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Long-term recovery from addiction and vital discipleship have something in common. Both take humility to acknowledge powerlessness. There can be no growth, no restoration of the spirit or wholeness of the mind until I accept my powerlessness because it is then that I am strong in Christ. For “He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness’” (2 Corinthians 12.9). This is the way we can welcome the humility we need to convert our woundedness into self-gift - “a humility that finds its hour.” This is the hour when the best version of us is needed. It is fueled by the humility that is as Christ’s. When will that hour come? In a hip-hop tune popular in the gym, entitled “Best of Me” by NEFEX, the rapper imagines working hard to find himself on stage before an excited audience. He raps… “They looking up to me. They want the best of me now. Best of me now. Best of me now.” It is the hour when those around me “want the best of me now,” that my discipleship (or recovery) can change the world, or at least someone’s world. It is the hour in which my humbled self will do its best work. Twenty years ago, a Navy Corpsman sprinted with equipment 30 yards up a 60% incline to reach and treat a wounded Marine, saving his life. Those who saw the sprint were amazed but nothing less was expected because they knew that when he wasn’t on patrol, sleeping, or eating, he was working out. Why? “If I am weak, I can’t help my Marines. They count on me, Sir.” I baptized and confirmed this humble sailor some weeks after his heroic charge. At the Oblate Retirement Center in Childs, MD, the late Fr. Bob Ashenbrenner, OSFS, who was severely crippled and at the time using a cane to assist his walking, took on the chore of pushing the late Fr. Neil Kilty, OSFS, in his wheelchair from the chapel into the dining room. By pushing the wheelchair Fr. Bob could walk more easily thus saving Fr. Neil from labored breathing trying to wheel himself on arm strength alone. Salesian synergy—remarkable but not unexpected. ““It is God’s will that we are perfect, uniting ourselves to Him and imitating Him as closely as we can.” The tough sailor and the tough Oblate showed their best selves in the hour their best selves were needed. Different situations but both men humbly placed their bodies at another’s service. St. Francis de Sales wrote in the Introduction to the Devout Life: “It is God's will that we are perfect, uniting ourselves to Him and imitating Him as closely as we can. The proud person who trusts in Himself has good cause not to dare to undertake anything, but the humble person is all the more courageous in that he recognizes himself to be more powerless—and the weaker he considers himself, the more bold he is, because he has full confidence in God…” As Lent continues, we will hear Jesus say: “I am troubled now. Yet what should I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But it was for this purpose that I came to this hour” (John 12.27). For He had “humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross” (Philippians 2.8). In Jesus’s hour of self-gift, our world was changed. In Christ, there can be no limit to the good that you can accomplish if you have the humility to accept your powerlessness and present your best self in the hour of need. For Humility Humility by patient self-emptying Of all things that begin with me, Quiet, you urgent fantasies of control! O Wisdom! Shakeout my self-absorbing stuff, My soul so hollow as the Father will fill it whole! Fr. Mark Plaushin, OSFS Love. Learn. Serve. Charlie Mike

With the release of the new film Cabrini, many people are beginning to learn about the first US citizen to be declared a saint. “Mother Cabrini,” as she was known for decades, was born Maria Frances Cabrini in what is now northern Italy. Originally working as a teacher, Maria Frances felt drawn to the life of a missionary. Rejected by the community of nuns that taught her, Cabrini founded her own religious order - the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart. She added “Xavier” to her name to honor the great Jesuit missionary of Japan, St. Francis Xavier. Like her patron, Mother Frances wanted to travel to the Far East and start a mission in China. When she went to Rome to request permission, Pope Leo XIII asked her to change her plans and “go west.” The Holy Father wanted Mother Cabrini and her sisters to care for the growing number of Italian immigrants who were flocking to the United States. With humility and determination (and despite a life-long fear of water), Frances sailed to the “new world” and came to New York in 1889. “Wherever the sisters traveled, they became a voice for those who had no say in society... For almost 30 years, Mother Cabrini and her Missionary Sisters cared for the needs of immigrants from Italy. Her community provided healthcare, housing, and spiritual care to thousands of people in cities around the country. Wherever the sisters traveled, they became a voice for those who had no say in society and defenders of those lost in the complicated systems of modern life. Mother Cabrini became a naturalized citizen in 1909 and was recognized as a leader in the Church and in the city. She died in 1917 and was officially declared a saint in 1946. Mother Cabrini was given the title of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini and was officially named “patroness of immigrants” a few years later. The film “Cabrini is a powerful reminder of the role of women in the church and in the history of our nation. I thought it appropriate that the film was released in March, the month when our culture celebrates Women's History Month as well as the contributions of Irish Americans. Both St. Francis Cabrini and St. Patrick remind us of the countless gifts that Italians, Irish, and people from all over the world have brought to the “melting pot” of America. Historians and ordinary citizens agree that one of the greatest gifts our forefathers and mothers brought to this nation was their faith. One of St. Francis Xavier Cabrini’s spiritual daughters summarized these gifts, writing: “Some saw in Cabrini the embodiment of immigrant aspirations: to get ahead, to excel, to prove one’s self. Yet others attributed her achievements to the special zeal of a saint.” (Sr. Mary Louise Sullivan, MSC, Mother Cabrini: Italian Immigrant of the Century). To this day, the Missionary Sisters embody the immigrant spirit and the spirit of St. Francis Cabrini. The community constitutions state: “No work will be too difficult, no land too distant, no person too wounded for the love of the Heart of Jesus and for all those invited to be bearers of the love of Christ in the world.” Even in this new century, even though we are a “country of immigrants,” our nation continues to struggle with accepting newcomers. Let us look to St. Patrick, St. Frances Cabrini, and so many holy men and women who came before us, to help us open our heart – and our home - to welcome the stranger, to find the lost, and to support all God’s children. Fr. Jack Kolodziej, OSFS Provincial Wilmington-Philadelphia Province Fr. Jack Kolodziej, OSFS Provincial Wilmington-Philadelphia Province Fr. Jack Kolodziej, OSFS Provincial Wilmington-Philadelphia Province

