Foreign Missions

Regina Coeli Report
Pygmy reservation in the Philippines.
Number 251 July - August 2013
Foreign Missions
Welcome to this issue of the Regina Coeli Report, where
we turn the spotlight on the foreign missions.
As US District Superior, Fr. Arnaud Rostand, points out
in his letter, missionary work is something the Church has
been engaged in since Christ gave His order to “Go, teach
all nations, and baptize them in the name of the Father and
of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.”
It is this very command which animates the missionary activities of the Society of Saint Pius X, whose holy
founder serves as an outstanding archetype. We hear from
three District Superiors who provide updates on their
growing apostolates, and we have a first-person account of
a three-time volunteer in the SSPX’s medical mission in the
Philippines.
We also report on the very first Confirmations given by
the SSPX Nigeria, complete with a touching story of the
lengths to which some of the faithful will go to receive the
gifts of the Holy Ghost.
In Gabon, where Fr. Marcel Lefebvre labored as a missionary, a blessing of three beautiful steeple bells took
place recently at St. Pius X mission, as Gabonese television
broadcast the event! Among the dignitaries at the ceremony
was Mrs. Faubert, who knew Archbishop Lefebvre in Dakar.
The history of the Church is replete with missionaries
who have traveled to the ends of the earth to follow the
command of Christ. As this issue makes clear, the missions of the SSPX hold great promise, and vocations are
very much needed. One way parents can plant the seed of
a future vocation is to have their children read accounts of
the labors and suffering and rewards of missionaries. Tales
of Foreign Lands, a three-volume collection of stories for
young people, reviewed in this issue, is an excellent way to
instill in children curiosity and wonder of the great works
accomplished by the Church’s missionaries.
Regina Coeli House 11485 N. Farley Road Platte City, MO 64079 Tel: (816) 753-0073 www.sspx.org
Letter from
the District
Superior
Dear Friends and Benefactors,
St. Matthew tells us that on the very day of his Ascension, just before rising to Heaven, Our Lord gave his apostles this solemn missionary order: Go, teach all nations, and baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.
Conforming to this command of the Savior, the apostles spread out in order to preach the Gospel. History tells us that St. Matthew died
on the shores of India, and St. Paul preached Jesus in all the Mediterranean basin, going all the way to Spain before confessing the unique
Savior of the world in a common martyrdom with St. Peter.
Since then, Holy Mother Church, sharing with her Divine Spouse his infinite, merciful love for souls, has sent abroad millions of apostles:
bishops, priests, monks and laymen in order to make his name known and adored. We known the names of Augustine, Methodius, Ricci,
Francis, Columbus, Zumarraga, Jogues, de Smet, and Lefebvre for their courage and adventures in the seas, plains and woods.
There are also the millions of unknown souls who prayed, sacrificed and suffered for the missionaries, obtaining for them graces of
fortitude, intervening before God for them. St. Therese of the Child Jesus, without leaving her Carmel, became the Patron Saint of the
Missions. It is not necessary to go far to be a missionary; it is not even necessary to go anywhere, because the power and the extension of
prayer are as infinite as God is.
It is just to mention also the billions spent for the Missions. Benefactors, rich and poor, families and states, foundations, trusts and
charities have been solicited throughout the centuries to come and help the missionaries in their travels, installations, teaching and works
of mercy.
The SSPX is proud of its missions. They are the heritage of its founder’s heart. This concrete dimension of the Catholic Church is made
possible every day because of the tireless spiritual and material support that you all give here in the United States to our missionaries
spread throughout the world.
This Regina Coeli Report issue will give you a glimpse of the works of our missionaries. It is an honor for us to celebrate these daily
heroes of our times who labor in these new rows of the Lord’s vineyard. This issue wants also to be a token of gratitude for all the friends
and benefactors of the SSPX missions who, by their support and help, collaborate in this essential part of the Church’s faithful answer to
Christ’s order.
In this month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, let us make the extra mile and imitate Him in this special charity, let us bend our hearts over
the miseries of our brothers and sisters in Christ, these multitudes who do not know Him, do not love Him and wait in their blindness for
our charity to make a change.
May He inspire and bless your answer,
Father Arnaud Rostand
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Interviews with District Superiors of
Africa, South
America and
Asia
Fr. Loïc Duverger—Africa
My name is Fr. Loïc Duverger. Archbishop Lefebvre
ordained me in 1986, and my very first assignment was to
Gabon in Africa. Then I was sent to France, where I worked
at the school of St. Joseph des Carmes and in several different priories including St. Etienne, Grenoble, and at the
District House, where I was first bursar and then assistant
to the District Superior. For the last three years I have been
District Superior of Africa.
Will you please provide a brief presentation of your
missions?
The district of Africa is one of the Society’s youngest
districts. It was founded only five years ago in 2008 by Fr.
Marc Vernoy. We have two priories in South Africa, one in
Zimbabwe, one in Gabon, one in Kenya, and one in Nigeria.
