On Pentecost Sunday, 28 May 2023, Sisters and Missionary Sisters of the Catholic Apostolate from Rome and the surrounding area met for a joint celebration of the birth of the congregation 185 years ago. The Holy Mass at the Pia Casa di Carità in Rome was celebrated by Rector General Fr. Zenon Hanas SAC; concelebrants were Fr. Jacob Nampudakam SAC and Fr. Manuel Raj SAC. In his homily Fr. Hanas recalled that on Pentecost Monday 1838 Vincent Pallotti had led a solemn procession of girls who were warmly welcomed by the Superior Elisabetta Cozzoli at the newly opened Pia Casa. Thus Pentecost, the birth feast of the Church, also marks the birth of the Pallottine Sisters.
Afterwards, the Sisters of both Congregations renewed their vows pronounced in profession by affirming their fidelity together: “We renew our objective to continue to follow Jesus Christ, Apostle of the Father, according to the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity and obedience, following the rule of life left to us by our founder, St Vincent Pallotti. We reaffirm our will to place our whole life and all our gifts of nature and grace at the complete disposal of the Gospel, the Church, the Union of the Catholic Apostolate and our religious family, for our own and our brethren’s sanctification and for the salvation of humanity.”
After Holy Mass, all gathered for food and sharing at a simple buffet with a rich selection of delicacies and enjoyed the hospitality of the sisters who now live in the Pia Casa di Carità.
Text: Sr. Adelheid Scheloske, SAC, Photos: Fr. Manuel Raj, SAC
