The Spirit of the Cenacle - English

REGIONAL ASSEMBLIES REPORTS

The purpose of the Regional Assemblies are two-fold: 1) to implement the MCA goal to “develop committed lay apostles in the Church, passionate about their faith and eager to share it at the regionallevel, and 2) To identify candidates in each region for the positions of Regional Custodian and Assistant Regional Custodian who have the leadership, vision,and dedication to act on the Council’s goal statement and the regional mission plan."

Five of the six regions have held their Regional Assembly. Josie Morales, General Custodian, as well as Fr. John Seymour, International Spiritual Guide, have attended all the assemblies. Their presence and participation in these assemblies has been a significant asset as they provide guidance as needed in collaboration with the facilitator. Each region is unique and so are the Regional Assemblies. The Western Region (Holy Spirit) will be the last Regional Assembly and will be held April 22, 23 and 24th .

The Region of the Incarnation did not work on the MCA goal as the region will be re-organized. Very good leadership surfaced and Josie has appointed Diane and George Zine Transitional Regional Custodians for two years. The Zines will receive the support needed from the region’s leaders who demonstrated superior skills in various areas.

The MCA General Council is convinced that these Regional Leadership Assemblies are a good and necessary investment for the growth and leadership development of each Region. The Council also wants to thank the Missionary Cenacle Family for their support and prayers throughout these assemblies.

Holy Spirit Region has two new Area Custodians: Susana Vega (Los Angeles County Area; and Elaine Ruiz (Orange County Area); Elaine has been an Associate member of the MCA for almost 30 years.

Fr. Domingo Rodriguez, ST, will give the conference at the Pentecost retreat. There will be childcare for the first time during the retreat. A group from the parish will teach and provide entertainment for the children.

The Youth Cenacle, Jesus de Nazaret, is planning its retreat to other youths, and Sagrada Familia Cenacle is also planning a retreat for couples. The Angel Cenacle is carrying on their regular meetings under the supervision of their guides. They plan to have a retreat for children and they will invite school companions, friends, and other children. They are now preparing the talks, games, and other activities.

The Regional Assembly will be held on April 22-24. Fifty-five delegates are expected. Also attending will be the Area Custodians, Spiritual Guides and special guests. Sr. Brenda Hermann, MSBT, will facilitate.

The Leadership Assembly for Incarnation Region was held during the weekend of March 4-6, 2005, at the Motherhouse in Philadelphia. For those of us who attended as delegates, it was a rewarding weekend in which we accomplished even more than we had hoped. We realize that although we are active in our individual Cenacles, we have failed to communicate with other Cenacles within the region and with the larger MCA community. Josie Morales and Fr. John Seymour attended and, in addition to giving us feedback from the leadership assemblies in the other regions, they were helpful in guiding us through a process in which we addressed problems within our region.

We came up with a list of four goals for the next year and named various persons to serve on teams to work on each of the goals. We also named leaders we felt could jump start us in the year 2005 and gave Josie the mandate to appoint from those names the Regional Custodian and Assistant Custodian who can keep the momentum of the weekend going. They, in turn, will help us to elect our area leaders.

We came away from the weekend inspired to continue listening to the Spirit that began moving us in 1909 in the St. John Perboyre Chapel in Brooklyn, NY. Thank you for all the prayers to keep the Holy Spirit guiding us, we felt buoyed by them and you.

—Margaret A. Flanagan, Holy Redeemer Cenacle, NYC

The Trinita Missionary Cenacle: One Cenacle’s Journey

OUR HISTORY

On January 27, 1991, the first formation meeting of the Trinita Missionary Cenacle Apostolate was held at Trinita, Town Hill Road, New Hartford, CT. The Cenacle members from Wareham, MA, were the guest speakers. Sr. Ann Miriam Gallagher, MSBT, who, at the time, was missioned at Wareham, and Fr. Dennis Berry, ST, Regional Spiritual Guide, attended as meeting directors. Bill and Anita Panagakos hosted the event. They were Missionary Cenacle Volunteers who were serving as resident directors of Trinita Retreat. Approximately 50 guests turned out. Among those attending were Ed and Bernie Dalpe, Becky and Jim Kent, Cindy Laurie, and the hosts, Bill and Anita Panagakos.

