Novice Master Rev. Kevin M. Russeau, C.S.C.; Assistant Novice Master Rev. Donald Dilg, C.S.C.; and Br. James Blaszak, C.S.C., and seven novices are among the more than 30,000 people that have been evacuated from their homes this week in the Colorado Springs area because of the raging wildfires. The Holy Cross Novitiate in Cascade, Colo., was evacuated on Saturday, June 23 when the fire spread to a nearby canyon. But true to the charisms of Holy Cross, the novices and Holy Cross Religious are helping others in the fire-ravaged community in their time of need.
Fr. Kevin Russeau is keeping the families of the novices and his brothers in the United States Province informed by sending regular email updates. In a recent update he said, “The novices are busy at the Marian House, which is a ministry of Catholic Charities.They have been asked to supervise large food deliveries and make sure it gets sorted correctly. Normally, Marian House serves lunch for the homeless and poor of Colorado Springs. They also have clothing and other items to give away. As long as there are evacuations in the city, Marian House will also be busy preparing some meals for the evacuees. So in these next days, as food continues to come in from various sources the novices have to make sure it goes to the right operation (regular services or fire relief).”
Our “men with hope to bring” were featured in a story on “CBS This Morning” on Thursday, June 28.
The Holy Cross Novitiate is where novices spend time an intense year of prayer and discernment removed from the distractions and hectic pace of full-time work or study so that they can focus on deepening their prayer life. At the end of their novitiate year, they profess temporary vows and return to Moreau Seminary at the University of Notre Dame.
As of this posting, the Novitiate is still safe, but all the Religious are currently staying at two Holy Cross rectories which are part of the three churches that make up the Tri-Community Catholic Parish of Colorado Springs. They are also receiving help from the local Notre Dame Club.
Please join us in prayer as we pray for rain and mitigation of this fire and for the many evacuees who have either lost or been evacuated from their homes.
Blessed Basil Moreau, pray for us.
Saint Andre Bessette, pray for us.
