Xaverian Missionaries Celebrate 45 years in the Paterson Diocese

PRLog (Press Release) - Sep. 12, 2012 - Wayne NJ: Friday, September 7th marked the 45th year of the presence of the St. Francis Xavier Missionary Society, aka Xaverian Missionaries, in the Diocese of Paterson. Originally based in the Archdiocese of Boston, the Xaverians were looking to establish a community in the New York metropolitan area.  In 1967 the United States Provincial Fr. Angelo Frosi SX (later to be Bishop Frosi) and Fr. Francis Gugliotta SX considered the Paterson diocese an appropriate place to promote the missionary work of their congregation. Bishop Emeritus Frank Rodimer was at that time Msgr. Frank Rodimer, Chancellor of the Paterson Diocese. An ardent supporter of the missions, he suggested to the Kearns family, who were relocating to Florida and offering their home in Wayne for diocesan use, to donate their residence to the Xaverian Missionaries. The family did so and the house was “dedicated to the memory of Frank Xavier Kearns Sr.”
The gift of the residence was providential and is considered one of the greatest gifts the Xaverians have ever received. In gratitude, the Kearns family was made honorary Xaverian Missionaries. Since that time the house has served as the Xaverian USA Provincial House, a center for language study by Xaverian missionary students, and for the financial support of the order as the Mission Office for Xaverians around the world. The Xaverian presence has always been a resource for the promotion of Missio ad Gentes for the Church in the Diocese of Paterson.
Fr. Frank Grappoli, who served in the Wayne residence from 1967 to 1970, 1981 to 1984 and from 1995 until the present, like many other Xaverians, is still in touch with this special family.  Regarding the anniversary, Fr. Frank has rich “memories and a sense of undying gratitude to the Kearns family” for the donation of their home and their utmost support of the missionary activities of the Xaverian Missionaries, the world over.

Eight hundred Xaverian missionaries currently serve in: Bangladesh, Burundi, Brazil, Cameroon, Chad, Columbia, Dem. Republic of Congo, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Mozambique, Philippines, Sierra Leone, Spain, Thailand, Taiwan, the UK and the USA

Mission: “We share the Love of Christ with people across different faiths and cultures, by proclaiming the Good News of Jesus in new Christian churches. Inspired by St. Francis Xavier and Blessed Guido M. Conforti, we are a Catholic religious community committed to serving God in the poor.”