The reports which were given have shown how much the ICDS has moved forward and has grown in the past six years. Presentations about community building and formation gave new perspectives on how we could deepen the community on all levels. Following this, thoughts about possible cooperations between units based on the apostolates which are already in action there (building synergies) were shared. The future could become very interesting and fruitful …
You can find more details here.
If you want more information of each day, follow this link, please → GA2018.
Your spiritual support by prayer will be a help and a sign of unity by all participants.
Since a few days the actual issue of the
is online and you can find it with the link above. It has a special “prayer of thanks” inside!
Click here, if you have a request!
Let’s pray in common for our concerns.
Read the Easter message of the ICDS General committee here.
O Lord,
Risen, alive and full of grace.
You paid such a price that we may live in freedom today.
We worship your holy name and give thanks for your redeeming grace.
Heavenly Father,
May we drink in your tender love so that we can pour this love out to others.
Come reign in our hearts, minds and spirits.
Holy Spirit,
We welcome you to blow through our every word, action and thought.
Come transform us on the inside so that each day we become more like our risen Lord.
Amen.
St. Josephine Bakhita
February 8 is the feast day of St. Josephine Bakhita, who was kidnapped as a child and sold into slavery in Sudan and Italy. Once Josephine was freed, she became a Canossian nun and dedicated her life to sharing her testament of deliverance from slavery and comforting the poor and suffering. She was declared a Saint in 2000 and the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and the International Union of Superiors General has designated February 8 as an annual day of prayer and awareness against human trafficking.
On February 8, Catholics all over the world are encouraged to host or attend prayer services to create greater awareness about this phenomenon. Through prayer, we not only reflect on the experiences of those that have suffered through this affront to human dignity, but also comfort, strengthen, and help empower survivors.
Many Salvatorians over the world (religious and lay) are working in this field in several units. If you don’t have information about the salvatorian work against Human trafficking and modern slavery get into contact with your unit leaders. They should know more or contact members of the International Salvatorian Committee for justice, peace and integrity of creation.
It’s necessary that all people get the awareness about this serious crime, to free this modern slaves and end modern slavery – because it’s unfortunately often more close to you as you expect. By the way, how many slaves work for you? – No one, no idea? Be sure, there are working some. How many, you can find out here at slaveryfootprint.org – it’s really shocking and you would not belive.
Therefore the General committee of the ICDS invites all Lay Salvatorians to celebrate this day as a common day of prayer and reflection. As suggestion we have prepared a
PRAYER SHEET in English and Spanish.
Maybe this can be a starting point or reminder for more cooperation between some units. Stand up and get into contact with others so our efforts against modern slavery may be blessed and we become more connected.
As in the last years you can read and share a short Christmas tale here. Unfortunately it was not possible to get more translations into other languages. If you want to translate it, feel free and invited to do so and forward this tale to other ones.
Read here the letter to the units from our Vice-President
– topic: →
English: Thoughts about the Lay Salvatorian mission statement
Espanol: Pensamientos sobre el Laico Salvatoriano – Declaración de Misión
published on the feast of Nicholas of Flüe, an interesting lay person in the history of the church.
The Intern. Joint Charism Commission has prepared a reflection process to be used individually and in the communities, with a culminating reflection at a date to be determined in each unit. Although reflections at length on the Charter of the Salvatorian Family were done, this process brings all Salvatorians back to the Charter because it is the most up-to-date statement of our common Identity. The appreciation of our Identity as a Salvatorian Family is a lifetime process that we have to revisit frequently and the Charter provides a good starting point.
The proposed reflection process moves through the Charter, chapter by chapter. Then, as a way to commemorate the centennial of Fr. Francis Jordan´s death, it culminates in a creative reflection on his Last Will and Testament. You will find the identity booklet for this process in several languages below:
| charter reflection text_EN | charter reflection text_ES | charter reflection text_PT |
| charter reflection text_FR | charter reflection text_PL | charter reflection text_DE |
| charter reflection text_IT |
Since today the actual issue of the
is online and you can find it with the link above.
Click here, if you have a request!
Let’s pray in common for our concerns.
Mission: see – grasp – actGroups and people of eleven nations (units) including one member from the US met in Logroño/Spain for the 5th (6th) European Lay Salvatorian encounter from June 8 – 11. The topic was “Mission: See – grasp – act” and we got three excellent keynote speakers for this event. Fr. István Barazsuly SDS from Rumania, Fr. Michel Coppin SDS from Belgium, and Ms. Mª Ángeles Molina CDS from Spain, who works as missionary in Guatemala at the moment.
Fr. István talked about the challenges and necessities in his country Romania. It is in some parts an example of the religious situation in Europe. The people, and even many of the young people, are searching and open for spiritual things in their life. Certainly the “wrapping” of the religion does not match the challenges and needs of the life of today. So we have to find new interpretations of the old truths and new doorways into people’s heart and we have to recognise that Europe is an area for mission today. A big challenge is the poverty which is a basis that people get into dependencies and get forced into several forms of modern slavery by criminals in whole Europe. Cooperation with other units is important to intensify and improve the awareness of this situation. Continue Reading
