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February 8: International Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking + modern slavery

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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.

 

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CDS-Austria: Day of contemplation 2017

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On Saturday December, 2 the groups of the Austrian Lay Salvatorians had their annual day of contemplation at the Salvatorian Sister‘s Province house in Vienna. The topic of the day was guided by the Father Jordan memorial year and turned around the question: the beatification of Fr. Jordan – what are the important things in his life for me?

In a small preparation at home in advance, each participant was invited to find some short lines, sentences, and keywords about his/her individual access to Fr. Jordan and the process of beatification. At the beginning session, each one had 3 minutes to present his/her thoughts. Afterwards, we filtered out the words or terms which were mentioned repeatedly and wrote them on a flipchart. With that, we went into small groups for more intensive discussion and exchange of thoughts.

Some sections of „minutes of quietness and prayer“ as well as common sharing the food each one brought had brought with him, made up a spiritual day for body and soul with reach deepness and manifold meetings.

Thanks to the Lord for this wonderful experience.

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Salvatorian fall meetings in Rome

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The members of the Salvatorian IJLG teams in front of the statue of our founder Fr. Francis Jordan at the motherhouse of the Society in Rome.

The General Committee (GC) of the ICDS and the Salvatorian International Joint Leadership Groups (IJLG) met last week in Rome/Italy. Some difficult and challenging discussions accompanied the GC team through this GC meeting. The main topics were the work on the response from and to the office of the dicastery of the laity, family, and life about the recognition of the ICDS as an association of the faithful. Furthermore the texts of the Salvatorian family proposals which will be presented at the General Chapters and the General Assembly of the three Salvatorian branches in 2018. The planning and preparation start of the General Assembly showed the quality and enthusiasm of the team so that all Lay Salvatorians can expect a motivating and spiritual high light in July 2018.

The afterward following IJLG meeting was also dominated by the Salvatorian family proposals because these proposals can be seen as guidelines for the coming term of office of the new leadership teams and should strengthen and deepen the common living and cooperation.

 

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IJCC identity booklet

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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_ENcharter reflection text_EScharter reflection text_PT
charter reflection text_FRcharter reflection text_PLcharter reflection text_DE
 charter reflection text_IT 
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Meeting of the International Joint Charism Commission 2017

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Fr. Agustín Van Baelen SDS (Generalate), Christian Patzl CDS (General Committee ICDS), Sr. Mary Arokianathan SorDS (Sri Lanka), Manuel Antonio Vargas Córdoba CDS (Colombia, Guest), Sr. Grace Mary Croft SorDS (USA), Fr. Piotr Szyrszeń SDS (Poland), Fr. Dennis Thiessen SDS (USA), Alba Rodriguez CDS (Colombia), Sr. Teresa Schlackl SorDS (Generalate) – (from left to right)

The meeting of the International Joint Charism Commission took place at the Generalate of the Society of the Divine Savior in Rome from July 10 – 15, 2017.

The question of to deepen the identity as Salvatorian Family is always an important topic. Also to pray, reflect and consider various matters and to experience salvatorian collaboration is always enriching and was task of the meeting.

This last meeting of the commission mostly concentrates on finalizing the work already started at previous meetings: especially articles written by various members of the Salvatorian Family around the world will be published soon as an new issue of „Salvatorian Key Elements“. In this way, the contextualized and cultural points of view can be taken into account. The translations are very important and can help more members to have access and benefit.

Read the letter of the commission below, please – available in several languages:

letter reflections ENG  letter reflections_ GE letter reflections_ES
letter reflections PT letter reflections_FRc  letter reflections_PL
  letter reflections_IT 

 

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European Lay Salvatorian meeting in Logroño/Spain

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Mission: see – grasp – act

Groups 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

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Pentecost message & Letter to units May – June 2017

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May the Holy Spirit come to all of us
and take place in all parts of our life
– this we wish all of you

The members of the ICDS General Committee

 

Read here the letter to the units from our Vice – President
– topic: Salvatorian Charism →

English: Letter to units – May_June17_en

Español: Letter to units – May-June17_es

 

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