Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament

The Last Week with the Superior General in the Province of Saint Ann

The three-week-long canonical visitation of the Province of Saint Ann (USA) with Superior General Father Philip Benzy Romician, SSS continued from August 25 – 30 with a crisscrossing of the USA to visit Associates in two communities that do not have religious of the Blessed Sacrament present, and also the first foundation of the province in New York City at Saint Jean Baptiste.

After Florida, Fathers Benzy and John Thomas Lane, SSS, Provincial Superior, and Mona Grigsby-Suarez, Director of the Center for Eucharistic Evangelizing (CEE) … traveled to a formerly administered Blessed Sacrament Community parish, Saint Charles Borromeo, Albuquerque, New Mexico. This was the only site in the history of the province and the USA Eymardian Family where all three branches were together: sisters, brothers, and priests (SSS), as well as the Associates (lay and clerics).

After Albuquerque, [they] flew to New York City to meet with a few of the Associates of New York City at Saint Jean Baptiste for Evening Prayer and a homily by Father Benzy. A dessert reception followed the prayer service.

Lastly, [they] and Father Simon Peter ventured to meet the pastor, where our Associates of Saint Philip, Norwalk, Connecticut, have served since the late 2000s. The late Father Anthony Schueller, SSS, and diocesan priest Father Michael Boccaccio founded the group with Jim Brown, the former CEE Director. Due to his health, Father Boccaccio and the other Associates were unable to participate. Instead, Deacon Jack Mahon, the writer of Daily Eucharistic Reflections (DER), also joined the pastor, Father Sudhir D’Souza, and us.

Photos: TOP – Some of the Albuquerque, New Mexico Associates
CENTER – Some of the NYC Associates in the SSS Dining Room
BOTTOM – Father General, Mona, Deacon Jack, Fathers Lane, Simon Peter, and Sudhir gather to plan the future for the Associates of Connecticut

Articles continue – Read more in Grapevine 2025-23 pdf