THE LINK
April, 1989 - Number 11 - Pages 1, 2
Dear Brothers,
Happy Easter to each one of you!!! You will surely receive this Link after Easter Sunday (we have not been able to send it earlier as we had been wishing to do), but it is still Easter time, so let us rejoice together and share some news too ...
We sent you the last issue of the Link just before Christmas, and it was so good to receive in return so many cards and letters. Thanks to all those who wrote and that means almost everyone of you...
Just a few days before Christmas we had as usual a celebration with the families of our brothers here in HDM, and in spite of some delay in the schedule, it was for all of us a beautiful day.
2 images from The Link -- April/89
Above is reduced version of the nameplate from the eleventh issue of The Link. Note a handclasp has replaced the dove.Left is the victory writhe cross symbol placed alongside text about Holy Week liturgies.
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At the end of January, Sr. Simone left for about two weeks for Puerto Rico. She was very happy to have this occasion to know the country of origin of some of you, (even the family of one of our brothers), and also to study more Spanish.
On March 5th, a group of three people involved in youth ministry came to join us in HDM and to participate in the Mass, singing and playing guitars. In a few words, each one of them gave his testimony. One explained that he was on drugs and had been himself in prison, but turned to the Lord and wishes now to help others to do the same. At the end of the Mass several brothers came to pray with them and we hope that the three young men will be able to come back.
On Monday March 13th, we had with a group of volunteers and with 86 of our brothers in HDM a day of retreat to prepare for the Holy Week and for Easter. Together we reflected on "Suffering, Death and Resurection" and on "Mercy". We shared the Eucharist and also the pain of some of our brothers crushed by the illness or the loss of one of their loved ones. Since that same week four of our brothers in HDM had just lost someone in their family (mother, child, father and grandfather). At their request, Fr. Peter offered a special Mass on the following Thursday, and from all the blocks, many came to pray and to comfort them.
For the Holy Week our brothers from Rikers Island Hospital were invited to come to HDM and to join our brothers there for the celebrations of Holy Thursday and of Good Friday. The chapel was full, and everyone very attentive to the beautiful liturgy of those days. Some of our volunteers were present for these different celebrations as some of them continue to come faithfully on Sunday.
At Rikers Island Hospital, Fr. Peter is now giving two bible-classes. One is for our brothers with AIDS who had expressed at different occasions their desire for such a class.
Sr. Marie Rose came back last Friday after spending a week visiting our brothers in Attica C.F. and other facilities close to Attica: Wyoming C.F., Albion C.F., Orleans C.F. and Groveland C.F. These visits were possible thanks to the collaboration of the Chaplains of the different facilities and also of several friends living close to Attica. Sr. Marie Rose was very grateful for their welcome and their friendship. Also on different occasions she went to Greenhaven C.F., Woodbourne C.F. and Sullivan.
Our brothers at Fishkill C.F., Arthur Kill C.F., Woodbourne, Greenhaven,and Downstate were very happy with the visit of Jose Cardona who also comes faithfully to HDM on every Thursday. Sr. Amy has been to different facilities too: Clinton, Great Meadow, Washington C.F., Auburn etc..
We received recently a card from Fr. Juan Yzuel whom many of you surely remember and who with Fernando and Angel, priests of his community, went to start a new mission in Cameroon (Africa). We give you here some extracts from his letter:
We are working hard here. The parish was opened two weeks ago and I am the pastor. Pray for me! There are a lot of things to do. We are starting a dynamic that, God willing, will lead us to the formation of basic communities ... Greetings to all the inmates, though I pray that none of the inmates I met are still in prison. I hope I'll work with the young people of Bamenda Prison. It is sad to say that here there are some 40 on death row, and no priest is devoted to them. I'll do my best. Pray for them too!! |
Here is the new address of Fr. Juan:
Fr. Juan Yzuel, Futru-Nkwen Catholic Mission, P.O.Box 520, BAMENDA (N-W) Cameroon.
We hope that it will not take so long before we send you some news again. In a few weeks we will celebrate Pentecost and also Mother's Day!! Soon also it will be Father's Day!!! On these occasions we will remember all of you and pray for each one of you and your loved ones.
With much love from each one of us.
Your sisters.