News from our Communities

News from the Fraternal Mission in Canada

sent by Fr. Patrizio Maria
 

Since the day of our arrival, we seem to be witnessing, day after day, the assembly of a puzzle, moved by a finger that is not ours.

Our fraternal life takes place well in our now usual residence at the church of Saint Joseph of Bordeaux, in the north of Montreal. At the moment, with Br. Michel-Marie, Br. Dominique-Marie and Br. Geoffroy-Marie, we are four.

Our main activity takes place at the Chapel of Our Lady of Lourdes, in the center of the city; we go there by public transportation, and it is an opportunity to get to know the place better and to meet people of all kinds: origin, religion, age and social class. At the "Chapel of Lourdes" (as it is traditionally called here), we collaborate in the activity of the sanctuary (Holy Masses, Eucharistic adoration, confessions and spiritual conversations).

In addition to the work of the sanctuary, we take care of the young people, for whom we have set up a regular appointment for prayer and meditation every Friday evening. With some of them, we went on Sunday, July 21, to Trois-Rivières, where the most frequented Marian sanctuary in North America is located: Our Lady of the Cap. There is also the oldest church built in Canada.

We neglected a beautiful day of retreat there with meditations on the prayer of the Rosary and on the consecration to Mary.

May the Lord continue to show us the path to follow under the special protection of the Child Jesus of Prague, the Mother of Good Counsel and Saint Joseph.

Montreal, July 24, 2024.

Church of Saint Joseph of Bordeaux

Our Lady of the Cap (click to enlarge)

 

Holy Mass recorded at Our Lady of the Cap

 

Knowing the servant of God

Elise Bisschop

 

 

 

(click on the image to access the website)

General Chapter of Jesus Sacerdos et Rex

(25-26 January 2024)

 

The year 2024 began, for our Community “Jesus Sacerdos et Rex” , with the conclusion of the elective General Chapter held in Genoa in the San Carlo convent on 25 and 26 January (photo above), which confirmed Father Patrizio Maria as Superior general, followed by an Extraordinary General Chapter, from 29 February to 1 March.
This conclusion was awaited for two years during which, under the guidance of the Archbishop of Genoa, the specific mission of the Fraternity and the work that unites us in our priestly community were explored and better defined. This allowed us to reach important decisions for the continuation of the life and work of "Jesus Sacerdos et Rex", elaborated in the Extraordinary General Chapter.

Charism

As regards our own mission or charism, in fidelity to the spirit and example that our Father Theodossios Maria of the Cross left us, this mission has been summarized with a short formula; our charism is to be "Brothers Apostles of the Holy Sacrifice and of Mary, Mother of the Church". First of all, we are called to establish small nuclei of fraternal life, in which the liturgy and spiritual formation are the two main forms of our apostolate. We are called, on the one hand, to be apostles who adore Jesus at every moment who continually renews his birth, his life and his sacrifice on the altar, to live united with his offering of love. On the other, being apostles consecrated to Mary, to her who, docile to the Holy Spirit, cooperated perfectly in the work of her Divine Son for the eternal regeneration of all men, within the Church.

The mission in Canada

This spirit, left to us by our Father, has awakened the strong interest of many young people in Montreal for years now. They love the sacred liturgy and seek the Truth. They love the Church in its universality and feel Catholic beyond their membership in Churches of different traditions. We have therefore decided to establish a new community of “Jesus Sacerdos et Rex” in Quebec. May the Holy Child Jesus of Prague guide our steps; we feel, in fact, that the initiative comes from the Lord, and he will be the one to carry out our mission, if he wants it and how he wants it.

Our Communities

In the immediate future, we maintain our presence in Bagnoregio, Genoa and Mailly-le-Château. However, a necessary change concerns Father Gabriele Maria, who will return to Bagnoregio to take care of the new novices. 

The Community of Bagnoregio had the joy of meeting with our Sisters during the Christmas holidays  and, on 17 March, for the anniversary of the passing of Mother Diana Maria della Resurrezione. On this occasion, the Sisters screened a short film with fraternal moments from the life of "Agnus Dei", when the Mother was with them. 

In the House of Rome, Saturday meetings with families continue, with particular attention to children, who are in great need of safe references for life. 

The Community of Genoa organized a day of retreat in Arenzano, on Sunday 17 March, in which we meditated on the wonderful relic of the Mandylion kept in the city of Genoa, drawing lessons from it for the interior life; and a visit was made to the Sanctuary of the Child Jesus of Prague. 

The Community of Mailly-le-Château, with its parish spread across twenty-five villages, has the joy of preparing five catechumens for baptism this year, and five others who will receive it next year. It is an objective fact that the number of baptized children is decreasing but we pray that those who ask to receive baptism as adults are faithful and can bring a fresh wind of Christian life into the parish community.

(more news on Bulletin "Kyrie" - in french)