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GC and IJLG meetings in Rome

Four members of the General Committee of the ICDS met together at the motherhouse of the Society of the Divine Savior in Rome this week. There were two important meetings on the agenda: the last face-to-face meeting of the General Committee before the ICDS General Assembly in 2024 and the International Joint Leadership Group meeting with the Generalates of the two Salvatorian religious branches. Most of the topics were connected with the upcoming General Chapters and the General Assembly, such as the proposals recommended by joint commissions of the International Joint Leadership Group. Despite different points of view, both meetings were very productive.

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Our sister Rita was called by God …

Dear sisters and brothers, dear members of the Salvatorian Family,

Although we on the General Committee had been aware of Rita’s failing health for some time, the news of her passing hit us hard. The moment when our thread of life is woven to its end is unknown. And so it says in the Book of Isaiah 38:12 :

My dwelling, like a shepherd’s tent, is struck down and borne away from me; You have folded up my life, like a weaver who severs the last thread.

Some Salvatorian lay people have written words of remembrance which can be read here on behalf of many others:

Our dear Rita beat us to the date of heaven…Her departure leaves a void in the ICDS and in the Salvatorian Family, not only in his native Belgium, but also internationally, due to her active role both in the General Committee of the ICDS, and for her participation in some of the joint commissions of the 3 branches such as “the Justice, Peace and Defense of Life Commission” and the “Salvatorian Identity and Mission Commission”.

With a jovial, cheerful and open spirit, reflecting both her vocation as a school teacher and her vocation to follow Christ as a Lay Salvatorian, Rita worked tirelessly for the development of Lay Salvatorians in the world and for the fraternal union of the Salvatorian Family, putting their gifts at your service. Continue Reading

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Lay Salvatorians Tanzania – WELCOME!

As you can read in our post from yesterday already, the ICDS is very happy to welcome our new sisters and brothers in Tanzania. Some Lay Salvatorians from the US have guided the development process over a long time and supported them with materials, were also present at the ceremony. Here is their story and report (→ click on the picture below to open the document)

 

 

TEMOIGNAGE D’UNE PÈLERINE – A PILGRIM’S TESTIMONY

Français

Mon voyage de pèlerinage pour réconforter les nouveaux adhérents à la Communauté Internationale du Divin sauveur en Tanzanie a é une expérience spirituelle très éprouvante pour ma foi : les réalités du voyage, les découvertes des nouvelles cultures et des nouvelles personnes, la rencontre avec des personnes lointaines, le partage et l’unité dans la diversité (langues, gimes alimentaires, différences d’âge et de sexe…) Une découverte de l’inconnu. Tout ceci a fait de moi une nouvelle personne à travers le Bienheureux JORDAN qui luimême est baptisé dun apôtre audelà des frontières, cestàdire audelà de nos forces et de nos faiblesses, au– delà de nos attentes et besoins personnels, audelà de ce que nous imaginons. Jai rencontré des personnes que ne pouvais jamais imaginer que je rencontrerai une seule fois dans ma vie. Il s’agit de:

 

  • 36 nouveaux laïcs salvatoriens de la Tanzanie dont 4 papas venus de MASISI, SINZA, MOROGORO, KURASINI……
  • Une forte délégation venue des Etats unis d’Arique :
    • Une sœur Régionale des sœurs du Divin Sauveur
    • Un Prêtre salvatorien (Père Provincial de la Californie)
    • Un Frère salvatorien (diacre)
    • Le Président national des laïcs salvatoriens des USA accompag de son épouse et leurs quatre enfants
    • Un couple des laïcs salvatoriens
    • Trois autres laïcs salvatoriennes parmi lesquelles une jeune fille
  • Les prêtres, les urs ainsi que les frères salvatoriens de la province de Tanzanie en particulier Mgr LAZARIUS et le Père Provincial

Tout ceci a été une expérience de l’universalité salvatorienne : l’accueil qui était très bon, le séjour, la communication…

Il est donc possible que nous menions une vie universelle dans la diversité autour du Christ avec l’assistance du Saint Esprit et grâce à l’intercession de la Sainte Vierge Marie et du Bienheureux JORDAN

