OSSINING, NY (January 8, 2015) Maryknoll Lay Missioners (MKLM) pays tribute to Lay Missioner Joseph Regotti, who passed away on Saturday, January 3, 2015. Joe worked as Director of Mission Services at MKLM until this year. Before that, he served with the organization in Mexico from 1997-2001. Throughout his life, Joe was consistently committed to building a more just world based on gospel values. He played a pivotal part in guiding hundreds of U.S. Catholic lay people to realize their call to cross-cultural mission.
“Joe strongly believed that we as laity are called from our Baptism to mission, here at home, as well as crossing borders to other lands and cultures,” states Sam Stanton, executive director of MKLM. “He represented the kind of role model we all aspire to become, and forever leaves his mark on our hearts.”
After graduating from Notre Dame University in 1982, Joe became involved with its Center for Social Concerns. In the early 1980’s he went to Chile as a Holy Cross Associate and served in the desolate area of Vallanar in the north. He then served the poor and marginalized in Guatemala through the organization Witness for Peace.
Joe joined Maryknoll Lay Missioners in 1997 with Jean Walsh, his wife, and raised their daughters, Hannah and Maria, while serving in Oaxaca, Mexico. As a Maryknoll Lay Missioner, Joe accompanied a Oaxaca community organization and collaborated with them for civil rights and leadership development. Through these relationships, Joe helped to found a hospital that still serves some of the poorest communities in Oaxaca.
While Director of Mission Services at MKLM, Joe helped develop and implement an intense lay missioner 10-week orientation training program, which is designed to give participants many of the elements necessary to have a successful experience in the country where they will be serving. The program includes theology and scripture courses, social analysis, cross-cultural training and information on the respective mission sites. Joe’s U.S. ministry also includes the accompaniment of each mission candidate through the program in an ongoing process of discernment.
An obituary for Joe Regotti, along with details of the funeral services, can be found here: http://patch.com/new-york/chappaqua/joseph-alfred-regotti-maryknoll-lay-missioner.
Erik Cambier served as Maryknoll lay missioner for 25 years, in Tanzania, the United States, Venezuela and El Salvador.
