News & resources

John Kilcrann: Spiritan Justice and Peace Newsletter, March 2001
We have, indeed, a very significant number of confreres making Justice and Peace commitments. Perhaps one of our failings in the past has been that we did not recognise this…
March 1, 2001
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Bruno Diatta, a Spiritan novice. Quoted from "Spiritains en Afrique de l'Ouest",...
How is it possible to announce the Good News to people who are imprisoned in deplorable conditions, who are sick and half-starved? Most people would find this a bit irrational.…
February 1, 2001
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Pierre Schouver, Pentecost Letter, 1997
Our brothers and sisters in Africa, including our conFrères, have a lesson for us as we come up against obstacles and an awareness of how weak we are. We sometimes…
May 15, 1997
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Pierre Schouver, Superior General. Pentecost Letter, 1996
We must be faithful to our missionary tradition of learning languages and taking root amongst a people. We should not feel guilty about limiting our work to a specific human…
May 15, 1996
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John Paul II: Ecclesia in Africa, nº95
The Synod Fathers affirmed that 'today more than ever there is a need to form future priests in the true cultural values of their country, in a sense of honesty,…
September 14, 1995
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John Paul II: Ecclesia in Africa, 117-118
Together with the Synod Fathers, I urge a serious commitment to foster conditions of greater social justice and good government on the African continent, in order to prepare the ground…
September 14, 1995
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John Paul II: Ecclesia in Africa, nº 57
It is essential that the new evangelisation be centred on a transforming encounter with the living person of Christ. The first proclamation ought to bring about this overwhelming and exhilarating…
September 14, 1995
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John Paul II: Ecclesia in Africa, n. 61
This emptying of self (Jn 12:24.32), this kenosis necessary for exaltation, which is the way of Christ and of each of his disciples (Ph. 2;6-9) sheds light on the encounter…
September 14, 1995
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John Paul II: Ecclesia in Africa, nº63
Not only did the Synod speak of inculturation, but it also made use of it, taking the Church as God's family as its guiding idea for the evangelisation in Africa.…
September 14, 1995
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John Paul II: "Ecclesia in Africa", nº33
The glory and splendour or the present period of Africa's evangelisation are illustrated in a truly admirable way by the Saints whom modern Africa has given to the Church. Pope…
September 14, 1995
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John Paul II: Ecclesia in Africa, nº119
One of the most bitter fruits of wars and economic hardships is the sad phenomenon of refugees and displaced persons. The ideal solution is the re-establishment of a just peace,…
September 14, 1995
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John Paul II: Ecclesia in Africa, no.95
The Synod Fathers affirmed that today, more than ever before, there is a need to form future priests in the true cultural values of their country, in a sense of…
September 14, 1995
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Michael Amaladoss S.J., Planète-Mission, Lourdes 1994
The fundamental missionary attitude is one of dialogue, respecting the freedom of other believers and the mystery of God who is already at work within them. We must be open…
January 1, 1994
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Pierre Schouver, Christmas Letter, 1993
In the wake of Itaici, recent chapters of provinces, foundations, districts and groups have shown a surprising dynamism, not just in facing up to present difficulties but in renewal and…
December 15, 1993
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General Chapter, Itaici, 1992. No 4
We thank God that identification with the people we serve is nothing new in the Congregation. The stories we heard at Itaici show that this sharing the lot of people,…
July 31, 1992
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General Chapter Itaici, no. 9
Gradually, the faith-perspective of St. Paul and François Libermann began to take hold: 'For it is when I am weak that I am strong' (2Cor 12:10). The trust of our…
July 31, 1992
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Maynooth 4:16
Conflict, racialism and the cult of the individual are all too prevalent in the world of today. By coming together from so many different places and cultures, we are saying…
August 8, 1988
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Maynooth
The Itaici Chapter had been remarkable for the emphasis it put on Spiritan experience as a source for seeing where the Spirit was leading us. It is in experience that…
August 8, 1988
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Maynooth General Chapter, Spirituality Ch. 2
The Spirit goes ahead of us on the path of mission and signs of his presence accompany our work. Mission is therefore a pilgrimage, an adventure, contemplation and discovery of…
August 8, 1988
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Maynooth: Our Mission, p. 98
Mission, seen as the announcing of the Good News of the Kingdom, has always been at the very heart of our Spiritan life (SRL 1). But recently, a certain style…
August 8, 1988
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Maynooth General Chapter: chap. 3, p. 107
The Spirit implants in us the desire to serve the poor and oppressed and shapes our hearts to respond to this desire. The Spirit is behind all the sources of…
August 8, 1988
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Maynooth 2, 11-19
From the beginning, our mission has favoured the poor. Today, we reaffirm our commitment to the poor. As for Justice and Peace, the members of the Chapter noted that an…
August 8, 1988
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General Chapter, Maynooth 7.2.2
Some Provinces are becoming increasingly weak and lack the personnel to continue their commitments. They need the help of the Congregation. They could get this from the other older Provinces…
August 8, 1988
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General Chapter, Maynooth 7.2.2
The older Provinces are realising that Spiritan mission is also in their own back yard, so, for example, they are taking on commitments in the service of immigrants, refugees and…
August 8, 1988
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Pierre Schouver: Introduction to the Chapter documents of Maynooth
Our founders were quoted many times and the Chapter gave its approval to a programme for making us more aware of our tradition. This was in answer to an increased…
