This is a time for you to express your innermost feelings for your father and to let him know how much you love him and care for him. It is an important time to give thanks and to implore God’s blessings over him. We offer, as a spiritual gift, a Novena of Masses for all fathers, living or deceased, of our friends and benefactors.
On Mother’s Day we, Rogationist Fathers, would like to express our genuine gratitude for your friendship. In appreciation for your kindness we are delighted to offer you a spiritual gift of prayer: A thanksgiving Novena of Masses will be celebrated, in the month of May, for your Mother (living or deceased). May the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of all, watch over your Mother. And may God, through the intercession of the Blessed Mother, give peace, joy and good health to all Mothers.
St. Hannibal got so surprised when finally he found the inspiration he already had received during adoration, right in the words of Jesus:
“The harvest is great, but the laborers are few! Pray (in latin Rogate) therefore the owner of the harvest, so that he will send laborers into his harvest” (Mt. 9, 37-38; Lk 10,2).
While still very young, St. Hannibal had the intuition by divine inspiration on the importance of prayer in the pastoral care for vocations, even before discovering its origin from the Gospel.
As St. Hannibal stater going in Avignone, some of the people there stopped him and blackmailed the young priest, trying to discourage his zeal.
As a young priest, St. Hannibal met Zancone, a young beggar, half blind, and asked him “Do you know the things of God?”. He answered: “And who will teach that to me?”. St. Hannibal said: “I’ll be visiting you”. Zancone lived in Avignone, a very poor area, and from that time on, St. Hannibal started going there continuously.
Still a boy, being in college, was so sad because of the rudeness of his classmates who started throwing food to a poor man eating in the dining room with them. Took all he could and run after the poor man, to give him something to take away. The man embraced him crying.
St. Hannibal was Born in Messina, Italy, on July 5, 1851 from a noble family. He was the second born of Cav. Di Francia and Anna Toscano. The eldest was Giovanni, then Hannibal, Francesco and a little sister. He decided to become a priest with his brother Francesco, against the will of their mother.
On May 28, Br. Eduardo Rodríguez López renewed his temporary vows, at the Eucharistic Celebration in our seminary in Tonalá, Mexico. Some relatives of Eduardo, along with some friends and benefactors, participated in the Mass and the dinner that followed.
Fr Manesh Thomas RCI, Delegate of the Superior of the Delegation Our Lady of Guadalupe, Fr Antonio Fiorenza RCI received his vows on behalf of the Congregation. We entrust Brother Eduardo to the love of God so that this year of religious life may be for him and for all a living sign of the presence of the risen Christ among us.
St Elizabeth serve center is a joint endower of St Elizabeth parish and Rogationist fathers in California. The center has always been under the direction of Rogationist fathers.
St Elizabeth serve center extends help to families who are in need. Serve center is open every Tuesday to distribute food for needy families. We give food for 200 families at this time of Covid 19. The center has fifteen volunteers to support its different activities. The volunteers prepare bags of groceries, vegetables, fruits and meat products to be distributed on Tuesdays.
Center provides all kinds of groceries, clothings and special bags for our homeless friends. Center helps people who are unable to pay their bills and rent. The center is a big help for those who are laid off from their jobs in this time of covid19. The center caters to the different needs of the poor in van Nuys.
The center does special events for thanksgiving, Christmas, St Anthony, St Elizabeth, St Hannibal and Easter. These special events are for three hundred to three hundred fifty families. Serve center does its daily administration through the generous support of its benefactors and parishioners.
Fr Shinto Sebastian, responsible of the Server Center
