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Últimas Noticias

Closing of the celebration of the 500 years of christianity in the Philippines

Last year March 16th, 2021, the Catholic Church marks its 500 years of presence in the Philippines. Many Filipino people remember the first arrival of Christianity five centuries ago on the shores of Limasawa, South of Leyte. The first mass was celebrated in the Philippines on March 31st, 1521 and on April 14th, 1521, the first baptism was performed. According to some sources that day at least 800 natives, including Cebu chieftain Rajah Humabon and his wife, were baptized and the image of Santo Niño was given as a gift to the wife of Rajah Humabon as a present. 

The year-long celebration of the 500 years since the gift of faith was received in the Philippines, begins on April 4th, 2021 – Easter Sunday –and it will end on April 22nd, 2022. On the opening ceremony of this celebration, Archbishop Romulo Valles of Davao, President at that time of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), flagged off the opening of the “Holy Doors” of pilgrim churches across the Philippines, with its theme “Gifted to Give”. The CBCP, to make it more meaningful, has been preparing for this celebration since 2013 and the whole Philippine Church has launched every year a theme for the preparation of this 500 years of Christianity.

Indeed, the gift of faith in many Filipino people is still alive and lived. And now, many Filipinos become missionaries in many foreign lands.

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Celebrating 120 years of pontifical approbation

On March 25, on the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, the Capuchin Tertiary Sisters of the Holy Family will be celebrating the 120th anniversary of the Pontifical Approval of our Congregation and Constitutions, issued by His Holiness Leo XIII.

The Congregation also celebrates on this date «The Day of the Capuchin Tertiary Mission», because the feast of the Incarnation is the revelation of God’s love poured out to give us life. It is also the feast of Mary’s availability that illuminates the life of every Capuchin Tertiary, to live available by making present the love of God where it is most needed.

We congratulate the missionary sisters of the Congregation and we prepare ourselves to live in mission from all that we are and do, in the place where obedience has placed us.

We thank the Lord for the wonderful gift of our Father Founder, Luis Amigó y Ferrer and the gift of our vocation and charism in and for the Church.

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International women’s day

Every March 8, the world and the Church commemorate the International Women’s Day. This event, whose origins date back to the early twentieth century, should challenge nations to strengthen the conditions that guarantee the participation of women in all social spaces.

Within the framework of this commemoration of the different women’s struggles, we want to share a text by Father Javier Leoz, current parish priest of San Lorenzo, located in “Casco Viejo” of the city of Pamplona, Navarra – Spain.

 

THE BEATITUDES OF WOMEN     

  • Blessed is the woman who decides what to do and how to do… for you she will feel the representative and not just represented.
  • Blessed is the woman who doesn’t just fight for a day… for you will realize that every day of the year is a call to work for your rights and obligations.
  • Blessed is the woman who, far from lacking courage, undertakes any action so as not to see her conquest difficult… for you will prove that your voice will be timely accurate and taken into account.
  • Blessed is the woman who is aware of the path she has traveled… for this will encourage you to surpass the obstacles that still remain to be overcome in terms of equality, opportunities and conditions.
  • Blessed is the woman who doesn’t feel like a luxury much less an ornamental vase… for she will continue to demand, not alms, but what corresponds to her in dignity and justice. 
  • Blessed is the woman who discovers that she is neither «less nor more» but that she is an «equal»… for she will do the unspeakable so that nothing and no one can underestimate or take away her initiative and dynamism.
  • Blessed is the woman who opposes against domestic violence and denounces without fear or trembles in the mistreatment that humiliates her… for it will make visible and understandable the way that exists for the achievement of their fundamental rights.
  • Blessed is the woman who reads and writes, studies and trains, believes and loves, laughs and forgives, accompanies and helps, celebrates and works, the adventurous and the brave, the innovative and the just… for she will be a seed and a point of reference for those others who, even in the midst of their achievements, cannot speak or smile, work or succeed, decide or advise, because they are relegated to the background or to the silence that restraints.
  • Blessed, the woman, who when she lacks strength on earth… knows how to look up to heaven and listen to the voice of GOD: «I will be with you every day, in all your hardships».
  • Blessed is the woman who, contemplating Mary, does not care as she does about breaking patterns and goes against the tide to break in, as she did in the history. Amen.
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Ukraine crisis: at the heart of the church

The Church does not take her eyes off on the difficult situation in Ukraine. The danger of a possible invasion by Russia continues to raise tensions internationally.  This situation has been provoked due to Russia’s demands to NATO and the United States that no former Soviet Republic will join the Western alliance.  

