NEWSLETTER 83
Pope Francis – “Life is a right, not death”
Catechesis on Saint Joseph: 11. Saint Joseph, patron of the good death.
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
In last week’s catechesis, again inspired by Saint Joseph, we reflected on the meaning of the communion of saints. And leading on from this, today I would like to explore the special devotion the Christian people have always had for Saint Joseph as the patron saint of the good death. A devotion born of the thought that Joseph died cared for by the Virgin Mary and Jesus, before leaving the house of Nazareth. There are no historical data, but since we no longer see Joseph in public life, it is thought that he died there in Nazareth, with his family. And Jesus and Mary accompanied him up to his death.
A century ago, Pope Benedict XV wrote “through Joseph we go directly to Mary, and through Mary to the origin of all holiness, who is Jesus”. Both Joseph and Mary help us to go to Jesus. And encouraging pious practices in honour of Saint Joseph, he recommended one in particular, saying: “Since he is deservedly considered to be the most effective protector of the dying, having expired in the presence of Jesus and Mary, it will be the concern of the sacred Pastors to inculcate and encourage […] those pious associations that have been established to implore Joseph on behalf of the dying, such as those ‘of the Good Death’, of the ‘Transit of Saint Joseph’ and ‘for the Dying”. (Motu proprio Bonum sane, 25 July 1920): they were the associations of the time.
2 FEBRUARY 1575 – CONVERSION of SAINT CAMILLUS in the VALLE DELL’INFERNO
Conversion of Saint Camillus: inauguration of the work by Piergianni Urbanucci
This work, which portrays the conversion of St. Camillus in the Valle dell’Inferno of 2 February 1575, will be placed at the entrance of the area of the ‘Conversion in the Valley’ on 6 February at 11.30 after the Holy Mass held at 10.00 in the Church of St. Mary of the Graces celebrated by the Archbishop of Manfredonia. The creator of the work, the artist Piergianni Urbanucci of Bucchianico, who has given the work as an act of devotion to St. Camillus for the health of his wife AnnaRita, will also be present.
MADIAN ORRIZONTI
L’Italia con Voi (‘Italy with You’) – Interview with Fr. Massimo Miraglio
Here is the interview from Haiti with Fr. Massimo Miraglio for the programme of RAI L’Italia con Voi
THE DAUGHTERS OF ST. CAMILLUS
The Daughters of St. Camillus have launched their new picture book on the life of St. Giuseppina Vannini.
Paraliturgy for the 130th. anniversary of the foundation of the Institute of the Daughters of St. Camillus
For the 130th. anniversary of the foundation of the Daughters of St. Camillus (2 February 1892), Mother Zelia Andrighetti, the Mother Superior, and the members of the Council, decided to celebrate this day with a liturgy shared using ‘zoom’ with all the communities of the Institute. The liturgy was celebrated in the Cubiculum, the room where our Founder, St. Camillus de Lellis, went to heaven. CLICK HERE
On the anniversary of the going to heaven of St. Giuseppina Vannini, in the morning of Wednesday 23 February 2002 the Church of St. Mary Magdalene in Rome will be enriched with a new work of art. The Korean painter Sun Hee Moon has donated to the Camillians her picture of the Blessed Father Luigi Tezza
THE CAMILLIAN DELEGATION IN HAITI
‘Despite the very many difficulties, our commitment to provide concrete help to the poor people of Haiti who, once again, have been severely struck and tested, has never stopped’, Father Antonio Memegon, a Camillian religious and the missionary animator of the ‘Madian Orizzonti’ Foundation which has its head offices in Turin, told Agenzia Fides.
THE WORLD DAY OF THE SICK – ‘The Synod in the Ward’
THE PROVINCE OF SICILY AND NAPLES
Every year on 11 February the celebration takes place of the World Day of the Sick, an event that was instituted thirty years ago by St. John Paul II.
This is an important anniversary because it helps us to become more aware that our sick and suffering brothers and sisters are a most valuable gift in the Church.