In addition the novitiate of the Missionary Sisters of Jesus
and Mary is in Kenya, and we have three schools, a primary
and secondary school in Gabon, a primary school in South
Africa, and one in Kenya. Whenever possible, we also visit
missions in another ten countries or so. There are many
African Catholics who on realizing the ravages of modernism have appealed to the SSPX for help.
What are the main challenges?
Our main goal is that of the Society as a whole: the
priesthood. We work to develop vocations through our
schools, we encourage those who have a vocation in their
preparations for the seminary, and we help priests of good
will find Tradition. In Nigeria, three priests have learned to
say the Traditional Mass, and stopped saying the New Mass
altogether. Their situation, naturally, is difficult and they
need support. Others, we hope, will follow their example.
We have plans to open a new house soon with a minor
seminary and a novitiate for the Brothers of the Society. It
is a huge project, and a very important one. We need good
African priests: there is an enormous quantity of work to be
done on this continent. There are approximately one billion
people in Africa; of these, only about 20% are Catholic!
What help have you received from the US in the past?
A very large part of the support we receive comes from
the US, and I am very grateful to the American District
for allowing us to take up collections and publish news on
the District website. Many thanks to my confreres in the
US who encourage the faithful to give to the missions, and
many thanks as well to the faithful who have donated to
our work with such generosity. We may never meet you in
person to express our gratitude, but we pray daily that God
may bless you.
What are your ongoing projects?
We have three major projects on the go at the moment.
We are building an addition to the school in Gabon to
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increase classroom space, along with a boarding-house
for students from particularly bad neighborhoods. We are
also building classrooms at the primary school in Nairobi,
Kenya. Finally, we are trying to establish a permanent
priory in Nigeria. We need to buy land and build a church
and a priory. Catholic Tradition is spreading in Africa
as in the rest of the world, and Providence grants us the
means to sustain its development through our friends and
benefactors.
What would you say to Americans if you could visit
them?
The US is enormously influential over the rest of the
world, and especially Africa, yet unfortunately, its lure
does not always draw souls to the good or bring nations
to the Kingship of Christ. But thanks to the energy and
generosity of American Catholics, the reign of Christ in
Africa is spreading and this vast continent is slowly being
transformed.
Last word?
Thank you, and may God bless you for your great generosity. If you are unable to give, then please pray for the
priests in our missions; your prayers are the most necessary
and the most effective aid to the conversion of souls.
Fr. Christian Bouchacourt—South America
My name is Fr. Christian Bouchacourt. I was ordained in
1986 by Archbishop Lefebvre. I spent my first ten years as a
priest at St. Etienne, and then the following seven in Paris,
where I was parish priest of St. Nicolas du Chardonnet for
six years. In 2003 I was appointed District Superior of South
America. I could not speak Spanish or locate South America
on the map at the time, but I was pleasantly surprised both
by its landscape and by its charming inhabitants. And so
the work began!
What are your main challenges?
Firstly, our schools. We have four in South America, and
they serve about 700 children. This does not include the
Dominican school at Alta Gracia in Argentina or the school
of La Reja that will open next year.
Our schools are poor, and their lack of resources means
making only gradual improvements. We need to build classrooms for our school in La Reja, and we are praying to St.
Joseph for help. These schools will develop much-hoped-for
vocations and the Catholic fathers and mothers society so
badly needs.
Secondly, we are building our first retreat house in
La Reja in Argentina; we have never had one before! The
design is complete and we need $800,000 USD to finish the
project. We have around half, and we are counting on St.
Joseph to find us the other half! It will be put to use immediately for three-day retreats for adolescents and regular
adult retreats year-round.
Lastly, many countries, such as Peru, have asked for a
priest. We will need to open a priory there sooner or later.
What help have you received from the US?
Thanks to our benefactors in the US, we have been able
to build a chapel for our school in the Dominican Republic
and pay off the debt we accumulated. We are most grateful
for their assistance!
What are your current projects?
Urgently, the construction of our retreat house that I
spoke of earlier and two classroooms for our secondary students at the school of Niño Jesús in La Reja, Argentina. Your
prayers and generosity for these projects would be greatly
appreciated.
What would you say to Americans if you were to
visit?
To those of you who live near a school or a priory, thank
God for your easy access to these instruments of salvation!
(Below) Fr. Daniel Couture and Fr. Yves le Roux with
newly ordained (2012) Fr. Therasian Babu in Goa, India.
(Left) The blessing and launching of a floating crane
barge, named after Our Lady of Good Success (Quito),
invoking Mary’s intercession for safe travel, in Singapore.
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Make the most of the graces given by the Mass, and may
the religious and priestly vocations that we need so badly
develop in your families. Pray that Our Lord may send us
missionaries!
tory which goes from the Middle East all the way to Japan,
you must have an absolute faith and trust in the power of
God, and a constant awareness of your nothingness. In the
Philippines, we are struggling to build three churches.
A final word?
Many thanks for what you have already done for us. We
pray for you every day.
What help have you received from the US in the past?
Our missions would never survive without foreign help,
and among these the US and France clearly hold the first
places. This was obvious with the devastating tsunami back
in 2004-2005. Americans have a very generous heart for the
missions—all the missionaries can testify to this! And I don’t
think this source will ever abate since it springs from the
very infinite Heart of God.