Msgr. Dionisio Lachovicz, Bishop of Ukrainian Catholics in Italy, showed great concern with which the faithful of this nationality are living the conflict between their country and Russia. Speaking to Vatican News, he said that the tension that is being experienced is «very high» and assured that «we can do nothing but pray, in the hope that our political leaders can find a diplomatic solution».

The Prelate said that the cause of everything «is the logic of imperialism» that makes us take «a step backward, instead of taking a step forward and seek dialogue».  The Bishop of the Ukrainians in Italy assured that Ukraine «is the only truly democratic country of the former Soviet Union», something that «is not good in the eyes of others; that is why there is a desire to destroy».

Msgr. Dionisio Lachovicz warned that Ukraine has already passed the experience of war «which caused almost seven million Ukrainians to die of hunger». Faced with this, the Prelate assured that «the Christian life is a help, a participation and a giving of one’s life for the other», so «those who preach the culture of death and war cannot be called Christians».

For his part, the Apostolic Nuncio in Ukraine asked «to build a greater understanding between the Churches», since «the more united we are, the stronger we will be inside and the more capable we will be of giving a witness to the Gospel to others».

In the same way, the Ambassador of Ukraine to the Holy See, Andriy Yurash, lamented from Kiev that we are living «a terrible situation, not only for Ukraine, but also for Europe and for the whole world».

«The Ukrainian people are more united than ever. Here there is an atmosphere of great solidarity,» said the ambassador, who thanked Pope Francis for his words and his call for peace. «Pope Francis ‘spiritual support is vital for us. The Holy See offers to act as a mediator, the initiative already exists and we are very grateful for this availability», he said.

On February 8, Pope Francis received in the Vatican, the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy; the private audience between the Holy Father and the President of Ukraine lasted half an hour. At the end of the meeting, the Pontiff gave President Zelensky a medallion of St. Martin of Tours, which the Pope indicated «he helps people in need and in difficulty,» adding that «in a difficult situation such as war, I hope that St. Martin will protect your people».

Unfortunately, it has happened what we have been fearing during several days and the world is a witness to a new war. During the night of February the 24th, Russia launched military operations on Ukrainian territory. At dawn, explosions and alarm sirens began to resonate also in the capital, Kiev. Thousands of people, women and children, are fleeing the war, seeking a safer place in the bordering countries, among them Poland and Slovakia. Despite the threat of President Putin who stated: «Let anyone who tries to create obstacles and interfere with us know that Russia will respond causing unprecedented consequences», it has been created an immense network of solidarity to welcome the war refugees and also our sisters are part of it.  

We keep the hope that, in the meeting between the delegation of Russia and Ukraine, it will be possible,  through dialogue and goodwill, to reach a peaceful solution and,   for the goodness of all, to put an end to the armed conflict. Meanwhile, millions of people demonstrate against this absurd war, in many corners of the world.

We would like to be able to publish news of peace and reconciliation, next time. Pope Francis invited everyone to a day of fasting and prayer on March the 2nd, Ash Wednesday. May our incessant and trusting prayer for peace achieve this gift so precious but scarce in our world.

Source: Aciprensa 

Photo: Vatican Media



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Convocation to the XXIII general Chapter Capuchin Tertiary Sisters of the Holy Family

On February 2nd, feast day of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, the General Superior of the Tertiary Capuchin Sisters of the Holy Family, Sr. Ana Tulia López Bedoya, sent to the whole Congregation the convocation letter to the XXIII General Chapter, that will take place in the Headquarter of the General Curia in Rome.

The opening of the Chapter will be on September 8th, feast day of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary as well as of Our Lady of Montiel, in whose Sanctuary located in Benaguacil (Valencia – Spain), the Congregation was founded on May 11th, 1885. The closing of the Chapter will be on October 4th, solemnity of Saint Francis of Assisi. Before opening the Chapter, a few days of spiritual retreat are planned, as a preparation for this congregational and ecclesial event and will participate in it sisters coming from different countries and demarcations of the four continents where the Congregation is present.

