ear friends,
another Christmas is approaching, the time of year in which we celebrate God’s love becoming close to every person in Jesus. To mark the occasion, we are sending you our traditional letter which brings you news of what has been taking place in our missionary family during the year 2006, now drawing to a close.
First of all, we wish to thank all those who replied to last year’s letter with their own greetings and prayers. This tells us that our annual letter is expected and appreciated by many of you and that it also makes you feel a part of the Xaverian family.
I am writing to you on the final day of Jubilee year marking the 500th anniversary of the birth of Francis Xavier, our Patron Saint, in the castle of Javier (Navarra – Spain), on 7 April 1506. Our Founder gave him to us as our “model and patron saint” by linking our family to his name. We also celebrated the 75th anniversary of Bishop Conforti’s death (5 November 1931) with a
Xaverian Spirituality Meeting in August with the participation of representatives from all the Xaverian Provinces around the world. We were struck by the presence of Xaverians of different nationalities, which is a visible sign of our Congregation’s growing internationality.
Throughout this year we rediscovered Francis Xavier’s zeal and rich humanity. Our reflection on his figure reminded us once again that the mission must be based on an intense love for God and others.
It was like rediscovering a friend that we had remembered for many years only on his birthday. I believe that it was a very meaningful rediscovery for us.
The Xaverian Spirituality Meeting also helped us to begin preparing for the next
General Chapter, which shall be held in Italy in June 2007. As you know, the General Chapter gathers the Congregation to assess its situation, reflect upon its mission and elect the new General Direction. During this important meeting we shall focus on our spirituality, in the certainty that we can be missionaries only if we are inspired by God and the zeal for his Kingdom.
We ask all of you to say a special prayer for the General Chapter, that the Holy Spirit may find us available to his plans for the salvation of the world.
News from the missions: this year the first truly democratic elections were held in the
Congo. We hope that this will bring to an end the dark period of war that lasted ten years and which caused enormous suffering to the population and hindered our missionary work.
There is still tension in Colombia where there is no sign of an agreement between the government and the guerilla movements; the peace process continues in
Burundi, albeit amidst some uncertainty; the year finishes in Bangladesh with some social unrest and clashes prior to the elections; in
Chad, rebel groups tried to overthrow the president and they continue with their struggle, though at the moment they are in areas far from the places where the Xaverians are serving.
The mission must be based on an intense love for God and others. It was like rediscovering a friend that we had remembered for many years only on his birthday. I believe that it was a very meaningful rediscovery for us
The Lord has continued to bless our family with new vocations. This year 25 young men made their First Profession, through which the Church officially accepts the desire of a person to verify his Xaverian and missionary vocation. 15 young men from Indonesia, Mexico, the Congo, Spain, Bangladesh and Cameroon made their Final profession and became life-long members of our Xaverian family and totally available for its mission in the world. 11 young Xaverians were ordained priests, among them the first Xaverian from Bangladesh. We ask you to pray for all of them that the Lord might sustain them in their fidelity and grant them the joy that comes from the total gift of self to Christ for the mission.
Departed: this year the Lord called six Xaverian home to Heaven: Br. Ivo Consigli (March 9, 2006, 84 years old, missionary to Brazil);
Fr. Amedeo Pelizzo (March 26, 2006, 90 years old, served mainly in Italy);
Fr. Battista Castignola (May 8, 2006, 84 years old, missionary in Sierra Leone);
Fr. Abdon Fantelli (Oct. 13, 2006, 89 years old, missionary to Indonesia),
Fr. Francesco Sozzi (Nov. 14, 2006, 80 years old, missionary in Southern Brazil), and
Fr. Gratian Rossato (Dec. 2, 2006, 66 years old, served in USA and Sierra Leone). They are now part of the increasing number of brothers who intercede for us with God.
We wish to assure you of our prayers for your families. Many of you informed us of their suffering and others of their joyful family moments and events. Let us entrust everything and everyone to the Lord, in the certainty that His love and Divine Providence always be with us in our joy and sorrow.
With our best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year.
(From Xaverian News)