Fr. Daniel Couture—Asia
My name is Fr. Daniel Couture and I was born in
Sherbrooke, Québec. I was fortunate to meet Archbishop
Lefebvre for the first time in November 1975, when he came
to encourage the Canadian faithful to hold on to Tradition.
This led me to enter the seminary in Ecône in 1978 and
receive the sacrament of Holy Orders from the very hands of
the Archbishop on the Feast of the Sacred Heart, June 29,
1984. After three years in Post Falls, Idaho and nine years in
Ireland, I have now been stationed in Asia since 1996.
Will you please provide a brief presentation of your
missions?
The SSPX opened its first priory in 1986, in India, and
now we have five priories altogether: another in Singapore
(HQ), and three in the Philippines. With the two priests that
we are about to receive this summer, we will have in August
16 priests for 11 countries visited regularly, and a few others
on occasion. We have two little schools (India, Philippines),
an orphanage (India) and we have a regular medical apostolate in the Philippines.
What are the main challenges?
Our main challenge is certainly manpower. “The harvest
is (incredibly) great and the workers (awfully) few!” When
you think that half of the world’s population is in this terri-
What are your on-going projects?
In the Philippines it is no doubt to build our Mass centers
spiritually, doctrinally; it is the pro-life battle against the
government pushing the destruction of the family; it is the
recruitment of vocations; and the medical apostolate, which
is almost unique in the whole SSPX. In India it is the building of a little tradi-eco-system, trying to build a little world
of traditional Catholics around the priory and the orphanage. Everywhere else it is to maintain the pilot lights of our
mass centers, beacons for lost souls in this post-conciliar
hurricane.
What would you say to Americans if you could visit
them?
Thank you! Keep it up! We need you! Pray for us! It does
work! Offer your next holy communion for the missions and
vocations!
Last word?
Not only do I believe in the communion of Saints, I have
seen it! Again, thank you! Ad majorem Dei et Mariae gloriam!
Fr. Couture’s first visit to the Pacific island of Vanuatu.
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SSPX Medical
Mission in the
Philippines
Christina Meinholz—The Philippines
Ever since I read the story of St. Francis Xavier as a child,
I was determined to grow up and travel the world saving
souls for Christ. I was blessed with the opportunity to travel
to the Philippines and work with ACIM/ACIM-ASIA/SSPX1 to
help others do just that. It was absolutely wonderful, and in
every way possible fulfilled my childhood dreams.
ACIM hosts a one-week mission which provides free medical services and medicine to all who attend. They also make
daily side trips to reach out to communities unable to travel
or attend the mission at the main site. ACIM employees are
also available for follow-ups the week after, especially for
those who had testing done. In all, the 2013 mission cared for
over 2,500 patients in 5 days!! Catechism lessons, scapular
enrollments, free rosaries and lessons in how to pray the
rosary, house blessings, and confessions are also freely distributed by the priests or sisters of SSPX.
This is a HUGE help to the community. There are certainly patients with life-threatening injuries or illnesses who
are treated at our facility. But many of the patients come for
simple basics such as vitamins which they could not afford
without the mission. Also, attendance at church noticably increases after the mission. This year we were told how much
of an effect last year’s mission had on attendance. And this
1
Catholic Association of Doctors, Nurses and Health Professionals,
www.acim-asia.com.
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is important because there are many protestant churches
working hard to get those same souls as their members.
The spirit of the Filipino people is beyond what I could
describe with words. Their energy, selflessness, endless
upbeat attitude, spirit of charity, and spirit of poverty are
absolutely humbling to those of us who were so zealously
determined to help them and change their lives. All Filipinos
involved in putting on the mission are my heroes. They are
the first to rise, the last to sleep, and still can never be found
without a smile. They make sure the volunteers have the best
of everything first and then are completely satisfied with
whatever is left. The patients themselves are living examples
of how to imitate Christ; the less they have, the more freely
they give it.
One of my favorite stories is about a woman who had sat
out in the sun all day patiently waiting her turn. Another
woman arrived at the very end of the day, after we were finished accepting new patients. I was trying to inform her she
would have to come back the next day, but she only spoke the
local dialect. The first woman came up and explained that
this woman had spent her last peso getting here and that her
baby was extremely sick. The first woman then volunteered
to give up her seat and come back the next day so that this
new arrival could see a doctor instead. My thoughts immediately flashed to all the Americans who would have said,
“Too bad, you missed the cutoff; better luck tomorrow,” or, “I
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July - August 2013
want to see management if you think I’m giving up this seat.”
I especially love watching the kids play. They play all day
long with the simplest toys—one was made of a plastic candy
wrapper and three or four washers—and never complain of
being bored, hot, tired, or hungry.
I optimistically believe that the mission greatly helped me
understand and live my faith a little better as well. It helped
me realize that I don’t have to preach to everyone I meet to
try to save his soul. A simple but zealous example of charity
is extremely effective in bringing someone to Christ. I have
been on three of these missions and each of them started
with a sermon about the gospel in which all were welcomed
into Heaven or cast into Hell based on having helped Christ
when He was hungry, thirsty, cold, naked, etc. And the world
asked, “When did we see Christ starving, thirsty, cold, and
naked?” And Christ pointed to the least of our brethren. Will
you be on the right or the left at the end of the world?