Cindy, Bill, and Anita were the first ones to make their Act of Consecration. Later, they were joined by Jim and Becky Kent, Rich and Sue Lacus, and Ed and Bernie Dalpe, in that order.

Our Cenacle has had monthly meetings since that January, 1991. We meet at each of our homes as well as at Trinita. We have attended Cenacle Family gatherings held at Trinita and in the New England area. As a Cenacle we have visited the Shine of St. Joseph in Sterling, NJ. Some of us have visited the Mother House in Philadelphia and some have made retreats at Holy Trinity, Alabama.

Because Trinita is a mission of the Missionary Cenacle Family and is local to our Cenacle, it has become our corporate mission. Each of us has devoted himself or herself to working at Trinita retreats and the Trinita Family Life Development Program in his or her individual capacity. Sr. Ann Miriam Gallagher, MSBT, and Sr. Joan Packard, MSBT, have been resident directors at Trinita since Bill and Anita gave up the position in 1992. Other MSBTs have resided at Trinita and have aided in the ministry during the past 12 years. We have been abundantly blessed to have our sisters so close. Through Trinita we have come to know all four branches of the Missionary Cenacle Family and the Missionary Cenacle Volunteers who play a vital role in sustaining Trinita’s Summer Family Life Development Program.

CURRENT

The members of our Cenacle are Ed and Bernie Dalpe, Becky Kent, Rich and Sue Lacus, Cindy Lurie, and Bill and Anita Panagakos. (Jim Kent, a founding member died September 14, 2004.)

We have had many difficulties in the past several years. Our members have faced unforeseen illness and death. Jim and Becky Kent struggled with cancer for several years. Through their faith and with the help of family and friends they walked through the dark valley together. Becky has been in remission for some time, but Jim succumbed to the disease in September, 2004. A tribute to Jim can be found in the “In Memoriam” section of this newsletter.

In spite of all the adversities of this past year, we continue to respond to our call as missionaries, recalling the words of Father Judge: “God’s grace calls you to service and He accounts as done for Himself what you do for neighbor. This year we should give ourselves more generously and more devotedly to our Infant Savior. To extol His name, to extend His kingdom as a Missionary Servant…. is our life mission.” Father Judge, Missionary Cenacle Meditations, p. 24.

In the following report from Our Lady of Guadalupe Region, we are reminded of the early days of the MCA when Father Judge enlisted laypersons to visit the neighborhoods to take the church census in the cities of the northeastern United States.

The majority of the members of the MCA of Buena Vista and Santa Ana met with members of the local parish on November 8 and 12, 2004. Our objective was to help develop a pastoral plan in the parish and to respond to the spiritual and material needs of the community. We made plans to take a census in the towns of Buena Vista and Santa Ana on November 15 and 19. In addition to the usual questions, such as the number of family members, marital status, occupation, religion, and church attendance, we also asked about religious practices such as participation in mass and whether or not the persons read the Bible or prayed the rosary. We also asked if there were family members who had not made their First Communion. We inquired as to whether or not there were members of the family who were sick or had other special needs. A key question was “In what way may we help you?” In the course of taking the census, we invited those we visited to attend talks on November 22 and 26, where various topics dealing with Christian family life were to be covered. We had great success. Many families responded, and we were able to determine not only many situations where we could help but also were able to identify people who wanted to help us in our apostolic work. Our MCA groups have continued to meet and to plan ways that we might continue to respond to the needs of the community. We believe that as a result of our work, we have been able to establish lines of communication among many neighborhoods in Michoacán.

