Reporting: Josie Morales

The following is a brief summary of the MCA Council meeting. The work at hand is overwhelming and each of us gave our all at this meeting - and well beyond. I am pleased to report that the MCA's Council is made up of very high caliber, committed individuals who represent their regions admirably. The MCA is blessed, and I personally feel extremely blessed and truly grateful.

Present were: Virgenmina Lugo, San Juan Region (Puerto Rico), Joanne Jones, Holy Trinity (Southern); Luz de la Torre, Holy Spirit Region (Western), Sandra Ortiz de Moya, Our Lady Queen of Angels (Costa Rica); Fr. Harold Stone, S.T., representing Our Lady of Guadalupe Region, Mexico; Jim Bolner, Assistant General Custodian; and Josie Morales, General Custodian. Marie Boin, Incarnation Region (Eastern, was delayed and joined the Council on Saturday evening). Sr. Brenda served as facilitator. Fr. Harold's role at this meeting was clarified to be that of representative of Mexico because Patricia Palomares (Regional Custodian) was unable to attend due to visa delays. Fr. Harold would not have voting privileges.

I. REPORTS

A. A brief verbal report was given by the General Custodian and each Councilor who also submitted a written report for their Region. (These are included under Regional Reports.)

B. The Leadership Assembly Report was approved.

II. BUSINESS

A. The decision was made to revise the Rule of Life and Constitution and to prepare it for Rome's recognition. Josie will assign a committee who will acquire feedback from the membership, and will prepare the document for Rome's approval. This committee will be reporting periodically to the MCA General Council.

B. Jim Bolner presented a financial report and a budget proposal which revealed a big gap between revenues and operation costs.

C. Leadership Development Fund (discussed on Saturday night)

1. The S.T.'s have provided the MCA with $50,000 to be used for leadership development again this year.

2. Josie, Jim, and Virgenmina form the committee that will review and approve requests for the use of Leadership Development funds.

3. Josie proposed and received the Council's approval to assign a committee to work on long range strategy for utilizing the Leadership Development Fund.

D. Pat Regan presented a proposal for a Stewardship Project. This would change the method in which we raise funds from a dues-based method to a spiritual-based method through which members are called to give by sharing voluntarily of their time, talent and money. This reflects the spirit of the early church as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles. The Stewardship Project proposal received an overwhelming approval by all. The funds needed to train and organize this project will come from the Leadership Fund.

E. Josie proposed that she, the Regional Custodians, Assistant Regional, and the Regional Spiritual Guides gather to plan for the next four years, to discuss business and share spiritual time together. Josie noted that the Council does not have enough time to discuss all the business it has. After some discussion, Josie's request was approved by all. The Leadership Development fund will be used to cover expenses.

F. Josie's report from her visit to Mexico, as well as input from Fr. Harold was reviewed and discussed on Sunday morning. The motion was taken that an assembly similar to the one held at Holy Trinity in April take place in Mexico for the purpose of leadership development in this Region. This motion was approved by all. Funding for this assembly will come from the Leadership Development Fund.

III. INFORMATION

A. Fr. Domingo Rodriguez has agreed to be the MCA General Spiritual Guide after his Sabbatical is over in June, 2000. Fr. John Seymour is the Acting General Spiritual Guide in the meantime.

B. Jim Bolner was appointed to be in charge of the financial affairs of MCA.

C. The new format for the MCA Directory of Members and Cenacles was presented.

D. Update on the Jubilee/Jubileo 2000 gathering. Liaisons should have the latest information regarding sign-ups and reservations.

Leadership Development Grant

Renewed by ST Council

Effective July 1, 1999, the General Council of the Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity approved another grant of $50,000 to be used for leadership development in the MCA. The first grant, made in 1998, was used primarily to fund the MCA Leadership Assembly held last April. The MCA Council has decided to use a significant portion of the grant this year to develop a stewardship education and fund development program for the MCA. Pat Regan, MCA (Burtonsville, MD) has been asked to spearhead the effort.