* Please note that a medical background is not necessary
in order to participate in this mission. Contact ACIM for
more information.
(Top right) The bamboo
chapel of Davao’s priory in the Philippines.
(Above) A nurse taking vitals
at the ACIM mission.
(Right) The ACIM team at the pygmy
reservation in the Philippines. After the
team finished treatments, Fr. Francois Castel
blessed the houses and gave rosaries to all the
children, who wore them around their necks.
Please Help
Our Missions
SSPX Foreign Missions Trust | 11485 N. Farley Road | Platte City, MO 64079
or donate online at www.sspx.org/donate.htm
Scan the QC code
with your smart
phone to go
directly to our
donations page.
Gifts
to the SSPX Foreign
Missions Trust are
tax-deductible
Please note: The Society of Saint Pius X Foreign Missions Trust is a U.S. nonprofit, charitable trust, which has received a
501(c)(3) tax-exempt status determination from the Internal Revenue Service. Donations made to this trust are tax-deductible. Donations intended for specific foreign missions are only considered recommendations. Trustees retain discretion and
control over all disbursements to the SSPX’s foreign missions.
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Blessing of
New Bells
in Gabon
We present here some extracts from the letter of the superior of the
SSPX’s mission in Gabon, Africa and a gallery of images showing the
casting of the bells, their decoration for the rite of consecration and their
elevation into the mission’s bell tower.
Dear Friends and Benefactors,
Benedicamus Domino, Deo Gratias! Bless the Lord, thank God! Finally
our St. Pius X mission of Gabon has the joy of seeing the installation of
its three beautiful steeple bells. On Saturday, May 25, Bishop Tissier de
Mallerais blessed our three bells which were then installed in the tower.
At the event were our District Superior, Fr. Loïc Duverger, and Fr. Patrick
Groche. On Sunday, May 26 (the Feast of the Holy Trinity), the bells of St.
Pius X mission rang for the first time. The Gabonese television network
happily broadcast the joyful ceremony on Gabon’s airwaves!
Background of each bell
Bishop Bernard Tissier de
Mallerais anoints the bells with
sacred chrism.
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First bell: Pope Marcel I: Why Pope Marcel I? To show our gratitude to
our revered founder, Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, who not only gave 13
years of his priestly life in Gabon, but also for his special protection on our
beloved Gabon mission and for all the benefits he gave to the Church.
On the bell’s back (side 2), we have the episcopal coat of arms of our
founder Archbishop Lefebvre, followed by the text, “I delivered unto you
that which I myself have received—Tradidi quod et accepi, June 30,
1988.”
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Second bell: St. Nicolas of Flüe: Why? This is the secondary patron of our mission, so revered by our faithful, and
a model for our gentlemen of Gabon. This is also a nod to
our friends from Switzerland where Ecône is located—a
lighthouse of Catholic Tradition! On side 2: “My Lord and
my God, remove from me everything that hinders me from
going to you.
My Lord and my God, give me everything that draws me
to you.
My Lord and my God, take me from myself and give
myself entirely to you.”
Third bell: St. Therese: This is the patroness of the foreign missions, one of the greatest saints of modern times,
whose great works are a particular focus for our mission.
On side 1: the image of St. Therese of Lisieux, followed by
the text: “I’m not dying, I am alive—I spend my heaven doing good on earth—St. Therese, pray for us.”
The life of our mission now beats to the rhythm of the
bells: what joy!
Long life and spiritual efficacy from St. Marcel!
Long life and spiritual efficacy from St. Nicolas of Flue!
Long life and spiritual efficacy from St. Therese!
Fr. Prudent Balou,
Prior of the Gabon Mission of St. Pius X
(Top left) Mrs. Faubert, who knew Archbishop
Lefebvre in Dakar, is seen ringing Pope Marcel I.
(Lower left) The “Little Flower” rises in the air,
first to be installed in the steeple of St. Pius X.
(Below) The three bells: Pope Marcel I,
St. Nicolas of Flüe, and St. Therese.
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Meet the Team
on true devotion to Mary as being the shortest path to
Jesus Christ is a great consolation.
What was it like growing up? Can you tell
us a little bit about your family?
Steve O’Dell
Will you explain a little bit about what the
District Office does and what your role is?
I am the Project Coordinator for the SSPX U.S.
District. The types of projects I work with across the
District usually concern renovation or new construction
of our chapels/schools and the acquisition of property. I
am primarily responsible for assisting priests, staff members, and faithful who work with these projects, from the
approval process to the completion of the project.
What are some of the biggest needs or
challenges of the District Office?
A major challenge in our District is to stay abreast
of the many active projects we have across the country.
We all have much to do in this day and time, and heavy
work-loads can at times be a challenge in keeping the
projects moving forward.
What do you like most about being a
Project Coordinator?
I have had many pleasant experiences in working with
the priests and faithful across the District. It has been
particularly edifying to see that our Traditional Catholic
Spirit is alive and well, especially when we consider the
many challenges we face today.
