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Basilian Writes Book on Holy Child

The Rev. Dr. Damian Hinojosa, CSB, worked with Ann Ball to write The Holy Infant Jesus. Their text contains the full history and customs surrounding El Divino Niño [see article here] as well as the history and popular customs of the Infant of Prague, the Child of Atocha, and many other representations of the Holy Child throughout the world. The book is available through your local Catholic bookstore, Barnes and Noble, or from Crossroad Publishing. 

Fifty Years Ago - A Visit With a Saint

Just over fifty years ago, (from left) Basilian Fathers John Onorato
and John Collins, met with Bishop Fulton J. Sheen and the Right Rev.
Msgr. C. McBride at the World Mission Exhibit in New York.

“God love you,” wrote Fulton J. Sheen on a copy of the program of the World Mission Exhibit in 1953. Although Sheen was a well known personality, it is doubtful that Basilian Fathers Onorato and Collins realized they were being blessed by a possible saint.

They knew, however, that their work among the poor Mexican immigrants in Texas was an important and much needed task. In calling them to this work, their Bishop in Houston, Wendelin J. Nold, had written: “Since my accession, it has come to my attention that there are in excess of 93,000 Spanish speaking people within the boundaries of this Diocese. The Mexican people, therefore, present the number one problem in the matter of caring for souls in this jurisdiction. Aside from a deep personal interest in these little ones of Christ, I am, as Bishop, obliged in conscience to see that greater efforts are made to take care of their spiritual welfare. Naturally, our chief handicap in this regard is the shortage of Spanish speaking priests. I am, therefore, appealing most earnestly to you and your congregation, and I am addressing to you the Macedonian cry, ‘Come over and help us.’”Pope Pius XII had himself appealed for special care of these souls, and his apostolic delegate, Archbishop A. G. Cicognoni, wrote, “The apostolate among the Spanish speaking is a most important one. The program aims at assisting these people in all their needs, in the field of labor, health, education and social services. It is directed to the family as well as to the individual and promotes their spiritual welfare also providing religious instruction and the possibility of church attendance and reception of the sacraments. Much has been accomplished in the past and the apostles of this work are deserving of ever praise for their meritorious and self-sacrificing labors. It was Sheen, however, who with his usual ability to sum things up in a succinct and telling manner. wrote, “God love you.” Indeed, for over fifty years this blessing from a man who may one day be declared a saint has overshadowed the work of the Basilian Fathers Mission in their apostolate. They know that God does indeed love them, and the souls for whom they labor.

More information about his cause for canonization and a prayer card of Archbishop Sheen may be obtained by writing: The Archbishop Sheen Foundation, P.O. Box 728, Peoria, IL 61652-0728.

Bishop Rodrigo Aguilar Martinez, Bishop of Tehuacan, Mexico. Father Tom Dugan is currently stationed at San Lorenzo, Tehuacan, Mexico.

Tehuacan Welcomes New Bishop; Hopes for New Church

Bishop Rodrigo Aguilar Martinez was appointed the new Bishop of Tehuacan this year. He came to San Lorenzo for confirmation in August when a large number of youth of the parish were confirmed. Needless to say, with over fifty to be confirmed, the Bishop preached to an overflow crowd! The current sanctuary holds just over a hundred people.

The parish hopes to build a new and larger church. Their three hundred year old church is lovely, but simply too small. It has very few windows and no air conditioning. Parishioners know it will take a long time to raise enough money for their new church. At such time as they are successful in their aim, they will keep the old church in use as a chapel for daily Mass.