VATICAN - Cardinal Filoni to the seminarians in Lusaka: "do not be afraid to follow Jesus"

Wednesday, 9 November 2016 filoni   local churches   missionary animation  

Lusaka (Agenzia Fides) - As part of his pastoral visit to Zambia, Cardinal Fernando Filoni, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, yesterday morning, November 8, dedicated his time at the Seminars: he presided over the Mass celebration in the Major Seminary in Lusaka, dedicated to St. Dominic, then met with the formators of the three Major Seminaries (St.Dominic, St.Augustine and Emmaus).
In his homily, dedicated to the theme of the service of Christ, the Cardinal said: "The aspect of service, dear seminarians, should be at the heart of your formative journey. A life of service to the Gospel and the Church’s mission of evangelization is the mark of the life of authentic disciples of Jesus". Citing the words of Pope Francis, the Cardinal invited them not to limit themselves "to little projects" or desire "a comfortable and safe life", but rather have courage to fully offer the best years of your life, in full availability to your Bishop and to the poor and marginalized.
In order to live out the vocation of generous service to God and His People as priests of Jesus Christ, the Cardinal emphasized again, we are called "to a daily dialogue with Christ, meeting Him in the tabernacle and developing a personal friendship with the Lord", and also to be faithful to the commitment of celibacy. "Never forget how much God has done for you. Trust that He will always provide for your needs and do not be afraid to follow Jesus wherever he leads you", he concluded.
In his meeting with the formators, held after Mass, the Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples reiterated the importance of the Apostolic Exhortation of Pope Francis’ Evangelii Gaudium. "We must always remember that the call to evangelize comes to us from the Gospel and is continually renewed in our personal encounter with Jesus. For those who serve as formators of future priests there is serious need to regularly renew and strengthen one’s relationship with Jesus Christ", he highlighted.
Then he focused on the spiritual and moral life, through the choice of celibacy, linked to priestly ordination. The Cardinal also expressed his satisfaction because the number of the encounters of seminarians with the Lord present in the Most Holy Eucharist have been intensified, and invited to develop an attentiveness and love for the Word of God, "which must be the basis of daily prayer". Finally Cardinal Filoni thanked the formators, on behalf of the Holy Father and the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, for their service: "your zeal and untiring efforts are a great gift to the Church". (SL) (Agenzia Fides 09/11/2016)


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