What is one goal for the District Office that
you are excited about?
An exciting thing I see in our District Office is the
organizing and streamlining of the process by which we
work with projects. This will help with communications
and in working with deadlines in a timely fashion.
Who is your favorite author and why?
St. Louis de Montfort is my favorite author. He was
manly in his devotion to Our Blessed Mother and his
treatise on True Devotion to Mary is rich. His emphasis
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Growing up in my parish and neighborhood in the
1960’s was quite interesting. I spent the greater part
of my first 34 years as a member of what is now the
Basilica of the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, in
Charleston, West Virginia. I attended the parochial
grade school at Sacred Heart, and also Charleston
Catholic High School, as my father, sister and two
brothers also did.
As a young lad I witnessed the end of an era of great
Catholic Tradition at Sacred Heart. I will never forget
the day I walked through the back door of the old
grade school and discovered portions of what used to
be the beautiful side altars, with the statues of Mary
and Joseph, waiting to be moved forever away. Some
of my favorite memories relate to Sunday morning
Mass, the good O.F.M. Capuchin priests and Sisters of
St. Francis, and Sister Jacqueline’s fourth and seventh
grade classes.
And yes, there were some care-free days of summer in my youth, of playing sand lot baseball, running
barefoot, catching crawdads with bare hands in Indian
Creek, and fishing in the Elk River.
Who is or was the person who most
influenced you and why?
My father David Leon O’Dell is the person who has
influenced me the most. He was for the most part the
very quiet no-nonsense type, but he did appreciate a
good laugh.
I remember the time my Dad, Great-Uncle Carl and
I were passing time in the back yard at our home in
Pinch, West Virginia. Uncle Carl was a character, tall
and wiry with a bald head and slight German accent. I
was 16 years old, and Dad handed to me my first ever
bottle of beer, saying “Here Steve, have one of these.”
Uncle Carl said “Atta’ boy Leon! That’ll put some hair
on his chest!” I told Dad he ought to give Uncle Carl
two bottles of beer to put some hair on his head, and
he, along with Uncle Carl, laughed heartily.
My father’s last days on earth were in complete submission to the will of God, and he died with a great devotion to Jesus Christ crucified at the age of 49 years.
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District Projects
Active projects that have been approved for the SSPX
U.S. District:
Armada, MI
St. Joseph’s Church
Chicago, IL
Our Lady Immaculate Church
Farmingville, NY
St. Michael the Archangel Church
Georgetown, IL
Notre Dame de La Salette Academy
Kansas City, MO
St. Vincent de Paul Church
Kingsford Heights, IN Immaculate Heart of Mary Church
Lake Worth, FL
Queen of the Holy Rosary Chapel
Ridgefield, CT
Christ The King Church
Phoenix, AZ
Our Lady of Sorrows Church
Pittsburgh, PA
Our Lady of Fatima Chapel
Post Falls, ID
Immaculate Conception Church
St. Cloud, MN
St. Robert Bellarmine Church
St. Paul, MN
Immaculate Heart of Mary Church
Virginia Beach, VA
Our Lady of Fatima Chapel
Watkins, CO
St. Isidore’s Church
Waverly, IA
St. Philomena Mission
Renovation of buildings.
Renovation of priory.
Septic system/parking lot.
Renovation of St. Anthony’s Hall,
repair of chapel steps.
Relocate/remodel rectory.
Acquisition of property.
Underground storage
tank removal.
Construction of new
St. Padre Pio School.
Construction of new church. Acquisition of church building.
Grading of soil at the cemetery.
Repair of brick work.
Construction of new garage.
Purchase and sale of property.
Renovation of church basement.
Construction of altar, pews,
confessional and podium.
The SSPX seminary project in Virginia is not included with the SSPX U.S. District projects. Please visit www.newseminaryproject.org to view progress.
U.S. District faithful’s support for the foreign missions trust (2012):
Asia$266,235.11
Africa$60,525.40
Australian Seminary
$7,908.00
Eastern Europe
$50,250.01
Mexico$51,126.90
South America
$40,000.00
South American Seminary
$5,126.41
Total$484,171.83
Upcoming US District collections for the foreign missions: October 2013.
On behalf of the District Superiors, priests, sisters, brothers and faithful in the foreign missions, we extend a warm
and heartfelt thank you for your generous sacrifices and prayers, and we assure you of our prayers each day in our rosary and at the altar. Your gifts help sustain us in our efforts! May God bless you!
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St. Michael’s Priory in Enugu, Nigeria
Confirmations
Sunday June 2, 2013 marked an important “first” for our
priory in Nigeria. His Lordship, Bishop Bernard Tissier de
Mallerais administered there, for the first time, the sacrament of confirmation.
He left Libreville Thursday morning, accompanied by the
District Superior, Fr. Loïc Duverger, and arrived in Lagos
early Thursday afternoon. They were met at the airport by
Mr. Stephen, one of our faithful, and stayed the evening in
a guest-house run by a religious congregation, awaiting the
following day the only reliable daily flight to Enugu.
