Xavier Knoll, Franklin, Wisconsin
Xaverian Missionaries – Midwest Mission Center
4500 Xavier Drive – Franklin, WI 53132
(414) 421-0831
Office: 8am-4pm (Mon-Fri)
franklin@xaverianmissionaries.org
Superior & Vocation Director
Fr. Alex Rodriquez fralex@xaverianmissionaries.org
Dear Mission Friend:
Well, who would have thought we would be where we are over a year into the covid-19 pandemic? Last fall all the residents of the Knoll were infected with the virus, most recovered except for Fr. Aniello who succumbed to the virus and died on November 18, 2020. We pray for him as he looks down from heaven. With current restrictions and many unknowns, we have cancelled this year’s festival. Pamela and I, as chairs, along with Fr. Alex,were hopeful we could have the event this year but decided we could not. The festival is one of two major annual fundraisers for the Xaverian Missionaries. Those monies raised are used to fund the Xaverian missions around the world. They have no parish to support these efforts,only the very generous people that you are…
We will once again have a “PRO-MISSION” raffle, just like last year. Tickets will be $2 each or 3 for $5.00. We are also planning the return of outdoor Sunday Masses in June (June 27, July 11 & 25, August 8 & 22) with the final raffle winner drawing after Mass on July 25th, 2021. Of course, any size donations to the Xaverian Missionarieswould be greatly appreciated. Read more and download the raffle form here.
Obituary for Fr. Aniello Salicone SX
On Wednesday, November 18, 2020, shortly after 9:00 pm, Fr. Aniello Salicone died at Ascension Hospital in Franklin, WI. He was hospitalized since November 14 with symptoms of Covid-19. He was 80 years old, having been born in 1940, in Ariano di Olevano sul Tusciano, Salerno, Italy.
He joined the Xaverian Missionaries at the age of 21. In 1962, he made his first religious profession. He made his perpetual vows in 1965 and received priestly ordination in 1966. In 1967 he was sent to Salerno, first as a vocation director and then as vice rector. After a year of language in London, he left for Sierra Leone. He worked in Kabala, as assistant parish priest, teacher, and then as parish priest. In 1980, P. Aniello received a Master’s Degree in Divinity at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, and from 1981 to 1989 he was a teacher in the major seminary of Gbanga, Liberia. He returned to Italy for treatment, and from 1990 to 1993 he was rector of the house in Finchley, London. Finally, in 1994, he was assigned to the U.S.A. He worked at the Animation Center in Holliston, Massachusetts, St. Therese Chinese Catholic Church, in Chicago, Illinois, and finally he was assigned to Franklin, Wisconsin, where he continued with ministry.
We are grateful for his work, and for the many hearts he touched. May the Lord bless you and Keep you! May the Lord’s face shine upon you, and be gracious to you! May the Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace! We thank you all for your continued prayers.
Due to the current Coronavirus pandemic, Father Salicone’s Funeral Mass will be limited. A Memorial Mass for Father Salicone will be celebrated at a later date (once scheduled, you will be notified).
If you wish to express your sympathies to the Xaverian family, please send them to the Xaverian House of Franklin.
Xaverian Missionaries
4500 W Xavier Dr.
Franklin, WI 53132
The Funeral Mass can be viewed on a livestream at
www.youtube.com/channel/UCvRD6YqodoqXAeT6gLJ8pLw
Fr. Aniello on YouTube
Prayers Needed!
Please keep the Xaverian Community In Franklin WI in your prayers. The entire community has tested positive for COVID-19 and Fr. Aniello Salicone SX has been hospitalized. We hold them all in our hearts!
“To this end I dedicate myself…” Osvaldo Acosta Chavez renewal of vows!
Xavier Knoll to Hold Online Auction instead of the banquet.
COVID-19 has caused many heartaches and disruptions in our lives but the call to help those in need doesn’t cease. Please consider participating in the online auction here. If you are using a mobile device, please click here.
“Non-Festival, Pro-Mission” Xavier Knoll Outdoor Mass
Due to Covid-19 we, the Xaverians, were obliged to cancel our Annual Mission Festival in Franklin WI.
Nevertheless, we took the opportunity to continue the annual raffle to support our Missions around the world. The raffle took place on Sunday, July 26, 2020, after an outdoor Mass on the Xaverian Grounds at 10:00 am.
We complied with social distancing and infection prevention to keep everyone safe.
Thank you so much for all your support through these rough times.
