On the occasion of the 18th General Congress of the Sisters of Collerin, Pope Francis met with followers of Andro Collerin, underscoring the importance of working in a peer-to-peer manner and encouraging them not to be afraid to cross geographical and existential boundaries, inspired by the missionary charism.
(Vatican News Network) “Do not be afraid to cross geographical and existential borders”. This is an invitation sent by Pope Francis to the Sisters of the Beloved of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Coleren Sisters) on the morning of July 24 in the Paul VI Hall. The Pope encouraged them to further experience and practice the charism centered on evangelizing zeal and missionary boldness, as emphasized by the founder Andreas Collerin.
Encounter, Participation, Dialogue, Communion and Mission
In his speech, the Pope compared the preparations for the general congress of religious orders to the biblical story of the disciples of Emmaus. In their sharing, they expressed the characteristics of the fellowship journey that the Church is currently undertaking. “In the Gospel story, we see two disciples walking together, and at a certain moment they meet a stranger, talk to him and invite him to dinner. When they find out that this pilgrim is the risen Jesus, they can’t wait to preach about it, they go out, run, full of joy. In the story of the disciples of Emmaus, we can see the main features of the process of fellowship that the Church is going through: encounter, participation, dialogue, communion, mission.”
Preaching with the Spirit of Trust in Mary
Emphasizing the Marian character of the order, the Pope urged the missionary nuns to be in line with the progress of the universal Church, always bearing in mind that the character of the Virgin always points to Jesus and not to herself. “I thank you for your positivity, for this desire, wherever you are in the world, to jointly create spaces for listening and proclaiming the Gospel,” the Pope said.
The Church needs the courage of the consecrated
In his impromptu speech at the end, the Pope said that he had personally experienced the charism of Coleren, and this “mystery” turned into the courage to preach. “Do not be afraid to cross geographical borders, including the borders of existence, as Fr. Coleren did, so that all people can know the overflowing love of the Sacred Heart of God. Today the Church and the world urgently need your faithful and courageous witness of consecrated life,” said the Pope.
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2023-07-25 12:54:42
