Twenty-one Holy Cross sisters, brothers, and priests participated in a three-week immersion in the origins of the Holy Cross Family in France, from 16 July to 5 August. The in-depth immersion experience was part of a wider two-and-a-half-year program, designed to form the next generations of storytellers in Holy Cross’ history, charism, and spirituality.
The program is a collaborative effort of the four Congregations that make up the Holy Cross Family: the Congregation of Holy Cross, the Marianites of Holy Cross, the Sisters of Holy Cross, and the Sisters of the Holy Cross. Of the 21 religious, there were three sisters, eight brothers, and ten priests.
Read more about the history of Holy Cross
The three-week immersion experience came after a full year of online classes exploring the origins of the Holy Cross family, complete with readings, video lectures, written assignments, and group discussions. The immersion experience was specifically designed to build on the “book knowledge” that the participants had gained over that year by giving them in-depth, firsthand experiences at the locations associated with the origins of Holy Cross and the key figures in that history.
“The Holy Cross Charism and Spirituality program offered an amazing opportunity for me to deepen my own knowledge and participation in the history of Holy Cross through our pilgrimage to France,” said Br. Matthew Rehagen, C.S.C., from the United States. “This time allowed me to walk in the footsteps and learn about the religious heroes who dedicated their lives in service of God, the Church, and the foundation of the Holy Cross family. Most importantly, it gave me time and solitude to pray and grow deeper in the spirituality of Holy Cross rooted in the Cross our Hope.”
During the immersion program, there was a particular emphasis on learning about the people who played important roles in Holy Cross’ history through their spiritual descendants. For example, in Ruillé-sur-Loir, Sr. Gillian Murphy, S.P., gave a presentation on Fr. Jacques Dujarié through the eyes of the Sisters of Province. She also led the tours of Le Petit Providence and La Grande Province. Then, on the visit to St. Peter’s Abbey of Saint-Pierre de Solesmes, the Abbot Dom Geoffroy Kemlin, O.S.B., spoke with the group about Dom Prosper Guéranger and his vision and understanding of the liturgy, which had a great influence on Fr. Moreau.
In addition to the extensive site visits, there were conferences expanding on parts of the history studied during the online classes. Chief among the presenters was Br. Joel Giallanza, C.S.C., widely recognized as the leading living expert on Fr. Basil Moreau.
Another key presenter was Fr. John DeRiso, C.S.C., Rector of the Shrine of Blessed Basile Moreau in Le Mans. In addition to giving the history and tour of Notre-Dame de Sainte-Croix Church, he joined as the guide on several of the site visits, including a walking tour of Le Mans and Saint-Julien Cathedral.
“This experience was a truly enriching spiritual journey for me,” said Sr. Odanise Paulin, C.S.C., from Haiti. “The places visited, the testimonies heard, and the events experienced together demonstrate who Moreau was, who he is, and who he will be through us, his disciples in the great Holy Cross Family.”
Another intentional emphasis of the program was prayer. There were several opportunities for the participants to pray together prayers or devotions that were important to Fr. Moreau. For example, at La Solitude, the participants played the Chaplet of Our Lady of Sorrows with reflections given by Fr. Moreau to the Marianites. Later, the group prayed a version of the Stations of the Cross commended by Fr. Moreau in the very place he himself often prayed the Stations: Notre-Dame de Sainte-Croix Church. The participants also consecrated their ministry to Mary, just as Fr. Moreau had done, at the Chartres Cathedral.
Visit the website for the Shrine of Blessed Basil Moreau
“On these sacred grounds, we walked, literally and otherwise, in the footsteps of our blessed founder. We prayed side by side, representative of all of the sons and daughters of Father Moreau, at the cradle of our foundation, our congregational home,” said Br. Marvin Kawooya, C.S.C., from Uganda. “We leave with a renewed zeal, like never before, to conform ourselves and those we serve into the image and likeness of Christ!”
During the last week of the immersion, each of the 21 participants gave a short presentation on topics related to the origins and the founding figures of the Holy Cross Family. The communal exercise was an opportunity to explore and brainstorm together how to transmit the Holy Cross history, charism, and spirituality to different groups in different settings. The presentations included homilies to pilgrims in Le Mans, conferences to young women and men in various levels of formation, reflections for high school students, ongoing formation for educators, and talks for parishioners.
“This program was an eye-opener for us to rediscover our vocations, as well as the charism, spirituality, and the dream of our founder, Blessed Basile Moreau, of uniting the brothers, priests and sisters into one family under the patronage of the Holy Family,” said Sr. Scholastica Ampadu, C.S.C., from Ghana. “From this immersion renewal, we leave excited, joyful, motivated, encouraged, and strengthened to carry the Holy Cross Family into the future, for we are standing on the shoulders of these holy men and women who sacrificed their all to establish our religious family.”
“Being in the homeland of Blessed Basil Moreau felt like breathing in the spirit of our founder; every place I visited and every quiet moment of prayer awakened in me a deeper appreciation for his love and vision,” added Fr. Chinnaiah Saripudi, C.S.C., from India. “Walking together through the land of Moreau and tracing his footsteps renewed my desire to study our charism more deeply and to share its gentle fire with others.”
The program now begins its second year of online classes, which will cover the history of the Holy Cross Family from the founder’s death through to the approval of each congregation’s Constitutions following the Second Vatican Council. The participants will explore how the Holy Cross mission, charism, and spirituality spread and took root in various places around the world during that time. Particular attention will be given to various holy men and women within the Holy Cross Family who have been exemplars of our charism and spirituality in different times, cultures, and missions.