Passionist International Bulletin N° 10 - New Series, March 2006
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Passionist International Bulletin N° 10 - New Series, March 2006 “The young... will develop and bring to conclusion the present initiatives... Life is passed on from hand to hand, from religious to religious for the fulfillment of the universal plan of God and for his Reign”. Letter of Fr. General Fr. Ottaviano D’Egidio, Superior General, signs the Letter of Convocation of the 45th General Chapter in the presence of the students at Sts. John and Paul, Rome. TABLE OF CONTENTS Passionist International Bulletin The Curia Informs Fr. Ottaviano D’Egidio, Superior General, C.P. N° 10 - New Series - March 2006 Letter of Convocation of the 45th General Chapter................p. 3 Fr. Ottaviano D’Egidio, Superior General, C.P. Attachment to the Letter of Convocation of the 45th General Chapter ..................................................................p. 6 Fr. Ottaviano D’Egidio, Superior General, C.P. Editor Address of the Superior General, Fr. Ottaviano D’Egidio General Curia of the to the Community at Santa Barbara (Honduras) ....................p. 8 Congregation of the Passion Fr. Luis Enrique Bernal, C.P. Realities of the Provinces.....................................................p. 9 General Consultor for Communications Fr. Jefferies Foale, C.P. Luis Alberto Cano, C.P. A Chairos Moment for the Congregation ............................p. 11 Fr. Joseph Mitchell, CP Editing and Translation of Texts Integrating Justice and the Integrity of Creation Floriano De Fabiis, C.P. Into the Passionist Charism................................................ p. 12 Giovanni Pelà, C.P. Fr. Luigi Vaninetti, C.P. Lawrence Rywalt, C.P. Passionists in Smotrycz: a simple presence.........................p. 15 Ramiro Ruiz, C.P. Fr. Vital Otshudialokoka, C.P. The C.P.A. Congress: The Passionist Conference Photographs in Africa...........................................................................p. 17 Christopher Gibson, C.P. Secretary General Jefferies Foale, C.P. Activity of the General Council.......................................... p. 19 Lawrence Rywalt, C.P. Fr. Fabiano Giorgini, C.P. Nancy Nickel HISTORICAL NOTES: Concerning Restructuring in the Passionist Congregation...........................................p. 22 Address Fr. Fabiano Giorgini, C.P. and Fr. Paulino Alonso,C.P. Ufficio Comunicazioni Passionist Preaching to Nuns and to other Women Curia Generalizia religious during the 18th and 19th Centuries........................p. 24 P.za Ss. Giovanni e Paolo, 13 Fr. Giovanni Zubiani, C.P. 00184 Roma - ITALIA “It is Your Face that I Seek”: Blessed Maria Tel. 06.77.27.11 Pia Mastena.......................................................................p. 26 Fax: 06.700.84.54 Information concerning the process of canonization of Pagina Web: http://passiochristi.org Blessed Charles Houben (of Mount Argus)...........................p. 28 E-mail: [email protected] Fr. Adolfo Lippi, C.P Reflections on the current status of the Graphics Restructuring Process.........................................................p. 29 Marco Animobono Passionist Life News from the Conferences Cover Logo CII. p. 31 Loretta Lynch IPCM. p. 37 CIPI . .p. 39 Cover NECP . .p. 42 Fr. Ottaviano D’Egidio, Superior Laity . .. p. 43 General signs the Letter of Convocation COPAL. .p. 44 of the 45th General Chapter in the Special Events. p. 45 presence of the students at Witnesses. p. 50 Sts. John and Paul, Rome. Witnesses-New Presence. p. 51 Passionist Sister and Nuns . .p. 52 Printing Professions and Ordinations . p. 53 Grafica Animobono s.a.s. New Publications. p. 55 Via dell’Imbrecciato, 71a Obitus. .p. 57 00149 Roma THE CURIA INFORMS Letter of Convocation of the 45th General Chapter My dear brothers, tive procedures that depend on the Superior While we are still immersed in the General and his staff; mystery of Christmas in which we con- (f) to elect the Superior template God within the “sign” of a General and his child (Lk 2:12), I fraternally greet all Council.” (#127) the religious of the Congregation, the In conjunction with these women religious and the laity of the tasks, the Chapter will Passionist Family and, at the beginning consider Restructuring as of this New Year, I wish you new life, it central and fundamen- courage and fruitful charity. tal topic, as was decided The year 2006 will also be the year of at the General Synod at the Chapter and therefore according to the end of November the directive of No. 76 of the General 2004 and, since that date, Regulations, I hereby convoke the we have already begun XLV General Chapter of our the process in which we Congregation. It will take place in have encouraged our reli- Rome, at the Retreat of Sts. John and