They represent the living presence of Jesus – he identified with them. Together with the Eucharist, the poor and the sick are the real presence of Christ as well; for all of us they are the pathway of our sanctification, an opportunity for our spiritual growth. Our closeness to them enables us to exercise Mercy, learning to be merciful as our Father in heaven is merciful. READ MORE
CADIS
Lo scorso 11 febbraio 2022, CADIS International ha organizzato una conferenza virtuale in occasione della 30° Giornata Mondiale del Malato, dal titolo “Amore e impegno verso i più vulnerabili: la fede camilliana in azione”. Gli ultimi due anni sono stati particolarmente impegnativi a causa della diffusione della pandemia COVID-19. L’assistenza di soccorso e recupero dei Camilliani non si è mai fermata. Sono profondamente innamorati e configurati alla loro ispirazione originale nello spirito dei Martiri Camilliani della Carità in grazia di Dio; sempre al fianco dei più vulnerabili. Le diverse testimonianze dei camilliani e dei beneficiari si sono intrecciate in un lungo viaggio attraverso le voci dalla base, dal sud al nord, voci che hanno affrontato le sfide del tempo e le hanno prese come opportunità di crescita. READ MORE
THE PROVINCE OF BRAZIL
On 30 January 2022 the novices Jacy Souza Guedes and Matheus de Freitas Guedes (of the Camillian Province of Brazil) made their first religious profession at the chapel of the ‘Hospital São Camilo’ of Granja Viana (San Paolo).
At this celebration of the Eucharist the professed Danilo Rizzi, Elói Bataglion and Genildo Guarino da Silva renewed their religious consecrations.
On 5 March 2022 the novice Rodrigo José Aninha made his first religious profession at the church of the Camillian house of Cotia/Granja Viana in San Paolo (Brazil).
THE CAMILLIAN DELEGATION IN INDONESIA
The World Day of the Sick in Maumere 11 February 2022
On 11 February last the Camillian missionaries of the Indonesian Delegation in Maumere on Flores Island celebrated the World Day of the Sick. Not being able, as had happened in previous years, to organise a special celebration of the Eucharist because of the current pandemic connected with Covid-19, we had the idea of visiting the sick directly in their homes.
This initiative also gave us an opportunity to meet their families and to realise the wretched conditions in which many of them live. A special ‘food parcel’ offered to each one of them made the meetings more fraternal and it was often met with visible tears of joy and gratitude.
This fine day enriched us with a new missionary enthusiasm and made us appreciate, once again, our commitment to pastoral care which is joyously shared with the lay people of the Camillian Family and the Legion of Mary.
NEW THINGS
The doctoral thesis of Agustín Bado ‘Essay on Mourning and the Narration of the Terminally Ill. Anthropological and Philosophical Milestones for the Accompanying of People at the end of their Lives and in Mourning’.
The purpose of this work is through philosophical analysis to draw near to the various manifestations and experiences of mourning in human existence, addressing various subjects associated with psychology, anthropology, ethics and philosophy. In particular, the aim is to find instruments with which to accompany people at the end of their lives and when in mourning.
Fr. Arnaldo Pangrazzi, a Camillian, has for twelve years been going to the Ukraine, in particular
to Leopoli, Kiev to Kharkiv, to teach courses on pastoral care for the sick, the dying and people in mourning. These events are addressed to medical doctors, nurses and psychologists, and in particular to priests and seminarians of the Greek-Catholic Church. The result of this animation has also been five books translated into Ukrainian – these are the only texts on pastoral care in health in the country. A little seed of the Camillian spirit is also present there
THE CAMILLIAN DELEGATION IN GEORGIA
On 1 February 2022 our Camillian religious Fr. Lasha Manukian was ordained a priest by Msgr. Giuseppe Pasotto, the Apostolic Vicar of the Caucasus, in the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption in Tbilisi (Georgia).
THE CAMILLIAN DELEGATION IN TAIWAN
On the seventieth anniversary of the arrival of the #Camillians in Taiwan (1952), on the tenth day of every month, at 20.00 Taiwan time, videos will be placed on Youtube by the Archdiocese of Taipei that go over the history of the Camillians in Taiwan. They are in three languages.