Pour réaliser cette expérience il m’a fallu des sacrifices que Le Seigneur en qui je crois et je sers récompense d’une manière ou d’une autre. Je ne me lasserai jamais de continuer à le servir, n’en déplaise aux auteurs des actes frisant les découragements. Avec courage je porterai toujours ma Croix pour répondre à mon appel et je fixerai mes yeux vers JESUS en qui j’ai confiance

par MARIE DE LA CROIX LEYA SANGWA

Salvatorienne RDC

 

English

 

My pilgrimage to Tanzania to comfort the new members of the International Community of the Divine Saviour was a very testing spiritual experience for my faith: the realities of the journey, the discovery of new cultures and new people, meeting people from far away, sharing and unity in diversity (languages, diets, age, and gender differences…) A discovery of the unknown. All of this has made me a new person through Blessed JORDAN, who himself is baptized by an apostle beyond borders, that is, beyond our strengths and weaknesses, beyond our personal expectations and needs, and beyond what we imagine. I have met people who I could never have imagined I would meet once in my life. They were:

  • 36 new lay Salvatorians from Tanzania, including 4 fathers from MASISI, SINZA, MOROGORO and KURASINI……
  • A strong delegation from the United States of America:
    • A Regional Sister of the Sisters of the Divine Saviour
    • A Salvatorian priest (Father Provincial of California)
    • A Salvatorian Brother (deacon)
    • The National President of the Lay Salvatorians of the USA accompanied by his wife and their four children
    • A couple of Lay Salvatorians
    • Three other lay Salvatorians, including a young girl
  • The priests, the sisters, and the Salvatorian brothers of the Tanzanian province, in particular Mgr LAZARIUS and the Father Provincial.

All of this was an experience of Salvatorian universality: the welcome, which was very good, the stay, the communication…

It is therefore possible for us to lead a universal life in diversity around Christ, with the assistance of the Holy Spirit and thanks to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Blessed Jordan.

To achieve this experience I have had to make sacrifices that the Lord, in whom I believe and serve, rewards in one way or another. I will never tire of continuing to serve him, whatever the perpetrators of acts bordering on discouragement. With courage, I will always carry my Cross to answer my call and I will fix my eyes on JESUS whom I trust.

by MARIE DE LA CROIX LEYA SANGWA

Salvatorian DRC

Translated into English with DeepL

“Laudate Deum” – this concerns all of us!

English

Pope Francis has published an Apostolic Exhortation building on his 2015 encyclical: “Laudate Deum”. We’re not reacting enough, he says, we’re close to breaking point. He criticizes climate change deniers, saying that the human origin of global warming is now beyond doubt. And he describes how care for our common home flows from the Christian faith.

 

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A cry, a call also addressed to the Salvatorian laity. Our challenges of the time also urge us to question and, if necessary, reorient our activities and apostolates with regard to environmental impact and the climate crisis. The world needs us and we are called to respond to the challenges (signs) of our time. It is not only the big changes or improvements that count, which we as individuals or small groups can hardly achieve. But the many small things in our everyday lives can make a big difference if we question them and change them accordingly.

 

Get more information here → Vatican News

 

Laudate Deum text in several languages

 

Espanol

El Papa Francisco ha publicado una exhortación apostólica basada en su encíclica de 2015 “Laudate Deum”. No estamos reaccionando lo suficiente, dice, estamos cerca del punto de ruptura. Critica a los negacionistas del cambio climático, diciendo que el origen humano del calentamiento global está ahora fuera de toda duda. Y describe cómo el cuidado de nuestra casa común emana de la fe cristiana.

Un grito, una llamada dirigida también a los laicos Salvatorianos. Los desafíos de nuestro tiempo también nos urgen a cuestionar y, si es necesario, a reorientar nuestras actividades y apostolados en relación con el impacto medioambiental y la crisis climática. El mundo nos necesita y estamos llamados a responder a los desafíos (signos) de nuestro tiempo. No sólo cuentan los grandes cambios o mejoras, que nosotros, como individuos o pequeños grupos, difícilmente podemos conseguir. Pero las muchas pequeñas cosas de nuestra vida cotidiana pueden marcar una gran diferencia si nos las cuestionamos y las cambiamos en consecuencia.

 

Más información → Vatican News

 

Texto de Laudate Deum

Translated with DeepL