The theme chosen for the XXIII General Chapter is: «Strengthened in the Spirit, we embrace our reality and the suffering humanity, moving forward with hope on a synodal path», and its motto is: «We humbly listen in order to move forward in synodality».

In her circular, Sr. Ana Tulia told the sisters: “the XXIII General Chapter is the opportunity to dialogue, listen, walk together, and get involved in a change, starting from the root of our gifts and weaknesses, in order to give hopeful answers to people walking with us. I invite all of you to participate in the celebration of the Chapter, opening the closed spaces of our hearts to let entering the Spirit’s light, wisdom and novelty; this is the only way to be women authentically synodal …”.

Let us accompany this pre-chapter time with our entrusted supplication to the Lord.

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Typhoon Rai devastation in the Philippines: it is the second most important natural disaster of 2021

Last December 16, 2021, typhoon Rai (local name Odette) hit the different provinces of Philippines. The first landfall was in Siargao Island at 1:30 PM, the second landfall was in Dinagat Island at 3:10 PM, followed in Southern Leyte twice at 4:50 AM and 5:40 AM, and twice also in Bohol at 6:30 AM and 7:30 AM. It reached Cebu at night and did the landfall at 10:00 PM. The following day at 2:00 in the morning it made landfall in Negros Oriental. The last landfall of Odette was in Palawan at 4:00 in the afternoon.

The said typhoon brought torrential rains, violent winds; landslides and storm surged in different places in the Philippines but most especially in the places where it did the landfall. After the typhoon there were many families left without houses, they lost their livelihood and even some of their love ones, there was scarcity of water especially drinking water, no electricity and many establishments were destroyed.

Our two communities of Capuchin Tertiary Sisters of the Holy Family in Negros and in Cebu were also affected, we had damages in our houses and we had no electricity for almost a month. It was a providence that, in Cebu we have just recently open the water station project and there are enough stocks of drinking water for the community. Because of that, the sisters didn’t have problem to get drinking water but their concern was how to help other families also to get water to drink. Since there was no electricity it was impossible for the community to produce water at that time, but then the providence of God poured out. There were people helping the community to make possible to produce drinking water for the people and the sisters  were able to produce more or less 2000 5 gallons bottles container of water. It was a privilege for the community to help people greatly affected by the typhoon.

At this moment Philippines is still in recovery, there are still some places, even here in Cebu where there is no electricity because of the big damage, but the situation is a little bit better compared right after the typhoon.

 

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Listening with the ears of the heart

On the feast of St. Francis de Sales, patron saint of journalists, the Vatican has made public the Message of the Holy Father Francis for the 56th World Day of Social Communications, which this year 2022 is announced with the title «Listening with the ears of the heart».

Last year we reflected on the need to «go and see» in order to discover the reality and be able to tell it from the experience of events and the encounter with people. Following in this line, the Pope now expresses his desire to focus one’s attention on another verb, «to listen», which is decisive in the grammar of communication and a condition for an authentic dialogue.

Indeed, we are losing the ability to listen to who is in front of us, whether in the normal scenario of everyday relationships or in debates on the most important issues in civil life. At the same time, listening is undergoing a new and important development in the communicative and informative field, through the various podcast and audio chat offerings, confirming that listening is still essential for human communication.

Francis went on to say in his message: A well-known doctor, accustomed to heal the wounds of the soul, was asked what the greatest need of human beings was. He replied, «The immense need to be listened to.» It is a desire that often remains hidden, but that challenges all those who are called to be educators or formators, or who play the role of communicator: parents and teachers, pastors and pastoral workers, information workers and those who provide a social or political service. 

The Pope based his message of “Listening with the ears of the heart”, in the biblical pages where we learn that listening not only has the meaning of an acoustic perception, but is essentially linked to the dialogical relationship between God and humanity. «Shema’ Israel – Listen, Israel» (Deut. 6:4), the incipit of the first commandment of the Torah is continually proposed in the Bible, to such an extent that St. Paul affirms that «faith comes from listening» (Rom. 10:17). Indeed, the initiative is of God who speaks to us, and we respond by listening to him; but also this listening, in the background, comes from his grace, as happens to the newborn who responds to the gaze and voice of the mother and father. Of the five senses, it seems that the one privileged by God is precisely the ear, perhaps because it is less invasive, more discreet than sight, and therefore leaves the human being freer.