Bishop Tissier was welcomed to Enugu by Fr. Gregory
Obih, the first Nigerian priest of the Society, who is currently the only resident priest in the priory.
Fr. Benoît Laignelot was waiting for them at the priory.
He had arrived in Nigeria three weeks earlier, on a visit to
help Fr. Obih prepare the ceremonies. He had come from
Continued on p. 14
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Book Review: Tales of Foreign Lands, Volume 1
Volumes 1-3 Collected by Rev. Joseph Spillmann, S.J.
This collection of charming stories prepared for young
people offers parents a way during these summer months to
instruct their children in the Faith under the guise of adventure
tales. Fr. Spillmann, who had a knack for writing books for children and also was successful in giving retreats to young people,
manages to tell a story in such a way that it remains accessible
to an eight-year-old and yet interesting to a fourteen-year-old.
There are four stories in this volume, and each story is comprised of anywhere between eight to twelve chapters, roughly
eight pages per chapter, making them easily and quickly readable. Intertwined in each story is a lesson based on fundamental Christian teachings. Probably no parents have avoided the
frustration of seeing a message to their child go unheeded,
only to find the same message catch fire in their child when
delivered by another source. Tales of Foreign Lands allows chil-
Tales of Foreign Lands Vol. 1
320pp.—Softcover—STK #8409—$15.95
dren to internalize these Catholic truths. Since they’re getting
the message from someone besides their parents, they’re perhaps less likely to dismiss it than if it came from Mom and Dad.
The first two stories in this volume cover that most difficult
of Christ’s teachings: “Love your enemies,” as well as the wisdom of placing all of one’s troubles into God’s hands. A third
story tells the sad tale of the Spanish government’s treatment
of the Indians and the missionaries’ efforts to protect them by
placing the spiritual needs of the Indians above the material desires of the Spanish government. The final story follows a large
group of priests exiled from France on their way to a penal colony during the Revolution, whose mercy and meekness inspires
a young boy to become a missionary himself.
Scott Quinn
Tales of Foreign Lands Vol. 2
332pp.—Softcover—STK #8455—$15.95
Tales of Foreign Lands Vol. 3
329pp.—Softcover—STK #8478—$15.95
Available at www.angeluspress.org
The 2013 Conference for Catholic Tradition
That She Might Reign­— Mary, Hope of the Church
Please join us for our fourth annual conference for Catholic Tradition, October 11-13, 2013 in Kansas City, MO
Featured Speakers and Topics:
Bishop Bernard Fellay
Fr. Juan-Carlos Iscara
Fr. Albert, O.P.
Fr. Daniel Themann
Fr. Gerard Beck
Dr. John Rao
Dr. Peter Chojnowski
Mr. Andrew Clarendon
Prof. Roberto de Mattei
Our Lady of Fatima and the Crisis in the Church
Our Lady in the Early Church
Who is Mary?
Apologetics: Defending the Marian Dogmas
Marian Devotion in the Family
Our Lady in History
Our Lady in Art and Architecture
Our Lady of Guadalupe
They Have Uncrowned Her; Our Lady Since the Council
The inaugural showing of Archbishop Lefebvre: A Documentary, will take place at the conference on Sunday, October 13
(Pre-order the DVD and watch the trailers at www.lefebvrethemovie.org).
To register or for more information:
www. angeluspress.org/conference | 1-800-966-7337
13
Regina Coeli Report
July - August 2013
Continued from p. 12
Durbin, South Africa, which is definitely a different kind of
Africa to Nigeria, with its climate, people and way of life.
He was still learning the differences.
Also visiting the priory were two Nigerian priests: Fr.
John-Bosco and Fr. Christopher, who after discovering the
traditional liturgy now celebrate the Traditional Mass. They
had come to participate in this special occasion.
The confirmations were to take place in the priory
chapel. However, it was decided that the chapel was going
to be too small and it would be better to have the ceremony
outside on the porch, as a crowd of over 200 faithful was
expected. An extra tent was erected and benches installed.
Throughout the evening the choir practiced the music for
the Corpus Christi Mass for the Sunday.
Early Sunday morning the altar was set up, with the help
of the young men of the parish, who had come to assist with
the organization of this special day. The flowers arrived also
in time for the altar and the statue of Our Blessed Lady.
The ceremony started with the blessing of the bells,
purchased at the time of the founding of the priory last
September. They now toll the Angelus prayer, daily Mass
and the life of the priory, ringing out through the local area
the voice of the Catholic Church.
There were 55 confirmands, many from Enugu, but also
from numerous other cities across Nigeria: Lagos, Onicha,
Aba, Asaba, Oweri, Abudja and even from Ghana. For some
of them, it was a full day by bus to get to Enugu. The faithful generously opened their houses to look after the visitors
while in Enugu.
The last person to be confirmed arrived at the priory
just as Bishop Tissier was about to close the vessel of holy
chrism. After a nine-hour bus journey she had arrived at
the main Enugu bus station in the middle of the night, only
to be attacked by robbers, who stole everything she had
brought for her special day. Her ordeal was hard to bear
and she arrived at the priory completely overwhelmed. But
at least she arrived in time to be consoled by receiving the
seven gifts of the Holy Ghost.
