An online meeting between the General Government and the Provincial Leadership of the Polish Province took place on February 24th. Sr. Iwona Nadziejko, the Provincial Superior, gave a report on the life of the Province during the years 2018-2021. The presentation showed the joys and challenges of the Province.
Ezekiel 18:21-28; Matthew 5:20-26
I’m always a little taken aback when I read scripture readings like today…. The reading from Ezekiel seems so harsh and scary and yet the message is clear, “do what is right and just.” I am reminded of my need to pay attention to what God has told us and not to confuse civil law with God’s law(s). I thought about the death penalty when reading Ezekiel and how imposing this civil law defies God’s call for allowing people, who have committed grave acts of violence, to come to accept responsibility for their actions; to ask for forgiveness and then to choose to live according to God’s laws.
The logo of the XXI General Chapter refers to the main theme:
„Do whatever he tells you” (Jn 2:5)
At the school of Mary Queen of the Apostles:
- let us listen and contemplate on the Word of God
- let us open ourselves to the newness of the Holy Spirit
- let us live and speak with joy
1. WORLD - THE ENCOUNTER
Patroness of the month - Mary, Queen of Peace, pray for us
The heart of Mary. Mary was attentive to the concerns of Her heart. Her Immaculate Heart. And in it, there was and there is, the whole world. She was attentive and alert. Attentive with the mindfulness that embraces each and every one of us, embraces the world. Maybe that is how the secret of the meeting is born? Carrying the world in one’s heart and living in the world mindfully, but not belonging to it.
Intention of the month
Let us pray for the rulers of states: may our God and Lord direct their minds and hearts according to His will, so that there would be lasting peace and the prosperity of nations throughout the world.
1. THE INVITATION
"On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples were also invited to this wedding."
It has been almost a year since we have been keeping our distance, limiting our meetings, contacting each other virtually, putting off invitations for some time "later"... But the wedding of our life is still going on.
God of Infinite Love, we live in a world longing for unity, peace and fraternity. In solidarity with all wounded creatures, we cry out to you on behalf of the peoples of all continents. You always listen to the pleas of your people and, when the fullness of time had come, you chose Mary to be the Mother of your Son.
She is the witness of evangelical listening and trust. In obedience of faith, she placed herself into your hands: Let it be done according to your word. Mary faithfully followed Jesus and became a model of the pilgrim Church: Do whatever He tells you. The Holy Spirit led her under the cross and then, into the Cenacle where her presence and prayer united the Apostles in the community of Christ's disciples.
Matthew 7:7-12
Jesus asks us to pray, “Ask … Seek … Knock …” There is a persistence in this request of Jesus. But we frankly reflect on the distraction that many times we have prayed and our prayers do not seem to be answered!
Firstly, sometimes our prayers are answered by a heavenly reason as a “NO!” Reflect on what parents need to do when adolescents ask for permission for something that the parents know will not be good for them. Perhaps God is answering our prayers with a ‘no’ in that same sense.
To choose life
- is to choose God.
To choose God is to love.
Rome, Lent 2021
Dear Sisters,
On the threshold of Lent, the liturgy of the Church puts us before a fundamental choice. In a passage from Deuteronomy we read: "Look! Today I am setting before you life and happiness, death and misfortune. (...) Today I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you, I am setting before you life and death, blessing and cursing. Therefore choose life" (Dt 30:15, 19). Choose life! What does it mean? How can we do that? What is life?
On Saturday, February 20, 2021 4:00pm CET (Central European Time), the General Government had a Zoom meeting with the Provincial Leadership Team of the Queen of Apostles Province in the USA. Sister Mary Grace Barile, the Provincial Superior, gave a report on the current situation of the Province, presenting each community and its apostolates.
On February 18, 2021 an on-line meeting via Zoom was held between the General Government and the Government of the Rwanda/Congo Region. In her report, Sr. Angelini Kambugu, the Regional Superior, presented the current situation of the Region.
On February 16th, the General Government held a meeting via Zoom with the Provincial Government of the German Province: Sr. Astrid Meinert, Provincial Superior, Sr. Maria Landsberger, Vicar, and Councillors: Sr. Adelheid Scheloske, Sr. Ursula Schmitz and Sr. Simone Hachen. The meeting took place on the liturgical feast of Blessed Elisabetta Sanna; because of Ash Wednesday, it had been moved to the previous day. The meeting began with a report presenting the current situation of the communities, each of them marked by old age.
Pope Francis Twitter Feed
The Holy See
Jubilee of the Canonisation
U.A.C.
Meditations
* Our Way of Life *
"Our diverse talents and abilities, our differences in culture, nationality and age are assets for the richness of the community. Although we may be engaged in a variety of ministries, we all share the common call to apostolic discipleship in a community of the Catholic Apostolate of St. Vincent Pallotti."(OWL, 91)
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"Christ, the Apostle of the Eternal Father, and his mission are central to our personal and community life, giving meaning and direction to our thinking, our spirituality, our prayer, action and suffering." (OWL, 19)
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"As a community of disciples we are gathered around Jesus, the Apostle of the Eternal Father. Like the first disciples, we want to be with Jesus, be sent out by him and return to him to evaluate our service in the light of his presence." (OWL, 88)
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"As Pallottines, it is our special charism to foster growth in faith and love among the laity, to awaken them to awareness of their apostolic call, and to cooperate with them in furthering the apostolic mission." (OWL, 21)
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"Our relationships with one another should be marked by a love that bears all, believes all and hopes for all, a love that is neither conceited nor jealous, which hurts no one, nor is embittered or resentful. It is never discouraged but remains patient and kind. It rejoices with others and shares their suffering. It is with this kind of love that we should help and support one another." (OWL, 90)