In January we held our Regional Assembly. We were very happy to have our General Custodian, Josie Morales, with us for the Assembly. Following the assembly, Josie Morales stayed on to meet with all the Cenacles. In her meetings, she explained what our responsibilities were in regards to the whole MCA, and clarified the Stewardship program (the three T’s: Time, Talent, and Treasure).

Josie accompanied us in our visits to the sick and needy in Buena Vista and Santa Ana. While she was with us, she stayed with a member of the MCA, Mrs. Evelia, whose gift of hospitality endeared her to Josie. We could tell that Josie was very touched by her visits with the sick and the needy. Her words of love and offering of prayers were comforting to them. Among those she visited was Oty Equihua Soto, a long-time member of the MCA who was dying of cancer. Josie, impressed by her dedication, leadership and missionary life, asked her to tell the story of her journey as a member of the MCA so that it could be shared with others. Josie’s visit brought great happiness to Oty. Unfortunately, Oty did not have time to relate her story. She died on March 4, 2995 at 1:25 p.m.

Oty Equihua Soto (front center) was ill with cancer for a number of years, but she remained optimistic. During Josie's visit she told of her great love for and service to the MCA.

After the Regional Assembly in Mexico I stayed in Michoacán to visit with Cenacle members. You will recall that the STs and the MSBTs were successful in establishing a strong foundation for the MCA in the region. After they left the region last year, it was their hope that the MCA would continue to flourish under the strong leadership of various Cenacle members in the region. I am so grateful that our STs and MSBTs formed the MCA there. The seeds that they planted are indeed flourishing. I am always humbled by the amount of good our MCA members do for the most poor and abandoned. This is especially noticable among the MCA members in Mexico. The need for missionaries is overwhelming. We already know this, but to actually confront these needs in person is indeed painful.The MCA in Michoacán is working diligently to adapt to the new staff in the parish and to introduce them to the Missionary Cenacle spirituality. The transition has not been easy. The STs and and MSBTs have continued to visit and are in contact with the MCA to lend them support and to nourish the Cenacle’s spirituality. This practice and the fact that the cenacles meet in homes are considered inappropriate by the new staff, perhaps for lack of understanding of our organization. I met with the pastor of the parish church to try to bridge the gap that has arisen and to clear up misconceptions. I explained to him our Rule of Life—that our founder taught us to “think with the Church,” that we are called to be “missionaries in the providence of our daily lives”—not necessarily within the church building or its boundries—and that we are also about the mission of Jesus. This was a first meeting in which a dialogue has begun and I was warmly invited to visit the next time I visit the region.

Please keep our Region of Our Lady of Guadalupe in your prayers and be a support to them in any way you can.

"For he will give his angels charge over thee, To keep thee in all thy ways." Psalm 91:11

Guardian angels are gifts from God to help us with our spirituality. They are good advisors who intercede for us and help us in our needs. It is consoling to know that we have special guardians near us.

Today we take a moment to speak about another class of angels—those angels who are here on earth, the angels who touch us through family and through our Cenacles. These earth angels are called children. It is in their nature to learn more about God. Along this line came the idea of forming a Cenacle for children called The Guardian Angel Cenacle.

The Guardian Angel Cenacle was initiated about one year ago by the members of the Sacred Family Cenacle in San Juan, Puerto Rico. They wanted to respond to the needs of children from the neighborhood who were interested in knowing more about the word of God and how His love is spread to all. The meetings revolve around stories from the bible. Our first story on Holy Thursday, 2004, was a reenactment of the Last Supper when Jesus washed the feet of the disciples. Since then we meet once a month and we feature a passage from the bible. Some of the stories we shared are Jonah and the whale, the Creation, and the birth of Jesus. Approximately fifteen children between the ages of three and eleven participate.