THE CAMILLIAN DELEGATION IN KENYA
Karungu (Agenzia Fides) – ‘All sick people have the right to the treatment that is available, to suitable care and to respect’. This is the goal of the St. Camillus Mission Hospital in Karungu (see Agenzia Fides 26/11/2004). This hospital, founded and managed by the Camillian (MI) missionaries, offers service to the poorest and those who suffer the most. It is on the shores of Lake Victoria, in the region of Nyanza, one of the poorest areas of the country and one of the areas most afflicted by HIV/AIDS. ‘About a third of the population is infected, and women in particular’, declare the Camillians who have worked for more than twenty years in the hospital to offer better care for the return to health of those most in need, without distinctions relating to faith or social background.
ORDINATIONS IN NAIROBI
This year in Kenya we have had four ordinations: one for the priesthood and three for the deaconate. The ceremony took place at the St. Camillus Seminary of Nairobi on 17 February last. The ordaining bishop was His Excellency Msgr. Philip Anyolo, the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Nairobi. The deacon David Kiarie Gakunga was ordained a priest and Paul Njoroge Kamau, Pius Mulinge Musyoki and Evans Juma Wekesa were ordained deacons. The Delegate Superior Fr. Domenic Mwanzia and the First Councillor Fr. Reauben Njagi concelebrated at the event, in the presence of about twenty confreres and diocesan priests who were friends of the religious being ordained.
Dear friends,
Another year has begun and here in Dala Kiye we look forward to living it to the full. A new year means new opportunities to grow, to learn and to play, and in this number we want to tell you how the children have begun this new journey. We are very curious to discover what this year holds in store for us and we are impatient to pass through it with friends, volunteers and donors, old and new, building together new memories.
Happy new year to everyone!
CADIS
The Camillian Disaster Service International (CADIS) in collaboration with other Camillian and non-Camillian organizations is mobilizing support to the emergency response to the Ukrainian crisis by the Camillian Province of Poland.
Today, we begin the season of Lent. Pope Francis is appealing to all people of goodwill to offer prayers for the cessation of hostilities on both camps and support and solidarity to the innocent victims of this ongoing war.
PIENEZZA DELLA VITA IN UNA COMUNITÀ RESILIENTE
In this special report of CADIS, you will find some of the most significant experiences and learnings from “field hospitals” (Pope Francis) where our confreres and friends have worked, and the reflections and discourses borne out of the actual experiences. These lived experiences, faith witnessings, and dynamic inspiration will serve as our resources in facing the new challenges ahead and continuing the journey which started four centuries ago.
SALUTE E SVILUPPO
SUPPORT FOR UKRAINIAN DISPLACED PERSONS AND REFUGEES IN POLAND
In this dramatic situation ‘Health and Development’, working with other Camillian and non-Camillian organisations, is supporting the emergency action organised by the Camillian Province of Poland in response to the Ukrainian crisis.
THE PROVINCE OF BURKINA FASO
The journalist Giordano Contu interviews Father Paul Ouedraogo, a Camillian religious, medical doctor and director of the ‘St. Camillus Hospital’ in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
ADMISSION TO PERPETUAL PROFESSION
The Vicar General, Fr. Laurent Zoungrana, with the agreement of the members of the General Consulta of the Order, has admitted to perpetual religious profession the following religious:
- Kurella Adithya and Kettupurakel Abin Baby, temporary professed of the Province of India.
- Danilo Rizzi and Elói Bataglion, temporary professed of the Province of Brazil.
- Dennis Ebol Morales, a temporary professed of the Province of the Philippines.
DELEGAZIONE IN UGANDA
I NEWSLETTER
Con il desiderio di mantenere vivo lo spirito di San Camillo in Uganda abbiamo ideato questa newsletter che sarà
sarà pubblicata su base trimestrale con lo scopo di farvi conoscere alcune delle attività, ministeri, eventi comunitari e altre occasioni che hanno luogo qui in Uganda.
Essendo questa la nostra prima newsletter, siamo grati a tutti i collaboratori e al nostro superiore P. Babychan per il sostegno, i consigli e l’incoraggiamento.
