1 Maccabees 6:1-13; Luke 20:27-40
Resurrection of the flesh, Luca Signorelli, 1502, Orvieto Cathedral, San Brizio Chapel, Orvieto, Italy
In our first reading, King Antiochus is sick unto death. To honor his gods, he had destroyed the Israelite house of worship in Jerusalen. Now he has seen his mistake and is sick with grief. A belief of that time was one only survived after death in his-her fame and reputation. His army's battle losses were not a claim to fame! His gods couldn't resurrect him or his reputation.
Luke 19:45-48
“Jesus entered the temple area and proceeded to drive out
Those who were selling things, saying to them,
‘It is written, My house shall be a house of prayer,
But you have made it a den of thieves.’
And every day he was teaching in the temple area.”
Today we see Jesus exercising righteous indignation. We don’t see this behavior in Jesus very often. Today Jesus must have felt something like: “I’ve told them and told them, what My house is to be. And they just keep doing the same things that shouldn’t be going on. It’s too much.” So he drives them out of the temple…and then he goes patiently back to teaching again.
October 2019
Rome
▪ The Synod of Bishops on the Amazon took place in the New Synod Hall at Vatican from 6-27 October. Together with the Pope there were 185 Synod Fathers, most of them from the Pan–Amazonian Region and a great number of experts and listeners, including many indigenous people participating in this great event of the Church, reflecting on the theme: Amazonia: new paths for the Church and for an integral ecology. In his homily at the opening Mass of the Synod the Holy Father reminded those present that Jesus did not come to bring a gentle evening breeze, but to light a fire on the earth. He prayed that the Spirit of Jesus may give all the Synod Fathers daring prudence and inspire all to renew the paths of the church in Amazonia, so that the fire of mission will continue to burn. It is the fire of love that illumines warms and gives life, not a fire that blazes up and devours. In his final message capping off a Vatican summit meant to extend the Church’s pastoral ministry in the Amazon region, Pope Francis warned against building walls and ignoring the traditions of those often on the margins of society.
Sr. Izabela Świerad, General Superior, and the members of the Financial Commission, Sr. Anna Małdrzykowska, Commission Chair, Sr. Stella Holisz, Ms. Jennifer Trotter, Mr. Christian Frücht and Sr. Mary Grace Barile, met in Rome from November 4 -7, at the Generalate. Ms. Trotter and Mr. Frücht, a newly appointed lay member to the commission, are the financial advisors from the English and German provinces respectively.
A combined program was organized by the Sub-commission for Reunification of the two Pallottine Sisters` Congregation at St. Vincent Pallotti Convent of the Pallottine Sisters (CSAC), in Kamptee, Maharashtra on October 26, 2019.
Revelation 5:1-10
Psalms 149:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6a and 9b
Luke 19:41-44
“As Jesus drew near Jerusalem, he saw the city and wept over it” (Lk 19:41).
Jesus wept over Jerusalem! This is the city whose inhabitants rejected him – not only the high priests and Pharisees who turned him over to Pilate for crucifixion but also the crowds who supported their leaders urging Pilate to crucify Jesus and to spare the life of the criminal Barabbas.
Inspired by the Extraordinary Mission Month of October, the Mission Commission gathered for the second time this year in our Generalate from October 23-26, 2019. The Members of the Commission: Sr. Marta Litawa - General Mission Procurator, Sr. Ingrid Schuler (Germany), Sr. Mary McNulty (England), Sr. Bożena Olszewska (Rome, Procura General) together with the General Council discussed topics on mission formation, methods of cooperation with the Provincial Mission Procurators, guidelines for the responsibilities of the General Mission Procurator and the way of preparing mission projects. The Sisters also addressed the topic of the Synod for the Amazon and the challenges we as a Mission Congregation are facing today. On October 24, the members of the Commission participated in a Mass for our deceased missionaries. They were also present at the solemn celebration of the 16th anniversary of the approval of the UAC General Statutes, which took place on October 26 at the church of Santo Spirito dei Napoletani.
On Saturday afternoon, October 26, 2019, the Pallottine family from Rome and the surrounding areas anticipated the solemn celebration of the 16th anniversary of the approval of the Statutes of the Union of Catholic Apostolate. This year's celebration took place in the church of Santo Spirito dei Napoletani on Via Giulia, where St. Vincent Pallotti was rector. In his words of welcome, Mons. Maurizio Piscolla, the current rector of the Church, warmly greeted all gathered and expressed his joy at the presence of the Pallottine community in this unique place.
On the Way toward Unity
God the Father, Infinite Love
We, Pallottine Sisters, are standing before you today to listen to the desires of your Sacred Heart. In the world which constantly experiences divisions, conflicts and lack of peace, we would like to become leaven of unity and prophets of communion. In union with You and among us we want to discern the way in which you intend to guide our communities.
Luke 19:11-28
“Invest this until I get back.”
So much of who we are and what we are called to do is contained in this brief line in the parable of the talents. We are called and gifted. All that we have – all that we are – we have as “gift,” given to us for a very special purpose.
The contrast Jesus uses is amazingly contemporary and is very helpful for our everyday lives. Jesus does not want us to take what we have been given and simply preserve it – to protect the gifts, out of some fear, in a risk free way. Jesus wants us to “invest” our gifts – to take some risk, in order to grow the value of his investment in us.
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)