7:30 AM - 9:00 AM The Union League at Torresdale 3801 Grant Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19114 Steve Javie Catholic Deacon Former NBA Referee The Business Network is proud to welcome Steve Javie to the Networking Breakfast on April 19, 2024. The free event starts with continental breakfast and networking at 7:37 AM (that’s when Fr. Guerin started his meetings, but doors open at 7:30 AM). Steve Javie’s presentation, including a Q&A, begins at 8:00 AM and concludes at 9:00 AM Deacon Steve Javie was born and raised in the Philadelphia area. He attended LaSalle High School in Philadelphia and graduated in 1972. Javie went on to attend Temple University in Philadelphia playing baseball for 4 years and graduated with a business degree in 1976. After a brief stint in the minor leagues, Steve’s focus turned to officiating, and was hired to referee in the CBA, the minor league for the NBA. After spending 5 years in the minor leagues Steve was hired by the NBA in 1986 where he officiated for 25 years. During his career, Steve officiated over 1,400 regular season games, 240 playoff games, 23 Finals games and 2 All Star games. After his career in the NBA, Steve, wanting to serve the Catholic Church, felt a calling to become a Deacon. In 2012 he attended St. Charles Seminary in Philadelphia where he would be in formation for the next 7 years. In 2019 Steve was ordained a Deacon in the Catholic Church by Philadelphia Archbishop, Charles Chaput. He and his wife Maryellen currently reside in Newtown and he is assigned to St. Andrew Parish in Newtown PA. ++++++ Getting to the union league at torresdale The Mission of the DeSales Network To honor the memory of Fr. William Guerin, OSFS, the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales Business Network will offer engagement and social opportunities for spiritual growth for Gospel-minded people in the spirit of St. Francis de Sales to fuel the grace that, in the words of Fr. Guerin, “gets you to heaven." For more info, email info@oblates.org

We look forward to seeing you! April 19th ~ 7:30 AM The Union League at Torresdale Philadelphia, PA 3801 Grant Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19114

The Washington Theological Consortium is pleased to announce a special symposium on Thursday, April 18 from 6:30 – 9 p.m. The Ecumenical Future: Symposium to Honor Fr. Crossin’s Legacy held at the Ukrainian Catholic National Shrine of the Holy Family in Washington, D.C. will honor the legacy of the renowned Catholic ecumenist, the late Fr. John Crossin, OSFS, Ph.D. A distinguished panel of theologians will discuss insights from his final book, published months before his death. Zoom option is available! (See below for more information) Fr. Crossin died on May 12, 2023 at the age of 75. In addition to being Executive Director of the Consortium from 1998-2011, Fr. Crossin was a teacher, theologian, author and scholar. He also served as Executive Director of the Secretariat for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington, D.C. and, in 2014, was named by Pope Francis as a consultant to the Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity. In that capacity, Crossin was a member of the dicastery’s team for the Joint Working Group with the World Council of Churches. Fr. Crossin was well-known to the schools of the Consortium, having taught at The Catholic University of America, Wesley Theological Seminary, Virginia Theological Seminary and Gettysburg Theological Seminary. He received the Consortium Ecumenism Award for 2021 when he offered that year’s Figel address on prospects for full communion among the Christian Churches. Author of many books, his last was entitled Moving into the Ecumenical Future: Foundations of a Paradigm for Christian Ethics (Pickwick Publications, November 2022), in which he develops an ethic of ecumenism that includes the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the teaching and example of Jesus, biblical foundations, spiritual ecumenism and friendships, and pastoral relationships. Venue: Ukrainian Catholic National Shrine of the Holy Family 4250 Harewood Rd. NE Washington, DC 20017 (near the Catholic University of America) PROGRAM SCHEDULE Thursday, April 18 6:30 p.m. Eastern Christian Prayer Service 7:00 p.m. Panel Discussion of Moving into the Ecumenical Future Dr. Timothy Sedgwick, Professor Emeritus of Christian Ethics, Virginia Theological Seminary (Episcopalian) Fr. Don Heet, OSFS, Parochial Vicar, St. John Neumann parish, Reston, Va. (Roman Catholic, religious order of Oblates of St. Francis de Sales) Dr. Beverly Goines, Assistant Teaching Professor, Georgetown University (Disciples of Christ) Dr. Kathleen Brown, Saint Luke Institute, Silver Spring, Md. (Roman Catholic) 8:00 p.m. Reception, featuring reflections on Fr. Crossin’s legacy Please plan to join us in-person for this special event. RSVP using the link above. Join the Symposium via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89883296618?pwd=c1NoSEd0ZmxZN0Rhc0tBSUUvUHZNZz09 Meeting ID: 898 8329 6618 Passcode: 966377