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Xaverians live in a privileged time, last year we celebrated the 100 anniversary
of our founding, and just recently, the beatification of Bishop Conforti.
These have been two graced-filled moments which have led to a renewal in
Xaverian spirituality and a recommitment to our missionary call and charism.
I believe they have given us a boost which will propel us into the third
millennium.
As a member of Chicago’s theologate, I was fortunate to take part in the festivities in Rome and Parma during the week of March 17th, it was a week I will never forget. , One could not help being struck by the great number and the diversity of people struggling to enter St. Peter’s Basilica on the day of the beatification. People who had been touched by these two missionaries (Bl. Comboni and Bl. Conforti) came from all over the world to give thanks and praise to God for the gift of these two saints. I could not help but feel great joy and pride to be a spiritual child of Guido Maria Conforti and a member of the Xaverians.
One of the nicest things about coming to Rome was to meet the General Direction and many confreres, who are stationed in our various missions throughout the world. I was particularly pleased to meet many of the other theology students. Most of us were housed together at the Sisters of Mercy, which gave us an opportunity to get to know one another and to share our experiences. Even though we live and study in different social and cultural contexts, there seemed to be a common identity and focus which could only be rooted in our charism, and the celebration of the perpetual vows of 14 brothers highlighted this unity among diversity.
Participating in the Mass of Thanksgiving at Parma gave us a couple of days to travel to Assisi and Florence in two bus loads with people from Burundi, Cameroon, Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, Sierra Leone, the United States, Taiwan and Zaire. Once could not help but be touched by the reverence and prayerfulness of these friends and benefactors. However, I was really struck, during lunch, at Assisi where we took over a whole section of the restaurant. We were all mixed up at various tables, but we were like one big family. I could not help but think of Bishop Conforti’s dream of realizing Christ’s prophetic vision, the creation of a single Christian family which embraces all peoples. Friday’s Mass at the Cathedral in Parma really seemed to symbolize this prophetic vision. The whole Mass was a celebration of the giftedness of diversity throughout the world but which is unified in Christ and in love for one’s neighbor.
This is the gift of Bishop Conforti and it is the fruit of our missionary efforts over these past 100 years. We have been given a glimpse of a new reality and new possibilities. It is up to us to continue this effort of transforming our world so it truly may become one family in Christ.
(From Xaverian News)