Xavier Knoll - College and Pre-Novitiate Community in Franklin, WI

the Community at Xavier Knoll - Franklin, WI

During one of the daily celebrations of the Eucharist at Xavier Knoll USA Provincial Chapter: "Our Hearts burning within us"

he Xaverians serving in the USA gathered together for their Chapter at Xavier Knoll in Franklin, Wisconsin. Read some of the first impressions from the week-long event after Easter that saw the missionaries all bundled up because of the cold temperatures and the ever-present snow!

Supporting Relief in Bangladesh

hrough the support of friends and advisory board members, and the frequent presence of Fr. Dominic at St. Mary’s in Hales Corners, the parish organized the program “Be the Compassion of Christ – Lent 2008” which invites parishioners to show their prayerful and financial support to the people of Bangladesh affected by Cyclone Sidr in November 2007. A simple brochure briefly describes the work of the Xaverians in Bangladesh who operate there with other relief organizations to alleviate their struggles (Clean water, replanting efforts, health care, emergency food distribution, rebuilding of homes). The parishioners and staff of St. Mary’s have been very generous with their time, talent, and contributions through the years in the many events organized by the Franklin community.

Photo of St. Francis Xavier at Xavier Knoll, Franklin Celebrating the Novena of Grace of St. Francis Xavier: March 4-12

n Dec. 27th 2007, God called home to Himself a very good friend of ours. She was a very ordinary, simple person, but with a faith strong enough “to move mountains.”

She and her husband came in contact with us in the early sixties. What led them to us was their devotion to St. Francis Xavier. Actually, they were looking for a place where the Novena of Grace to St. Francis Xavier was prayed. Someone said to them, “a new group of missionary priests came to Milwaukee a few years ago. They call themselves ‘the Xaverian Missionary Fathers.’ Go and see them, they may be able to help you.” They did come looking for us – and the rest is history. They became our friends and gave us the best they had: their heart, because they had found what they were looking for.

Throughout their lives, they remained faithful in praying the Novena of Grace to St. Francis Xavier with us. What an inspiration they have been to all of us over the years. They came to mind as I am preparing the letter inviting you to pray with us the Novena of Grace to St. Francis Xavier.

St. Francis Xavier’s life was driven by the passion of bringing all people to Christ. He proclaimed His Gospel to thousands and thousands of people in India, Malaysia and Japan. He personally experienced how true were Jesus’ words, “The harvest is plentiful, but laborers are few.” While in India, St. Francis wrote to St. Ignatius of Loyola: “Many, many people hereabouts are not becoming Christians for one reason only: there is nobody to make them Christians. Again and again I have thought of going around the universities of Europe, especially Paris, and everywhere crying out like a madman, riveting the attention of those with more learning than charity. What a tragedy! How many souls are being shut out of heaven! I wish they would work as hard at this, as they do at their books, for their learning and the talents entrusted to them.”

Two priests from our community here at Xavier Knoll are doing exactly what St. Francis Xavier wanted to do in 1544, to create a deeper awareness in young people of the need for “apostles” in today’s world. Fr. Victor is bringing this message to the young people at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, and Fr. Adolph to those at the University of Illinois in Champaign. St. Francis was hoping and praying that more young people would cry out with all their hearts: “Lord, I am here! What do you want me to do? Send me anywhere you like – even to India!”

This year, we invite you once again to join us with your prayers for the Novena of Grace to St. Francis Xavier from March 4th through the 12th. Together we beg the Lord of the harvest, through the intercession of St. Francis Xavier, that more young people may heed God’s calling to become Christ’s apostles in the world.

Click here to Pray the Novena of Grace to St. Francis Xavier

Mission Banquet a Great Success

n World Mission Sunday weekend, the Franklin community held the Mission Banquet on Friday Oct. 19 at the Italian Community Center in Milwaukee, with some 390 people attending, the best ever participation in the last two decades. As usual, even this year’s Mission Banquet included auction items, the Banquet Program booklet with advertisers, the Mission Award, and the Raffle.

The highlight of this year’s event was the celebration of the 50 years of presence of the Xaverians in the Milwaukee Archdiocese, and friends responded well to this important anniversary. The attendees recognized with applause Frs. Larry and Victor who were on that famous bus in 1957, as the community moved from Massachusetts to Milwaukee.

The Mission Award was given to Frank and Dorothy Mutranowski and Leonard and Pat Koronkowski, two couples who deserved our recognition for the many years of volunteering in the many activities at Xavier Knoll. The 72-page Program Booklet featured “Mission Strokes,” a brief news vignette describing the work of some Xaverians around the work, i.e. Fr. Renato Trevisan, Bishop Biguzzi, Fr. Carl Chudy, Fr. John Querzani, Fr. Joe Matteucig, to name a few.

During the entire Banquet, following a tradition of the last few years, there was a continuous PowerPoint presentation of slides from our missions, much appreciated by all, and some photos of past and present activities and friends of the Xaverians in Milwaukee.