The friends and followers of St Vincent Pallotti gathered in the Church of San Salvatore in Onda on May 9th 2013 for the second of the annual meetings organised by the Roman Pallottine Institute. The theme for the reflection: 'The proposals indicated by Pallotti to re-ignite charity' was presented by Sr Bozena Olszewska SAC of the Pallottine Missionary Sisters of the Catholic Apostolate.

The power point illustrations on screen were a great help in following her presentation. At the beginning of the presentation, Sr Bozena reminded all that to revive faith and re-ignite/ re-awaken charity among the believers was the great desire, idea and objective of St Vincent Pallotti. All the apostolic initiatives of the Saint were addressed to the realisation of this task. Based on enquiry into the writings of Pallotti and her personal reflections the presenter singled out the following ways and the areas that Pallotti himself put forward to revive faith and re-ignite charity. She presented the following: listen to the Word of God, persevere in prayer, reciting the Rosary, participation in the sufferings of Christ, spreading the evangelical doctrine, respect for the old institutions of the Church, exercise of the works of corporal mercy, spreading of good publications, diffusion of devotional objects, witness to the proper life state and all other opportune work.

These indicators proposed by Pallotti- Sr Bozena noted in her conclusion- could be an encouragement and inspiration to revive faith and reignite charity in the people of our world, especially in the face of the challenges of the new evangelisation. To-day's world has need of Christians strong in their faith and ardent in charity, because only with faith alive and consistent, strengthened by works of charity can one ignite the world and attract others to Christ the Saviour. We the followers of Pallotti are invited to the fantasy, to the creativity of love to reawaken charity in the people we meet in the street of life.

The fourth Asia-Oceania Intercontinental Meeting was held from 24 to 27 April 2013 at Pallotti College, Melbourne, Australia. The Provincial/Regional Rectors and their Delegates from Australia, India, South Korea, Papua New Guinea, Taiwan, the Philippines and Hong Kong participated in this event. Fr. Jacob Nampudakam, the person responsible from the General Council for Asia – Oceania was also present on this occasion.

The first day of the meeting, 24th April 2013, was dedicated to a meeting with members of the Union of Catholic Apostolate in Australia. During the inaugural Mass, presided over by the Rector General, he emphasized the importance on relying on the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, leading to a style of life and apostolate based on the life of Jesus as we discover it in the Gospels and impelling us to go out on mission to share the same Good News. Reports were given on the life and activities of the Union groups in all the countries where the Pallottine charism is present in the Asia-Oceania region. Information on the celebration of the Jubilee Year of the 50th anniversary of the Canonization of St. Vincent Pallotti was a matter of special interest to all the participants.

The next two days, 25th and 26th April 2013, were dedicated to the examination of the Pallottine presence in the various countries in Asia-Oceania, with the specific goal of strengthening these missions and outlining their concrete needs. Much time was allotted to searching for new ways and means to bring new life to the Australian Region. While keeping our eyes open to any new vocations to the Region, it was also found necessary to strengthen the Pallottine presence in Australia through collaboration with other Pallottine entities.
Many of the new missions such as those in the Philippines, Taiwan and Hong Kong need to work towards establishing a permanent Pallottine presence in these countries and even to seek local vocations. All of these missionary initiatives can be developed only through collaboration involving the sharing of personnel and material resources. But prayers for the success of these missionary activities should be considered the first priority.

The last day, 27th April 2013, was dedicated to the Concluding Mass presided over by Fr. Eugene San, Regional Rector of the Australian Region, and to an outing. As a whole, it was a fruitful meeting which we hope will lead to the further strengthening of the Pallottine presence in many of these mission countries. Our thanks to the Australian Region and to all its members for their hospitality and fraternal welcome.

The official visitation of the Brazilian Province of St Paul the Apostle took place from April 1st-18th 2013. The following members of the General regime took part: J. Nampudakam, A. Golec, G. Orsolin and M. Manus. After the opening Mass, celebrated in the chapel of the Provincial House and presided over by our confrere Julio Endi Akamine, Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Sao Paolo, the four members of the General Regime were divided to visit the diverse places of this vast Province. The missionary communities in Bahia and Maranhao were entrusted to the care of J. Nampudakam and A. Golec: whereas G. Orsolin and M. Manus visited the south of the Province. Not withstanding the great distances between the communities, all the members of the Province had the opportunity to meet the Rector General at regional encounters well organised and to hear his conference on the actual state of the Society and to the challenges that we must face as Pallottines. The territory of the Province takes in the whole state of St Paolo, of Bahia, of Maranhao, part of Parana and of St. Caterina. There are 104 members of the Province: 3 Bishops, 67 priests, 7 brothers, 21 students of temporary consecration and four candidates in the Introductory Period.

The apostolic tasks of the Province concentrate most in parish ministry; in missions and in the animation of the laity. There exist a good number of Union groups within the Province. There is however still much to do to realise our charism. The visitation ended with a meeting with the Provincial Council on April 16th in the provincial house at Sao Paolo. At the conclusion of the visit there was also planned a day's rest along with good churrasco (beef or grilled meat) in a lovely place beside the sea. The principal challenges for the Province consist of how to increase apostolic activities apart from parishes, in reviving the missionary spirit, in taking care of the new vocations and in giving them a good formation. Overall, the San Paolo Province is stable and dynamic, is open to collaboration with other Provinces/ Regions of our Society, has an efficient administration and sufficiently stable finances.

PHOTO

• Province of the Annunciation of the Lord (PN): Tomasz Dutkiewicz will be ordained on May 11th at Oltarzew, Poland.
• Province of Christ the King (WA): Marcin Bieniasz, Jan David (Czech Rep.), Rafał Machłajewski, Krzysztof Morawik, Grzegorz Suchodolski,  Grzegorz Świecarz, Paweł Zieja will be ordained on May 11th at Oltarzew, Poland.
• Province of Christ the King - Delegature Ivory Coast (WA.CI): Franck Sylvestre Allatin Yapo, the second Pallottine priest from Ivory Coast was ordained on 13 April in Abidjan.
• Province of the Epiphany of the Lord (NA): on May 31st at Trivandrum Aneesh Thomas Kanjirathinkal, Jomish Joseph Thekkumkattil, Linchu Paul Choorackal and Shine Augustine will make their perpetual consecration in our Society.
• ‘The light of Christ’ Province (RA): Niraj Tirkey will make his perpetual consecration on May 31st 2013 at Bhanria.

• Br. Peter Binsteiner (CJ), Germany, born 30/6/1930; First Consecration 30/11/1955; died 1/5/2013..