Brother André: Inspired by our first saint

Mary Rose Bacani Valenti

September 14, 2010
Welcome to the fourth of a series of blogs on the legacy of Brother André!
In the past blogs, we went from Indiana to New Hampshire. Now we move to Oregon.
I met Fr. Edwin Obermiller once I landed in Portland, Oregon, as part of the filming for the documentary on Br. André. Although I did meet him there for the first time, we had already been corresponding by phone and e-mail for about two months already! Fr. Obermiller has been largely responsible for helping me find the right people to interview in the U.S. and Rome. You will catch a glimpse of him and all the Americans who have wonderful things to say about Br. André in the upcoming documentary.
Below is Fr. Obermiller’s reflection.
FrObermillerInspired by our First Saint
By Fr. Edwin Obermiller, CSC
Assistant Provincial, Congregation of Holy Cross, Indiana Province
Brother André Bessette, a member of the Congregation of Holy Cross, will be canonized in Rome on October 17. This is the first saint for our community! The anticipation of the event has generated a heightened level of awareness and appreciation for Brother André, his ministry, and the work of Holy Cross around the world.
Who we are as Holy Cross
The Congregation of Holy Cross is a relatively young community. Founded in France in 1837 by Blessed Basil Moreau, CSC, the men of Holy Cross seek to make God known, loved, and served in educational, parish, and mission settings. The canonization of Brother André helps to inspire members of our community and the thousands of students, staff, faculty, parishioners, supporters and collaborators who support us in this mission.
At the heart of who we are as Holy Cross
André reminds me of what should be at the heart of who I am as a Holy Cross religious. Through his action and care for others, André reminds us all of what is really important – prayer, time with and service to others, using our unique skills and abilities, opportunities for silence and reflection. As a priest in residence at O’Neill Hall at the University of Notre Dame, I know young people today who are full of energy and enthusiasm and are able to multi-task unlike any other generation before them. But there is a hazard in this fast-paced world that we live in. You can get lost in technology and trends that are so fleeting.
Br. André’s inspiration
André’s message is timeless and true. It is my deepest desire that this special moment for the Holy Cross religious and the Universal Church provides an opportunity for each one of us and for all of us together… an opportunity to re-examine our priorities and to re-invigorate the spirit and prayer life of our collective community.
Find out more about the Congregation of Holy Cross around the world: www.holycrosscongregation.org