Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Roma (Agenzia Fides) - With a solemn rite presided by Cardinal Franc Rodé C.M., prefect of the Congregation for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, on Saturday 23 December, 55 deacons of the Congregation of the Legionaries of Christ will be ordained priests in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome.
This event has become a tradition. The Legionaries of Christ wish to offer the Church the Christmas gift of new priests ready to serve her with humility and total loyalty to the Holy Father. Priestly ordination, sacramental configuration with Christ, Supreme High Priest. is for the new priests the gift of a lifetime.
The deacons aged between 27 and 42 are from 10 different countries Brazil, Canada, Chile, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Spain, United States and Venezuela. They have completed an average of 12 years of study, apostolate, mission since they entered on the Legionaries of Christ novitiates.
In the personal stories of the new priests, before the vocation, we find many different experiences. Albert, from Bolzano, studied Forest Engineering at the University of Vienna; Enrique, from Burgos in Spain, was baptised in the Sahara; Mexican Juan Carlos was a passionate torero. Luca from Milan, studied law; Mexican Sergio, the youngest of 14 brothers. entered minor seminary at the age of 12; Gabriel from Busto Arsizio was an agnostic before he discovered Christ; John, from the United States, is the eldest of 83 grandchildren born to his father’s parents; Stephen, from Ohio, USA, has always had a passion for horses.
Today the Congregation of the Legionaries of Christ is present in 20 countries with 650 priests and 2,500 seminarians. It has 125 religious houses and formation centres, and runs over 200 schools and 600 Centres for Lay Formation and Apostolate. In Rome it runs the Pontifical Regina Apostolorum College (www.upra.org) e l’Università Europea (www.unier.it).
(AP) (21/12/2006 Agenzia Fides; Righe:33; Parole: 379)