~ Fr. Alex Rodriguez SX
2020 Pro-Mission Raffle
Dear Mission Friends:
As festival chair people, Pamela and I were looking forward to another successful June festival. Well, Covid-19 has changed all those plans. We had some new additions planned and, hopefully, can implement them next festival. The festival is a major fundraiser for the Missionary Fathers to support their world-wide missionary work. They have no parish to help support them: only you incredibly generous people.
We have decided to have a raffle in hopes of raising some funds for the mission. We have increased the prize money at every level. We increased the chances to $2/ticket or 3 for $5. We are also planning for an outdoor Mass at 10:00 am, on July 26, 2020, weather and pandemic guidelines permitting, as well as Archdiocesan directives being met, with proper social distancing. After Mass draw the winners… Read more an enter the raffle here.
2019 Mission Banquet
Franklin’s Mission Banquet took place on Saturday, October 26, 2019 at the Crowne Plaza Milwaukee Airport Center. We spent time with friends and collaborators in our mission. We started with the celebration of the Holy Mass and then joyfully shared a meal. This Year the VanderHeyden Award, an award given to those who have made and impact though their work to the missions, was given to Mr. Paul Stich. The award was received by his sister, Mary, since Paul was unable to be present at the banquet. The banquet was a wonderful celebration. Our most heartfelt thanks to all those who made this event a great success
2019 Xavier Knoll Mission Festival
The Mission Sending Ceremony took place at the Eucharistic Celebration on Sunday. Fr. Edgar Ruiz, s.x. is assigned to Indonesia and Fr. Joe Matteucig, s.x. has been reassigned to Taiwan. Fr. Joe will leave the USA at the end of August 2019 and should reach Taiwan in November, after a bit of rest in Italy.
2018 Xavier Knoll Mission Banquet
2018 Xavier Knoll Mission Festival
An Enchanted Evening….
The 2017 Mission Banquet was a successful event, thanks to the collaboration and participation of many!
Fun in the sun at the annual Xavier Knoll Mission Festival!
A weekend of family fun was enjoyed by all. The prize selections were revamped for this year’s festival games. Participants picked the prize they wanted at the “redemption tent” based on the number of tickets they won while playing the games. New bands this year were the very popular Eddie Butts Band will headline on Saturday evening and the delightful WhiskeyBells, a vintage country/folk revival band on Sunday.
Fr. Aniello’s 50th Anniversary Celebration
Fr. Aniello’s Healing Ministry
The second Wednesday of each month Fr. Aniello Salicon s.x. offers Mass followed by healing prayers at our Xaverian Chapel in Franklin at 7:00 PM. He is often invited to parishes in the Chicago area. Father Aniello has served as a missionary priest in Italy, London, West Africa, and many states in America. He took a fourth vow to serve the missions. He says that over the years he has witnessed miraculous healings, including paralyzed individuals who have walked in his presence. “I don’t heal. God does it,” Fr. Aniello stresses. “I am simply an instrument through which God’s power flows… The Lord told me one day, ‘Son, I want to tell people how much I love each of them!’ I am trying to fulfill the mission He gave me.”
Mission Banquet
Fr. Alex enjoyed taking lots of selfies at this banquet, but with all the happy faces sharing in the fun, who could blame him? See more on his Facebook page.
Celebration of 50 Years Missionary Priesthood
Fathers Dominic Caldognetto, Anthony Lalli and Ivan Marchesin gathered with friends at St. Charles Parish, Franklin, WI, on June 4, 2016. It was a marvelous opportunity to honor the long service of these men for the mission of the Church and a great time to celebrate what the Lord is doing in many parts of the world. See Pictures of the event here.
Xavier Knoll mourns the passing of Fr. Lawrence Crosara SX
Fr. Larry Crosara SX entered eternal life on December 12, 2016. He died peacefully at home with his confreres. He was 83 years old. Fr. Larry was a wonderful confrere, friend to many, and a great missionary, working both in Sierra Leone, West Africa and in the United States. We are grateful for the life of a missionary he gifted the Church and the world. Please pray for him, his family, and all the Xaverian Missionaries. (Photo: Fr. Larry is the main presider in the middle)
Comments from Facebook include:
“I always looked forward to my visits with him at the Knoll. He was always so cheerful & funny! I love him & his contagious smile! I will miss him. My prayers, thoughts & condolences to Larry’s family & the Xaverian family. May he rest I heavenly peace.”
“He was a kind and loving priest dedicating his life to the missions and Jesus. He will be missed.”
“We will all miss him and his sweet smile. God has welcomed him into his heavenly flock of Angels. He will continue to smile upon us from above.”