La formazione, il ministero e alcuni eventi comunitari dell’anno precedente sono stati riassunti in questa pubblicazione insieme ad altri aggiornamenti dalla missione camilliana ugandese.
A nome del comitato di redazione auguriamo a tutti i nostri lettori, benefattori e collaboratori un fruttuoso mese di febbraio.
THE PROVINCE OF ROME
19 February 2022 – photographs of the launch of the book Miracoli a Lourdes (‘Miracles at Lourdes’). In the splendid context of the Sanctuary of St. Camillus de Lellis, the author of the work Fabio Bolzetta and Fr. Renato Salvatore, the director of the Office for Pastoral Care in Health of the archdiocese of Chieti-Vasto and an assistant for Unitalsi, took part in this launch.
DECEASED BRETHREN
HOMILY OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS – HOLY MASS IN COMMEMORATION OF ALL THE FAITHFUL DEPARTED
“You who pass, think of your steps, and, of your steps, think of your last’. Tu che passi. La vita è un cammino, tutti noi siamo in cammino. Tutti noi, se vogliamo fare qualcosa nella vita, siamo in cammino. Che non è passeggiata, neppure labirinto, no, è cammino. Nel cammino, noi passiamo davanti a tanti fatti storici, davanti a tante situazioni difficili. E anche davanti ai cimiteri. Il consiglio di questo cimitero è: “Tu che passi, ferma il passo e pensa, dei tuoi passi, all’ultimo passo”. Tutti avremo un ultimo passo. Qualcuno può dirmi: “Padre, non sia così luttuoso, non sia tragico”. Ma è la verità. L’importante è che quell’ultimo passo ci trovi in cammino, non girando in passeggiata; nel cammino della vita e non in un labirinto senza fine. Essere in cammino perché l’ultimo passo ci trovi camminando.
Padre JEAN (Johannes) SCHAUFELBERGER,
Camillian religious, died on Tuesday, February 22, 2022,
in the clinic Val d’Ouest of Ecully, at the age of 94.
Born on October 22, 1927, in Degersheim, in the canton of St. Gallen, Switzerland, Johannes was baptized on July 15, 1944, as he put it, by immersion and with admission to the Lord’s Supper (Eucharist) in the “evangelical free” Church. Later, on May 19, 1961, he was baptized into the Catholic Church in Dublin, Ireland.
Between 1945-1957, he studied architecture and obtained a diploma in designing. He worked in several architectural firms in Zurich, Wattwil in Switzerland, and Dublin in Ireland.
He did his annual military service as a soldier in the military health department. At the same time, he experienced a growing crisis of faith, with the consequent decision to “leave everything” to seek “absolute truth.” He continued his spiritual search and met the Camillians in 1966 when he first heard about St. Camillus from his friends in Dublin.
Angelo Luciano Albertini
He was born on July 1, 1926 in Muggiò (Milan), to his father Giovanni and mother Lodovica Villa. He lived in a family of solid Christian foundation, an articulate and a numerous as well as united family, which saw a widower and a widow – each with one’s own offspring – join in marriage to generate more children.
He entered the seminary of Villa Visconta in Besana Brianza on October 10, 1937, for the first three years of high school, then in the seminary of San Giuliano at Verona for the last two years. He began his Novitiate in the same house on September 7, 1942, and made his first religious profession on September 8, 1943, the day passed into history for the truce signed by General Badoglio. It was the time of civil war, and he did his senior high school from November 1944 to July 1945 in Valle Colorina (Sondrio) together with the whole group in formation. From October 1946, living in Vedano (Varese), he attended for two years the Faculty of Theology at the Seminary of Venegono (Varese) to have the academic degrees, then continued his studies at Mottinello, Rossano Veneto (Vicenza). In the meantime, on September 8, 1947 he made his solemn profession at San Giuliano, Verona. On December 8, 1949, he was ordained a deacon, and on April 8, 1950, the day of Holy Saturday, he was ordained a priest by Monsignor Gerolamo Bortignon, at the diocesan seminary of Padua.