After the Mass, a shortened Corpus Christi procession
was led around the property. Unfortunately we were in the
“wet season,” and the local streets were not in any state for
Bishop Tissier to process along with the Blessed Sacrament,
as a thunderstorm was almost ready to break.
We had prayed to St. Claire for good weather and, in
reality, she didn’t disappoint us since, with the exception
of several black clouds and a few thunder rolls, the weather
was quite clement, with a light breeze to bring down the
temperature.
After these beautiful ceremonies, Bishop Tissier was
officially received by the parish, according to their local customs. The speeches were concluded by offering
him a “garden egg”—a small green fruit which is eaten
with spiced-up peanut butter. After receiving the egg, His
Lordship gave his blessing to everybody and retired for
lunch with the other clerics present for the ceremony. The
faithful took part in a parish lunch organized by the ladies
of the parish.
The day concluded with Vespers and Rosary, before the
faithful returned to their houses with different guests who
would begin their long bus ride home the following day.
For those who remained, strengthened by these beautiful
ceremonies, life continued its course but with a new desire
to see these beautiful ceremonies and the full traditional
Catholic liturgy spread across the whole of Nigeria. (Left) Fr. Duverger
and Bishop Tissier
enjoy a “garden egg.”
(Far left and below)
Confirmations and
procession.
14
Pilgrimages
Our Lady of Sorrows of Starkenburg—September 12-14
(Note the earlier date this year!)
Come join us with your family in this 3-day 40-mile pilgrimage in
honor of Our Lady!
The Society of Saint Pius X is pleased to coordinate this pilgrimage
in honor of Our Lady of Sorrows to Starkenburg, MO. The pilgrimage
route will be along the historic and beautiful Katy Trail.
We offer both a 3-Day and a 1-Day option for pilgrims.
The 3-Day pilgrimage will start at the Katy Trail access point in
Jefferson City, MO, proceeding through Tebbetts, Mokane, Portland,
and Bluffton to conclude near the shrine of Our Lady of Sorrows in
Starkenburg, MO.
The 1-Day pilgrimage will join the 3-Day pilgrimage at Portland on
the morning of November 3 for the final 12 miles.
For more information, please contact Joe Spencer:
(816) 668-4148 | [email protected]
Sacred Heart Mission of Cataldo—July 19-21
Our annual pilgrimage to the Sacred Heart Mission in Cataldo,
Idaho from Immaculate Conception Church in Post Falls is a 50
mile spiritual journey that spans three days, involves hundreds of
Christians from across the United States united in prayer, song, and
camaraderie.
For over ten years, men women and children of all ages have gathered in Post Falls during the month of July to give honor to God and
profess their Catholic Faith by journeying over fifty miles, through
heat, rain, and even snow, culminating the pilgrimage with a Solemn
High Traditional Latin Mass in the oldest Catholic Mission in Idaho,
The Sacred Heart Mission of the Coeur d’Alene Indians in Cataldo.
For more information, please contact: Eric Rutherford (208) 773-7442
Online registration at www.cataldopilgrimage.org.
Seminarians accompany sick to Lourdes—October 21-29
Join Fr. Yves le Roux and the deacons of St. Thomas Aquinas
Seminary in Winona, MN, on this 9-day pilgrimage to France. Visit La
Salette, Laus, La Mure, Fontfroide, Pibrac, and spend four nights in
Lourdes. Space is limited. Wheelchair accommodation is available.
$2,670 per person in double occupancy with air from Minneapolis
(includes estimated air taxes and surcharges).
The sick and the elderly are especially invited,
however this pilgrimage is open to all.
Youth Pilgrimage to France—May 30-June 10, 2014
Join Fr. Patrick Rutledge on the 2014 Youth Pilgrimage, Visit Notre
Dame in Paris, Lisieux, Normandy Beaches, Mont Saint-Michel and
participate in the 3-day Chartres walking pilgrimage. Sponsorship
opportunities are available. See the enclosed flyer for details. Space
is limited.
Catholic Shrines of Poland, Prague and Germany—June
2014
Do not miss this unique opportunity to venerate the Holy Relics of
Aachen (Germany), which are exposed for 10 days only, once every
seven years. Includes daily Mass celebrated by an SSPX priest.
For more information on these pilgrimages, please contact: Regina Pilgrimages by
Orbis Vacations, a Traditional Catholic tour operator located in St. Marys, Kansas
(866) 369-8149 | (785) 437-2883 | Email: [email protected]
Archbishop Lefebvre: A
Documentary
The inaugural showing in the United States will take
place at our 2013 Angelus Press Conference on Sunday,
October 13.
This documentary is the result of countless hours and trips
throughout the world for the production team, so that the complete
picture of this amazing life may finally be told on film.
Contains rare video footage and never-before-seen interviews
with priests, sisters, seminarians, and lay faithful who knew him.
From his childhood in France through his momentous resistance to
the crisis of Modernism, this film tells the story of Archbishop Lefebvre as never before.
