A second gathering of Pallottines engaged in Parish Ministry took place in Rome in September. There were 17 participants in all; from India (4), Brazil (3), Poland (2), the Ukraine (2), the USA (1), Canada (1), Portugal (1), Ireland (1), Rwanda (1) and Cameroon (1). This formation course took place under the guidance of Fr. Zenon Hanas and Fr. Piotr Banach, members of the General Secretariat for the Apostolate, who were accompanied by Fr. Stanisław Stawicki.

The participants shared pastoral experiences as lived in their own cultures and sought to identify common elements which characterize a Pallottine style of parish work. These concrete experiences were then compared with the ecclesial vision of St. Vincent Pallotti. Through the presentations the following common elements were found to be present: the openness and hospitality of the parish communities to all persons; a sensitivity to the signs and needs of the times; creativity in the search for new pastoral initiatives; collaboration with all the members of the church and the participation of all in parish life. These characteristics were found both in the reflections of the participants on their pastoral practice in parishes and also in the theological presentations of the speakers on Pallottine spirituality.
They also took part in the weekly audience with Pope Benedict XVI and visited the places of special significance for Pallottines, in Rome, such as the Pia Casa di Carità, the Church of SS. Salvatore in Onda, the Church of Santo Spirito dei Napoletani and the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.
All the participants are working in the local churches, but, they stressed the fraternal atmosphere of the gathering and the universal and international character of the Pallottine family in the world. The different languages, English, Polish and Portuguese, were both a challenge and a source of mutual enrichment for all.The next meeting of Pallottines engaged in parish ministry will take place in 2010 and will focus on topics related to the spiritual and liturgical life of the parish. PHOTOS