Pat brings to the project nearly twelve years of experience in fund development. Since 1989 she has worked for Trinity Missions, the fund raising office of the Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity, and has served as Director of Development since October 1998. She shared with the MCA Council her vision of stewardship as a model for the MCA, and proposed a plan of action for the first year, which the Council approved at their September meeting.

An international task force is being formed to address the issue of stewardship and fund development for the MCA. Members of the MCA Council and delegates from each region will meet in two separate gatherings -- one for the US regions and one for the regions of Puerto Rico, Mexico and Costa Rica -- in December and January. Pat and Sr. Brenda Hermann, MSBT will lead the discussions. The task force will be preparing a three-year plan, which will begin with an initial fund raising effort next spring and summer.

The project comes on the heels of our Leadership Assembly, which called for changes in our organizational structure that would allow for greater participation in the life of the MCA by all associates. Becoming more financially self-sufficient is critical to the future of the MCA as a growing international community. More information will be forthcoming after the initial task force meetings. In the meantime, associates are asked to continue submitting their dues and/or donations as they have in the past. While Victor Henken (Mobile, AL) will oversee the Leadership Development Fund grant again this year, general finances for the MCA are being handled by Assistant General Custodian, Jim Bolner. His address is: 460 Bancroft Way, Baton Rouge, LA, 70808.

The MCA Leadership Assembly
Celebrating 90 Years!

Pat Regan, MCA (Burtonsville, MD)
Assembly Coordinator

It's difficult to put into a short article the full impact of the MCA Leadership Assembly, but it was surely a graced moment in the history of the MCA! From the moment it began on Thursday evening, April 22^nd to the moment it ended after Mass on Sunday, April 25^th, the Spirit was evident in all that took place.

As each of the fifty-five participants arrived at Blessed Trinity Shrine Retreat in Holy Trinity, Alabama, there was a sense of homecoming -- of being embraced by our family. The fact that we were celebrating our 90^th anniversary on this holiest of ground had special meaning for all of us walking in the footsteps of Father Judge, Mother Boniface and Dr. Healey. The Assembly began with an inspirational address by Marvine Waite, stepping down as General Custodian after eight years. As we processed to Father Judge's chapel, which our Sisters maintain on the grounds of the Shrine Retreat, we each carried a vigil candle painted with the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe to light our way. Evening prayer ended with the Spiritual Guides, led by Fr. Dennis Berry, S.T. and Sr. Lourdes Teresa Toro, MSBT, beginning a 24-hour prayer vigil in the chapel. The prayer vigil, which was maintained until Sunday morning, was surely a big reason for the success of our gathering!

The three topics brought to the Assembly -- mission, spirituality and structure -- were gleaned from your survey responses. One particularly striking note throughout the Assembly was the openness of the participants to share their ideas and to seek counsel with each other. As we discussed each issue, we looked to each other for counsel and were able to arrive at consensus about the important themes brought before us.

During the weekend, MCA participants were divided among six table groups -- three for English-speaking, three for Spanish-speaking. The General Custodians of the Missionary Cenacle Family (Sr. Barbara DeMoranville, MSBT; Ms. Peggy Hayes, BTMI; and Fr. Domingo Rodriguez, S.T.) and Shawn Witmer, Director of the Missionary Cenacle Volunteers and an MCA associate also had a table. The Spiritual Guides had their own table, as well, as did the Assembly team and other guests. The general discussions were simultaneously translated over headsets.

The primary focus of the discussion on Friday centered around the question: How have we experienced the mission in our lives and how have we experienced Cenacle spirituality to support that mission? We arrived at a communal sense of the mission of the MCA for the 21^st century. As each table reported, common elements were evident, in particular:

+ Our mission is the same as the mission of Jesus -- to make God's love visible to the world, a world without borders and language barriers

+ As laity, we find opportunities to reflect God's love in our everyday lives

+ As members of the Missionary Cenacle Family, we have a particular solidarity with one another and the other branches in living out our mission

+ We feel a particular mission to the poor and spiritually abandoned, and to call others to be apostles

