The Servants of Charity

Cuddalore Community Devastated by Cyclone Thane

On December 30, a major storm struck leaving major damage to our facilities in the Tamil Nadu area of Cuddalore. More news will follow, click to view photos.

Father Guanella Canonized

Saint Louis Guanella was officially proclaimed a "SAINT" by Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday, October 23, 2011. Watch Event Here (for commentary in English, use audio control next to the volume)

The Servants of Charity from the United States led a pilgrimage to the Canonization. See photos of the fun that they had.

The world is talking about the Canonization of Father Guanella. To read the stories click here.

Fr. Dominic Saginario: Memories of a Missionary Priest

Visit the blog to share your memories of our beloved Fr. Mimi.

Memories of a Missionary Priest

Divine Providence Province

A Call to Be Prophets!

As Jesus disciples, we welcomed the New Year with grace, a fresh call and opportunity to continue journeying with the Master, with a genuine desire to follow Him more closely, to learn from Him day by day and to allow Him to keep molding us into His image and likeness.

Looking back at the past year, we may all certainly find reasons to sing our Magnificat in thanksgiving for the many graces that the Lord has showered upon us.

Likewise, we would all probably have to admit many shortcomings, infidelities, struggles and failures, humbling reminders that we hold God’s treasure of faith and vocation in earthen vessels. Being aware of our limitations leads us to continually rely on God’s mercy and fidelity in order to dare to move on with serenity and trust, assured that, no matter what trial we face, we will always be held in God’s hands, close to His caring heart.

While 2011 has gone into history as the year of Father Guanella’s Canonization, 2012 is ushered in by the “spirit” of the New Evangelization” that is blowing through the Church, rekindling in all its members a new passionate missionary zeal and fervor. The wind of the Spirit of Pentecost will certainly animate the upcoming remarkable events of the Synod of the Bishops and the simultaneous opening of the Year of Faith that Benedict XVI will inaugurate on October 11, 2012.

As we well know, the New Evangelization is the horizon toward which, both the Provincial and General Chapter, are oriented and focused.

As Guanellian Congregation of apostolic life, we are called to review our way of “thinking and doing mission” in order to attune it to the ever changing demands and challenges of today’s situations and the variety of contexts in which we strive to bear witness to the Gospel and to our specific charism.

Sons and disciples of a saint whom Pope Benedict, on the day of his canonization, introduced to the world as “Prophet and Apostle of Love”, we see the Chapter’s event has the place and the “kairos” to heed anew the call of the Spirit urging us to rediscover and reclaim the “Prophetic role” that is an integral part of the Religious Life vocation and charism. But what does true prophecy entail?

Perhaps it may be helpful to recall some of the biblical features of a Prophet:

He is first and foremost open to the promptings of the Spirit
He experiences not only a special divine call, but also a very intimate closeness to God who enables him to speak on His behalf.
He is in deep communion/empathy with the people to whom he is sent; he is able to perceive and feel the needs, pains and cries of his people with the eyes, ears and heart of God and moves therefore to champion their cause.
He denounces sins and abuses that are hurting human dignity and disregarding the Love-Covenant with the Lord.
He consistently announces God’s compassion, His truth, His justice, His special care for the oppressed and marginalized.
He takes a courageous stand, shaking up people’s conscience, disturbing the status quo when needed.
He leads by example, instilling hope, showing the way, articulating God’s vision.
He reads the signs of God’s presence in the world, both in the good and bad times, becoming himself a sign, a pointer to a God who cares and who is always concerned with the affairs of His children and the destiny of the world.
He is not afraid of facing criticism, oppositions, insults, persecution and even death in order to be faithful to God and to His mission.
He remains fully aware of his own weakness and vulnerability, humbling acknowledging his need for God’s strength and forgiveness.
He himself undergoes the change that he dreams for others and that he expects from his people.
He is fully accountable to those whom he leads and serves.
He is credible because he himself becomes “Good New,” being a witness before and beyond his role as speaker.

The New Evangelization is in absolute urgent need of men and women who, because of their religious consecration, their total freedom and availability for the Gospel, are ready to live and act as true Prophets.

The profile of the new apostles and communities engaged in “new evangelization” should reflect the features of genuine Prophets.

The real new missionaries are the saints.

That is what we continually hear, read and pick up from the voice of the Magisterium, from the Shepherds of the local Churches where our communities are inserted; from people who are seriously concerned with and involved in the care of the youth, families and the poor; from all those who look at Christians for enlightenment and guidance in our confused, fragmented, secularized society.

“The New Evangelizations requires the ability to start anew, to go beyond borders. New Evangelization is the opposite of self-sufficiency and the tendency of locking ourselves up into our comfort zones; it disturbs and shakes up the status quo mentality; it calls for courage to dare to take new paths considering the changed situations and the new emerging appeals…” (Synod Lineamenta 5…12)

May the venue of our Provincial Chapter, to be started soon in Manila, become a Cenacle where the Spirit of Pentecost is invoked, welcomed and attentively listen to.

May the “Prophet and Apostle of Love,” St. Louis Guanella be among us to inspire, encourage and guide us “to imitate his pastoral sensitivity and faith in addressing the needs of our time, … in submitting our lifestyle and mission to a constant discernment…in pursuing faithfulness to the charism and effective witness in the local church.” (Const. # 72)

May the Spirit of Prophecy animate and sustain us in “responding to the invitations of the Providence, not being afraid to undertake courageous enterprises.” (Const. # 72)

In prayer, let us wish one another a fruitful Chapter experience,

To all, a blessed and grace-filled New Year!

Fr. Luigi DeGiambattista, SdC, Provincial Superior

Priestly Ordination of Seven Confreres

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