hese are the first lines from our diary which began in June 2004 in our international community of Parma, as we moved to the new residence. This building used to be the publication center for the Xaverians in Italy, and now it continues to write stories, not on paper, but on the lives of each one of us. It’s a story of arrivals and departures, a fable of old roots and new horizons…
It is true: we have traveled diverse paths, and we have many more roads ahead of us. Yet, this student community is enveloped by the same horizon, and nurtured and sustained by our common root. It is Jesus Christ who calls us together and brings enthusiasm into our lives, who makes us feel part of his family and urges us to reach out to the world.
A view of our past
Our theology community of the Mother House in Parma has seen its beginnings since 1947, under the title “Xaverian Theology School” with its own professors and formators. Towards the end of the 1980’s, due to the shortage of vocations to mission life in Italy, our Theology welcomed other ecclesial realities, with its many advantages such as its mission orientation in the theology courses, a strong link between school and real life facilitated by the reality of professors and students living under the same roof, and the stimulus of preparing specialized professors in the field of theology teaching.
However, at the beginning of the 1990’s, it was thought impossible for us to sustain a reality such as the “Xaverian Theology School”. Finally, after 46 years of history, the Theology School we knew closed doors in 1993, and opened itself to an international community which would frequent courses at the inter-diocesan Seminary of Reggio Emilia. And thus, here we are…
An important spiritual edifice
Our formation team is composed of our rector Fr. Ulisse Zanoletti, the vice-rector
Fr. Mario Menin, both of them with extended mission experiences in Brazil. Together with them, we have
Frs. Gino Foschi, Silvio Turazzi and Giuseppe Viotti, all three of them with mission experiences in RD Congo. They have the delicate task of helping the students in their spiritual and missionary growth, so that they can witness in words and in life the Gospel of Christ in the world. This becomes possible through prayer, medication, community life and apostolic activity, through spiritual direction towards their goal in life.
The community is made up of 21 students from 7 nations, forming thus a varied community of cultures and languages, of personal attitudes and experiences. Six come from Mexico, three from Bangladesh, three from Brazil, and three from Cameroon, two from DR Congo, two from Indonesia, and two from Italy. As formators and students, we feel as living stones that build the missionary community. Our life is enriched by the presence of many Xaverians who live at the Mother House, and with them we build our spiritual edifice, for we receive much from their faith witness and missionary zeal.
Our open Windows
Our windows face the challenges of pastoral activity together with our commitment to school; ministry, in fact, is an important dimension of our formation. On one side, it allows us to share our faith in Jesus with those we meet, and gives us the opportunity to practice what we learn at the Theology school and in the community. On the other side, apostolic ministry allows us to be in contact with human situations and travails which cannot be learned from school books alone, but “in the book of life.”
We are involved in various sectors: in parishes, by contributing in the formation of catechists, and guiding CCD groups. Among groups, we follow Bible study and mission groups, and take part in the diocesan missionary center and youth pastoral commission. In the vocational field, we are involved with the youth group and Xaverian discernment group. Finally, in the environmental sectors, we are involved in activities of various social organizations, and in the pastoral ministry in the prisons.
(From "Missionari Saveriani" - Xaverian News)