The General Cordination Council of UAC
The first annual meeting of the newly elected members of the General Coordination Council of the Union (GCC) was held at the house of the Pallottine Missionary Sisters in Rome from 16 - 19 June 2022. There were 13 members with voting right who deliberated and reflected together on the election of the new President and Vice President of GCC (2022 – 2025). On 22 June we received the confirmation letter from the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life. We wish Fr. Jacob Nampudakam SAC as the President and Miss Gabriella Acerbi as the Vice President abundant blessing and a good collaboration in their new ministry. After a long search, we also welcomed the General Secretary, Sr. Helena Marques Pimenta CSAC and her assistant, who will be carrying on the task of implementing the decisions made by the GCC for three years.
photo: Sr. Josephina D'Souza, SAC
The meeting was fruitful in sharing the different opinions in organizing the internal life of Union. Much emphasis was put in creating the commissions to look into the juridical, financial, and spiritual (formation) aspect of the Union. All the members realized that the charism to which we belong, must be deepened for the good, always reflecting together to incarnate it in the new situations we live. To do this, great docility is required of us, great humility, to recognize our limits and accept to change outdated ways of doing and thinking, or methods of apostolate that are no longer effective.
photo: Sr. Josephina D'Souza, SAC
The General Council of three Core Communities of UAC
The following day, after the conclusion of GCC meeting, the General Administrations of the three Core Communities of the UAC, the Society of the Catholic Apostolate, the Congregation of the sisters of the Catholic Apostolate (Pallottine Sisters) and the Missionary Sisters of the Catholic Apostolate (Pallottine Missionary Sisters) held a meeting in the Hotel Ponte Sisto of the Pallottine Fathers and Brothers at Via dei Pettinari. The purpose of the meeting was to familiarize each other as Pallottine Family and to share and reflect on the specific responsibility of the Core Communities of the UAC.
photo: Sr. Josephina D'Souza, SAC
After the meeting we all met together around the altar of St. Vincent Pallotti at SS. Salvatore in Onda for the Holy Mass, presided over by Fr. Martin Manus, SAC, General Consultor and thereafter all joined for a agape with the Pallottine Fathers at their Generalate.
On Pentecost, Pallottine Sisters from different local communities in Rome came together for a common celebration not only of the solemnity which signifies the birth of the Church, but also of the foundation of the two Pallottine Sisters Congregations. The concelebrated mass, presided by Fr. Ikechukwu Joachim Tobechukwu SAC from Nigeria, was celebrated at the tomb of the founder, St. Vincent Pallotti, in SS. Salvatore in Onda.
photo: Fr. Manuel Raj, SAC
In her welcoming Superior General Sr. Ivete Garlet, CSAC recalled that the foundation happened in 1838 when Vincent Pallotti opened a home for girls left alone after a cholera epidemic that had plagued Rome the year before. The superiors from the different local communities brought some soil from their homes symbolising the spreading of the two congregations and their apostolates and works. The sisters tipped the soil together in two glass jars in front of the altar. A choir made up of sisters from both congregations animated the singing.
photo: Fr. Manuel Raj, SAC
After the gospel all the sisters of both congregations together renewed their intention to continue to follow Jesus Christ, Apostle of the Father, according to the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience, following the rule of life left to them by their Founder St. Vincent Pallotti. They confirmed their will to place at the complete disposal of the Gospel, the Church, the Union of the Catholic Apostolate and their Religious Family, their whole life and all their gifts of nature and grace for their own and their brothers' and sisters’ sanctification and for the salvation of humanity.
photo: Fr. Manuel Raj, SAC
In his homily Fr. Joachim pointed out that the readings of the day recalled the coming of the Holy Spirit, His work in us and His roles of advocating, teaching, and reminding us. “However, for this to be possible, we must be ready to cooperate with him. He can only advocate for us if we trust him and allow him to be in charge of our case. He can only teach us if we pay attention to his counsels. He can only remind us of the things we ought to know, if we humbly, and willingly say to him all the time, help me because I am ignorant.” Since our Pallottine mission is to revive faith, to rekindle love and to respond courageously to the challenges of today, our mission is the proper work by which the Holy Spirit is known. So, we are the agents and instruments of the Holy Spirit, through which He accomplishes His mission in the church and on earth.