On December 1, 2004, my friend, Suzi Law, and I were asked if we could help collect toys for the children of Hispanic immigrant families in Union Springs, Alabama. Brother Mariano Fernandez, ST, had been assigned to work with these families, but he had only been there a short time and was not familiar with available resources. The families are very poor. The majority of them live in dilapidated trailers near the poultry packaging plant where most of the adults are employed. Their wages are very low and because of that they have very little in the way of material possessions. Most of their homes do not have enough beds, kitchen items, chairs, or other furniture. Since they could not afford to furnish their homes, it was not surprising that most families would not have been able to provide presents for their children at Christmas. Seeing the conditions of the trailer park touched our hearts so much that Suzi and I could not say no to Brother Mariano’s request. It didn’t matter that we had very little time and no money when we started out. It only mattered that we do what we could. We truly felt the power of the Holy Spirit and that gave us the momentum we needed. It helped tremendously that Suzi was a social worker and knew what she was doing.

We were, to say the least, two very enthusiastic “elves.” We asked for financial donations from churches and individuals here in Montgomery and from the Chancery in Mobile. We were in awe of the generous spirit with which so many people gave. The response was much more than we could have expected. We were able to spend about $900 on toys and give $300 to Brother Mariano to buy other needed items. I am not a shopper but I had more fun buying toys for the children than I have ever had shopping for clothes for myself. Suzi and I were invited to attend the Christmas Eve party that was planned for the children and their families, where they would receive the toys that we had purchased. We were honored by the invitation to celebrate with them.

There are no words to explain the joy we saw on the faces of those beautiful children. In many cases, the joy was mixed with disbelief that they could actually keep the toys – that they were their own to take home with them. I’ve been to children’s parties before but nothing like this one. There was no grabbing, pushing ,or shoving to get as much as they could. In fact, the small ones shyly stood by their parents until someone placed a gift in their hands. The older kids played games where prizes were given and they participated with great gusto. There was also music, dancing, and food galore. I’ve never had such good tamales!

The party was held in the YMCA building in Union Springs. Inside the building is a large basketball court with surrounding rooms for offices, a kitchen, and rest rooms. It was a cold, cold day, and although there were large heating fans, one had to stand in front of them to feel any heat. They were also quite noisy and so the music had to be loud to be heard over the fans. The cold did nothing to dampen the spirit of the party. The children played games, broke Piñata’s and ate their fill of candy and food. It was wonderful! I just stood still and took it all in as I realized for the first time how awkward it is to be in a large group who do not speak your language. It made me so keenly aware of how difficult it must be for Hispanics, or any other culture, to come to the United States and not be able to speak English. How frustrating it must be to try to get a job, go to the grocery store or the post office, or communicate with others in all the ways that we take for granted. I was extremely humbled by that realization and promised myself that I would do the best I could to learn at least enough Spanish to be able to communicate. Sometimes, though, in situations like the one I describe, there is no need for words. The smiles and laughter say it all. I know that God must have been smiling, too.

It would have been easy for me to have skipped this experience. My mother had died the day before the party for the children. I had originally planned to go to the party, but my enthusiasm was now swallowed up with grief. My friend Suzi urged me to go to the party, saying that I had done all that I could do for my mother. We could not have the funeral until after Christmas, and Suzi knew that I did not need to sit around my apartment alone until my family arrived. So I made the decision to go, and I’m so glad that I did. I’m so glad that I didn’t miss seeing the joy on those precious children’s faces. I’m so glad that I didn’t think only of my grief but was able, even for a little while, to be part of bringing joy to some folks who really needed joy in their lives. It was the fulfillment of our motto—“Be Good, Do Good, Be a Power for Good.” I’m so thankful to God for giving me the opportunity to see what putting these words into action can really mean.

When I was asked to write about my journey to the Cenacle Family, I was astounded that anyone would be interested. Yet, over and over again I experience a sense of “wonder” at the interest taken in me by Cenacle Family members.

