak up the faith. Then they go and share
what they have learned with their families,” Sr. Kateri observed.
Marykate Grady is entering her fourth year as a volunteer at the St. Ann’s Mission. She works in the development office and coaches a basketball skills group at the
school. She sees the cooperation between SOLT and the parishioners as “the gospel
opposite page: Belcourt, North Dakota ecclesial team enjoying a picnic together
8 | SOLT Mission Magazine | Autumn 2015
Christ’s love for the native people
being put into action.”
“I am inspired by the dedication that the priests and sisters have in attending to
the spiritual needs of the people in the Turtle Mountains. I am also inspired by how
the people of our parish area have a real love for God and others,” Marykate reflected.
Dorothy Godines currently works as the youth minister for the mission. In her
experience, she has learned about the strengths and values of the people she serves.
“The love and loyalty of the people here is amazing to see. They are truly people
who take care of their own. Another thing that inspires me is the spirituality of the
people. They are a people in tune with God. People on this reservation are aware of
the spiritual aspect of themselves. The youth I work with inspire me every day. To
see all that they endure while still having smiles on their faces is a great example of
joy in suffering.”
Sr. Kateri and Marykate shared similar sentiments about their interactions with
the people of the reservation who have a strong sense of family and community.
“Twice a week we go and visit the patients in the nursing home in Dunseith. Fr.
Dennis celebrates Mass every Tuesday and then we pray the rosary on Thursdays
with the residents. One of the residents Edgar, in his innocent, child-like manner told
me, ‘God loves you.’ I responded back to him, ‘He loves you too.’ With a huge grin
Edgar replied, ‘Thank
you.’ This crippled, simple man of
few words understood the Christian message and received it in his
heart,” said Sr. Kateri.
Marykate remarked, “I love
how the people in this community
are so open to God and how important family is to them. I have
also been edified by the generosity of the people who come
to serve St. Ann’s Mission.”
Beth Nguyen: solt development office
Autumn 2015 | SOLT Mission Magazine | 9
Perpetual Living
One Year Living
One Year
Deceased
God bless you!
To enroll, learn the spiritual benefits for members
or to request cards, please visit us online
at www.SOLT.net or call (361) 289-9095 ext. 312.
Perpetual
Deceased
Perpetual and One Year Enrollment Cards
are perfect for
Weddings ~ Anniversaries ~ Birthdays ~
Get well ~ Sympathy
Mass Association Cards
Express your Affection, Concern and
Friendship with the Society of our Lady
of the most holy trinity’s
Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity
PO Box 4116 • Corpus Christi, TX 78469
Robstown, TX
Permit No. 774
PAID
Non-Profit
U.S. Postage