photo: Fr. Manuel Raj, SAC
Since we are called to testify to the loving fire of the Holy Spirit, Fr. Joachim continued, we should tell ourselves the truth: “What is the first impression that I create in the mind of anyone I encounter? Is it joyful openness of heart? Is it a welcoming gesture of love? Is it a kind sisterly look? Or do I provoke suspicion, mistrust, aggression, discrimination? Like the Apostles, we are called to be the facilitators of the action of the Holy Spirit among the people.” Therefore, we first must be renewed ourselves by the Holy Spirit. Only if the fire of the Spirit in us is renewed and rekindled, we can lead others to spiritual renewal. “Come! Come Holy Spirit and rekindle in us the fire of your love! Come and re-activate our spiritual gifts for the service of the Church!”
photo: Fr. Manuel Raj, SAC
At the end of the celebration Superior General Sr. Josephina D’Souza, SAC extended a word of thanks to all who had their share that this celebration was a beautiful moment of prayer for all – by preparing the celebration and decorating the church, by singing and reading, by joining in the Eucharistic celebration. She invited all the sisters to carry on their mission wherever they live and witness to the gospel. The two Superiors General then planted seeds of flowers in the two glass jars containing the soil as a symbol for the responsibility bequeathed to all of us by our founder that the Pallottine foundation grows and his charism expands.
photo: Fr. Manuel Raj, SAC
On Saturday before the Solemnity of Pentecost, the Pallottine Family celebrate the feast of their Patroness Mary, Queen of the Apostles. Let us thank the Lord who grant us the grace to celebrate this day.
Our Founder St. Vincent’s spiritual journey Mary occupied a central place, but secondary to that of Christ. As a child he used to say, “My Mother, make me holy”. He prayed the Rosary every day with his family. His mother transmitted to him a tender affection for Mary. He says to us “a person who has true devotion to Mary will not only be saved, but through her intercession will become a great saint and his/her holiness will grow daily” (OOCC V 447).
photo: Sr. Josephina D'Souza SAC
Through the intercession of Mary, Queen of the Apostles, let us live a deep Marian spirituality and imitate Mary in her virtues, in her spiritual life, so that like Pallotti we too are intend to imagine ourselves as being close to our dearly beloved mother Mary to possess purity in all. May she be our model and in humility let us listen to words she spoke at the wedding in Cana: “Do whatever he tells you”.
Happy feast to all!
Sr. Josephina D’ Souza, SAC
and Generalate Community
The Indian Province rejoiced with gratitude to God. There were two special events in the Province. Firstly two Sisters namely Sr. Antonieta Rodriguese and Sr. Bimla Barla celebrated 25 years of their religious profession. Secondly the Indian Province and the South African Province came together and the three sisters Sr. Anupama Toppo, Sr. Anusha Gangolu and Sr. Promila Kiro moved by the Spirit of God, proposed to follow Christ more nearly, to give themselves to God totally, made their final commitment on 24th May 2022, in Bangalore India. Sr. Promila from India belonging to South African Province joined the Indian Province to make her final profession. The theme for the celebration was “I have called you by name you are mine”. The celebration was held in Vidya Deepti Pallotti Study Hall.
Silver jubilarians renewing their vows. Photo: Pallottine Missionary Sisters, India
The Holy Mass was presided over by Rt. Rev. Peter Machado, the Archbishop of Bangalore. In his homily he congratulated the Sisters and gave the message that we do not celebrate our commitment to God but we celebrate God’s faithfulness to us. He also emphasized that we have not chosen to be religious but God has chosen us so neither we need to choose our communities. It is He who will appoint through the authorities and encouraged them to put Jesus in the center of their life.