The Assembly also arrived at a communal sense of the essential elements of a Cenacle spirituality that sends us out on mission. Primarily, it is incarnational. It is about relationships -- our relationship with God, with others in the Cenacle Family and with the world. Our spirituality is a way of life that is rooted in prayer and reliant on the Holy Spirit. Cenacle spirituality is the development of an apostolic attitude and mind in ourselves and in others. The next morning, we turned our discussion to the MCA' s organizational structure by answering the question: How does the structure help you live out your mission and spirituality? First, we reflected on and shared at our tables our understanding and experience of the current structure. Then we described the current organizational structure, which employs a vertical model with the Council (the ministry of authority) at the head, under which come the local custodians and associates. We noted that the very nature of the model limits the participation of the membership and makes it difficult to engage the associates in the leadership of the MCA. The Assembly was in agreement that the MCA should implement an organizational model that would allow leadership at many levels to emerge. The following themes around this issue arose as recommendations for the next Council: to improve communication; to promote more shared leadership at the regional level; to allow for regional flexibility in whatever model is used; to provide a structure that would form leaders; and to recognize that the MCA is an international organization

Before breaking for lunch on Saturday, the Assembly took up the question of possible candidates for the positions of General Custodian and Assistant General Custodians. Each table groups reflected on the question: What are the gifts needed for leadership in light of our mission, spirituality and the way we want to be structured? We spent the break talking to possible candidates about their willingness to serve.

When we re-convened that afternoon, each table presented their suggestions for candidates for General Custodian, and each candidate was asked to come forward. Every table nominating that candidate was asked to name the gifts they saw in that individual. When the process was complete, we had twelve candidates before us. Each was asked whether or not they would accept the nomination. Eight individuals declined, and gave their reasons. We were left with four candidates for General Custodian. Of the eight who had initially declined, two agreed to be nominated for the position of Assistant General Custodian. The four who accepted a nomination for General Custodian also agreed to be consider the second position if they did not make the ballot for General Custodian.

Everyone then proceeded to the chapel for voting. We would select two candidates for each of the positions to present to the associates for election. The General Custodians of the other three branches were asked to count the ballots. The results of our nomination proceedings have previously been provided to the you and won't be recounted here. Following the nomination process, the Regional Custodians met with their delegates to determine how to distribute the ballots in their regions. Each Regional Custodian and delegate went home with a ballot and a cover letter explaining the nomination process. On Sunday, the last day of the Assembly, we evaluated the proceedings, and gathered in regional groups. We celebrated our closing liturgy in the chapel and enjoyed a last meal together before everyone headed back home.

I would like to use this forum to publicly thank the Assembly team who did so much to make this historic gathering a success. Debbie McDermott (Lorain, OH), Virgenmina Lugo (San Juan, Puerto Rico), Josie Morales (Compton, CA) and Claribel Santana, our MCA office administrator, worked with me behind the scenes for seven months as we prepared for the event. Throughout the Assembly, we were blessed with the presence of Robert and Lori Fontana (Yakima, WA), who led us in spirited song -- in English and in Spanish! The proceedings went smoothly in the capable hands of Br. Paul Michalenko, S.T. and Sr. Brenda Hermann, MSBT, who served as facilitators and helped the team with pre-planning. Fr. Jesus Rivera, S.T. and our own Josie Morales did an outstanding job of translating during the official sessions -- and for many "unofficial" conversations that happened all weekend. All of us in the MCA can be rightly proud of the gifts so selflessly shared by these talented individuals!

While all the fruits of the Assembly are yet to be realized, one goal was certainly met. We had hoped to generate increased participation in the election process by the membership. When the ballots were sent out last spring, nearly 500 ballots were cast for the two available positions, representing over 50% of our membership. This is a dramatic increase over the last election, when fewer than 200 ballots were returned. We are confident that under the leadership of Josie Morales and Jim Bolner (Baton Rouge, LA), our new General Custodian and Assistant General Custodian, the MCA Council will address the concerns and mandates presented by the Assembly delegates. The future indeed looks bright!

