Happy Birthday
29 April 2026
Of what good is it to amuse our hearts with frivolities during the short time that stay on earth? Will all these things not pass away? All these things vanish, and we do not think about them the next day. Let us take advantage of the little moment that we have to spend on earth to learn to love Our Lord Jesus Christ with all our heart.
Francis Libermann
Cf. Spiritual Letters, I, 109, 1835.
A quoi bon amuser notre coeur à des frivolités pendant le peu de temps que nous restons sur la terre ? Est-ce que toutes ces choses ne passeront pas ? Toutes ces choses s’évanouissent, et on n’y pense plus le lendemain. Profitons, du petit moment que nous avons à passer sur la terre pour apprendre à aimer Notre Seigneur Jésus-Christ de tout notre coeur.
François Libermann
Cf. Lettres Spirituelles, I, 109, 1835.
Para que serve divertir o nosso coração com frivolidades durante o pouco tempo que passamos na terra ? Não é verdade que tudo passará ? Todas estas coisas desaparecem e no dia seguinte não pensamos mais nelas. Aproveitemos então, o curto momento que temos de passar sobre a terra para aprender a amar Nosso Senhor Jesus Cristo com todo o nosso coração.
Francisco Libermann
Cf. Cartas Espirituais, I, 109, 1835.
Happy Anniversary
29 April 2026
Alexander Ekechukwu
Presbyteral ordination
Bartholomew Abanuka
Presbyteral ordination
Casimir Eke
Presbyteral ordination
Donatus Odiegwu
Presbyteral ordination
Godfrey Odigbo
Presbyteral ordination
John Echemazu
Presbyteral ordination
Remigius Onyewuenyi
Presbyteral ordination
Stanislaus Ogbonna
Presbyteral ordination
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Death Anniversaries
29 April 2026
Gérard Genoud
+ Châtel-Saint-Denis (Suisse)
António Oliveira
+ Viana (Portugal)
Anton Leus
+ Dhadim (Ethiopie)
Vitorino Amorim
+ Rio de Janeiro (Brasil)
Michael Comerford
+ Rockwell (Ireland)
John Marx
+ Bethel Park (USA)
Tom Clerkin
+ New York (USA)
Joseph Carter
+ USA
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The poor are evangelised by the poor. It was the custom in the co-lonial society at that time for mothers to give their babies to local women to nurse because they were so impressed by the depths of their conversion. It was the employees in the houses who used to persuade their masters to call the priest for the last sacraments if somebody was dying. Eventually the colonials, who no longer practised their religion, were so impressed by the behaviour of their servants that they asked if they too could have direct access to Père Lava.
Cardinal Margéot: Homily for the beatification of Jacques Laval
1878 East Africa
The Spiritan pioneers are restricted to 300 miles from the coast with the arrival of the White Fathers who, at the end of February, 1878, are granted permission by Propaganda Fide to work in Central Africa, especially around the great Lakes. The Spiritan missionaries help them in their thrust in-land.
1937 Cameroon
The newspaper "Cameroun Catholique" is launched by the diocese of Brazzaville.
1945 Congo
The start of a great increase in parishes in the diocese of Brazzaville. The seminaries are also developed.
1979 C.S.Sp.
Père Jacques Laval is beatified by Pope John Paul II. His feast day is fixed for September 9th, the anniversary of his death.
Les pauvres sont évangélisés par les pauvres. Dans la société coloniale d’alors, les mamans confiaient leurs petits enfants à des nourrices chez qui elles admirent les effets de la conversion. Ce sont les employées de maison qui convainquent leurs maîtres d’appeler le prêtre pour donner à un proche les derniers sacrements. A l’époque, la présence d’un prêtre près d’un mourant causait encore de l’effroi. Touchées par la conduite de leurs employés, les personnes de milieu aisé qui ne pratiquent pas encore leur religion, leur demandent si elles pouvaient, à leur tour, s’adresser au P. Laval
Homélie du Cardinal, Margéot pour la béatification du P. Laval
1878 Afrique de l’Est
Les pionniers spiritains se trouvent limités à 300 miles à partir de la mer par l’arrivée des Pères Blancs ; ceux-ci, en fin février 1878, ont reçu de Propaganda Fide la permission de travailler en Afrique centrale, spécialement autour des Grands Lacs. Les Spiritains les aident à pénétrer vers l’intérieur.
1937 Cameroun
Le vicariat apostolique de Douala fonde le journal « Cameroun Catholique »
1945 Congo
Début d'un grand essor des paroisses dans le diocèse de Brazzaville. Expansion des séminaires.
1979 C.S.Sp.
Le P. Jacques Laval, C.S.Sp., est béatifié par le Pape Jean-Paul II. Sa fête annuelle tombe le 9 septembre, jour anniversaire de sa mort.
Os pobres são evangelizados pelos pobres. Na sociedade colonial de então, as mães confiavam os seus filhos pequenos a amas-de-leite junto de quem elas admiram os efeitos da conversão. São os empregados de casa que convencem os seus patrões a chamar o padre para dar a um vizinho os últimos sacramentos. Nesse tempo, a presença dum padre junto dum moribundo causava ainda pavor. Impressionados pela conduta dos seus empregados, as pessoas abastadas que ainda não praticam a sua religião, perguntam-lhes se podiam por sua vez dirigirem-se ao P. Laval.
Homilia do Cardeal, Margéot para a beatificação do P. Laval
1878 África de Leste
A arrancada dos “Pioneiros espiritanos” no interior é restringida a 300 milhas da costa com a chegada dos Padres Brancos; estes no fim de Fevereiro de 1878, tinham conseguido permissão da Propaganda Fide para trabalhar na África Central especialmente à volta da região dos Grandes Lagos. Os missionários espiritanos ajudam-nos na sua arrancada missionária no interior.
1937 Camarões
O Vicariato apostólico de Douala funda o jornal “Cameroun Catholique”.
1945 Congo
Início dum grande desenvolvimento das paróquias na diocese de Brazzaville. Expansão dos seminários.
1979 C.S.Sp.
O P. Tiago Laval é beatificado pelo Papa João Paulo II. A sua festa anual é a 9 de Setembro, dia aniversário da sua morte.
2957Spiritans
Bishops
29
Priests
2101
Brothers
74
Perm. Deacons
3
Init. Formation
524
Lay Associates
226
795Communities
America
137
Africa
494
Europe
136
Asia
17
Oceania
11