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Sr. M. Ceceliatook her perpetual vows on July 9th, 2011 at Most Holy Trinity Parish Church in San Jose, California. View the gallery. |
A Pauline Centenary Pastoral Tool
PAULINE SPIRITUALITY AND MISSION, n. 10 *****
THE PDDM PRESENCE IN USA: A HISTORICAL GLIMPSE
INTRODUCTION
As we celebrate the 90th anniversary of the PDDM foundation on February 10, 1924, in Alba, Italy, and as we continue to live out the contemplative charismatic heritage we have received from our Founder Blessed James Alberione, the following words of Pope Francis are a beautiful affirmation of our mission and spirituality as Pious Disciples of the Divine Master. In his Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, n. 262, he asserts: “Spirit-filled are evangelizers who pray and work … What is needed is the ability to cultivate an interior space which can give a Christian meaning to commitment and activity. Without prolonged moments of adoration, or prayerful encounters with the word, of sincere conversation with the Lord, our work will become meaningless; we lose energy as a result of weariness and difficulties, and our fervor dies out. The Church urgently needs the deep breath of prayer, and to my great joy groups devoted to prayer and intercession, the prayerful reading of God’s word, and the perpetual adoration of the Eucharist are growing at every level of ecclesial life.”
To help the Pauline Family understand better our presence in USA, we present below a historical background regarding the PDDM foundation in the American nation. We also share the missionary experience of our 90-year-old Sr. Mary Alba Scellato, one of our most inspiring and dynamic Sisters in USA.
I. BRIEF HISTORY OF THE PDDM FOUNDATION IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: AN EXCERPT FROM THE STATUTE OF THE DELEGATION OF THE USA
The pre-history of the PDDM foundation in the United States of America could be dated from the year 1932 when, after 14 days of sea voyage, Sr. M. Paola Cordero, Sr. Anita Meloni, FSP and Sr. Ignazia Biello, PDDM landed in New York on June 28, 1932 and stayed with the Society of St. Paul founded earlier in the country. Sr. M. Ignazia had significant correspondence with Mother M. Scholastica throughout the years 1932-1936 giving a glimpse of how she fulfilled the PDDM mission, together with the other members of the Pauline Family.
Given this premise, we can say that there were several PDDM expeditions which could be considered founding moments for the PDDM presence in USA. The first was the arrival of Sr. M. Veronica Crevani and Sr. M. Ilaria Vaio from Paris, France by plane on October 27, 1947. Actually, Sr. M. Veronica came to visit her brother and family but the two of them began as well to collect donations to assist in the completion of the PDDM Motherhouse in Alba, Italy.
The second significant date and group was February 22, 1948 when, after departing from the port of Genoa, Italy and travelling for 12 days by sea, four young sisters – Sr. M. Benjamin Muzzi, Sr. M. Fulgence Bellagamba, Sr. M. Trinity Taricco and Sr. M. Veritas Montecchio – arrived in Staten Island, New York where they were welcomed by a group of Daughters of St. Paul. After a brief stay in New York to collect some money to pay for their succeeding trip to Ohio, they finally reached the Society of St. Paul Monastery (SSP) at Canfield, Ohio where they ministered with great faith and generosity to the SSP priests and brothers who at that time were already flourishing in vocations, with about 35 members, counting the priests, brothers and candidates to the religious life. Part of the mission, however, was also to collect donations to help build the motherhouse in Italy. Sr. M. Ilaria and Sr. M. Benjamin faithfully fulfilled this task.
On November 22, 1948, the third expedition from Italy composed of Sr. M. Eugenia Baggio, Sr. M. Alba Scellato and Sr. M. Fiorella Portale arrived in Staten Island after 21 days at sea. They began their services at the SSP community in Staten Island.
Some significant visits and arrivals took place in 1949 which also gave direction to the development of our Congregation in the country. On April 10, 1949 the then Superior General, Mother M. Lucia Ricci, arrived in Staten Island with Sr. M. Crucis D’Amico and in August 1949, while Mother Lucia was still there, the Founder Fr. James Alberione himself came to visit the sisters and guided their retreat as well. Meanwhile, Sr. M. Ignazia Biello, who had gone to Rome for a period of formation following the approval, returned to the USA in May of the same year, accompanied by Sr. M. Annunziata Micca who stayed until the end of 1949. Also in December 1949, another 4 sisters arrived from Italy: Sr. M. Flaminia Montecchio, Sr. M. Gioviana Fratelli, Sr. M. Ancilla Bellesso and Sr. M. Cordis Drudi. This was also the year when the sisters, with the help of Fr. Anselm Viano SSP managed to purchase property on Sunset Avenue in Staten Island. The blessing of the new house with the chapel was done in January 1950 to the joy and thanksgiving of the sisters and the members of the Pauline Family.
