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Category: News

Joint JPIC workshop via internet

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.

 

A new Salvatorian Bishop

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.

A week of encounters in Rome

The members of the General Chapter met this week at the Mother House of the Society of the Divine Saviour in Rome. The purpose of this meeting was to plan and organise activities for the next two years and, in some cases, beyond.
In addition to joint group formation through meditative and prayer elements, the main topics were the work and progress of the established ICDS committees, as well as how we can improve our communication and presentation to the outside world. A Zoom conversation with the lay group in Palestine was also on the agenda.
Part of this meeting was also participation in the public audience with Pope Leo XIV and a meeting of the International General Leadership Team. The main topics here were how we can improve our cooperation in order to achieve our goals and mission.

 

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Guest at the US Unit General Assembly 2025

The US Unit General Assembly took place from June 24 to 27, 2025, at St. Benedict’s Abbey in Benet Lake, WI. The main purpose of this assembly was to implement the ICDS statutes and thus establish the current ICDS unit in the USA. The existing sectors were brought together under the new ICDS umbrella and a leadership team was elected in accordance with the ICDS statutes. The oldest organization of lay Salvatorians worldwide thus paved the way for its entry into the ICDS. The transition was very simple, as it mostly only required renaming the offices. Only the auditors, who are now required, and those responsible for safeguarding, data protection, and JPIC had to be reappointed.

Fr. Silas Henderson, SDS, was recruited as facilitator and gave a very interesting presentation on the difference between apostles and disciples.

The meeting was characterized by a very lively exchange between the delegates, some of whom were meeting members from other sectors for the first time. Moving reflections by lay Salvatorians and intercessions during the daily Masses, as well as spiritually immersive prayer times, rounded off this moving and historic meeting.

Once again, many thanks for allowing me to participate as a guest.

 

 

The new General Committee of the ICDS

Dear readers,

Since it was very difficult to access the internet in Logrone because the corresponding wifi networks kept crashing, therefore here is the important news from our General Assembly.

 

The International Community of the Divine Savior is pleased to present the new leadership team. On Monday, October 14, 2024, the following people were elected to the General Committee in Logrono, Spain:

Christian Patzl (Austria) – President, and Celso Calleff (Brazil) – Vice President.

Bobby Pantuso (USA), Sammantha Da Luz (Australia), Olga Lucia Hurtado (Colombia), and Monica Cuadra (Venezuela) as consulters 

Sussan Mugurusi (Tanzania) and Mariangeles Molina (Guatemala/Spain) as the two internal auditors

 

 

All the best and God’s blessings to the elected persons for their work and their activities in and for the ICDS.

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Announcement: Meeting of the Salvatorian laity in Europe 2025

Dear Salvatorian Family

After a long, far too long break, a meeting of the Salvatorian Laity – Europe is organized once again. Spiritual exchange is an important basis for our work, and this is best achieved through personal encounters. Even if, due to special circumstances, we have recently successfully explored other ways of communicating, it is high time to refresh, deepen, and renew personal relationships and get to know new sisters and brothers in spirit.

Therefore the

Communities of Salvatorian Laity in Germany

invite to a meeting of the Salvatorian laity in Europe in

2025

Walking together with Jesus Christ“

 

Ecumene should be the heart of talks, prayer times, workshops and other items of our agenda. We pay particular importance getting to know each other better and gaining a deeper understanding of one another.
Prof. Dr. Michaela C. Hastetter and P. PD Dr. habil. Ephräm Givi Lomidze have already confirmed their participation as speakers. In addition to their teaching and research activities, both are also members of the management of STEP WIEN (St. Ephrem’s Scientific Center for Oriental & Occidental Studies).

 

Key data:

WHEN:May 29 – June 1, 2025
WHERE:Regina Pacis Conference Center in
D-88299 Leutkirch im Allgäu; Baden-Württemberg
WHO:Lay Salvatorians internationally, people interested in Salvatorian spirit and charism, and guests from the two other Salvatorian branches are very welcome.
COSTS: We have currently calculated a total cost of € 380 per person,
This includes accommodation with full board and coffee breaks, the supporting program, and the costs for the two speakers. A solidarity fund will be set up to ensure that no one is unable to participate for financial reasons.
CONTACT and QUESTIONS: albrechtklein@mail.de

 

 

 

 

February 8: world prayer day

International Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking + modern slavery

English

Many people of the world and the Catholic church are celebrating February 8 again. You remember why?

It’s 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 have 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 Continue Reading