A Difference-Maker

Hasan Ali

The Constitutions of the Congregation of Holy Cross speak about the powerful witness of men who live and work together so closely that others might look at them and remark, "See how they love one another."  This sentiment is more than mere words, particularly in our Holy Cross institutions.  A shining example of our value on brotherhood recently took place at our high school, Holy Cross of San Antonio.  Read below how a young man found that he was more than just accepted at Holy Cross, but was made a part of our extended family.

Social Justice -- Food Security

Bro. David Andrews, CSC, of Food & Water Watch in Washington, DC reports on his recent participation in an international meeting in Rome, Italy, on food security issues.  Continue reading to find out what happens when nongovernmental and grassroots organization challenge the staus quo on behalf of those who do not have a voice in our world . . .

Halloween Fun!

Demons waiting to scare community members who came into the kitchen Halloween night!

The Holy Cross community at Holy Cross High School in Flushing, NY let out their "inner child" on Halloween and had some fun carving pumpkins.  Bro. Roger carefully cleaned all of the seeds which we roasted afterwards.  See some of the creepy creativity below!

"Exuding the Brotherhood of Man"

St. Joseph Center on Rt. 9 in Valatie, NY

The following story was written by Mr. James Breig of The Record in Troy, NY.  Mr. Breig captures well the unique ministry and community at the St. Joseph Center in Valatie, NY.

On a recent chilly morning, members of the Congregation of Holy Cross who live at St. Joseph Center in Valatie gathered in the chapel to honor one of their own: St. Andre Bessette. Canonized by Pope Benedict XVI last October, he became the congregation’s first saint.

St. Andre, a Canadian brother who died in 1937, was renowned for his humility and devotion to St. Joseph, so it was appropriate that the residents of the center named in the latter saint’s honor recently marked St. Andre’s feast day with prayers and reflections. As might be expected, statues and photos of the new saint are dotted throughout the facility.

People who drive south along Route 9, perhaps headed for Kinderhook or the Golden Harvest roadside farm stand, pass alongside the sprawling acres of St. Joseph Center, which is located off Maple Lane. As its website notes, the “property was given to the Congregation of Holy Cross by Mrs. M. Brady Farrell. It consisted of a house and 170 acres [since expanded to 400]. Brothers stayed in the house and farmed the land. The first Mass was celebrated on the property in 1935.”

Bro. John R. Paige, CSC, PhD, Inaugurated as President

Bro. John Paige, CSC (my former principal and novice director) was installed as the fourth President of Holy Cross College at Notre Dame, Indiana.  Read the following story from the Holy Cross College website and listen to Bro. John invoke the blessing of our founder, Blessed Basil Moreau, CSC, on the College and himself as he begins his ministry of leadership.

The "Year of the Brother" Begins!

In honor of the first anniversary of the canonization of Bro. André, the Congregation of Holy Cross will observe a special "Year of the Brother" to celebrate and promote the vocation to religious brotherhood in the Church.

Bro. Joel Giallanza, CSC, explains the theme of this year, "Lives Given to God, Love Given to All." . . .

Going Strong!

Meet Bro. Donard Steffes, CSC, a Holy Cross Brother!

Bro. Donard is not just an ordinary individual. He is 96 years old and still as energetic as a 21-year-old young man.

Bro. Donard has been a Holy Cross educator all his life, traveling around the world to educate hearts and minds. Currently, he is at St. Edward's University in Austin, Texas, where he continues his ministry and hobbies.

He is also an athlete, an artist, an amateur ham radio operator, a volunteer for the Red Cross and a man of many talents, which he honed as a Holy Cross Brother.

He is not "just" a Brother. He is a Holy Cross Brother!

This is a short video of his story.

                                   Respond to the call.
                    Spread your wings. Anchor your soul.

Directed, Photographed and Edited by Bro. Nich Perez, CSC.
All Rights Reserved. Holy Cross Brothers 2011.
HolyCrossBrothers.org

Brother Donard Steffes - Not Just A Brother. from Nich Perez CSC on Vimeo.

CAMPing with the Brothers

The Brothers of Holy Cross recently hosted for dinner this wonderful group of young women and men from the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) at St. Edward's University in Austin, Texas. 

Founded by the Congregation of Holy Cross, an important part of the St. Edward's University mission is providing an academically rigorous education to a culturally, economically and religiously diverse student body.   First offered in 1972, CAMP at St. Edward's is the longest continuously running migrant education program in the nation and has served more than 2,200 migrant students.   In addition to the Star Award, the University's program has been honored by the U.S. Department of Education as a national model and has been recognized by the Association of American Colleges and Universities as a national model for multicultural teaching and learning.   CAMP has made national headlines -- the program was featured in a segment on ABC World News by former migrant worker and journalist John Quiñones.

Join us in praying for these new students as they begin one of the most exciting times of their lives.  May God bless them and their families.

Bringing HOPE to New Orleans

Watch Bro. Nich's newest video as he documents how Holy Cross students from around the United States gathered in New Olreans to bring HOPE to those in need. It was truly a life-changing experience. Join us in our work -- is God calling you to become a brother, priest, or sister in Holy Cross?