Listening corresponds to God’s humble style. It is that action that allows God to reveal Himself as the One who, speaking, creates man in His image, and, listening, recognizes Him as his interlocutor. God loves man: that is why he addresses the Word to him, that is why he «bows his ear» to listen to Him.

Francis upholds that on the one hand there is God, Who always reveals Himself by communicating freely; and on the other, the man, who is asked to listen. The Lord explicitly calls man to a covenant of love, so that he may become fully what he is: the image and likeness of God in his capacity to listen, to welcome, to give space to the other. Listening, deep down, is a dimension of love.

To read the full message of the 56th World Day you can access from the following link:

https://www.agenciasic.es/2022/01/24/escuchar-con-los-oidos-del-corazon-mensaje-de-la-jornada-mundial-de-las-comunicaciones-sociales-2022/

Photograph taken from the Dicastery for Communications 

Taken from: SIC Agency (Catholic Information Service)

 

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«Our Father Luis in his letters»

Accepting the request of many sisters of the Congregation that like to continue deepening in our Father Founder person of and in our charismatic sources, the Congregational Formation Team organized an online formation course in four sessions, that took place in the months of October (on the 9th and 23rd) and November 2021 (on the 6th and 20th). The presentation, in charge of our Sr. Isabel Valdizán Valledor, developed the theme: “Our Father Luis in his Letters”.

In the first session, Sr. Isabel helped us to consider the Letters within the Luis Amigó’s Complete Works (OCLA) and then she explained that, in the course we had not carry out a critical, historical and much less curious reading of the Letters, but, through them, we had rather got closer to the person of Father Luis listening especially to what he told us, the Capuchin Tertiary Sisters of the Holy Family. She then presented some general aspects, the theme and distribution, the letters  addressed to the Sisters and some important messages we can pick up in them and she concluded that, an increased knowledge of Father Luis leads us to deepen more and more in our own form of life and charisma.

In the session of October 23rd, Sr. Isabel presented Father Luis Amigó putting into evidence some nucleus that, since the beginning, attracted our attention: his dedicated life. He was a young friar loving his Capuchin vocation, an upright and transparent person, free and able to express  his reality; a man charged with troubles and responsibilities but sure that God is “before and above all else”; a person available and obedient, seeking out God’s will at all times; a Capuchin Provincial, brother of his brothers to the core.

Moving forward in the course, the third session began by underlining what «Our Father Luis» was demanding from us and which ones were his advice and clarifications and criteria about our life. Then Sr. Isabel reminded that among all the letters of Father Luis, only 33 are addressed to the Sisters and mainly to the Sisters that were in America, since he was never able to travel there. Father Luis is interested in each sister, in the good of all of them, in the fraternal and congregational communion, in the formation of the young women … and also in promoting that the Sisters seat themselves in settlements and places favorable for the Congregation growth … Other letters are addressed to various people, but their matters is referring to the Sisters. Sr. Isabel put into evidence also some important issues that Father Luis repeats over and over again, issues that worried him and that she took up again referring them to some  concrete situations of life. That is also a call to live in fidelity, in «growth and transformation», following the model that the Lord presents to us in Francis of Assisi.

The last session on November 20th, was about “The daily  life” and it was developed in two questions: «The good government of the communities» and «The resuscitating cross».  Sr. Isabel talked about that with an agile and motivating language: the strong threads through which Father Luis “weaves life”, the organization of his communities when he was Provincial Minister, the orientations and advices to the Sisters, orientating them to get out from complicated situations and to face difficulties; all that is something more than a good «psychology» or an «opportunity»: it helps to discover the meaning of suffering and of the cross, and to get sure that we are in God’s hands.

The course has been widely accepted and highly valued by all the sisters and has left a desire” to want something more”… That is why, in response again to the suggestions received, it has been decided to offer a second part of this charismatic course for the month of February 2022 and its topic will be: «Our Father Luis in his Pastoral Exhortations».