PADRE FELICE RUFFINI
Nasce ad Arzano (Napoli) il 2 settembre 1935; la famiglia si trasferisce a Roma e affascinato dall’abito camilliano – conosciuto presso la Chiesa della Maddalena che lo vide chierichetto – il 20 settembre 1946 entra nell’Ordine. Il 7 ottobre 1950 emette la prima professione e nell’ottobre 1956 la professione solenne. E’ ordinato sacerdote il 6 luglio 1958 e dal settembre successivo è di casa presso Villa Immacolata in San Martino al Cimino. Nel 1960 è trasferito al “Forlanini”di Roma; per un breve periodo è nella Parrocchia di San Camillo a Roma come assistente di Azione Cattolica per poi ritornare nuovamente al “Forlanini”. Dal 27 maggio 1968 è Economo presso Villa Sacra Famiglia. Dal 14 maggio 1974 al 1980 è Superiore della comunità di Bucchianico e Rettore del Santuario. Questo è probabilmente uno dei periodi ministeriali più proficui di padre Felice; fu ideatore di Radio Alfa, radio locale del Santuario che ebbe la collaborazione di molti giovani del tempo, oggi adulti, ancora molto legati alla sua figura e al suo entusiasmo. Nel settembre del 1980 viene nominato superiore della comunità dell’Ospedale San Camillo in Roma e consigliere provinciale. Nel 1983 è nuovamente consigliere provinciale, riconfermato superiore della stessa comunità. Il 4 gennaio 1986 riceve la nomina a sottosegretario del Pontificio Consiglio per la Pastorale Sanitaria guidato dal compianto cardinale Fiorenzo Angelini. Questo importante e prestigioso servizio reso alla Chiesa universale gli ha permesso di essere conosciuto e far conoscere sempre di più la spiritualità ed il messaggio di San Camillo di cui era innamorato. Il 24 febbraio del 1988 consegue il dottorato il Sacra Teologia con la tesi dal titolo: “La dimensione mariana in San Camillo”. Dal gennaio 1991 è di comunità presso Villa Sacra Famiglia, ricoprendo più volte negli anni l’incarico di superiore. Nel 2010 viene nominato Consultore presso la Congregazione delle Cause dei Santi, riconfermato per un triennio nel 2013.
I confratelli camilliani della provincia di Spagna comunicano il decesso del religioso camilliano padre OVIDIO GARCIA (nascita: 20.02.1938; prima professione religiosa: 08.09.1955; professione religiosa solenne: 08.09.1961; ordinazione sacerdotale: 22.09.1962). La morte è sopraggiunta il 15 marzo 2022, a Siviglia (Spagna), dopo qualche giorno di ricovero.
INVOCATION TO THE HOLY SPIRIT FOR THE NEXT GENERAL CHAPTER
O Holy Spirit, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, we invoke you to descend into the depths of hearts. Enlighten our minds and keep your fire burning in our hearts!
You enlightened St. Camillus to found a Company of pious and dedicated men who, not for personal interests, but freely and for the love of the Lord, would serve the sick with the love of a mother caring for her sick child.
It is you, O Holy Spirit of God, who inspires our Order to always look at the past with gratitude in order not to lose our roots and the vigilant discerners of Your passage in our history.
It is You, who invites us to live the present with passion, burning with the same flame of love that led St. Camillus to serve the suffering with charity, overcoming the shadows that obscure us to know well the time in which we are living, recognizing in it a time of special Grace.
Finally, You commend us, to embrace the future with hope, with great certainty that you will always be with us, O Spirit of God, guiding our steps, encouraging us to fraternal life and dialogue among the Provinces.
O Holy Spirit, sweet consoler of the soul, descend again in us! Pour out all goods and the will to work on it and through the intercession of St. Camillus, the lover of the red cross of love and in the image of the Good Samaritan, make us laborers in the vineyard, the Church.
To Mary, our Mother of Health of the Sick, we trust in our willingness to do the Will of the Father, so that the charism may be preserved and shared, and that love may spread and do good works. Amen!
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