VATICAN - The Pope grants an audience to the General Chapter of the Oblate Missionaries of Mary Immaculate: “Your presence, animated by religious and missionary fervour, must be a sign and a seed of hope for all you meet”

Friday, 24 September 2004

Castel Gandolfo (Fides Service) - This morning at his Summer residence in Castel Gandolfo Pope John Paul II granted a private audience to the members of the General Chapter of the Oblate Missionaries of Mary Immaculate, who were accompanied by the Superior General and members of the new general council to whom the Pope wished all the best for their demanding task.
After underlining his personal devotion to Saint Eugene de Mazenod and esteem for the Congregation both Marian and missionary, the Pope reflected on the Chapter’s theme: "Witnesses of Hope". “With the whole Church you entered the new millennium under the banner of hope - the Pope said -, and from this perspective you intend to walk ahead trusting in divine Providence. Your presence, animated by religious and missionary fervour, must be a sign and a seed of hope for all you meet, in secular environments and in the context of first evangelisation.”
The Pope encouraged the Oblates to persevere towards the proposed goals, first of all renewed brotherly unity: “Today you are present with more than 1,000 communities in 67 different countries and this unity is a challenge which is demanding but it is important for humanity called to walk to path of solidarity in diversity”. After recalling the profound changes experienced by the Congregation, on which the general chapter reflected, John Paul II urged the Oblates to make “decisions on the basis of the priorities of your mission”, including ongoing attention for the spiritual life: “It is in fact God who through working of the Holy Spirit allows religious families respond adequately to new needs drawing from the specific gift entrusted to them.” (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 24/9/2004; Righe 21; Parole 282)


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