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Report from the 2011 USA Region Triennial Assembly

Forty Jesus Caritas brothers from around the United States met for the 2011 Triennial Assembly for the USA region. We spent our 5 days together in the coolness of the Savior of the World Pastoral Center. A good thing, because the weather was hot, hot, hot! Our week included plenty of prayer and beautiful liturgies, shared meals, a desert day, fraternity business, and the discernment of the Regional Responsible for the USA. Mark Mertes of Kansas City, KS was discerned for a second 3 year term.

Rich Warsnak of Kansas City, KS offered the reflection for the Assembly on the Review of Life. He invited us to "bring food to the kitchen" that is our spiritual life. So often we try "to cook without food," that is, work without being based in prayer. A daily practice of attentive prayer will help us to hear God's "tiny, whispering sound" in our hearts. We will then more naturally seek the Day in the Desert, which will unfold the fact or event that we can share with our brothers. Rich then reminded us of the importance of listening to one another; as brothers we can encourage one another and help each other notice what God is doing in our lives. The Review of Life is something to celebrate, a moment of beauty!

The Assembly decided to schedule the next Month of Nazareth for the USA in the summer of 2013. We will make available a list of priests who are able to travel to cover a priest's parish so that he would be able to attend a Month of Nazareth. The National Council will begin to make arrangements for the month. Similarly, the Assembly encouraged the planning of a "vacation" week next summer, 2012, perhaps somewhere in Colorado.

We understand our work in Jesus Caritas Fraternity of Priests to be the work of the "mustard seed," the "leaven" which continually places before our brothers the possibility of a deeper life of prayer, a more intimate relationship with Christ and with one another, and the treasure of a community in which one can share honestly. Our fraternity life can be the "pearl of great price" that opens our hearts to the Lord. It is the mustard seed, seemingly simple, hidden and ordinary that then grows and blossoms into grace filled moments in Christ.

News of the Brothers

DETROIT, Michigan, MARCH 22, 2011 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI named Monsignor Donald Hanchon and Father Michael Byrnes as auxiliary bishops of the Detroit Archdiocese.

Bishop-designate Hanchon, 63, has most recently been serving as episcopal vicar for the archdiocese's Central Region, and pastor of Holy Redeemer parish. Ordained a priest in 1974, he has also been the archdiocesan coordinator for Hispanic ministries.

Upon hearing of his appointment, Bishop-elect Hanchon stated, "I renew my confidence in God's grace, and humbly accede to the Holy Father's wish to appoint me as a bishop to work under Archbishop Vigneron." He added, "I promise obedience because I believe that the God who began this good work in me all those years ago will indeed bring it to fulfillment."

Bp. Don Hanchon has been part of the Jesus Caritas Fraternity of Priests for some time, serving on the International Council with Jim Murphy of Ireland. He attended the International Assembly in Cairo in 2000.

Also, our brother Bp. Felipe Estevez will be installed as the tenth bishop of St. Augustine on June 2, 2011 in Jacksonville, Florida. We wish both of these brothers abundant blessings as they minister to the people of God.