In Memoriam

Sr. Marie Josepha McNutt of the Infant Jesus, MSBT

Sr. Josepha McNutt of the Infant Jesus, M.S.B.T., died suddenly on Thursday, October 7, 1999, in an automobile-truck accident in Holy Trinity, AL. Her career within the Missionary Cenacle Family was a truly distinguished one. She had served the Sisters community as the Directress of Postulants and later as the Directress of Novices. She had devoted many years to religious education at the parochial level. Since the early 1980s she had been on the staff at Blessed Trinity Shrine Retreat, where she regularly directed group and private retreats and served as the spiritual director for a large number of individuals.

Sister Josepha belonged to the MCA prior to entering the Sisters community and was a life-long supporter of the MCA. Most recently she served as the Regional Spiritual Guide for the Holy Trinity Region (southeastern, U.S.). Prior to that she had served as the General Spiritual Guide. Sister made major contributions to the MCA, primarily in terms of insisting on a solid spiritual foundation for all formation and the development of formation materials. She had for many years recognized the need for identifying potential leaders within the MCA and saw the importance of developing their leadership skills. As Regional Spiritual Guide she had encouraged and supported special regional leadership retreats designed to strengthen the Custodians, Assistant Custodians, and Spiritual Guides of the region.

Sister Josephas deep faith and missionary zeal have touched a large number of us, both in and outside of the Missionary Cenacle Family. This fact was beautifully underscored at the services held for her at Holy Trinity on Monday and Tuesday, October 10 and 11. On Monday evening, following a beautiful prayer service, numerous individuals from a broad spectrum of society shared stories and gave moving tributes about her life. There were both laughter and tears as those present talked about Sisters abiding devotion to the Trinity, her unfailing cheerfulness, her boundless generosity, her dedication to her family, and her intense interest in learning. The eulogies were highlighted with many anecdotes illustrating the human side of Sister Josepha, including her prowess as a swimmer and her ability to laugh at her own, occasionally eccentric, behavior.

In his homily at the funeral mass on Tuesday, October 11, Fr. Dennis Berry, S.T., traced Sister Josephas spiritual journey. Sister, said Fr. Dennis, was an extraordinarily holy person who sought to live life fully and simply. According to Fr. Dennis, her spiritual development could be divided into three periods which parallel Father Judge's exhortation to do good, be good, and be a power for good. In her early years Sister put into practice the quality of service to neighbors--doing good. Subsequently she began to take God's love to those around her--being good. In recent years she had achieved unity with God--become a power for good. Father Dennis described Sister's faith as being marked with incredible simplicity, not unlike that of Saint Theresa of Lisieux. Sister was laid to rest in the Sisters' little cemetery at Holy Trinity, where she had so often sought in silent prayer the consolation of her sisters who had gone before her. Throughout the burial service a heavy rain fell, rain that was sorely needed for the crops and the fall gardens--a Josepha rain, some called it, sent from God to be of service.

A special Web page has been created in honor of Sr. Josepha. In recent years Sister had become a cybernic; in fact, many of us received e-mail from her shortly before she died. We know she would be amused and pleased to have her own page on the Internet. All those who knew her are invited to visit the page at: mcenacle.org/srjosepha.htm. If you wish to add to the page, please send your comments to: Jim Bolner, , 460 Bancroft Way, Baton Rouge, LA 70808; Jim's e-mail address is: poboln@lsu.edu.

Mary Fuller was called to eternal life on August 8, 1999. Mary was an Associate of Resurrection/Ascension Cenacle, New York, for many years before moving to Cleveland, Ohio, where she became a member of Our Lady of Fatima Cenacle. Fr. Kevin, S.T., says Mary brought the spirit of the Cenacle from New York to Cleveland and made a profound impression on those with whom she worked. After several years in Cleveland, Mary was persuaded by Fr. John Baptist, S.T., to join the staff of Guest House in Lake Orion, Michigan, where she served for a long time. In Michigan she met a priest from Massachusetts who convinced her to become a cook in his rectory in Attleboro, MA. There she re-connected with members of the MSBT who were working in the area. Mary then joined the Holy Ghost M.C.A. Several members of the Holy Ghost Cenacle, including Jeanne Hession and Jan Marie and Bob Carleo, along with Srs. Ann Williams and Thomasine, attended her wake and funeral mass. The mass was con-celebrated by four priests.

