Year of Mission: Hope Beyond Borders

The Congregation of Holy Cross invites all friends, collaborators, and ministries to join in celebrating a landmark spiritual initiative: the Year of Mission, officially beginning on April 28, 2025. This global observance for the Congregation, themed “Hope Beyond Borders,” will mark a renewed commitment to missionary zeal across cultures, communities, and continents.

Declared by Superior General Br. Paul Bednarczyk, C.S.C., whose video message is below, the Year of Mission is an invitation to stretch beyond the familiar. In alignment with the Church’s 2025 Jubilee Year, Pilgrims of Hope, this effort encourages all members of the Holy Cross family to respond courageously to the signs of the times in their communities. To inspire this effort, two Holy Cross Servants of God have been named co-patrons of the Year of Mission: Br. Flavian LaPlante, C.S.C., and Bishop Vincent McCauley, C.S.C.

Philip Smith – Mandalas

Brother Philip Smith, C.S.C.
Mandalas

Individual motifs that when stitched together form an afghan. A motif is a single design—a square or circle or triangle– within a larger number of motifs. Each of the ones I have included have been designed by British crochet artist Jane Crowfoot. When all of the motifs are assembled in the proper place, they create an afghan which Jane calls Victorian Garden. The entire project took me about six months to complete. The first use of the word afghan to refer to a stitched (crocheted or knitted) blanket was in 1877.

Philip Smith – Mandalas

Brother Philip Smith, C.S.C.Mandalas

Brother Philip Smith, C.S.C.
Mandalas