LOOK! World Villages in Tanzania, Africa

NEW MISSION IN TANZANIA: Expanding to reach more children in need...

World Villages for Children is expanding! The Sisters have been invited to Tanzania to bring their programs to one of the world’s poorest economies. Child malnutrition accounts for over a third of under-five deaths in Tanzania and substantial numbers of children are living in desperate conditions. Many children drop out of school and, without sufficient skills, have few options for work. So many young children are living at risk, malnourished, vulnerable and in need of our help.

During these first few months in Tanzania the Sisters of Mary are meeting with the representatives of the local diocese who have invited them to set up their Boystown and Girlstown and have offered them 62 acres of land to do so. The Sisters setting up the programs are Sister Acela, Sister Theresa, Sister Maureen and Sister Elena; they are busy each day organizing the project, meeting potential contractors and of course studying Swahili!  The Sisters have also received a blessing from Pope Francis to begin their new mission in Tanzania.

Sr. Maureen with some Tanzanian children, meeting potential students

While they are there, they are witnessing the dire situation faced by children. They see many children begging on the streets or selling whatever they have scavenged. Some of these children have spent time with the Sisters playing games and learning songs, and the Sisters feel humbled to meet these children and learn about the terrible challenges faced by each of them.

Once the construction work is complete and the new program is set up, the Sisters of Mary will be able to provide a place of safety and the chance of an education for these children so that they are not forced into a life of poverty . The Sisters of Mary programs have seen success across the world, and we hope to bring this success to Tanzania.

In Swahili 'Ahsante kwa msaada wako!' (Thank you for your support).

Please pray for our success in this work and we look forward to keeping you up to date on progress!

Source (c) World Villages for Children

8

Fr. Al: On Covetousness

"Covetousness is a vague word, but it means simply greed or desire for material possessions, goods and money. It is written in the Psalms, "Be still and you shall know your God." Desire, greed, and covetousness keep our hearts from being still. They agitate our hearts. They create this inner noise and we do not hear God, nor find Him, nor be one with Him. So, we must make our hearts still, silent and quiet by ridding them of all desire, greed and covetousness. If we do this, then we will hear the voice of God. " ~  Fr. Al's Homily to his Children, February 19, 1992

Fr. Al's Thoughts: On His Vocation

READ: "Story of Aloysius Schwartz" by Vincent J. O'Malley,C.M.

"Story of Aloysius Schwartz"
Saints of Asia: 1500 to the Present
Vincent J. O'Malley,C.M.

Born in Washington, D.C., the third of seven children, Aloysius Schwartz (1930-1992) attended Holy Name Grammar School, Saint Maryknoll College at Lakewood, New Jersey and Glen Ellyn, Illinois: and matriculated in theology at Louvain University, in Belgium. After visiting the shrine of the Virgin of the Poor at Banneux, Belgium, he dedicated his life to serving the poorest of the poor.

After ordination on June 29, 1957, Father Al was assigned to Pusan, South Korea, where he arrived on December 8. Evidence of post-war poverty abounded, especially among orphaned or abandoned street children. These children lacked the necessities of life. For these innocent victims, Fr. Al conceived and oversaw the construction of a Childrens Village to provide the poorest youth with basic necessities. To assist him in this mission, he founded two religious congregations: in 1964, the Sisters of Mary; and seventeen years later, the Brothers of Christ.

In 1985 and 1990, he extended his ministry to the Philippines and Mexico respectively. His foucus remained
the poor, and especially children. He founded Children's Villages in South Korea at Pusan(1964) and Seoul (1975); in the Phillipines at Manila (1985), Talisay (1990) and Silang (1991); and in Mexico at Chalco (1990).

In November 1989, this servant of the poorest of the poor was diagnosed with ALS, known popularly as Lou Gehrig's disease, and medically as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. As his muscles gradually weakened, his mobility lessened, and he became increasingly dependent on the use of a walker, and the wheelchair. As his voice weakened, he no longer preached to large crowds, but to small groups, and eventually, his spoken word gave way to written messages. He, nonetheless, continued his ministry. As his activities diminished, his prayers increased; he spent hours praying in front of the Blessed Sacrament, also saying the rosary, and hearing confessions. He writes in an autobiography:

"Pain is pain and suffering is suffering no matter how deep the faith, how bright the hope and how pure the love. At the same time, in the depths of the pain there is this oneness of spirits, and in the heart of the suffering there is this union of souls. And from this oneness and this union there rises a very pure, spiritual peace- this peace of God which surpasses all human understanding."

