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. 

A Band of Brothers

Bro. George and a student from a local school.

Read this wonderful reflection given by Bro. George Schmitz, CSC, a member of the Holy Cross community at King's College in Wilkes-Barre, PA.  Bro. George, Director of Afterschool Partnerships at the college, serves on the General Administration of the Congregation of Holy Cross.  His past ministries have included mission work in Chile, formation, teaching, and leadership.  Who has been "brother" to you in your life?

Bro. André -- A Personal Reflection

St. Joseph holding Jesus

Bro. Thomas Dziekan, CSC,  reflects on the life of Bro. André and his own calling to become a Holy Cross Brother. 

When I was about 5 years old, my mother and some of her friends went on a bus trip sponsored by our parish in Connecticut to the shrines of Quebec.  One of the things that I remember vividly is the story my mother told us about Brother André, his devotion to St. Joseph and all that he did during his long life. 

Meet an Outstanding Young Brother!

After five grueling years of study at the University of Texas in San Antonio, Holy Cross Br. Jesus Alonso will earn his doctorate in microbiology next summer. He plans to use that degree to investigate viruses and help develop vaccines for some of the world’s most lethal and persistent viruses, like those that cause AIDS, hepatitis, dengue fever and other diseases that ravage large areas of the planet. “Microbiology is a difficult area of study,” said Alonso, an articulate, soft-spoken man of 31, “because there’s so much to learn and new developments are happening all the time.”

Bro. Robert Sylvester, CSC Takes Final Vows

On Saturday, August 21, Brother Robert Sylvester, C.S.C., 64, took his final vows of poverty, chastity and obedience at St. Joseph Chapel in Holy Cross Village at Notre Dame. Brother Chester Freel, C.S.C., Provincial Superior of the Midwest Province, received Bro. Robert’s vows. Rev. Thomas Lemos, C.S.C., former Novice Master of the Holy Cross Novitiate, Cascade, CO., was the principal celebrant and homilist for the Mass. The choir was composed of Brothers, Sisters, Sister Novices of the Sisters of the Holy Cross, along with residents of Holy Cross Village.