Throughout her life, Mary had great devotion to the Holy Spirit, and wherever she went the Holy Spirit was there to guide her. She died peacefully in her sleep without pain or suffering.

May she now rest in peace.

Queen of Peace Cenacle, Ocala, Florida, lost one of its charter members when Lorrie Najbar died on July 16, 1999. Lorrie was enthusiastic about the Cenacle way of life from the first day. As a sign of her devotion, she wore her MCA emblem pin all the time. She loved to go to retreats at Holy Trinity each year at Pentecost. Despite a sick husband and her own illnesses she never missed a meeting, At the funeral mass the two Ocala Cenacles sat in a block behind the Najbar family. Custodian Claudette Grimes and her husband, Art, were the altar servers. The priest compared Lorrie's death to a sunset, where the effects of the sun can still be seen even after the sun cannot be seen. So the effects of Lorrie's life will also linger.

Regional Reports

Holy Trinity Region (Southeastern United States)
Joanne Jones, Custodian

Formation

Currently there are three new Cenacles in formation: 1) In Tallahassee, Florida, where there had been a Cenacle at one time, Sr. Rose Martell is meeting with seven candidates who have studied and are currently in formation and plan to be pinned at Pentecost, 2000. When the fledgling Cenacle aspirants learned that MCA members were praying for the Light of Christ Cenacle in Tallahassee named in the Ordo, they decided to adopt that name. 2) In Quincy, Florida, Sr. Maria Lauren is meeting with interested Hispanics who are in formation

as a Candidate Cenacle. No name has been selected. 3) In Atlanta, Margaret Davis has begun a Cenacle for young adults, which has been named Guardian of Hope. Sr. Beth Henken is also working with college age young adults during the Lenten season. Although no plans for a Cenacle have emerged, the groundwork is taking place and seeds are being sown. The new Cenacle at Holy Trinity now has four Associates, up two from its humble beginning.

Retreats

There were three Pentecost Retreats in Holy Trinity Region this year. Father John Seymour, ST, led the first retreat at which there were 16 attendees. Joanne Jones served as facilitator. Because the group was so small, the attendees had an opportunity to get to know one another better, and to share the Spirit with one another in times of prayer and reflection. Sr. Josepha McNutt, MSBT, led the next retreat. Members from seven Cenacles attended this retreat. Alston and Anne Fitts served as facilitators. The focus of the retreat was "Returning to the Father." Fr. Dennis Berry, ST, directed the last retreat which was full to over flowing with 33 participants. Jim Bolner served as facilitator. Fr. Dennis encouraged attendees to look to our Cenacle spirituality and Cenacle thinking for inspiration as they moved toward the Father in this year of preparation for the Jubilee.

Leadership

In July, Brother Loughlin Soffield, ST, directed the annual Leadership Training workshop held at Holy Trinity for Custodians, Assistant Custodians and Spiritual Guides. There were approximately sixteen in attendance. The focus of the retreat was on "Taking Counsel." Attendees were shown an organization chart depicting how the MCA Council works. They were reminded that the General Assembly is stressing the need for more leadership at the regional level. A packet of material from the workshop was mailed to each Cenacle for distribution to members.

The Holy Trinity Regional Custodian, Jim Bolner, was elected Assistant General Custodian, and was replaced by Joanne Jones, the Assistant Regional Custodian. Ivette Cordero was elected the Assistant Regional Custodian, replacing Joanne. Sr. Maryanne McIntyre, Spiritual Guide for the Region, and I visited Cenacles in Montgomery, Selma, Milton, Pensacola, Dothan , and the formation Cenacle in Tallahassee. We plan to go Ocala in October. We have had no special agenda, just to become more visible, to ask if there are any problems or questions, and to give Associates an opportunity to have input for the MCA Council. Many of the Cenacles are using the formation book for new members and find it a wonderful way to form new associates. We owe a debt of gratitude to Fr. Dennis Berry, ST, for this gift to the MCA.

