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| The Road to Damascus - Our Journey with St Paul | Published 10-Sep-2010 |
by Samantha Bernardo
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As I sat there listening to the wisdom of Fr Nestor Candado, I realised that this was why I ended up at the Society of St Paul house in Strathfield on a warm Saturday morning in May. I could’ve been out with friends, or practicing for our upcoming Pre-Conference competitions, and I wasn’t even planning to attend CFC Youth For Christ, Australia’s monthly catechesis with the Society of St Paul, dubbed a ‘Journey with St Paul’. But seeing as this was the very last one, I made an effort to get up early that morning to do my chores (that is, clean the bathrooms) and be ready to be picked up.
So there we were, my brother - Dave Bernardo, our sector head - Mary Dem Nimenzo, our YFC Couple coordinators - Tito Rey and Tita Mel Legaspi, and myself, all eagerly listening to Fr Nestor explaining the journey of St Paul of Tarsus. “As most people say, Saul experienced a conversion on the road to Damascus. But that’s the traditional view,” he tells us “rather St Paul experienced an intense divine intervention”.
Listening to Fr Nestor, I couldn’t help but draw connections between our ‘Journey with St Paul’ and his own journey to Damascus. I remembered my very first visit to the Society of St Paul house. I came in really late. Dave, my mission partner Dale Guillema and I were walking to the St Paul house from the station. Unfortunately for us we took several wrong turns and found ourselves lost. Eventually we arrived, and though we missed a good portion of the day’s events, we knew this was only the very beginning of a year of learning the truth about St Paul – his letters and his evangelisation of the Roman Empire. Arriving at the house was not the end of our travels, but rather it signalled the start of another part of the same spiritual journey we were all taking with Christ.
Our trek to the St Paul house can be likened to St Paul’s journey on the road to Damascus. His encounter with Christ marked the fulfilment of his Jewish identity, and the continuation of his identity as a Christian. He was not converted into believing in God, but finally came to know God in His whole truth. Paul’s “conversion” was not a completion of Paul’s journey as a Jew since he did not close his identity as a Jew. Simply, he encountered the fullness of God in Christ’s sacrificial love, adding this to what he already believed about God. In the same way, we have undertaken this ‘Journey with St Paul’ as another part of our personal growth with Christ. Through these past months YFC have had the honour to grow in our love for God by learning more about his servant Paul.
Just as Paul’s experience on the road to Damascus was a divine intervention, our time spent in CFC Youth For Christ shows also Christ intervening in our lives. Knowing God’s love, we too are called to be prophets to the nations. Listening to a video of a seminar led by the Archbishop of Canberra, Mark Coleridge, we learnt a new word: ‘historesai’. The fervent speaker illustrated the word to mean to explain; to tell a story. And that’s what we’re called to do. We are to share our stories with others; to tell them how Christ has worked in our lives – no more, no less.
I believe Fr James Alberione, founder of the Pauline Family, would be smiling at the work the priests and sisters are currently doing. Most especially, Fr Lito’s dedication to prepare monthly catechesis sessions for YFC shows his passion in sharing his story. We youth have been truly blessed to learn from him and experience so much throughout this Pauline year.
Yet we don’t seem to give our youth enough credit. Who are we to say that they won’t be interested in the teachings of the Church? In the lives of saints and in the symbolism and meaning behind the Holy Mass? Aren’t these just another story that we can share? Someone once told me that the optimum time to learn is while you are young. And this is true. As leaders among our peers, it is our responsibility to provide them with opportunities to learn more about their faith. We shouldn’t underestimate their capacity and desire to know more about their God, and therefore love Him, serve Him and share Him.
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And that’s why CFC Youth For Christ is incorporating activities such as the ‘Journey with St Paul’ within their usual calendar. Through this journey, I can definitely say that the youth have received a lot. Surrounded by inspiring, interesting priests such as Fr Lito and Fr Nestor, and sisters such as Sr Immaculata and Sr Joanna, it’s no wonder that my brother came home one day and asked my dad “What do you think of me becoming a priest?” Any other dad would have been proud if his son had announced this, but all my dad could utter was “My brother AND my son, BOTH priests?!?”
Personally I would love to continue listening to priests and sisters sharing their experiences, allowing us to learn more about God. Through listening to others tell about their faith, we in turn are encouraged to continue sharing our faith and conviction with others. St Paul continued to proclaim Christ though he was persecuted, despite being doubted by the disciples themselves. He is the patron of communication, a saint we young people can look to in our zeal to evangelise to those who have yet to hear about our majestic God. Ultimately, we have a story –Christ’s story, and it is our duty and privilege to share His glorious story.
Samantha Bernardo is a second year student at the University of Sydney studying education and arts. Samantha is majoring in History and Studies of Religion, and hopes to be a secondary teacher upon graduating in 2012. She loves creative writing, reading novels, singing and playing the flute. Sam is also an active leader in the youth group CFC Youth For Christ, Australia, where she passionately serves her fellow youth in the Fairfield and Campbelltown area.
| 50th Anniversary of Profession: Sr Thecla Caruana | Published 13-Mar-2009 |
On 1 March, 2009, Sr Thecla Caruana celebrated the 50th anniversary of her Religious Profession as a Daughter of St Paul. Sr Thecla was the first young woman to enter with the Sisters when they arrived in Australia in 1955. The anniversary was celebrated in the chapel of the Sydney community.
Sr Thecla thanked the community of the Daughters of St Paul, the communities of the Pauline Family, her family, relative and friends for their love and support throughout a life of service.
