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Looking back on Austrian Lay Salvatorian retreat

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Last weekend, the Lay Salvatorians of Austria gathered for a retreat at the Greisinghof Educational Center. The topics of the meeting were

  • the papal encyclical “Magnifica Humanitas,” which addresses the use and impact of artificial intelligence on our world and daily life.
  • Living in community while maintaining distance. How is it possible to live in community through both in-person and online meetings? What should be considered, what challenges might arise, and what are the benefits?
  • The session “Between the Lines of Life” led us to seek out and discover the spaces in between in life. In the process, we were introduced to the “MA” concept rooted in Japanese culture and how it manifests in our own lives, often unnoticed. Equally interesting was the realization that these spaces between the lines of life can be an intense place of encounter with God.
  • A guided walk through the Bible Garden with Fr. Hans Eidenberger, SM, was, as always, a special highlight.

And a long afternoon hike through the surrounding hills and valleys gave us the opportunity to share thoughts and reflections as we walked together.

Last but not least, we were able to celebrate the milestone birthday of one of our members one evening.

Heartfelt thanks be to God for this event.

 

 

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Memorial Day for Blessed Francis Mary of the Cross

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English

Today, July 21, we – that is, the Salvatorian Family and the Catholic Church – commemorate the founder of the Salvatorian communities, Blessed Francis Mary of the Cross Jordan. Perhaps a day of remembrance like this is precisely the occasion to delve a little deeper into his life…
Johann Baptist – that was his original German name – was a young man from a poor background who was keenly aware of the spiritual needs of his time. And he wanted to change that, to bring healing to people, to restore balance to what had gone awry.
As his spiritual successors – whether as priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or lay Salvatorians – we are called to recognize these or similar needs in today’s world and to respond to them. In doing so, we need not – and must not – be afraid of complex or challenging questions. Nor is it right to think that this does not concern us, that it does not necessarily have anything to do with our life of faith. On the contrary, we are apostles – and perhaps at times even prophets – of our time. And we are bearers of a special tool, a tool that is meant to endow us with the diverse creativity and love needed to find good and authentic answers to these questions and challenges. By this I mean Salvatorian universality.
Experience teaches us that it is not always easy to face it, for it can indeed become quite a heavy burden and demand a great deal from the one who carries it. Johann Baptist was not daunted by this; rather, as his religious name suggests, he took up his cross. Being an apostle or a prophet in our day is no more a “comfort zone” than it ever has been. Yet it is an invitation to follow a path already trodden by far greater predecessors.
With this in mind, I wish us all a reflective commemoration of John the Baptist.

 

Christian Patzl

President of the ICDS Continue Reading

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Joint JPIC workshop via internet

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Last weekend, representatives of the joint Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Commission of the three Salvatorian branches gathered for an online workshop. These included Fr. Marcellin Mukwasay Kabub SDS, Fr. Cris Osares SDS, Sr. Mary Adeline Abamo SDS, Sr. Maya Verdonck SDS, Mr. Dominique Bayet ICDS and Mr. Christian Patzl ICDS. While the representatives of the two religious branches met in Rome, the representatives of the ICDS joined via the internet. The workshop ran for two days, eight hours each day, with breaks in between. It was a particular challenge for Dominique, as his time zone is six hours behind Central European Time. We would like to express our special thanks to him for joining us at three o’clock in the morning!

The team had already drafted a statement and action plan in advance during short Zoom conferences. These points now had to be fleshed out and explored in greater depth.
As the topic of JPIC is so diverse and wide-ranging, priorities should also be set, which will receive special attention in the coming period.

We hope and count on finding fellow campaigners among the members here in the individual units. After all, the tasks relating to JPIC are diverse and can change in nature or challenge depending on the cultural environment. This requires local people to work with us to give the world a more humane and Salvatorian face.
Of course, the problem of different languages is certainly a challenge, but with the online tools available today, a little openness and patience, it can be solved relatively easily.
If you are a member of the Salvatorian Family and these lines have aroused your interest, we would be delighted to hear from you.

 

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Brief review of this year’s Recognition Day

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This year, ICDS Recognition Day fell on a Sunday. This enabled many groups and units to turn this day of the Lay Salvatorians into a real celebration. Here are a few snapshots from Australia, Brazil, and Austria. Venezuela sent special pages showing what happened there.
The General Committee would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved for their participation and cooperation. It is a beautiful sign of unity that we can give to the world on this day.

If your unit also took pictures on the day but did not send them in, you are welcome to do so now. We will add them here.

 

 

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Feb. 8.: Lay Salvatorian Recognition Day + world prayer day against mordern slavery

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Two significant celebrations in one day for us lay Salvatorians. Perhaps not everyone is fully aware of this overlap. Nevertheless, some lay Salvatorians are already working today for liberation from modern slavery and against the many forms of human trafficking. This is certainly not the sole main apostolate of the lay Salvatorians, but it is an important task and a response to one of the signs of the times.
The documentation linked here is intended to tell us a little more about the life of Saint Josephine Bakhita and to strengthen us in our efforts to take up our apostolate for this cause and the cry for justice.

 

 

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A new Salvatorian Bishop

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We are delighted to hear that the Holy Father has appointed Father Milton Zonta, S.D.S., former Superior General of the Society of the Divine Savior, as Auxiliary Bishop of Criciúma, Brazil.

Father Milton is originally from Videira, Brazil, and has served the Salvatorian family with wisdom and dedication. His moving sermons and writings remain in our memories, and we are delighted that they will now continue and reach a wider audience in this new phase of his ministry.

We ask for your supporting prayers as far as possible for you.

May the Lord fill him with His love

May the Holy Spirit guide
and strengthen him in this new task.

May he feel His presence

with every breath he take.

In deep fraternal solidarity, together with Fr. Milton on the Salvatorian path,
the sisters and brothers of the International Community of the Divine Savior.

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