Many people of the world and the Catholic church are celebrating February 8 again. You remember why?
On February 8, Catholics all over the world are encouraged to host or attend prayer services to create greater awareness
Our Salvatorian congregation is founded on the Knowledge of God and Jesus Christ, our Divine Savior (John 17:3: “And this is eternal life, that they know You, the True God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent..”) .
The International Community of the Divine Savior, ICDS in acronym, is young in its existence, alongside the two religious branches in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). It lacks facilitators trained in Salvatorian fundamentals and leadership on group dynamics, a guarantee of their capacity to perpetuate the work of Blessed Francis JORDAN, founder of the congregation.
In order to guarantee the future of this branch of Lay Salvatorians in the DRC, the National Coordination in charge of training
is organizing a first session for the attention of members of the different coordinations.
The coordinators of coordination at all levels of our country naturally need this support in the exercise of their functions in order to make apostolic action and the Salvatorian mission effective. In view of the above, a training plan for lay Salvatorian leaders is essential. This training plan must be adapted to the realities on the ground to respond not only to the signs of the times but also to Salvatorian ideals,
the foundation of our existence and to the needs of the church.
For this reason, training to produce Salvatorian lay trainers was organized in two phases, namely:
The one year gap allowed them to master the Salvatorian fundamentals and at the end of the second phase, they were sent on a mission for the expansion of our national unity. They were at 20 at the start to finish 17 in the second phase.
1. PURPOSE
Provide the International Community of the Divine Savior of the DRC with facilitators trained and prepared to carry out their tasks.
2. THEME
This Training session has the theme: “lay Salvatorian, missionary beyond borders”
3. OBJECTIVES
At the end of this training session, participants will be able to:
Merry Christmas from the General Committee –
Feliz Navidad de parte del Comité General
| A Christmas story | Un cuento navideño | Une histoire de Noël | Uma história de Natal | Eine Weihnachtsgeschichte |
This video shares three perspectives from members of the Salvatorian Family on “The Pactum” of Blessed Francis Jordan. The Pactum is the covenant that Blessed Jordan made with God. It grounded him in his commitment to do God’s will in founding the apostolic mission of the Salvatorians. This video is to help viewers explore and reflect on their own personal pact with God.
| ENGLISH | ESPANÕL | FRANÇAIS | PORTUGUÊS | ITALIANO | POLSKI | DEUTSCH |
With this message, the General Committee of the ICDS wishes you all a blessed and enriching Foundation Day!
The Vatican news portal “Vatican News“1 has published some important information on the subject in recent days. Among other things, the Pope highlights the need for alliances that promote care for Creation and peace.
1 → The news are available in different languages – Las noticias están disponibles en varios idiomas
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.
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)
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Mon voyage de pèlerinage pour réconforter les nouveaux adhérents à la Communauté Internationale du Divin sauveur en Tanzanie a été 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, régimes 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 lui–même est baptisé d’un apôtre au–delà des frontières, c’est–à–dire au–delà de nos forces et de nos faiblesses, au– delà de nos attentes et besoins personnels, au–delà de ce que nous imaginons. J’ai rencontré des pe< /span>rsonnes que ne pouvais jamais imaginer que je rencontrerai une seule fois dans ma vie. Il s’agit de:
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 confia
par MARIE DE LA CROIX LEYA SANGWA
Salvatorienne RDC
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:
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