I first learned about the MCA from Kay Knott, a member of Heart of Jesus Cenacle here in Montgomery. Our friendship blossomed early last year when we were both asked to participate in a leadership training program at our parish. We sat next to each other and, as the weeks passed, began to share bits and pieces of our own spiritual hopes, dreams and experiences. Kay talked frequently about the MCA and the spiritual support and nurturing she received over the years. She made it sound so positive and essential to her own spirituality that I could not help but be interested in learning more. At the same time, I was also very cautious and wary of becoming involved in any “church-sponsored” groups. My experiences in the broader, more institutionalized church setting were rarely ones of nurturing and support. So, I remained skeptical that this group really was the “spiritual oasis” she believed it to be. Yet, her enthusiasm could not be ignored. She saw something in me that she believed would contribute to the Cenacle Family, and she knew the immeasurable blessings I would receive. So, she began asking me to attend various MCA functions with her. Normally, these were held at Blessed Trinity Shrine Retreat. I was impressed with the people I met at these events and the true bond that seemed to exist between the members. Yet, I still kept my distance. The Lord kept me interested but I wasn’t willing to join.

One night while reading the brochure from Holy Trinity Shrine Retreat regarding upcoming events, I noticed an eight--day silent retreat on the Cenacle virtues and “The Rule of Life.” I immediately knew I needed to be at that retreat. It wasn’t a thought that “it might be fun to attend” or that “it might be interesting.” It was a deep sense of knowing that it was something I had to do. However, it was a retreat for Cenacle Family members only. Yet, God’s grace won out and I was allowed to attend even though I had no formal affiliation with the Cenacle Family. When I told my own family and friends I was going on this retreat, they truly thought I had lost my mind. I, too, wasn’t sure what I was doing. I just had a deep conviction that it was where God wanted me to be. So, despite many anxieties, I attended the retreat. It proved to be one of the greatest experiences of my life. I strongly urge all Cenacle Family members to attend the “Rule of Life” retreat. Aside from learning so much about my own relationship with God, I was given a detailed history of Fr. Judge and Mother Boniface and the founding of the Cenacle. I learned the values and virtues which the Cenacle holds so dear. As great as the retreat experience was, it was not the experience that culminated in my desire to belong to the MCA. Rather, I realized I wanted to be a part of the Cenacle Family while attending the funeral for a Trinitarian priest I had never met.

An older Trinitarian priest who had once been assigned to St. Joseph Church at Holy Trinity died during the time we were on retreat. His funeral was held at St. Joseph Church. Everyone from the Shrine Retreat attended the funeral. I initially thought it was odd that some of us were going to a funeral for someone we didn’t know. However, I learned that when a cenacle member dies, all Cenacle Family members who can, attend the funeral. Family takes care of family. It was a simple, beautiful service. The homilist reiterated the concept of “family” within the Cenacle tradition. In the middle of the service it dawned on me that, at that moment, there really wasn’t anywhere else I would rather be than sitting at this funeral, along with people I really didn’t know, in honor of a priest I had never met. The connection I felt with those gathered there is something I will always remember. It was then that I knew I wanted very much to be a part of this “family.” In my heart I knew it was right.

After that experience, I felt very much a part of things. I attended the MCA Assembly in September and it was wonderful. I joke that I was a “candidate” who thought she was a full member. I jumped right in and gave my energies, skills and, of course, my opinions. Everyone was welcoming, supportive and affirming. It only strengthened my commitment to MCA.

So, I guess I came in through a “back” door. I learned so much and had so many great experiences in the Cenacle before I ever attended a local MCA meeting. I think it was the best way for me to learn and experience the Cenacle Family and traditions, and God, in His wisdom, knew that. The coup-de-gras came on New Year’s Day. I was at Holy Trinity and was saying goodbye to one of the Trinitarian priests when he introduced me to some people with him. He spoke to them in Spanish and had to translate for me. He told me that he told them who I was and then said, “I told them you were family.” He will never know how much that simple phrase meant to me. So, I guess I am part of the family and I couldn’t be happier.

