Nov. 18, 2015

By Suzanne Pietropaoli
Staff writer

Malone - Excitement filled the air November 1 as St. Andre Bessette parish officially welcomed five young missionaries to its new Frassati House.

At the heart of this new apostolate are five young people with backgrounds in theology, who have come from near and far, to live a simple and prayerful community life.

Together they will serve the New Evangelization through their work in youth and young adult ministries, adult faith formation, and parish retreats. After more than a year of prayerful discernment, extensive interviews, and careful planning, this fresh expression of the New Evangelization has become a reality.

Open house
An open house on All Saints’ Day drew friends and parishioners to the former St. John Bosco rectory, now home to the new community.

The afternoon event, highlighted by  a ceremony of blessing and dedication led by Bishop Terry R. LaValley, allowed parishioners and missionaries to get to know each other. In those interactions, the work of Frassati House was well begun.

Father Joseph W. Giroux, pastor of St. Andre’s, who envisioned this new approach to evangelization in the parish, noticed it immediately.“Just look around: people are smiling because this is something that makes them feel good about being Catholic,” he said. “These five young people are every bit as much missionaries as those who go to distant countries, because our own back yard is as much a mission field as any other.

“The witness of young people willing to come to Malone, a place they do not know, because they love Jesus and love his Church and want others to do the same: this is the mission of Frassati House,” Father Giroux said.

“This is clearly the work of the New Evangelization.”

Enthusiastic parishioners
St. Andre’s parishioners share Father Giroux’s enthusiasm.

For Vic Sciarrino, “Frassati house is a sign of hope that all, especially the young, will come to know the joy of the Gospel.”

Judy Pelkey shares that hope: “We are blessed to have these young people come to Saint Andre Bessette. Their presence here will energize our parish, is already energizing our parish.”

Ursuline Sister Sheila Murphy is likewise impressed: “There is a lot of interest with these people, and there is a lot of vitality here. And that is exactly what we need!”

Barbara Winthrop-Benware agrees: “This is such a wonderful and much-needed mission. We need young people in the Church, and they have a calling to share their faith. I think this idea may catch on. It would be great to see other empty rectories used this way.”

Her husband, Dan Benware, concurs. ”This is a great idea! It is an opportunity for people who can’t commit for a lifetime—but can take time out of their lives—to serve the Church in this way.”

Speaking from 60 years in religious life, Ursuline Sister Teresa Byrne observes, “I think Frassati House is just wonderful. Years ago, people wanting to serve the Church had few options—the lifelong commitment of religious life or priesthood.

“A new possibility like this one seems to be a real fruit of Vatican II’s promise of full participation by the laity in the life of the Church,” Sister Teresa said.

Little pocket of wider church
Frassati House missionary Rachel Daly sees the new community as “a little pocket of the wider Church. An important aspect of Frassati House is that we will be living in community, which allows us to be our own cell within the parish. We will have the advantage of ‘1+1=3’: young people living and working together is an opportunity for the joy to multiply.

“Our focus is evangelization - living, focused on Jesus, with ‘Go and make disciples’ as our mindset,” Ms Daly said. “We have received the treasure of our faith; now we turn ourselves outward and share with others.
“Knowing our various stories, it is very obvious that God called us here,” she said. “God’s initiative inspired Father Joe and also, Father Joe’s reaching out to each of us.”

Bishop’s support
Bishop LaValley has, of course, been part of this initiative from its inception.

“I understand that evangelization does not have a one-size-fits-all program,” he explains. “Father Joe approached me with the concept for Frassati House. The concept was sound, as is Father’s leadership. I said, ‘Let’s see if the Spirit is home.’ We have to think big and pray big!

“I am very happy to be here for the opening of Frassati House,” Bishop LaValley said. “I am glad to support such evangelistic endeavors.”

One of the prayers from the ceremony of blessing and dedication speaks beautifully to the purpose of Frassati House and its missionaries.

“O God…grant to your servants who will live in this house these blessings: to listen to you in faith, to speak to you in prayer, to seek only you in their work, to find you in all they do, and to become witnesses of the Gospel.”

Who’s who at Frassati?

Who Are Malone’s  Frassati House Missionaries?
• Peru, NY, native Rachel Daly is familiar to NCC readers. A graduate of Plattsburgh’s Seton Catholic High School and the University of Dallas, Rachel entered the Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal in the Bronx. Despite the beauty of that experience, she discerned  that God had other plans for her life - and he sent her to Malone. “I have always held a special place in my heart for the Church of the North Country,” Rachel said, “and this year I am looking forward to serving her as part of the new and exciting venture of Frassati House.”

•Katie Brizek hails from Sparta, NJ, and graduated from Christendom College in May. This past summer found her volunteering in Chile with the Sisters of the Christian Life Movement. There she discovered a passion for working within the parish to create a strong, supportive, spiritual community.

“I am enthusiastic about helping St. Andre’s to grow its community,” Katie said. “I look forward to meeting lots of people and to seeing how God works through their lives in the coming year.”

•Minnesota native - and avowed Vikings fan!  - Michael Jacobs is a 2012 graduate of Franciscan University of Steubenville, where he majored in Theology and Catechetics. Along with this academic background, he brings with him a great joy in his faith, and a strong desire to share it with others.

“I’m really excited to be a parish missionary here at St. Andre Bessette,” Michael said. “Malone is a beautiful town, and very welcoming to us.”

• A native of Latham, NY, Lauren Numrich graduated from Siena College in 2012 with a degree in Religious Studies. Since then, she has lived as a missionary in youth ministry, including a year in Australia with NET Ministries.

“Upon my return from Australia, after prayer and discernment, the Lord called me here to help pioneer Frassati House and serve the parish of St. Andre’s,’ Lauren said. “I am eager to serve and see how God will work this year.”

• Hailing most recently from Kansas, Zachary Monson graduated from Benedictine College there in 2015. In addition to his major in Evangelization and Catechesis, Zachary earned a minor in music with a focus on classical guitar. As well, he brings a “reignited” passion for Christ, and experience in catechetics.

“It’s great to be here,” Zachary said. “Frassati House is an amazing opportunity, and I am excited to be able to minister to the people of St. Andre Bessette Parish.”

Photo by Fr. Scott Belina
Bishop Terry R. LaValley traveled to the newly established Frassati House in Malone - the former St. John Bosco rectory - to bless the home and the five young missionaries who will engage in evangelization work in the area. From left are Bishop LaValley, Father Joseph  W. Giroux, pastor of St. Andre Bessette Parish; and Frassati residents Rachel Daly, Katie Brizek, Lauren Numrich, Michael Jacobs and Zachary Monson.