TexLaMex May 2005 Page 4
Father John Korcsmar, Minerva Camarena-Skeith, and Samuel Skeith flew up to Notre Dame for the meeting of the development directors for the North American Holy Cross Provinces. They gathered to compare notes, how they seek help from the people they have served and continue to serve, and so forth.
Mr. Jerome Kearns works with the Midwest Province. He is a banker by profession, but having been educated by Holy Cross priests and brothers, he is committed to the Holy Cross mission. He made a very good point; we need to continue to present "our product," that is, the Holy Cross vision of religious life and mission. Most people are familiar with our works and apostolates, and they know many priests and brothers. But we do need to strengthen our "corporate identity" so that people know and understand our mission so that can continue to provide the services we do and to form others in religious life for the future.
Brother Raymond Papenfuss talked about the foundations he has approached for grants and shared his thoughts on how to approach foundations. He had been a missionary to Ghana; after contracting malaria, he returned to the U.S. where he raises money for Ghana. He hopes that Ghana will be prepared to be independent by 2010.
Bob Hannon works for the Eastern Province of Priests and Brothers. He is officed at Stonehill College. Bob had been in Holy Cross and is now working as a layman for the province. He has been working on development for only a short time, but he has developed a number of materials and tools which seem to be very effective. They have also developed a number of Heritage Tours where they take people to see some of the places where Holy Cross lives and works. Our beloved provincial wishes that he were as creative as Bob.
Father David Schlaver was there from the Indiana Province Mission Center. He spoke about how the funding of the missions is undergoing a change. In the past most of the people in the "mission areas" were from North America. They had families and friends who wanted to support them in their work. But as the missionaries have aged and are fewer, more and more of the workers there are local people who do not have the same kinds of families who can provide the same kind or level of support. The missions need different sources of funding.
Brother Lawrence Lussier of the Eastern Province of Brothers is just beginning his work in terms of development. He has lots of energy and ideas. He filmed a number of placed with a video camera and Fr. Steve Gibson is helping to make a DVD.
Father Pierre Labine of the French Canadian Province of Priests talked about how they fund their mission areas. Fortunately, many of the costs that the American provinces have, the Canadian provinces do not have. Those who have taught in Catholic schools receive a pension from the Canadian government. The Canadian government also has very reasonable health care for the elderly.
Mr. Jim Kramer from the Indiana Province is the successor to Roger Parent. He is becoming more familiar with the way things work there at Notre Dame and Moreau Seminary. They are interested in increasing their donor database as well.
A good time was had by all, and we all returned both older and wiser for the experience.
We have received the latest edition of the News and Notes from the Generalate. It can be found online at: CONGREGAZIONE DI SANTA CROCE. It's not TexLaMex, but it is worth reading!
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