Following the Mass, the celebration continued with afternoon tea. Congratulations to Sr Thecla on this joyful anniversary!
| U.S. Daughters of St Paul Christmas Tour to begin | Published 2-Dec-2008 |
The Daughters of St Paul in the U.S. will soon begin their annual Christmas concert tour. Proceeds from the concerts will be used to expand the order's website with interactive opportunities to meet the needs of a technology savvy generation.
The music director, Sr Bridget Ellis, announced that the sisters will sing four or five new songs during their fifty minute performance, “Some nostalgic songs, some upbeat, some thought-provoking.”
The expanded website offer a range of multi-media resources with downloadable music, video and podcasts, interactive prayer experiences and chat rooms, including one for women interested in religious life.
Sr Bridget noted that the founder of all the Pauline orders of sisters, brothers and priests - Blessed James Alberione - “foresaw the development of technology” even from his vantage point in 1924 in Italy.Concert schedule available at:
http://www.daughtersofstpaul.com/events/concert.html| Public Lecture on St Paul a Success! | Published 2-Dec-2008 |
In celebration of the Year of St Paul, Pauline Books & Media Sydney hosted a public talk on St Paul on November 6th entitled, “St Paul in Context: Exploring his Time, Place and Culture”. The address was given by Sr Michele Connelly, rsj, a Sister of St Joseph of Lochinvar, NSW, and lecturer in Biblical Studies at the Catholic Institute of Sydney where Sr Michele is also Deputy President.
The talk explored the figure of St Paul, including his status as a Roman citizen, his conversion from Pharisee to “apostle of the apostles”, his singular focus on the truth of “Christ crucified”, as well as his eschatological vision which lent an urgency to his mission.
Around fifty people attended the public talk. Sr Michele addressed the audience for forty-five minutes, bringing the person and apostolate of St Paul to life with a dramatic description of the first century world in which he lived and fostered the earliest Christian communities. This was followed by fifteen minutes of questions from the audience which Sr Michele answered with her usual enthusiasm and insight. As the conversation took hold, the group reflected more deeply on St Pauls contact with the early Christian communities at Corinth and Thessalonica, as well as the conviction with which St Paul engaged with his apostolate.
http://www.paulinebooks.com.auhttp://www.cis.catholic.edu.au
| Spain-Inauguration of the Granada Book Centre | Published 13-Jul-2008 |
The opening of the Pauline Year coincided with the inauguration and blessing of our new book center in Granada, Spain on 27 June 2008. In his inaugural address, Vicar General Fr. Manuel Reyes thanked God for the gift of this Pauline Center to the Granada-Andalusia Diocese. Sr. M. Letizia Panzetti, Delegation Superior, underscored the role of the Pauline Book Center and its charism, explaining with enthusiasm that with this new opening, the FSPs now have 270 Book & Media Centers throughout the world. The inauguration ceremony was very well attended by representatives of the Local Church, priests and religious, friends, acquaintances and regular book center clients. The three lay persons who run the new Center were deeply moved by the turn out and enthusiastic support of the participants.
http://www.paoline.org/| Int'l Congress for Catholic Radio Broadcasters | Published 13-Jul-2008 |
Sr. Helena Corazza, fsp (Brazil), Sr. Maria Ruth Reyes, fsp (United States), and Sr. Paola Fosson, fsp (Italy) all participated in the 1st International Congress for Catholic Radio Broadcasters held in Rome from 19-21 June 2008. Organized by the Pontifical Council for Social Communications and held in the John Paul II Auditorium of the Pontifical Urbanianum University, the encounter revolved around the theme: The Identity and Mission of Catholic Radio Stations Today: from Thoughts about the Human Being to Information at the Service of Individuals. In his audience of 20 June, held in the Clementine Hall of the Apostolic Palace, Vatican City, Pope Benedict XVI met with the 105 participants in the Congress. The Holy Father expressed his esteem for the work of Catholic radio stations in disseminating the message of the Gospel and the words of the Pope. Thanks to the radio, he said, many people have come to know Christ and love the Church. Speaking in Castilian, the Holy Father then emphasized that the purpose of Catholic broadcasting is not only to communicate information but to do this in such a way that it can be translated into concrete action and change lives.
http://www.paoline.org/| FSPs and SSPs Open the Year Dedicated to St. Paul | Published 13-Jul-2008 |
In Rome on 30 June 2008, in the Queen of Apostles Sanctuary-Basilica, Rome, a very meaningful place for the whole Pauline Family, numerous FSPs and SSPs gathered to inaugurate the Year dedicated to St. Paul. Following the Eucharistic Celebration, two experts on the life and writings of Paul–Archbishop Rino Fisichella, Chancellor of the Pontifical Lateran University and President of the Pontifical Academy for Life, and Professor Francesco Giorgino, TV reporter and Lateran University professor–each offered the participants a profound reflection on evangelization today in the world of communication.
The key concept of the two talks was the obligation to evangelize: “Those who meet Christ are obliged to be evangelizers, missionaries,” Bishop Fisichella emphasized. “No one is exempted from this.” A similar thought was expressed by Professor Giorgino, who said that “evangelization is the password for accessing the teachings of St. Paul, who used every instrument at his disposition to carry out his mission, even when it meant coura-geously going against the current. In this way, Paul was able to establish what we would call today a ‘relation-ship based on communication’ with the people of his time.”
The evening was enriched by the artistic input of soprano Anna Elena Masini, who sang selections from the works of Adriana Del Giudice. The audience appreciated in particular her rendition of “La Luce” (“The Light”) from the opera D’amore e luce, inspired by the text La bottega dell’orefice by Karol Wojtyla.
The gathering at Queen of Apostles Sanctuary also offered both FSPs and SSPs the chance to present the joint initiatives they have programmed for this Jubilee Year.
http://www.paoline.org/