FROM THE DIRECTOR…
GOODBYE - HELLO
Dear Fellow Missionaries,
Every four years, the Dominicans of the Western Province gather together in assembly to
prepare and celebrate the past four years and the four years to come. This is a time of
consulting, reflections, prayer, feasting, and listening. It is also a time of transition
in preparation for the elective chapter of the friars' representatives for the election of
the new Provincial in January 2003. In this time of clergy shortage, when one friar is
appointed or elected to a post, another must move swiftly to cover the empty place.
This has happened to us here at the Dominican Mission Foundation. I will be moving to
Anchorage, Alaska, as the rector of Holy Family Cathedral. In my place, Fr. Martin Diaz,
O.P., will be the new director of the Dominican Mission Foundation. I have known Fr.
Martin for many years. He entered in 1971, one year after me. He hails from Phoenix,
Arizona, attended Arizona State University, and has been stationed at the University of
California, Riverside, as a campus minister most recently. Ironically, he was rector of
Holy Family Cathedral for six years! Fr. Martin is a wonderful friend, a good friar, and
deeply committed to our work with the poor. You will come to know and love him, even as
you have wonderfully supported me and loved me.
I cannot express sufficiently, my love and gratitude for your incredible support over
the last six years. The time has gone swiftly. Always in my heart, before my eyes, are our
wonderful Missionary Friars, Sisters, and Laity, and all of you! You, our fellow
missionaries! I also want to say a word of praise (this is an African custom, by the way!)
for Nancy Loscavio, our Manager here at DMF. Her commitment, calm, intelligence,
experience, and talent have made this apostolate a joy for me. Give her, and Fr. Martin,
the same love and help you have always given me. You are in my heart and prayers each and
every day. You are missionaries!
Warmly,
Fr. Donald, O.P. |
DOMINICAN MISSIONARIES' MEETING,
JUNE 2002
During the Province Assembly in Oakland, California, we had a wonderful gathering of
our Missionaries from Mexicali, Chiapas, Guatemala City, and Baja Vera Paz. Fr. Kieran
Healy, O.P., from East Africa, could not be with us, unfortunately. However, his letter
about his work was read to the whole assembly, and his appeal for more friars for Kenya,
Tanzania, and Uganda was reiterated by me in the general listening sessions.
Along with the Missionaries were a number of student brothers who are considering the
possibility of mission apostolate. Each missionary friar shared about his particular
mission and current challenges. The student brothers also shared about their hopes and
dreams.
The energy and joie de vivre at our assemblies give each and every one of us
new hope to tackle the challenges we face. The sight of young faces gives us old-timers a
real boost!
The assembly was also a chance for me to bid farewell to our workers in the ministry as
I turn my hand to our domestic mission in Alaska!
Blessings to you all!
Fr. Donald, O.P.
MISSION APPEALS
August 2002
We have been invited to speak on our missionary work at the following parishes. Please
come out and meet our Dominican preachers at the weekend Masses.
August 3/4, 2002 St. Dominic's Church Benicia, California Preaching: Fr. Martin Diaz
August 3/4, 2002 Resurrection Church Santa Rosa, California Preaching: Fr. Paul Scanlon
August 10/11, 2002 St. Mary by the Sea Church Huntington Beach, California Preaching:
Fr. Martin Diaz
August 17/18, 2002 Sacred Heart Church Tacoma, Washington
Preaching: Fr. Martin Diaz
August 24/25, 2002
Holy Cross Church
Santa Barbara, California
Preaching:
Fr. Martin Diaz
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