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From The Beacon by Michael WojcikDec. 30, 2010
Fr. Carl Chudy (left), provincial superior of the Xaverian Missionaries, and Fr. Frank Grappoli, the province's rector, treasurer and mission procurator, stand with a portrait of Blessed Guido Maria Conforti. Beacon photo / Michael Wojcik
Although New Year's Day and 2011 are only days away, the
Xaverian Missionaries at the Provincial House here are already certain that the
new year will be the most joyful one in the order's long history.
That's because sometime next year, they expect to fly to Rome to join their
fellow Xaverians from around the world to witness a dream long in the making -
the canonization of the founder of their religious order, the Italian-born
Blessed Guido Maria Conforti, as a saint.
The College of Cardinals in Rome won't set a date for Blessed Conforti's
canonization until its meets in Rome in February. On Dec. 10, the Vatican
announced that Pope Benedict XVI had advanced the sainthood causes of Blessed
Conforti, along with 15 other prominent Catholics. He is expected to preside
over the ceremony, according to Catholic News Agency (CNA).
"Even though we [the leadership the Xaverian community worldwide] have been
working on Blessed Conforti's canonization for a long time, we were very excited
to hear the good news," said Father Carl Chudy, provincial superior of the U.S.
province of the St. Francis Xavier Foreign Mission Society, headquartered in the
Provincial House on a quiet cul-de-sac on Helene Court in Wayne.
Local Xaverian Missionaries already are ready to pack their bags for the
canonization of Blessed Conforti, archbishop of Parma, Italy, who founded the
Pious Society of St. Francis Xavier for Foreign Missions, the Xaverian
missionaries on Dec. 3, 1895, at a time when the Church was pushing for greater
missionary efforts, especially in China. Today, Xaverians mission in many
countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas, CNA reported.
Blessed Conforti was known as a missionary priest, who visited parishes
regularly and traveled to China in 1928 to visit Xaverians, who were conducting
mission activities, according to the religious order's Web site,
www.xaviermissionaries.org.
Progress on Blessed Conforti's cause for canonization moved along, after
verification of a second miracle that had been granted through his intercession
that was needed for his being considered for sainthood. This second miracle
involved a newborn in Brazil, who was born premature in 2003 with many
live-threatening malformations, said Father Frank Grappoli, the province's
rector, treasurer and mission procurator, translating a report in Italian on the
miracle.
"Doctors said that the baby was doomed. His family and others prayed a novena to
Archbishop Conforti and he was saved," said Father Grappoli, who joined Bishop
Rodimer and a contingent of local Xaverians on a pilgrimage in 1996 to Rome for
the beatification of Blessed Conforti.
The first miracle attributed to Blessed Conforti arrived in 1965, when Xaverian
sisters in Burundi prayed for his intercession on behalf of 12-year old Sabina
Kamariza, who was cured of pancreatic cancer, CNA stated.
The process for the cause of saints involves the collection of information at
the request of the candidate's local bishop, of a biography of the candidate, of
his or her writings and of witness testimonies. All these materials are sent to
the Vatican's Congregation for the Causes of Saints, according to CNA.
The Vatican's anticipated canonization highlights the faith and evangelistic
zeal of Blessed Conforti, born March 30, 1865, at Ravadese, in the Diocese of
Parma in Italy. At age 17, he entered the diocesan seminary in Parma and was
ordained a priest Sept. 22, 1888. Then he became professor, vice rector of the
seminary, and vicar of clergy, the Xaverian history states.
Blessed Conforti cultivated a passion for spreading the "Good News" with
non-Christian people, so he founded the Xaverian Missionaries in 1895. He was
appointed Archbishop of Ravenna, Italy, in 1902, only to resign two years later
because of ill health. But then in 1906, the pope placed him in charge of the
Diocese of Parma, "where he displayed pastoral activity that was just short of
prodigious in its extent and variety," the Xaverian history states.
"His spirituality was centered on the person of Christ. Christ was always
present in his thoughts and in his heart," the Xaverians history states. "Christ
was his constant companion in all the actions of his life. He took deep care of
the clergy, promoted the religious education of the laity, and supported the
establishment and development of lay involvement in the Church, especially among
the youth."
In his 25 years in Parma, Blessed Conforti carried out five pastoral visits and
organized two diocesan Synods, while remaining involved in missionary activity
to non-Christians. Despite illness and his advanced age, he embarked on a
mission trip to China in 1928. He died in Parma on Nov. 5, 1931, according the
Xaverian history.
"As a priest and a missionary, I am inspired by Blessed Conforti's sense of
concern for the whole world. His heart was bigger than his own diocese," said
Father Chudy, who has served in the Philippines and in Sierra Leone as a student
and today heads the province, which directs mission activities from the U.S. and
serves local parishes, including many in the Paterson Diocese. "With Blessed
Conforti's canonization, we hope to highlight throughout the world the
international mission of the Xaverians and of the entire Church."