Jim Kent, MCA, embodies the highest ideals of the missionary vocation. Jim was a quiet man who gave freely and generously to all he met. Born in New Britain, CT, on July 25, 1948, to Henry and Evelyn Kent, he was raised with his brother, Robert, and sister, Mary. As a youngster, he attended St. Mary’s school in New Hartford, CT. Later he attended Oliver Wolcott Technical School in Torrington, CT. After graduation he became a printer and worked as a printer his entire life with the exception of his tour of duty in the U.S. Army from 1968 to 1971.

Jim’s affiliation with Trinita began early on when he sometimes helped his dad shovel the snow off the roofs of the buildings so they wouldn’t collapse.

Later he helped Fr. Vincent Fitzpatrick, ST, develop a cost effective and efficient way to silk-screen by hand the T-shirts for the families and volunteers who participate in the Trinita Family Life Development Program. (Talk about “the providence of your every day life!”) The T-shirts are important to the program for they publicize the “theme” of the summer program. Because they are affordable, the family members can wear them all year to remind them of their week at Trinita. During many hot afternoons and evenings Jim and Fr. Vincent could be found printing T-shirts in the lodge attic. This space is neither air conditioned nor modern; it is part of a rustic 150-year old barn, inhabited by bats and, for many years, accessible only through a window. This did not deter the printers. Jim manifested the Trinita Spirit: one who seeks to serve and to do whatever it is that needs to be done! He and Father Vincent, along with a handful of other volunteers, have hand-printed hundreds of T-shirts every year for the past 20 plus years.

When Sister Anne Miriam Gallagher and Sister Joan Packard moved into Trinita’s basement apartment in 1993, Jim was there to help. Along with Ed Dalpe, MCA, he assisted with the renovations that have taken place at Trinita during the past years. He continued to help the sisters with small and large tasks, and to assist with the spring and fall retreat programs and the Family Life Development Program during the summer. In more recent years Jim and Becky and Ed and Bernie volunteered as Deli Ministry Teams in Trinita’s kitchen for weekend retreats and summer family dinners.

In addition to his service to the Missionary Cenacle Family, Jim was a volunteer at Immaculate Conception Parish, New Hartford, and a member of the Knights of Columbus. He was a volunteer fireman and served as an emergency medical technician. Jim and Becky had three sons and five grandchildren. They enjoyed their family and put family first in the priorities of life.

Jim passed away at home, peacefully, with his family nearby. Two months previously he shared with us, his Cenacle brothers and sisters, his journey through life. He shared his story of anger, resentment and much pain. He recounted how the Blessed Mother and St. Theresa had supported him in his darkest hours and how his suffering was not in vain. He used his time to prepare to meet Jesus and offer his suffering up for the many souls who do not know the love and divine mercy of Jesus. He took comfort in the daily recitation of the rosary for the repose of souls.

Jim’s body was laid out in Immaculate Conception Church for an evening prayer service, visitation, and a recitation of the rosary. As his Cenacle Family, the Trinita MCA had the supreme honor to “wait with him one hour” as we each took an hour to stay with his body through the night and into the morning. In the morning, after his funeral mass and burial, which were concelebrated by Fr. Vincent and Fr. Tim, the pastor of Immaculate Conception, we went up the hill to Trinita. There we joined the Kents’ family and friends for a memorial dinner in Jim’s honor. It is a humbling privilege to have known this great worker in God’s kingdom and to have shared in a life of Cenacle spirituality with him.

Guadalupe Aguilar, the mother of Josie Morales, passed away on March 9, 2005, at the age of 94. (See Josie’s tribute to her mother in her letter in this newsletter.) Josie writes, I would like to thank everyone for your prayers, Masses, and monetary gifts received for the MCA in lieu of flowers, and all the expressions of love and support during this difficult time. It has meant very much to me and my family--an immense source of strength.