NEWS FROM CENACLES IN REGION

Queen of Peace, Ocala, Florida (Joe Kibbe, reporting)

Custodian Claudette Grimes has initiated several innovations at our meetings. One is a series of theological questions for research, contemplation, explanation, and discussion. Here is a sample: Why has the Scriptures and the Church made love of others a measure of our love of God? Each of us worked out our independent answers. For me, love of others, other humans, my neighbors, means to wish every good thing to come to the neighbor and to do everything in my power to make them happen. That is how I love my neighbor. How do I love God? But I cannot claim that I am loving God unless I know that I am loving God. And I know I am loving Him when I do His will. Confirmation of this approach can be found in John 4:10, which reads: For this is the love of God, that we keep the commandments. And Jesus gave us this commandment: That you love one another.

Bill O'Brien returned from his annual five or six week trip to Ireland. Look for a new Cenacle soon in Thurles, Tipperary!

Deacon Dick Lacina was our Spiritual Guide since our beginning in 1989. When the Cenacle in Ocala became two Cenacles, he served as the Spiritual Guide for both until he and Virginia moved to North Carolina in 1998. Now Charley Becker, a man of much learning, has become the Spiritual Guide of both Ocala Cenacles.

The two Ocala Cenacles attended a social gathering at the home of Claudette and Art Grimes on October 16^th. The occasion was to celebrate the visit of Joanne Jones, Regional Custodian, and Sister Mary Ann McIntyre, Spiritual Guide. About 25 Associates and candidates attended the event. The afternoon was filled with enthusiasm, laughter, exchanges of ideas, and lots of food--both spiritual and otherwise. There was sadness and joy as we reminisced about Sister Josepha. The benefits of such a gathering are immediate and long-lasting. It was good for those of us in the membership to visit with and get to know those in positions of leadership.

Incarnation Region

Eastern Region, Marie Boin, Custodian

Formation

The Incarnation Region continues to respond to the prompting of the Holy Spirit wherever He leads. While many of our members are aging, I am inspired by their continued dedication and apostolic zeal. They have been members for 30, 40, 50 and more years, their apostolic missions may have changed, but they continue to be open to the prompting of the spirt in the providence of their everyday lives. I am also inspired by the new growth in the region, especially among young adults.

At Pentecost we witnessed four young adults make their Act of Consecration at the annual Pentecost celebration, thus moving from a candidate Cenacle to full association. In addition we have several candidate Cenacles of young adults in New Jersey and one in Maryland. Fr Serapim Molina, ST, is working with this group.

Retreats

Two different Cenacles organized this year's retreats. Our Spanish Cenacles gathered in New Jersey over Trinity Sunday week-end. Sixty MCA members attended this retreat. During the closing liturgy, twenty people began their year of candidacy. Our English retreat will be held in November at the Mother House. This retreat is being sponsored by the Holy Trinity Cenacle in Maryland. Next year's retreats will also be organized by various Cenacles.

Leadership

Six of our members were delegates to the MCA Leadership Assembly in Holy Trinity and continue to serve as liaisons to the Cenacles they represented at the assembly. One of the difficulties in our region is the vast distances between the Cenacles and the aging of our members, making travel difficult. We continue to look at ways to address this concern.

Apostolic Works

Our apostolic works are as numerous as there are members. Cenacle members, acting within the providence of their everyday lives serve in many apostolates which include: feeding and housing the homeless; distributing religious videos to shut-ins, visiting the sick and homebound; staffing food shelters and outreach programs; working with children and the disabled; visiting nursing homes; working with Hospice; reconciling marriages in the Church; bringing people back to confession; and encouraging unchurched Catholics to return to the Sacraments. Others serve as Eucharistic ministers, Lectors, Choir members, and help with the Ordo. Our older members, restricted due to age and health, have joined an apostolate of prayer, praying for the works of the other MCA members.

We look forward to the Jubilee/Jubileo 2000 Conference and a rekindling of the apostolic, Cenacle spirit amongst all our members and Cenacle Family.