gious to participate as Paul, near the mortal remains of our thoroughly as possible. Founder, St. Paul of the Cross. It will The date of this begin on Sunday, 01 October and announcement of the conclude on Saturday, 21 October. Chapter is today, 01 January 2006, the feast The Constitutions remind us that the of Mary, the Mother of General Chapter is “the supreme God and the world day of authority in the Congregation…” Peace. These are two (#126); “The General Chapter meets to events that emphatically Wood-carved statues of the Annunciation, carry out its task of making laws and speak of life: the mater- Sts. John & Paul, Rome. holding elections. It has to promote the nity of Mary who con- faithfulness of the Congregation to the ceived and gave birth to Jesus, the Son the verse of the gospel of the ideals of community and service of the of God and her Son who took flesh; and Annunciation (Lk. 1: 26-38). For many Church. Its primary responsibilities, one of the Beatitudes that was pro- years I read this line of the Gospel and therefore, are as follows: claimed by Jesus on the mount: I always understood the dialogue “Blessed are the peace-makers, for they between the angel and Mary within the (a) to discern the workings of the Holy will be called children of God.” (Mt. context of the mystery of the incarna- Spirit in the events of life, and thus to 5:9). tion and as if it only referred to this. be a powerful force in the task of con- “The Passion of Jesus, the passion for “´You will conceive in your womb and tinual adaptation and renewal; life” was the theme of the previous bear a son, and you shall name him (b) to nourish the growth and develop- General Chapter that took place in Jesus… He will be called Son of the ment of the authentic Passionist spirit, Itaicí, Brazil in the year 2000 and Most High, and the Lord God will give so that it will be manifestly embodied in which gave to the Congregation and to him the throne of David his father, and every member of the Congregation, no the Passionist Family a document by he will rule over the house of Jacob matter where he lives; the same title, “The Passion of Jesus, forever, and of his Kingdom there will (c) to consider closely the state of the the passion for life” and which has be no end.” But Mary said to the Congregation, and to clarify its com- inspired the life of the Congregation angel: ‘How can this be…?’ And the mon goals of community life and apos- during these last six years: it is the folly angel said to her in reply: ‘Nothing will tolic activity; of the Passion of Jesus that culminates be impossible for God.’” It is a sensi- (d) to foster solidarity, and to maintain in his death, but which would bring tive and sublime story, the humility of unity without insisting on uniformity; forth life and victory over death itself Mary and the presence and the grace of (e) to evaluate how the General and over sin through the paternal mercy God, and it is a story that is almost Government has operated, and the of God. finalized at Christmas; but I believe extent to which the planning of the pre- that we need to go further, deeper, vious Chapter and of the General “Nothing will be impossible for God”, because all the elements of the Passion Synods has been implemented. It will the Archangel Gabriel says to Mary in are also present. avoid, however, specifying administra- _____________________March 2006 PIB N. 10_____________________ 3 THE CURIA INFORMS Mary accepts that the Word of God be be crucified naked, insulted and humil- comes to visit us! ful-filled in her and she is disposed to iated. The episode of the visit of the Lord to become the “realization” of God. It is true, “nothing will be Abram may serve to enlighten us “at “Be it done to me according to impossible for God”, nothing is impos- the oak of Mamre, while he was sitting your word.” She assumes the plan of sible for so great a heart: to be life and by the entrance of the tent during the God in her life; she supports it; she col- to accept death; to die so as to give life. hottest part of the day.” (Gen. 18:1). laborates with it. The angel that was It is within this faith perspective that Abram dedicated himself to offering sent to her sets forth the plan of God for we should prepare ourselves to experi- hospitality to the Lord: “If I find favor her; he communicates it, explains it, ence the event of the General Chapter with you, please do not pass your ser- and enables her to know it. Today the and within it the Process of the vant by”: he enlists the help of Sarah Holy Spirit speaks to us silently; but it Restructuring of the Congregation and her servants. is necessary to know how to hear and which is its main theme. under-stand him in the signs of the We will speak among our- “…While he remained standing near times, in the Magisterium.