To the Missionaries of St. Charles – Scalabrinians
To the Missionary Sisters of St. Charles – Scalabrinians
To the Scalabrinian Secular Missionaries
October 4, 2021
Dearest all,
November 9, 2022, will mark the 25th anniversary of the beatification of John Baptist Scalabrini. We still remember with joy that day when the Church recognized him as an exemplary witness of Christian life. We remember the words with which John Paul II honored him: “Deeply in love with God and extraordinarily devoted to the Eucharist, he was able to transfer the contemplation of God and his mystery into an intense apostolic and missionary endeavor, making himself all things to all people in order to proclaim the Gospel. This ardent passion of his for the Kingdom of God made him zealous in catechesis, pastoral activities and charitable work, especially towards those most in need.”
For us, who recognize him as founder and inspirer, the beatification of J.B. Scalabrini is not just a remembrance. It is an invitation to follow in his footsteps: “May I sanctify myself and sanctify all the souls entrusted to me.” It is also a commitment to make him known, to talk about him, to tell of his passion for migrants so that others may feel the same passion and intervene, at all levels, in the Church and in society, in favor of these uprooted and scattered brothers and sisters. Finally, it is an appeal to ask his intercession for the mission that the Church has entrusted to our Institutes, for the growth in faith of those with whom we share the Word, for the promotion of hospitality toward those who are far from their land and family.
We take this occasion to intensify our prayers and initiatives so that Blessed J.B. Scalabrini may be proclaimed a saint: a proclamation to give glory to God and to make his testimony as a missionary bishop shine with greater prominence, a voice for those who have no voice, help for those in need, inspiration for those who are inclined to give their lives to Christ alongside migrants, refugees and seafarers.
For this purpose, we announce, with the patronage of the diocese of Piacenza-Bobbio, a “Scalabrinian Year” that will begin on Sunday, November 7, 2021, and will end on Wednesday, November 9, 2022. The theme of the Scalabrinian Year is: Making the world everyone’s homeland, a theme that fits in with the recent teaching of Pope Francis. We invite everyone to collaborate by involving the local Church, members of our Institutes, different groups of lay Scalabrinians and migrant communities to promote initiatives, taking advantage also of the suggestions that will be offered and that can be multiplied in the various contexts in which we carry out our mission.
May the Holy Spirit, who guided Blessed Scalabrini along the many paths explored by his immensely charitable heart, guide us so that we may grow tirelessly in charity.
In communion of faith and charism,
Fr. Leonir Chiarello, cs, Superior General
Sr. Neusa de Fatima Mariano, mscs, Superior General
Regina Widmann, mss, General Leader