Pre-order the DVD and watch the trailers at www.lefebvrethemovie.org
Eucharistic Crusade
Monthly Intentions
July:
For the conversion of the gentiles
August:That we stop killing unborn children
U.S. DISTRICT TREASURE (April 2013)
Daily offerings
13,660
Masses4,681
Sacramental communions
3,980
Spiritual communions
10,910
Sacrifices21,305
Decades of the rosary
53,319
Visits to the Blessed Sacrament
4,640
15 minutes of silent meditation
4,612
Good examples
14,630
Number returned
467
E-mail: [email protected]
Holy Land Pilgrimage
9th Annual Holy Land Pilgrimage—May 27-June 6, 2014
Join us as we walk in the footsteps of Our Lord, visiting Caesarea,
Mount Carmel, Lake Tiberias, Nazareth, Bethlehem, Jericho, Mount
Tabor, Mount Beatitudes, Bethany, Jerusalem and more. Fr. John
Young will be the spiritual director.
For more information and itinerary details, please contact Christine di Cecco
Saint Pius X Pilgrimage Co. | [email protected]
203.378.2763 | 74 Westlake Road, Trumbull,Ct 06611
Retreat Schedule
Girls’ Summer Camps
Men’s and Boys, Retreat in Kansas City
Parkville, MO 64152
8-9th grade BOYS: Jan 26-29, 2014
10-11th grade BOYS: Jan 29-Feb 1, 2014
MEN: Jan 26-31, 2014 (Ignatian)
Nuestra Señora del Rosario Camp
Ages: 9-17 | August 8-12, 2013 | Mimbres, NM | Fr. Trevor Burfitt
To register please contact Rina Duncan | (575) 538-3231
St. Maria Goretti Camp
Sisters of the Society of Saint Pius X camp is already full.
For more information, please call St. Vincent de Paul Priory: (816) 753-5853
St. Ignatius Retreat House
209 Tackora Trail, Ridgefield, CT 06877
MEN: Sept. 16-21, Nov. 11-16
WOMEN: Aug. 19-24, Oct. 14-19, Dec. 9-14
Boys’ Summer Camps
For more information, please call (203) 431-0201
Our Lady of Sorrows Retreat Center
Los Gatos Boys Camp
750 E. Baseline Road, Phoenix, AZ 85042
MEN: Oct. 7-10 (Marian), Dec. 9-14, Feb. 10-15 , April 2-5 (Virtues)
WOMEN: Sept. 16-21, Jan. 13-18,
THIRD ORDER: Nov. 11-16
MATRIMONY: Oct. 23-26
July 27-August 10, 2013 | Big Basin Redwood, CA | Fr. Loop
To register please contact Fr. Jonathan Loop (408) 354-7703
Don Bosco Midwest Boys Camp
July 29-August 10, 2013 | Camp Tamarak, WI | Fr. Patrick Mackin
To register please contact: [email protected] | (315) 289-7468
For more information, please call (602) 268-7673
St. Marys Boys Camp
August 4-12, 2013 | Blackhawk, CO | Fr. Jordan Fahnestock
To register please contact Fr. Fahnestock (816) 923-2022
St. Aloysius Gonzaga Retreat Center
19101 Bear Creek Road, Los Gatos, CA 95033
MEN: Aug. 26-31, Sept. 9-14, Oct. 21-26, Dec. 12-15
WOMEN: Aug. 19-24, Sept. 30-Oct. 5, Nov. 21-23
THIRD ORDER: Nov. 4-9 (Mixed: Men and Women)
Braves Camp
Ages 8-12 | August 9-17, 2013 | Regina Coeli House, MO
To register please contact Brother Rene (816) 820-4006
For more information, please call (408) 354-7703
St. Joseph’s Center, Saint Césaire, Quebec
1395 Rue Notre-Dame, Quebec, J0L 1T0
Transportation provided from the Montreal airport.
MEN: Oct. 7-12
WOMEN: Aug. 12-17, Sept. 30-Oct. 5
For more information, please call (514) 312-7890
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Academy
2483 Bleams Road East, New Hamburg, Ontario N3A 3J2
La Salette Office Manager
La Salette Academy is accepting applications for the position of
office manager/accountant and receptionist.
For more information: [email protected] | (217) 662-2127
MEN: Aug. 5-10
For more information, please call (519) 634-4932
Mass Stipends
Check out the improved
SSPX.org website
The U.S. District Office accepts Mass stipends for SSPX (or its associate) priests. The stipend is $20 per Mass or $200 for a novena
of Masses. If you wish to have celebrated a Gregorian Mass (i.e. 30
consecutive Masses for the dead), please first contact the District Office at (816) 733-2500 to see if a priest is available to accept the intentions. The faithful may, of course, request Masses of their pastors
without passing through the District Office. Send checks (payable
to SSPX) to: District Secretary, Regina Coeli House, 11485 N. Farley
Road, Platte City, MO 64079.
Please include a separate note outlining the Mass intentions.
Please note: we cannot promise specific dates for the celebration of the Masses.
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Regina Coeli Report
Number 251 July - August 2013
Regina Coeli House 11485 N. Farley Road Platte City, MO 64079 Tel: (816) 753-0073 www.sspx.org