Celebrating the Centennial of the Maryknoll Society
Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers is the overseas mission outreach of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States, following Jesus in serving the poor and others in need in 27 countries. All Catholics are called to mission through baptism, and Maryknoll’s mission education outreach in parishes and schools throughout the country engages U.S. Catholics in mission through prayer, donations, as volunteers and through vocations.
During 2011, Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers will commemorate its centennial with a theme of The Gift of Mission – The Maryknoll Journey. These missionaries will celebrate as they continue their journey into the next 100 years to share God’s love and the Gospel in combating poverty, providing healthcare, building communities and promoting human rights.
This monthly series during 2011 highlights the history of Maryknoll during its first 100 years.
Maryknoll Processional Cross in Maryknoll Society’s Our Lady Queen of the Apostles Chapel Photo credit: Maryknoll Fathers and BrothersThe Maryknoll Society celebrated the closing of its centennial year—The Gift of Mission-The Maryknoll Journey—with a special Mass and procession on December 12 at the Maryknoll Mission Center's Our Lady Queen of the Apostles Chapel in Ossining, New York. An emotional portion of the ceremony to close the centennial commemoration for the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers included the transfer of the Maryknoll Processional Cross to the Maryknoll Sisters as they begin the celebration of their centennial during 2012. The cross was moved from the altar to the back of the chapel. A nighttime outdoor procession carried the cross several hundred yards to the chapel of the Maryknoll Sisters.
The back of the Maryknoll Processional Cross contains relics of the Maryknoll Society Founders—Bishop James A. Walsh and Father Thomas F. Price—and of Mother Mary Joseph, the Foundress of the Maryknoll Sisters' Congregation. The cross also contains relics of Maryknoll Brother Aloysius Moliner and Maryknoll Lay Missioner Joseph Honerkamp. Placed together, the relics call to mind the shared goal of all the Maryknoll branches to proclaim the Gospel to all people.
This year's calendar has been one of commemorations, celebrations and moments of grace for the centennial year of the Maryknoll Society.
The year began with a January liturgy at Our Lady Queen of Apostles Chapel at Maryknoll's New York mission center. The commemoration ended with a December liturgy at the same chapel along with the call for all Society members and supporters to find new roads to work in mission. During the many months in between, many worldwide events continued to focus on the future of the mission work that challenges not only the Maryknoll Society but also the Catholic Church in the U.S.
During this year’s centennial commemoration of the Maryknoll Society, also known as the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, all eyes of the Society’s priests and Brothers remained focused on current mission projects to help the poor, disadvantaged and others in need in Africa, Asia and Latin America. They also continue to engage American Catholics, who, through baptism, are called to mission.
For the centennial year, Maryknoll identified 100 current apostolic projects that Americans support with their prayers and donations. The projects are featured on the Maryknoll Society website (www.maryknollsociety.org). Several of the projects are spotlighted below.
To celebrate the anniversary of the Society's founding and impact Maryknoll has had on all our lives, we held a Centennial Alumni Weekend in September. We have posted videos of some of the presentations that weekend to YouTube.
If you wish to listen to Mr. Gene Kennedy, Mr. Miguel Diaz, Ambassador to the Holy See, Prof. Philip Jenkins, and Fr. John Sivalon, please check the following. Enjoy.
More than 2,000 Society members, clergy, friends and donors gathered in New York City's Cathedral of Saint Patrick on Sunday, October 30, to celebrate the centennial of the Maryknoll Society, better-known as the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers. The celebration gave thanks for all Maryknollers, benefactors and friends past and present who have helped proclaim the Gospel to all nations.
Maryknoll Processional Cross in Maryknoll Society’s Our Lady Queen of the Apostles Chapel Photo credit: Maryknoll Fathers and BrothersThe Maryknoll Society celebrated the closing of its centennial year—The Gift of Mission-The Maryknoll Journey—with a special Mass and procession on December 12 at the Maryknoll Mission Center's Our Lady Queen of the Apostles Chapel in Ossining, New York. An emotional portion of the ceremony to close the centennial commemoration for the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers included the transfer of the Maryknoll Processional Cross to the Maryknoll Sisters as they begin the celebration of their centennial during 2012. The cross was moved from the altar to the back of the chapel. A nighttime outdoor procession carried the cross several hundred yards to the chapel of the Maryknoll Sisters.