Puerto Rico Region, Vergenmina Lugo, Custodian

Formation

The Puerto Rico Region continues with its formation and missionary works. We have entered a process of discernment to identify the three most important needs at the regional level. They are: 1) enhance communication among members at both the local and the international level, 2) continuous formation, and 3) adopt a pro-active approach to preservation of the Catholic faith. The Custodians, Assistant Custodians, as well as some Associates and Spiritual Guides that were present at the past regional meeting, through a process of discernment, concluded that we should place more emphasis on the following needs: 1) to understand each other so that we can discover our gifts, 2) to increase our knowledge of our branch's history, as part of a Family, 3) to promote the "Trinitarian Charisma with a burning fire of love," by establishing a network of communication among members, 4) to get to know each other better, 5) to promote missionary work, and 6) to be a light to others in the preservation of the Catholic Faith.

The good news in the Region is that we welcomed three new Cenacles: Canovanas, Mayaguez, and El Commandante.

Retreats

The region celebrated its annual retreat with the attendance of most of the associates and candidates, as well as representatives of the ST's, MSBT's of the island. Father Ramón Riding, ST, developed the theme for the retreat and he challenged us to deepen our commitment to our missionary works and to develop and maintain the Family Spirit in the MCA branch as well as within the other branches. Twelve persons were consecrated and eleven entered their first year of candidacy during the closing mass. .

Leadership

The delegates who represented us at the Leadership Assembly in Holy Trinity, Ala., and three other associates met for the purpose of discerning their role and function in the region. After praying and using the process of counsel, it was determined that they would continue meeting as a body and would work on the regional level and in their individual Cenacles. They also discussed expanding this action to an international level. This group examined in a concrete and realistic manner the local needs, coming to a similar conclusion as those listed above from the meeting of the Custodians and Assistant Custodians. The next meeting will be September 25, at which time they will begin to identify specific actions and works to address the needs.

Apostolic Works

Members of the Cenacles in the Region are involved in many apostolic works. They include: catechism and First Communion classes for children and young adults; prayer circles in both churches and homes; marriage counseling; visiting the homes of the members; visiting the sick; performing cleaning chores for the needy, especially the elderly and the sick; visiting jails and hospitals; participating in the "International Organization for Peace" (Pax Christi); participating in the Committee of Citizens for promoting a better quality of life in University City in Rio Piedras; participation in a project of the MSBTs to develop lay missionaries with the Trinitarian Charisma; radio Prayer program in promoting the Good News to Puerto Rico; meeting with people who have left the Church; meeting with young couples who have suffered the lost of a child or experienced an abortion.

NEWS FROM CENACLES IN THE REGION

El Buen Pastor Cenacle of Mayaguez, organized and celebrated a retreat for young adults, during the summer. Thirty-seven young adult participated. They demonstrated enthusiasm and joy when touched by our charisma. In addition to MCA members, some of the Sisters from the MSBT attended.

Canavanas Cenacle in the town of Canávanas, held a retreat for young adults. The retreat was directed by Associates and candidates, with the help of the Sts. About twenty persons participated and stayed the whole weekend at a retreat house. People from the community were invited to share their experiences.

Holy Spirit Region

Western Region, Luz de la Torre, Custodian

Formation

In this part of the region, the Condado de los Angeles, we meet once a month. As a result, we have become closer as a family and have learned to work as a team. We have formed a committee to care for the sick of the MCA and to meet other's needs. Each Cenacle has a member on this committee. The goal is that within 24 hours each person in the Cenacle, including Fr. John, knows when there is someone sick, when there is a death, or when there is a tragedy in the family. The role of each person in the committee to get in touch with the family. Also this year we had two social meetings at the park with the goal of getting to know each other better. Our young adult Cenacle is growing very fast. At the Pentecost Retreat 25 persons were consecrated and 13 started their candidacy. In Yakima, WA, eight persons were consecrated on the 9^th of September.

Retreats

We had a retreat for the young adult Cenacle, focusing on their needs, and we will have another one at the end of October. Lucy Ortiz is in charge of these. We also have a team consisting of people from the different Cenacles who are in charge of giving Evangelization Retreats. These retreats have met with great success. The Cenacle of "Matrimonios" is in charge of giving retreats for married couples and working with couples who are not married within the church. Our Pentecost retreats in the Los Angeles area were excellent.

