MSI gives God thanks for 17 years of service & sunsets in 2025

Solemnity of Pentecost

June 8, 2025

Dear Friends and Families of the Maris Stella Institute,

Greetings in Christ Jesus Our Lord and Savior!  May the power of the Holy Spirit be with you and yours on this glorious Solemnity of Pentecost!  Today marks the 17th liturgical anniversary of the founding of the Maris Stella Institute.  So, not only Happy Birthday to the Church, but also Happy Birthday to MSI!  We give God praise, glory, honor, and thanksgiving for all the blessings bestowed upon MSI since that first day of its existence on the Vigil of Pentecost, May 10, 2008.  Today, I have some very important news to share with you. 

Firstly, allow me a few moments to reflect upon the past year, for even with less time and less personnel, MSI was able to still operate and offer more programs and activities than in past years.  For example, last year in 2024, we were able to use our Koch Foundation Grant, together with the continued prayerful, professional, and material support of our generous donors and volunteers, to operate yet another successful and fruitful year of MSI. 

By God’s grace and mercy, MSI was able to provide…

1.   for the first time, 1st Sunday Mini Retreats at St. Basil’s Catholic Church in Vallejo, California, from July thru November 2024, where about 50-70 people were served or participated as a whole;

2.   2nd Saturday Adult Basic, Advanced, Master Catechist, & Continuing Formation Classes at Holy Family Catholic Church in American Canyon, from July thru November 2024, where about two dozen were served or participated throughout the year;

3.   Regular Online Makeup Classes for Basic, Advanced, Master Catechist, & Continuing Formation Classes via our Webex platform, where a handful of individuals were able to take advantage of and participate in this almost weekly 5-month series of makeup classes.  The success and completion of these online classes facilitated the maximum number of graduates and awardees at last December’s graduation, which included 2 MSI Grand Master Catechist Recipients, 1 Master Catechist Candidate/Graduate, and 2 Basic Catechist Candidates/Graduates;

4.   A 12-hour Silent Retreat endorsed and jointly sponsored by both the California Knights of Columbus & MSI at St. Isidore’s Catholic Church in Yuba City, CA, on Sunday, October 13, 2024.  At least two dozen individuals were participants for the entire retreat and over a hundred were involved with the parish sponsored Marian procession & Benediction with Fr. Avram Brown, one of our very own faculty members.  We also had a total of four priests (Fr. Chuck Kelly, Fr. Fred Kutubebi, Fr. Raj Derivera, and Fr. Ryan Mahar) available to hear confessions during the retreat and one deacon, Deacon John Thoo, who assisted with both leading Liturgy of the Hours as well as the additional exposition and benediction of the Blessed Sacrament;

5.   Graduation Mass, Ceremony, and Reception / Faculty & Staff Appreciation Luncheon on Saturday, December 14, 2024, with Fr. Gary Sumpter, Spiritual Director of MSI, as both the Mass Celebrant and Commencement Speaker.  Fr. Fred Kutubebi and Fr. Bala Putchakayala were also present and participants in the awarding of graduation diplomas and V-stoles.

Secondly, although we had a very busy and successful formation year last year, it is with a heavy heart that I share publicly that on Good Friday 2025, the Maris Stella Institute Board of Directors voted unanimously to dissolve MSI as a 501(c)3 nonprofit because of 1) a lack of regular, larger, more substantial funding and 2) committed personnel.

I realize that this may come as a shock to some people, but those of us who have been very much involved with the day-to-day operations of MSI the past couple of years have noticed a more urgent and greater need for regular, larger, and more substantial funding as well as regular committed personnel to keep MSI alive and strong.  Unfortunately, things have remained largely the same the past couple of years, and it is no longer sustainable to keep MSI operational. 

We do not understand why Our Lord permitted this death of MSI, but we place all our trust and confidence in His great love for us and for MSI, who has, always and everywhere, tried to remain faithful to Him and His teachings, to continue His mission “to make disciples of all nations,… teaching them all that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20).  With our eyes fixed on Christ Crucified, and our hearts united with Mary’s at the foot of the Cross, our hope and consolation at this time is in God’s Word from the Book of Revelation:  “’He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain, [for] the old order has passed away.’ The one who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new’” (Revelation 21:4-5).  If Our Lord one day calls us to start anew and build an even better Catechism training institute one day, such that the “new MSI” is like MSI in a new, glorified, and resurrected state; then, may it be so, whether here on earth or one day in heaven.  But for now, may we be like faithful Job, in his brokenness and pain, and say with one united voice, “The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD” (Job 1:21)!  And although MSI as a nonprofit organization is ceasing to exist, the spirit of MSI, consecration to Jesus through Mary, will continue to live on in the hearts of all those touched by MSI.  Viva Cristo Rey!  Ave Maris Stella!

Thank you for being part of the MSI Community all these years!  I especially thank those of you who have given so much of yourselves to MSI through your continued prayers, professional, and monetary support, through your great labor of love for Christ’s mission.  I do hope and pray you’ll stay in contact with me by connecting with me on Facebook, Messenger, LinkedIn, and/or Telegram.

It’s been a joy, honor, and blessing to serve you and journey with you towards our Heavenly Homeland.  Let us be saints together!

Your Sister in Jesus through Mary,

Tove Ann

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Tove Ann Catubig Purificacion, Ph.D.

President

MARIS STELLA INSTITUTE

Your Catechism Training Institute

P.O. Box 10061

American Canyon, CA  94503