August 8, 1988
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Maynooth: 1.19. Gary Warner
We do not come empty-handed; we bring valuable experience, talents and skills to the Congregation. As lay people, we can work with you to forge new or deeper patterns of…
August 8, 1988
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John Skinnader: Maynooth, 1.5
Today, Justice and Peace ministry is taking on various forms. Education: both formal and informal, defending the rights of people, helping people to organise themselves for the defence of their…
August 8, 1988
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Maynooth 5: 12&13
We will develop collaboration between Spiritan institutes and institutes in which we participate, especially in the areas of training, jus-tice and peace and missionary awareness. The role of the General…
August 8, 1988
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Maynooth 2.13
Formal and informal education are not something on the margins of our apostolate but an integral part of our mission of evangelisation. This conviction is based on two considerations: on…
August 8, 1988
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Maynooth 8
There is a growing interest in our history within the Congregation. Undoubtedly, it is the development of mission and the orientations of Vatican II that have led us to look…
August 8, 1988
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Gabriel Mbilingi: Maynooth 1:9
In an atmosphere of war, faith, hope and fraternity constitute the secret that explains the great capacity for suffering and the overcoming of difficulties which one finds in people who…
August 8, 1988
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P. Schouver, Supérieur Général, Lettre Noël 96
Les voies de la mission au-delà des frontières sont ouvertes là-bas (en Extrême-Orient). J’ai en mémoire : un Franciscain dans les montagnes de Taiwan, au milieu des populations indigènes comme…
December 25, 1986
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Frans Timmermans: Report to General Chapter, 1986
Dialogue is mission. This is the first time in history that the Church in its Magisterium recognises other Religions as true partners in a common search for God. We cannot…
July 15, 1986
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General Chapter, 1980. no. 116
In the context of the wider changes of our times, the Foundations themselves share in the birth of a new missionary era in the Church. From different continents there is…
August 8, 1980
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P. Frans Timmermans, Supérieur général, Rapport au Chapitre général de 1980, à...
Dès à présent la Congrégation doit accepter que l’Eglise d’origine fasse partie de la Mission. On ne peut pas malheureusement dire que c’est vrai partout. Il existe encore de profondes…
July 15, 1980
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Fr. Timmermans: Report to the 15th General Chapter, 1980
We have taken the following conviction as basic in all our animation: a) It is false to say that from now on anything and everything is mission - that everything…
July 15, 1980
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Tony Geoghegan, 31.07.1978, Spiritan Papers nº18. p.14
The outstanding trait of Bishop Shanahan in regard to friendship and love is his constant refusal to separate theological and human love. He never feared 'particular friendships'. He saw everything…
July 31, 1978
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Joseph Lécuyer: Spiritan Papers no 3, 1977
Going over the writings of Poullart de Places meditatively (a thing we seem to do seldom today) and abstracting from their dated style, there comes across a sense of great…
March 6, 1977
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Frans Timmermans, Supérieur général, Lettre d’avril/mai 1976
On parle (maintenant) d’une « politique du personnel » menée au niveau du Centre et non pas seulement au niveau des Provinces. Tout cela est la toile de fond sur…
May 1, 1976
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Letter of Frans Timmermans, Superior General: April 1976
We may rightly say that with this "internationality" we shall make ourselves a much clearer sign of what Mission is all about: bringing together, reconciling in Christ, breaking down walls.…
April 1, 1976
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Frans Timmermans, Superior General: Letter of April, 1976
We may safely say that by this internationality, we shall make ourselves a much clearer sign of what Mission is all about: bringing together, reconciling in Christ, breaking down walls.…
April 1, 1976
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Pope Paul VI: Evangelii Nuntiandi, 21
Above all, the Gospel must be proclaimed by witness. Take a Christian or a handful of Christians who, in the midst of their own community, show their capacity for understanding…
December 8, 1975
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Paul VI, Evangelii Nuntiandi, nº42
Preaching is always indispensable. We are well aware that modern man is sated by talk. The fatigue produced these days by so much empty talk and the relevance of many…
December 8, 1975
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Paul VI: "Evangelii Nuntiandi", nº46
In the long run, is there any other way of handing on the Gospel than by transmitting to another person one's personal experience of faith? It must not happen that…
December 8, 1975
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Paul VI:Evangelii Nuntiandi, nº78
The preacher of the Gospel will be a person who, even at the price of personal renunciation and suffering, always seeks the truth that he must transmit to others. He…
December 8, 1975
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Evangelii Nuntiandi, nº77
The power of evangelisation will find itself considerably diminished if those who proclaim the Gospel are divided among themselves in all sorts of ways. Is this not perhaps one of…
December 8, 1975
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Joseph Lécuyer, Superior General, talking of the Spiritan charism. B.G. 1974, pp...
Simplicity means the refusal of everything that is complicated, out of the ordinary, showy, excessive; no spectacular poverty, no dramatic tormenting obedience, no dazzling mortifications. But it also means a…
February 4, 1974
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Pontifical Council for the Instruments of Social Communication: Communio et Progressio, January,...
Every communication must comply with certain essential requirements, and these are sincerity, honesty and truthfulness. Good intentions and a clear conscience do not thereby make a communication sound and reliable.…
January 31, 1971
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