The MCA now has its very own website! Until recently the MCA website was part of the Missionary Cenacle Family website. In the last few months Mike St Pierre has led the way in establishing the MCA’s own independent website. It is available in English and Spanish and has many advanced features such as chatrooms and fresh material to appeal to youthful Internet visitors. The Internet address for the new website is: http://catholicmissionary.org/ (English) and http://misionerocatolico.com (Spanish). For the present, MCA materials are also available on the MCF website: http://mcenacle.org/mca/mca.htm

The Missionary Cenacle Meditations and The Missionary Cenacle Ordo are now online on the Missionary Cenacle Family website. In addition, one may access the monthly reflections prepared by the ST community as well as special devotions for the various liturgical seasons. You may access this rich treasury of Missionary Cenacle material by going to http://mcenacle.org and clicking on the links indicated. If you encounter any problems, please contact Jim Bolner, Sr., at jimbolnersr@cox.net.

Photographs on the Occasion of Josie's Visit to Mexico

Josie is given a warm welcome by the Cenacles in Michoacan.

Delegates to the Leadership Assembly of the Mexico Region hard at work.

	The Spirit of the Cenacle La versión español
	The Spirit of the Cenacle is the official newsletter of the Missionary Cenacle Apostolate. It is published three times during the year in conjunction with the liturgical seasons of Advent, Lent/Easter, and Ordinary Time. The deadline for the next issue is August 15, 2005. Please submit materials for the newsletter to Smittie Bolner, 460 Bancroft Way, Baton Rouge, LA 70808. E-mail: sbolner@cox.net.
	Volume 14, number 1 - April, 2005
*Joy—Fruit of the Holy Spirit* Joy comes from a sense of security, from feeling peace. This is when we feel secure. Joy, after all, is built on peace, tranquility. A person who has this fruit of the Holy Spirit has reason to feel that things are well with God and oneself. …When our Lord wished to say something to show that he was joyful, it was an expression like this: “O woman, great is thy faith! Let it be done to thee as thou wilt.”(Mt. 15:28) …….Do you know the first thing you should have done Easter Sunday morning…. The first thing you should have done was to have made a rich, true, generous, act of faith in the Risen Christ. We will soon have Ascension Day, a day of mystery. We will have Pentecost Day. If you want to do something that will please Heaven, make those acts of faith, hope and love. These acts will give a preference to your prayer. You could give Jesus some joy. “great is thy faith!” (Mt. 15:18)(2) Fr. Judge, Conference to the Missionary Cenacle Apostolate—April 13, 1932-MF 8539-40.	From the General Custodian Dear Family, "May the grace and peace of the Holy Spirit be with us forever!" No class or workshop would have taught me what I learned in one week in early March 2005. I was attending the MCA General Council meeting in Maryland when I was called back home to California because my mother’s condition had worsened. She died March 9, 2005, at the age of 94, surrounded by her family. My mother was a simple, humble woman with a strong Catholic faith which she instilled in me. Although she is no longer with us, my mother’s life continues to bolster my faith. Through her teaching, I have learned that all our assets, gifts, and personal virtues can be plain and ordinary until we offer them to God and ask Him to help us put them to use according to His will. I’ve learned that it is the Lord’s touch that transforms our possessions and virtues and gives them extraordinary value. I’ve become aware that my mother touched the lives of many persons directly and indirectly, and that because of this, she was an extraordinary woman. I know that she has left this world “in style” surrounded by her daughter, grand children, great-grand children, friends, and our Cenacle Family and she was given a “grand” reception in heaven. I am humbled and most grateful for all the prayers, expressions of condolences, and the love and support extended to me and my family. I value especially the support of our Missionary Cenacle Family. Our Cenacle Family is not perfect; but it is extraordinary. Thanks be to God! The MCA General Council met without me and I will give you a report on a latter date. In a separate article I will also brief you on the outcome of the five regional assemblies that have recently taken place. The Holy Spirit Region will hold its Assembly on April 22, 23, and 24, 2005. Your prayers are requested for its success. May this promise of our Lord take root in our hearts: “I am the resurrection and the life: whoever believes in me, though he should die, will come to life; and whoever is alive and believes in me will never die.” (John 11: 26) Lovingly serving you in the Most Holy Trinity, Josie Morales, MCA General Custodian