On January 1, 1951 the sisters began their service at the Ryan Seminary in Fresno, CA. A few years later the Liturgical Center was also opened. In November of 1952, Sr. M. Augusta Arlorio and Sr. M. Adele Tozzi arrived from Rome and stayed in Staten Island for a few years. Sr. M Augusta later became a significant figure in the ensuing foundations especially on the West Coast.
Meanwhile, the formation of new members became a priority. In fact, in 1966, Mother M. Tecla Molino, who was at that time Superior in South America came to the USA and headed the foundation of a formation house and center in Brookline (MA), while supervising as well the other houses in USA, Mexico and Canada.
The following years saw the development of the mission and members in the USA including the opening of other communities, in Dearborn (MI), San Jose (CA), Boston (MA), and Los Angeles (CA) with the help of sisters from various parts of the world. (…)
The PDDM communities in the USA reflect the mixed cultures existent in the country. There is a host of other nationalities now present in the delegation, together with the original Italian sisters who have dedicated and continue to dedicate their lives for the witnessing to and proclamation of the values of Jesus Master. The delegation is made up of sisters from Colombia, India, Ireland, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Nicaragua, Philippines, Samoa-Australia, USA, Vietnam. The new vocations coming up are also from among the migrant populations.
We look forward with hope to the future that our good Lord who has accompanied our Congregation in the difficult times of foundation will continue to journey with us through the years.
II. OUR 90-YEAR OLD SR. MARY ALBA REMINISCES: “MY MISSIONARY EXPERIENCE IN THE STATES”
It feels great to recall my coming to USA in 1948 and my great enthusiasm to learn English as fast as possible. We started working with all that we brought from Italy in the hope of building a house in the land we had already bought in Staten Island, New York. I had a chance to meet Italian families. They became great friends and benefactors. But my purpose was to learn English as soon as possible because my assignment was to go as a missionary to China. As we came to know some of our Italian friends, they invited us to visit them in the factories where they were working. They were great immigrants full of great joy at the time we needed some help.
Time flew fast. We were in the year 1950. For almost a year I went to school and learned English. I was willing to see what else I should do to get to China. The answer came. Fr. Bertero and all the Paulines that were already in China had to leave. No one could go there anymore as missionaries. I remained in Staten Island in a very small house.
We started the Adoration and some neighbors – very nice Catholics – shared the prayer in our chapel. Then in 1952 I was transferred to Canfield, Ohio. We were three Sisters – all very happy in helping the Pauline fathers who were working with the social communications. We were able to take care of the chapel and the priestly service and were inviting people to join us in prayer. I spent four years there and I loved them. Then I went to Brookline, Massachusetts and to Boston. The Adoration and liturgical service had been the joy of my life. I was making liturgical vestments and embroidering altar clothes, chasubles, stoles for priests, albs and tabernacle veils.
In 1956 I was sent to Fresno at Ryan Preparatory College to help the priests and seminarians there. Then in 1964 I returned to Boston. There I continued my previous service until the year 2003 when I returned to Fresno where I am now. I am continuing the same work and the Adoration. Many join us in the chapel to pray and praise God.
CONCLUSION
The humble and often hidden but animating presence of the PDDM Sisters in USA continues to be a blessing to this nation through the power of the Holy Spirit. We are grateful to almighty God for having looked kindly on his lowly handmaidens. As Christ’s disciples-apostles, we are cognizant of what our Rule of Life, n. 9, asserts: “Through the action of the Holy Spirit, we receive “the grace of apostolate” in Jesus Master, Way, Truth and Life. Like Mary, Mother of God, and the women of the Gospel, transformed by their meeting with the Risen Lord, the Beauty which saves the world, we are sent as apostles with the Apostles to proclaim, celebrate and serve him.”
***
ARCHIVES
1. Blessed James Alberione’s Life: A Service of Worship
2. The Centrality of the Word and the Eucharist in the Life of the Pauline Family
3. The Eucharistic Adoration: The Disciple at the School of the Divine Master
4. Blessed James Alberione: “I Had a Dream”
5. Mother Scholastica Rivata, PDDM: “Symphony of Joy”
6. The Collaboration of Women in the Mission of the Church: In the Mind of James Alberione
7. How Blessed James Alberione Changed My Life
8. Pauline Spirituality and Mission in Today’s Digital Age
9. Blessed Alberione and the Mass Media of Social Communication
Prepared by Sr. Mary Margaret Tapang, PDDM
3700 North Cornelia Avenue
Fresno, CA-U.S.A.
Tel. (559) 275-9978
