Our Mission

God has a mission for each of us and has given us the gifts to
successfully complete the purpose for which He created us. Our job is
to discern our role in His creation. The gifts He has given us can be
the instrument of our downfall when used against His purposes; when we
discern correctly through prayer and spiritual direction these same
talents and abilities can sanctify us and those around us. It's not
too late to seek God's will for your life--in fact, we should attempt
to understand His will for our every action, each day, using all the
gifts he has given us.

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February 28th - Saint Auguste Chapdelaine
(Also known as: Father Ma; Papa Chapdelaine; Augustus Chapdelaine)

Born: 6 January 1814 at La Rochelle-Normande, France.
Youngest of nine children born to Nicolas Chapdelaine and Madeleine
Dodeman. Following grammar school, Auguste dropped out to work on the
family farm. He early felt a call to the priesthood, but his family
opposed it, needing his help on the farm. However, the sudden death of
two of his brothers caused them to re-think forcing him to ignore his
life's vocation, and they finally approved. He entered the minor
seminary at Mortain on 1 October 1834, studying with boys half his
age. It led to his being nicknamed Papa Chapdelaine, which stuck with
him the rest of his life.

Ordained on 10 June 1843 at age 29. Associate pastor in Bouncy for
seven years beginning on 23 February 1844. In 1851 he finally obtained permission from his bishop to enter the foreign missions, and was
accepted by French Foreign Missions; he was two years past their age
limit, but his zeal for the missions made them approve him anyway. He
stayed long enough to say a final Mass, bury his sister, and say
good-bye to his family, warning them that he would never see them
again. Left Paris for the Chinese missions on 30 April 1852, landing
in Singapore on 5 September 1852.

Due to being robbed on the road by bandits, Auguste lost everything he
had, and had to fall back and regroup before making his way to his
missionary assignment. He reached Kwang-si province in 1854, and was
arrested in Su-Lik-Hien ten days later. He spent two to three weeks in
prison, but was released, and ministered to the locals for two years, converting hundreds. Arrested on 26 February 1856 during a government crackdown, he was returned to Su-Lik-Hien and sentenced to death for
his work. Tortured with and died with Saint Lawrence Pe-Man and Saint
Agnes Tsau Kouy. One of the Martyrs of China

Died: beheaded on 29 February 1856 in Su-Lik-Hien, Kwang-Si province, China

Beatified: 27 May 1900 by Pope Leo XIII
Canonized: 1 October 2000 by Pope John Paul II


Saint Quote:
Since all things lie open to His eyes and ears, let us hold Him in awe
and rid ourselves of impure desires to do works of evil, so that we
may be protected by His mercy from the judgement that is to come.
Which of us can escape His mighty hand?
-- Pope Saint Clement I

Bible Quote:
The babble of some people is like sword thrusts,
but the tongue of the wise is healing. [Prov 10:21]


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When Science Is Silent

Said Dr. Joseph A. Parker: "Some have found fault with me. They say I
am old-fashioned and out of date; I am always quoting the Bible; why
not turn to science this morning?

"There is a poor widow here who has lost her only son. She wants to
know if she will see him again. Science shall give the answer, and I
will put the Book away." So he took the Book and put it on the seat
behind. "Will this woman see her son again? Where is he? Does death
end all? What has science to say?" Here a long pause. "We are waiting
for an answer, the woman is anxious." Another long pause. "The woman's
heart is breaking. Science must speak. Nothing to say? Then we must
take the Book," and here he reverently replaced it, and with great
deliberation opened it and read: "I shall go to him, but he shall not
return to me ...The dead shall arise ...for this corruptible must put
on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. O death,
where is thy sting? ...I saw the dead, small and great, stand before
God."

Then, closing the Book, and patting it affectionately, he said, "We
will stick to the Book!"

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