In recognition of his extraordinary contribution to society, he was nominated twice for the Nobel Peace Prize-- in 1984 and 1992.

On March 16, 1992 he died at Manila. The funeral procession took several hours to wind its very way through Silang as the poor poured out of their hovels to line the streets in demonstration of their affection for their advocate. Dignataries followed the cortege in grateful recognition of all that this priest had done for the church and the community. His remains were buried at the Children's Village at Silang, in Cavite Province, Philippines.

* * *
From: Shorelines Newsletter Archives
Published by : Vocation.com

INTERCESSION: Need a Miracle? Ask for Fr. Al's Intercession

 Servant of God, Msgr. Aloysius Schwartz
(1930 - 1992)
Founder of the Religious Congregations of the
Sisters of Mary and Brothers of Christ

PRAYER for BEATIFICATION

(The following prayer is being used around the world, asking Father Al to intercede with 

God for the petitions of those who need a miracle.)

* * *

Almighty, ever-living God, giver of all good gifts, You have filled
Msgr. Al with an ardent love for You and for souls. You have inspired
him  to dedicate his life to relieve the suffering of the orphans, abandoned,
the sick and the poor, especially the youth, which he did with all humility
and courage until the end of his life. May his holy life of love and service
to the poor be recognized by the Church through his beatification
and canonization.

For your glory and honor, we pray that the life of Msgr. Al be an
inspiration for us in striving for perfection in the love of God and
service to others.

Bestow on us, through his intercession the ...(mention the favor you ask for.) 

 
We ask this through our Lord, Jesus Christ, your Son and  the maternal
aid of Mary, the Virgin of the Poor. Amen.

Our Father ... Hail Mary ... Glory Be ...

(With Ecclesiastical Approval)

* * *

If You Have A Prayer Request:

The Sisters of Mary and the children in the World Villages would be honored to remember

your intentions in their daily prayer.

For prayer requests or favors granted, kindly write to:
The Sisters of Mary Girlstown Complex
Biga II, Silang 4118 Cavite, Philippines
Tel. No. (046) 414.2575; (046) 865.3097; (632) 529.8321
E-mail: fatheralsainthood@facfi.org.ph

Website: http://www.fatheralsainthood.org/

The Virgin of the Poor in the life of Fr. Al

 

"...The real Director and Chairman of the Board of the Sisters of Mary is Mary, Our Lady of Banneux, the Virgin of the Poor. As a Sister of Mary, if you do not believe this basic fact, you do not truly believe in the Sisters of Mary. As for myself, I am utterly convinced of its reality.

 By an absolutely unusual set of circumstances, I was ordained a deacon for the diocese of Liege, Belgium in which is located the village of Banneux. Not only that but I was ordained by Bishop Louie Joseph Kerkhofs who was the same bishop presiding at the time of the apparitions. My priesthood belongs to the Virgin of the Poor. My apostolate has been dedicated to her and from the very beginning, the Sisters of Mary and I have been in her capable, maternal hands.

If this were not so, the sisters would never have come into existence. If this were not so, after the Sisters of Mary were founded, they would never have survived the many trials and tribulations that assailed them. What is more, if Mary were not with us in  very real, active way, the sisters would not have grown, prospered and flourished in the remarkable way which they have done..."

- From the book, Killing Me Softly (The Summing Up) by Msgr. Aloysius Schwartz

 "...I would like to build a replica of the Shrine of Our Lady of Banneux here on the Silang property. I would like to be buried in the Shrine under the altar at the feet of our Lady. Mary of Banneux chose me at an early age just as she erupted in the night in the life of Marietta Beco. She suddenly appeared in my life without any preparation. She brought me to Belgium where I discovered her. I never heard of Banneux before then. So my priesthood in a special way belongs to Our Lady of Banneux. My apostolate is hers and I would like to be buried at her feet and say, that, all praise, honor and glory for any thing good accomplished in my life goes to her and to her alone..."

- From the book, Killing Me Softly (Medical Update) by Msgr. Aloysius Schwartz

* * * * * *

On March 16, 1992, Father Al Schwartz died in Manila, Philippines

and was buried at Silang, Cavite, Philippines.

Photo Credit: SMS Files