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50th anniversary of the Synod of Bishops: «Justice in the world» November 30th, 1971 – 2021

Blessed Paul VI will be canonized a saint in late October, said Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, March 6. Pope Paul VI is seen in this portrait made in early 1969. (CNS photo) See SAINT-PAULVI-PAROLIN March 6, 2018.

The Synod is a Church institution or organism born of the Second Vatican Council. It was instituted by Pope Paul VI, who announced its creation on September 15th, 1965. Up to now, since 1967, when the first Synod took place, 29 Synods of bishops have been held in the Church, all of them in the Vatican.

On November 30th, 2021, we have celebrated the 50th anniversary of the celebration of the II Synod of Bishops, held in 1971. Pope Paul VI, in the general audience of November 24th, 1971, ordered to make public the two documents approved by the II General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, about the concerned issues: «The ministerial priesthood» and «Justice in the world».

The document «Justice in the world» presents, with a critical look, the reality of the world at the time of the Second Vatican Council, and states: «We have been able to know the serious injustices surrounding the human world through  a network of domains, oppressions and abuses that stifle freedom and prevent most of the human race from participating in the edification and enjoyment of a more equal and more fraternal world ”.

On the other hand, it recognizes the contribution of people docile to the Spirit action sowing  hope and committed to build a better world: “There is no shortage of facts contributing to the promotion of justice. In human groups and in people themselves is born a new consciousness shaking them from resignation to fatalism and urging them to get free and responsible for their own fate. As well they appear human movements that reflect the hope for a better world and the will to change all that can no longer be tolerated ”.

The document urges the Church to carry out its mission: “Listening to the cry of people suffering violence and oppressed by unjust systems and mechanisms and listening also to the questions of a world that contradicts the Creator’s plan with its perversity, we are unanimously aware of the Church’s vocation to be present in the heart of the world, preaching the Good News to the poor, liberation to the oppressed and joy to the afflicted”. It is organized in four parts:

The first part: social justice and world society, with four sections: the crisis of universal solidarity, the right to development, the injustice without a voice and the need of dialogue.

The second part: the proclamation of the Gospel and the mission of the Church, is presented in two sections: the saving justice of God through Christ and the mission of the Church, the hierarchy and the Christians.

The third part: the practice of justice, presents six sections: the Church witness, the education for justice, the cooperation among local Churches, the ecumenical collaboration and the international action and it ends briefly expressing the wishes of the Synod.

The fourth part: it encourages with a word of hope: “The radical transformation of the world at the Lord’s Passover gives full meaning to the efforts of men, and particularly of young people, to reduce injustice, violence and hatred, and to promote the progress of all in justice, freedom, fatherhood and love ”.

Let us celebrate the anniversary of the Synod «Justice in the world», disseminating the content of this document so actual also for our time.

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25th anniversary of the Tibhirine monks martyrdom

On December the 3rd and 4th, 2021, at the Pontifical Athenaeum Sant’Anselmo, in Rome, it was held a «Colloquium for the 25th anniversary of the martyrdom of the seven brothers» and its aim was  to reflect on the spiritual heritage of the seven Trappist monks martyred in Algeria.

It was in May 1996 that, after weeks of kidnapping, the seven brothers of Tibhirine were murdered. Beatified in Oran together with twelve other martyrs from Algeria, their experience of life and dedication offers, through their writings illuminated by the testimonies of people who knew them, a living source for the today theology and spirituality.

After the meeting in Paris (2018) and the colloquium in Freiburg (2019), this international colloquium on the occasion of the 25 years of martyrdom, liked to collect the witnesses of those who knew them and the contributions of those who today receive from them a theological, spiritual and pastoral inspiration.

The first day was reserved for the Pontifical Sant’Anselmo Athenaeum students and the meeting aimed to raise awareness of this spiritual heritage and to stimulate a work at an university level. The second day, open to a wider audience, aimed to publicize the experience lived by these monks and to contribute to spread their message through the forthcoming publication of their writings in Italian language.

Organized by the “Association pour la protection des écrits des sept de l’Atlas” and the “Comité scientifique des Écrits de Tibhirine”, in collaboration with the Pontifical Athenaeum Sant’Anselmo, the Anselmianum, and with the financial support of the Fondation des Monastères, the colloquium was organized under the patronage of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.

(Source: OMPRESS-ROMA)

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