Leadership

We had a workshop for leaders, conducted by Sr. Brenda Hermann and Bro. Paul Michaelenko. Approximately 70 people attended the workshop. It was very positive experience and filled a need in this rapidly growing region. The workshop will help prepare us to be better missionaries. Fr. John meets with us once a month. We thank God for bring Fr. John to us as Spiritual Director. He has worked tirelessly to teach us to be the missionaries that God has called us to be, helping us grow spiritually, to be a family of three loves, God, neighbor, and one another.

We are extremely proud of Josephine Morales from our region who was elected the MCA General Custodian. She has been a blessing to the region, opening her heart and house to the Cenacle through the years. I believe that the growth of the Hispanic Cenacles in this region has been fruit of her generosity, dedication, and patience.

Apostolic Works

Some of our members are working in Tijuana, preparing the children in orphanages for their first communion and helping to form Candidate Cenacles in that City. Others are engaged in many apostolic works.

Sandra de Moya, Custodian

Formation

There are seven Cenacles in the Costa Rico region, including a new one in Puerto Jimenez. We are not growing so much in numbers, rather we are concentrating on learning more about Cenacle spirituality. This takes time, especially as we are new to the Cenacle family. Recently, Father Guy Wilson, ST, conducted a formation workshop for all our members. This helped us to understand what the Cenacle is and what it means to be a member of the Missionary Cenacle Apostalate. As part of our formation we have established a model for the Custodian, Assistant and Spiritual Guide in each Cenacle.

Retreats

Father John Seymour, ST, directed our first retreat, which was held at Pentecost. The theme of the two-day retreat was "The Gifts of the Holy Spirit," with emphasis on Cenacle spirituality. The retreat was attended by lay-persons as well as Sisters and pre-novitiates. Following the retreat, Father John, Martha Vega, and I went to Puerto Jimenez to share the retreat with the Cenacle Santo Domingo de Guzman, whose members were unable to attend because of the distance and the cost involved. We bagan on Monday afternoon and continued all day Tuesday. There was great participation by the members. We were warmly received and were encouraged by the interest and the spirituality of the group. Six new candidates were received.

Leadership

The election for Regional Custodian was held at a meeting in the formation house of the Missionary Servants. I was elected Regional Custodian and Laura Sanchez de Montero was elected Assistant Regional Custodian. This was the first election for this region. A vote was taken to name the region; the name chosen "Nuestra Sefiora de los Angeles." Father Guy, Martha Vega, Laura, and I have been meeting once a month to evaluate what has been going on in the Region. Every other month we meet with Custodians, Assistant Custodians, and Spiritual Guides of each Cenacle. To date we have had three regional meetings. All the Cenacles have been represented at these meetings, including the Cenacle of Puerto Jimenez, whose representatives have to travel great distance to attend. We are encouraged by such a gesture; it serves as an example for all of us.

Another important activity was the participation of five lay members in the annual retreat of the religious, which was held the 12-16 of July. We believe that this was a great step toward recognizing that we are all family.

Apostolic Works

The participation of the members in apostolic work is growing. At this time we have thirteen apostolic missions, which most of the members are involved in either as a group or individually. The most important fact is that we are working with the religious and pre-novitiate in our formation as Missionary Servants. For example, the last activity of the "Santisima Trinidad" Cenacle consisted of a marriage encounter, which was another opportunity for the family to work together.

We are truly joyful for the achievements we have made, in spite of being a new movement in this region. I don't want to end this report without expressing our gratitude to Fr. Guy, who believes so strongly in the movement and whose unconditional devotion and attention to our needs has touched all of us. We also want to thank Martha Vega, MCA, for her contributions and the love she has given us.

Although there were no written reports from Mexico, there was a verbal report delivered by Fr. Harold Stone at the MCA Council meeting.

There are three Ccenacles in Mexico, the largest in Buena Vista. Cenacle members there have not gone out to get more members, rather they have concentrated on getting better formed. The Cenacle at Santa Ana is expanding. The Cenacle in Mexico City has nine members. The Cenacles in Mexico realize that there is much to be done by way of formation and growth, but they are restricted by lack of finances and separated from one another by great distances. The Cenacles hope that the General Council will recognize their needs and take a personal interest in helping them build.