A second gathering of Pallottines engaged in Parish Ministry took place in Rome in September. There were 17 participants in all; from India (4), Brazil (3), Poland (2), the Ukraine (2), the USA (1), Canada (1), Portugal (1), Ireland (1), Rwanda (1) and Cameroon (1). This formation course took place under the guidance of Fr. Zenon Hanas and Fr. Piotr Banach, members of the General Secretariat for the Apostolate, who were accompanied by Fr. Stanisław Stawicki.
The participants shared pastoral experiences as lived in their own cultures and sought to identify common elements which characterize a Pallottine style of parish work. These concrete experiences were then compared with the ecclesial vision of St. Vincent Pallotti. Through the presentations the following common elements were found to be present: the openness and hospitality of the parish communities to all persons; a sensitivity to the signs and needs of the times; creativity in the search for new pastoral initiatives; collaboration with all the members of the church and the participation of all in parish life. These characteristics were found both in the reflections of the participants on their pastoral practice in parishes and also in the theological presentations of the speakers on Pallottine spirituality. They also took part in the weekly audience with Pope Benedict XVI and visited the places of special significance for Pallottines, in Rome, such as the Pia Casa di Carità, the Church of SS. Salvatore in Onda, the Church of Santo Spirito dei Napoletani and the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. All the participants are working in the local churches, but, they stressed the fraternal atmosphere of the gathering and the universal and international character of the Pallottine family in the world. The different languages, English, Polish and Portuguese, were both a challenge and a source of mutual enrichment for all.The next meeting of Pallottines engaged in parish ministry will take place in 2010 and will focus on topics related to the spiritual and liturgical life of the parish. PHOTOS
VI European Continental Meeting
The European Continental Meeting, held from 7-12 September 2009, was organised by the Italian Province of “Queen of the Apostles” and the Irish Province of “Mother of Divine Love”. This meeting was attended by all the European Major Superiors and their Delegates. Only the Delegate of the “Sacred Heart” Province in Spain was absent. The themes of the present meeting, as a whole, were a continuation of the themes from the previous meeting: election of the Provincial/Regional Council, the issue of international communities and the evaluation of the “Common Novitiate”, or more properly termed, the “International Formation Session of Preparatory Formation”. On each theme, after group works and plenum, conclusions were drawn up and were approved by the participants. In order to guarantee the continuity of such meetings, a coordinating group for the European Continental Meeting was formed, consisting of two Major Superiors, one from the place where the meeting will be held and the other, the newly elected Secretary for the future, Fr. A. Willi, who will be also taking care of all the documents. The participants, along with all the members of the General Administration, spent a day in the Pallottine house of San Silvestro in Capite, the place where, hundred years ago, the Society was divided into four Provinces. Thanks to the conference on the history of the Society of the Catholic Apostolate and this historical event, prepared and presented by Fr. Mario Proietti, the participants were able to understand the importance of recalling the past history in planning for the future. The next meeting will be organised in Germany.PHOTOS
Course of formation for the animators of UAC
From 26 August to 2 September 2009, in our Centre “Cenacle”, a course of formation was organised for the animators of UAC. It was specially meant for members who wished to widen and deepen their understanding of the Union, with the scope of greater involvement in its activity and promotion. The UAC General Secretariat organised and animated this event. The 20 participants, including Pallottine priests and sisters of both the Pallottine Congregations, came from India, Ireland, Philippines, Italy, Rwanda, Brazil, Nigeria, Germany, Poland, Slovakia and Ukraine. The programme was very varied and intense and was greatly enriched by the generous and active participation of members of all expressions of the UAC in Italy. The participants gathered in the Spiritual Centre of the UAC, the Church of SS. Salvatore in Onda, on Wednesday August 26th and September 2nd and prayed for the Union throughout the world.
Perpetual consecrations
The following confreres made their perpetual consecration in the Society: - Province of “Mother of Divine Love” (IR): Emmanuel Malley (Tanzania) on 8 September 2009; - Delegature of Ivory Coast of the Christ the King Province (WA.CI): Pierre Dibi Koffi on 14 September 2009; - Region of the “Most Holy Trinity”, Cameroon/Nigeria (CN): Joseph Fils Mballa and Alix Blaise Mbezele on 28 September 2009. - Sacred Heart Province (CJ) – Roman Fries and Rainer Hautsch on 17 October 2009; Ivan Kuterovac of the Croatian Delegature of the Sacred Heart Province (CJ.HR) on 20 September 2009 at Vinkovce, Croatia.
Bibliography - Sptember 2009
Publications sent to the Generalate during the months of July, August and September 2009:
LEMP, Thomas SAC and WIDL, Maria, Vertraut mit Gott und der Welt: Ordenspriesterausbildung am Pastoralthelogischen Institut (Pthl) der Pallottiner in Friedberg/Augsburg (Trust in the Lord and the World: the Formation of Religious Priests at the Institute of Pastoral Theology (Pthl) of the Pallottines in Friedberg/Augsburg), in “Ordens-Korrespondenz”, 50 years , Number 2, 2009, Bonn 2009, pp. 184-193.
TEMU, Reginald Fabian SAC, St. Vincent Pallotti’s spirituality of the priesthood and its impact on cooperation with the laity, Pontifical Gregorian University – Institute of Spirituality, Rome 2009, pp. 127 (Doctoral Thesis at the Institute of Spirituality of Pontifical Gregorian University).
VANZETO, Judinei José SAC, Elementos históricos do Colégio Máximo Palotino (1990-2008) (Historical Aspects of “Colegio Máximo Palotino 1990-2008”), in Colégio Máximo Palotino, uma história de 50 anos (1958-2008), Edgar Xavier Ertl SAC e altri, Biblos, Santa Maria 2009, pp. 307-453.
LÔNDERO, Ângelo SAC (org.), Horizontes palotinos (Pallottine Horizons), volume 2, Biblos Editora, Santa Maria 2009, pp. 732.
Pallottine Mission Sunday
The SAC General Secretariat for the Missions, in order to maintain communion and collaboration among the Provinces/Regions, to know our missionary realities more profoundly, to be close to our missionaries and to renew the missionary zeal in the entire Pallottine family, prepares every year some materials for the celebration of the Pallottine Mission Sunday. fter the beautiful experience I have had this year, along with Fr. Janusz Łuczak, during the Official Visitation to the mission in Papua Nuova Guinea, of the Province of the Annunciation of the Lord (Poland), I offer you some related materials in the attached file. In this way you can know the history of this country, the presence of the Church and the work and testimony of our confreres. I hope that the sharing of their missionary work will inspire you in the preparation for the Pallottine Mission Sunday, which will take place this year on 04 October 2009. In the joy of being able to serve God and the brothers and sisters through our missionary work, in this year dedicated to priesthood, I greet you in the peace of Christ.
Fr. Gilberto Orsolin, SAC General Secretary for the Missions
LEMP, Thomas SAC and WIDL, Maria, Vertraut mit Gott und der Welt: Ordenspriesterausbildung am Pastoralthelogischen Institut (Pthl) der Pallottiner in Friedberg/Augsburg (Trust in the Lord and the World: the Formation of Religious Priests at the Institute of Pastoral Theology (Pthl) of the Pallottines in Friedberg/Augsburg), in “Ordens-Korrespondenz”, 50 years , Number 2, 2009, Bonn 2009, pp. 184-193.