2011 Holy Cross Immersion: New Orleans from Nich Perez CSC on Vimeo.

Holy Cross Values at St. Edward's University

Read "University Reaffirms Holy Cross Values," where Bro. Larry Atkinson, CSC describes how St. Edward's University in Austin, TX continues to incorporate its Holy Cross heritage into the life of the campus.  Bro. Larry serves there as a member of the Campus Ministry team along with Fr. Rick Wilkinson, CSC, a Holy Cross priest. (Hint: Click on the button in the upper right corner to read the newspaper full screen.)

"A One-Man Show"

Bro. Carl Tiedt, CSC, a brother in the Congregation of Holy Cross, shares a bit of his life story with us.  Read this fascinating account of how he became both a teacher and an artist . . .                

Farmers Threshing Wheat

Bro. Carl Tiedt, CSC was inspired to become a Brother of Holy Cross by the example of his two aunts:  Sister Jovita Skalitzky and Sister Grace Ann Skalitzky of the Congregation of School Sisters of Notre Dame to “follow Jesus Christ in Poverty, Chastity and Obedience.”  He was born on a farm of forty acres in the township of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin.  His most masculine accomplishment before he came to religious life was going threshing with the farmers of his neighborhood and working along side with them.

100 Years of Service!

Brothers Joseph McDonnell, CSC and James Kane, CSC celebrate their 50th Jubilees as Brothers of Holy Cross this year.  That makes for a combined total of 100 years of service to God's people.  Bro. Joe and Bro. James renewed their vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience at the St. Joseph Day liturgy at Holy Cross High School in Flushing, NY where they both live and work.  Over 850 young men witnessed this awesome event.  Watch below.

Educators in the Faith

Holy Cross Brothers are members of an apostolic religious community. As such, we devote our lives to the service of others, especially in the area of Catholic education. Recently, three brothers were honored by St. Edward's University in Austin, Texas -- a ministry of the Congregation of Holy Cross -- for their many years of service to the University and its students.

Travels in Africa, Part 2

Bros. Bill and Donald have almost completed their journey to East Africa.  Bro. Bill sent this posting.  For more information on our school, St. Joseph Hill in Western Uganda, watch the following video! 

We finally have time to do a posting.  After a short drive from Kampala to Jinja, Uganda and settling into Dujarie House, we had the opportunity to visit Holy Cross Lakeview Senior Secondary School.  It is a school that is a District ministry and its high academic standards have resulted in it recently being ranked 58th  in the country.  That evening, we were welcomed at the candidate house which included some speeches interspersed with music, entertainment and supper.

Tubasanyukidde! Welcome to East Africa!

Brothers Bill Zaydak and Donald Blauvelt, Provincials of the Eastern and South-West Brothers Provinces, are currently traveling in East Africa visiting the Holy Cross members and their ministries.  Holy Cross began working in East Africa in 1958 and currently serves in Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania.  The mission to Rwanda was discontinued after the genocide in 1994.   Bro. Bill returns to the District after serving there for 10 years.  I invite you to watch a video of Holy Cross' early years in East Africa, then read Bro. Bill's posting below.

The trip has gone extremely well so far.  Donald and I met up at Heathrow and arrived on time in Nairobi late at night.  The next day we started our visit of the District of East Africa with a busy day of going to Dandora Parish for Sunday liturgy.  As always the church was packed, the music was lively, and everyone welcomed us.

We Are Family - Nós Somos uma Família - Nous Sommes une Famille

We asked how we might follow, and we found many footprints on the road. A great band of men had passed this way, men who had made and lived by their vows, men who had walked side by side in their following of the Lord. They beckoned us to fall in step with them. We wanted to be part of the family they formed in order to share in their life and work. This family is the Congregation of Holy Cross, founded by Basil Anthony Moreau.

~ Holy Cross Constitution, "God's Call"

The family of Holy Cross extends beyond the bonds of its vowed members.  An important part of our family are the students in the many schools we conduct throughout the world.  There is no better example of this than at St. Edward's University in Austin, Texas.  St. Edward's is the second oldest university founded by the Congregation of Holy Cross in the United States.  It shares the same founder as the University of Notre Dame, Fr. Edward Sorin, CSC.

Unique to St. Ed's is the large concentration -- almost 70 strong! -- of students from Holy Cross secondary schools around the world.  Pictured here are but a few of the students who gather a couple of times throughout the year to share prayer and a meal with the Holy Cross brothers and priests, much as any family might do in their own home -- because these students are at home here!  They represent Holy Cross from France, Brazil, and many cities in the United States including West Haven, CT, Akron, OH, Sherman Oaks, CA, Flushing, NY, and San Antonio, TX.  

For more information on St. Edward's University, visit  www.stedwards.edu/ministry/ministry.htm
or visit them on Facebook, www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=264116&id=120182718014#!/pages/St-Edwards-University-Campus-Ministry/120182718014

Not Your Usual Bacon and Eggs

Bro. Mark and his five younger sisters

Bro. Mark Knightly, CSC of Queens, New York shares an interesting experience after his younger sister "volunteered" him to speak at her unique workplace . . . 

On February 3, the National Prayer Breakfast occurred in government agencies and other businesses all across the country.  While President Obama spoke downtown in Washington, DC, I was asked to co-lead the annual event for participants from the Centers for Maritime Intelligence in Suitland, Maryland.