‘Believe and be a sign of hope to the world!’ was the theme of the international Formation Programme of the Missionary Sisters of the Catholic Apostolate from 19 to 27 May 2025. The meeting was organised and animated by the General Administration at the Generalate in Rome. There were 20 participants from different countries namely: Brazil, Tanzania, South Africa, Poland, Ukraine, India, Rwanda, Congo, France and Cameroon. The programme of the meeting was rich in content and varied in terms of activities.
Three inputs: the first one prepared by Fr Ferenc Patsch SJ entitled ‘Living one’s faith with authenticity and being credible witnesses of the Gospel’, the second on ‘Rediscovering the joy of consecrated life in the Pallottine identity and charism’ by Sr Inacinha Fernandes SAC and the third on ‘Joyful response to the missionary call and openness to the signs of the times’ presented by Sr Maamalifar M. Poreku MSOLA became the basis for sharing in groups using the synodal method and had a significant impact on the experience of the meeting.
The history of the Congregation presented by Sr Adelheid Scheloske SAC, the pilgrimage to the tomb of the Founder, St Vincent Pallotti, in the church of San Salvatore in Onda, and the walk in his footsteps in Rome, were an invitation to ‘draw from the source’ and to become more firmly rooted in Pallottine Charism, spirituality, Identity and family.
Very moving for all the participants were the testimonies of three Sisters from Ukraine, Rwanda and South Africa, who shared their experience of bringing hope in a situation of war and discrimination.
In the first days of the meeting, the Sisters participated in the first General Audience of Pope Leo XIV in St Peter’s Square, and in the following days, as ‘Pilgrims of Hope’ carrying the Jubilee Cross, they passed through the Holy Door in St Peter’s Basilica and made a pilgrimage to Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica.
The one-day pilgrimage to Assisi – a spiritual encounter with St Francis, St Clare and Blessed Carlo Acutis – and the beauty of the picturesque town and the Umbrian countryside left a deep and lasting mark on the participants of the session.
The highlight of the meeting was the message by the General Superior Sr Josephine D’ Souza and the Holy Mass with the ceremony of missioning. At the end, a colourful and dynamic recreation was enjoyed by all the participants and the Sisters working in the Procura, during which cultural programmes were presented from the countries where the participants of the meeting came from.
The intensive and profound programme of the meeting, the richness of the international community and being in the Jubilee Year at the heart of the Church and the Congregation resulted in a strengthening of the spirit, joy and great gratitude on the part of the participants.
Text: Sr Barbara Brodowska SAC, Sr Beata Ostrówka SAC
Photos: participants of the meeting