photo: Pallottine Missionary Sisters, India
With a heart full of gratitude to God, Sr. Helen Lourdusamy, Provincial Superior of Mother of Divine Love Province India received the Final Vows of Sr. Anupama Toppo and Sr. Anusha Gangolu, whereas Sr. Prabha Varghese, Provincial Superior of South African Province received the Final Vows of Sr. Promila Kiro, in the presence of Pallottine Fathers and Sisters of the Catholic Apostolate, lay UAC members, other Religious Sisters, parents and relatives of our sisters.
photo: Pallottine Missionary Sisters, India
With joy the Silver Jubilarian and Newly Professed Sisters thanked the Lord and the Congregation for accompanying them until today. The Mother of Divine Love Province is grateful to God for the gift of these sisters for their service in the Church and Congregation. May God bless them abundantly so that they may always live in the awareness that it is God who has called them by name and they totally belong to Him. Thus, they may get strengthened in their vocation and continue their journey of life with the Pallottine Missionary Sisters.
Pallottine Missionary Sisters of the Indian and of the South African Province celebrating together.
Sr. Helen with two final professed Sisters and two Jubilarians.
Sr. Prabha with the final professed Sister. - Three photos: Pallottine Missionary Sisters, India
The culmination of five days plenary of International Union of women Superiors General of different religious congregations from all over the world concluded on May 6, 2022. There were 520 sisters attending the plenary in person and another 200 by online. The theme: Embracing Vulnerability on the Synodal journey, as well as various theological inputs affirm the commitment of the leaders to the process of synodality and to embrace a journey of vulnerability which is vital for the renewal of the church, religious life, and our own congregations.
photo: Sr. Josephina D'Souza SAC
Sr. Josephina D’ Souza, our superior General took part in this event at the Hotel Ergife in Rome. This plenary brought a strong sense of communion and bond among the leaders of the congregations. All the participants expressed that they need more time to study this theme in detail. However, there was a clear call for a paradigm shift in the approach to leadership — for transformation, not just change. The shift is to be more respectful, more inclusive, and less hierarchical.
photo: Sr. Josephina D'Souza SAC
The women leaders met Pope Francis at Paul VI Hall for a table conversation. He called the attention of the congregational leaders to the process of synodality which is a way to affirm the original intentions of the founders of religious congregations while meeting the needs of a rapidly changing world. At the end all the participants joined together to make a UISG plenary commitment which reads ‘I commit myself to live vulnerable synodality through service as a leader, animating it within the community, together with the people of God’.
photo: Pallottine Superiors General - Sr. Josephina D'Souza SAC and Sr. Ivete Garlet CSAC
We also CONGRATULATE Sr. Josephina, our Superior General who is elected to be in the Executive Board of UISG for three years.
On the morning of 29 April 2022, the new General Administration team met for the first time with that of the Sisters of the Catholic Apostolate (CSAC). Our Superior General, Sr Josephina D'Souza SAC, had invited to our Generalate where the meeting took place in an atmosphere of sisterly communion. We first gathered in the chapel, just as Mary did with the Apostles in the Cenacle after the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. 
photo: Sr. Beata Matuszewska SAC
Sr Ivete Garlet CSAC, Superior General, moderated the meeting. After each had introduced herself to the group, there followed a brief review of the meetings of the two General Administrations. From her own experience, Sr. Ivete began by recalling the meetings that had taken place since 1995. All the others joined in and shared their experiences of meetings between the two Congregations at different levels. This reflection made us aware of the long common history that we already share. 
photo: Sr. Beata Matuszewska SAC
Afterwards, the issues at hand were discussed and decisions were made on how to move forward – in preparation for Pentecost, the foundation date of both congregations, in the discernment process on the reunification of both congregations and on matters of the UAC.
photo: Sr. Beata Matuszewska SAC
This first meeting ended with lunch together with the Sisters of the Procura Generale community.
O Mary, Mother of God and our Mother, in this time of trial we turn to you. As our Mother, you love us and know us: no concern of our hearts is hidden from you. Mother of mercy, how often we have experienced your watchful care and your peaceful presence! You never cease to guide us to Jesus, the Prince of Peace.
