WORKSHOP ON FAMILY APOSTOLATE – ROME
In the context of Family Apostolate, the Pallottine Fathers organized a Workshop for the members of the Union of the Catholic Apostolate in Via Ferrari, Rome from 19 to 22 July 2018. There were about 36 members from different Continents: America, Asia, Europe and Africa. From our Congregation four Sisters participated, namely: Sr. Nancy Logue (England), Sr. Catherine Nikuze (France), Sr. Beata Witerska (Poland) and Sr. Liberata Niyongira (Generalate).
PROFESSIONS AND JUBILEES 2018
The Almighty God has done great things for us, Holy be His name.
First Profession
- India
The novitiate community at Deva Matha Convent, Assagao, Goa rejoices on this day as God has blessed the three novices Sr. Binita Tirkey, Sr.Sushmita Toppo and Sr. Vidya Toppo to make their First Profession.
Fr. Sahaya Anand, SAC was the main celebrant. The three concelebrants were the relatives of Sr. Binita and Sr. Sushmita who had come from London and Odisha. The Provincial Superior, Sr. Helen Lourdusamy received their vows. The melodious choir by our neighbours, sisters and novices enabled the participants to pray meaningfully.
ALL ROADS LEAD TO ROME
We the community of Generalate, were pleased to welcome ten guests who were participants of the Workshop on Family Pastoral Ministry from 19-22 July, organized by the Pallottine Fathers at Via Giuseppe Ferrari. There were seven members from the Congregation of the Sisters of the Catholic Apostolate coming from Brazil, USA, India, Italy and one couple, members of the Union, from the region of Sicily. After a short introduction and refreshment, all of us moved to the Chapel where Sr. Izabela Świerad, Superior General gave a warm welcome and short explanation on the unique design of the Tabernacle and the chapel as well as on the Cross which contains a relic of our Founder St. Vincent Pallotti.
TOWARDS UNITY ...
At the beginning of July in our Generalate another meeting of the General Governments of our two sister Congregations took place. The meeting focused on topics related to the upcoming activities of the Unification Commission and the preparation of a plan for the visit of the two General Superiors in India. The visit is planned for August 24-September 4, 2018. The General Superiors will meet the Provincial Councils, local superiors, formation teams and members of the closest communities.
QUEEN OF THE APOSTLES PRAY FOR US
On July 21st, at the church Queen of the Apostles at Via Ferrari in Rome, Fr. Nicola Gallucci SAC, the parish priest and former Provincial Superior during the morning Mass solemnly blessed a new painting of the Queen of the Apostles. The place that Sr. Izabela Świerad, the Superior General, has chosen for this occasion is not without significance. In the prayer and in the act of the blessing, the Sisters from the General Administration participated together with parishioners who - with Italian expression - greeted Blessed Mother Mary with prayers and kisses.
POSTCARD FROM THE HOLY LAND
Cordial greetings from the Holy Land!
I am very happy that I can make pilgrimages to the places where our Savior walked. Our group consists of 49 participants, including two priests and three sisters. We began our pilgrimage from Nazareth, the hometown of Jesus and prayers in the Basilica of Blessed Virgin Mary and the church of St. Joseph. Next, the road led us to Cana of Galilee, where the marriage couples of our pilgrimage community renewed their marriage vows. Later Mount Tabor with beautiful views! You cannot explain all, you just need to experience!
Directorium in Zakopane/Poland
Every five years each sister of Polish province takes part in a so-called „directorium”. It is a 10-day meeting dedicated to on-going formation and to regenerate the spiritual and physical strength. This year the directorium took place in Zakopane, at the foot of Tatra Mountains and in the neighborhood of the National Shrine dedicated to Our Lady of Fatima.
Generalate Express - June 2018
June 2018
Rome
▪ According to the long Church tradition during the Consistory on 28 of June, on Vigil of the Solemnity St. Peter and Paul, in Rome, Pope Francis created 14 new cardinals from 11 countries and inducted them as members of the body of cardinals known as the College of Cardinals. With joy we participated in this unique event, and later we all had the opportunity to meet and greet the new Cardinals personally. The next day, on Friday evening, there was another great celebration in the Vatican when about 280 poor people were invited to a dinner by a newly inducted Cardinal Konrad Krajewski (from Poland), the official almsgiver of the Pope. The dinner was prepared by Vatican cooks. To the surprise of all, the Holy Father came unexpectedly, dined with the poor and spent about two hours chatting with them as if in a family, listening to their stories that often told of suffering but also of hope. Among the many volonteers and close collaborators of Card. Krajewski, who were serving the poor was our own Sr. Hanna Kiedrowska, SAC, a cook from the Procura General, who since the Holy Year of Mercy is involed in the service to the poor/apostolate.
Unexpected Visit
On May 17 this year In Yekaterinburg, in our Ural parish, an important event took place for us, which gathered many parishioners. We hosted Gerhard Cardinal Ludwig Müller from the Vatican, who on his way to Tobolsk came for a stay in Yekaterinburg. On this day, as every Thursday, after Mass and vespers we had Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. This time, however, a bit longer, because the plane on which the Cardinal was to arrive, was delayed. However, it did not affect the joyful atmosphere of waiting for such an extraordinary guest. The most important thing for us was that the Cardinal finally reached our church. He was accompanied by his personal secretary, Fr. Sławomir Śledziewski and priest D. Stańczyk – the parish priest from Tobolsk.
Visit to Brazil
From May 23 to June 10, 2018, Sr. Maria Landsberger (delegate of the Provincial Superior Sr. Helga Weidemann SAC) and Sr. Ingrid Schuler (mission procurator of the German Province) visited the two communities of our Sisters in the North East of Brazil, in Codó and Timbiras. They are a small group of 6 native Sisters. Two novices are actually in the international Novitiate in Tanzania. The Sisters stayed for several days in each of the two communities, visiting their places of apostolate and having meetings with the Sisters, with the Pallottine Fathers and with the Bishop Dom Sebastião Bandeira Coelho.
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)
_____________________
"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)
_____________________
"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)
_____________________
"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)
_____________________
"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)
_____________________