Now before the Feast of the Passover,
Jesus knowing that His hour had come
that He would depart out of this world to the Father,
having loved His own who were in the world,
He loved them to the end.
During supper… got up from supper,
and laid aside His garments;
and taking a towel, He girded Himself.
Then He poured water into the basin,
and began to wash the disciples' feet
and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.
(John 13, 1-5)



Dearests,
The periodic “season” of renewal of the governments of the Circumscriptions is being concluded during these weeks.

The cycle began with the Latin-American Province which, last October, has celebrated its 7th Ordinary Chapter participated, for the first time, by all of its perpetually professed religious. During the month of January, the Central Northern Province of Italy and last February, the Central Southern Province of Italy celebrated their 5th Provincial Chapter.

According to the custom, the three Chapters, beside the election of the Provincial Council, have looked into the situation of their respective Circumscriptions basing it on the report of the out-going Governments and have, therefore, individuated the priorities and indicated the itineraries for the future years. The obligatory point of reference for all these celebrations has been the 10th General Chapter which has oriented the Congregation to focalize on our charismatic mission, in order to re-discover its providential actuality and re-launch it, with renewed enthusiasm, at the start of the 3rd millenium.

After the due apta consultatio, this period of Easter, the Governments of the Philippine-Indian and the USA Delegations will be renewed.

For the Philippine-Indian Delegation, in connection to the election of the new Government and considering the process which is being done in view of its being a Province, I have convoked an Assembly of Religious during the month of April. Its goal is to elaborate together, based on the verification of the situation, the orientations and indications for the itinerary of the Delegation for these coming years.

From my part and those of the Confreres, I assure the Superiors of the Circumscriptions and their Councils, who will start their services during these months, loyal support, attentive listening and responsible participation united in prayer and fraternal friendship.

In order to have a first moment of sharing and participation, we have scheduled, at the General level, the annual Conference of the Councils of the Circumscriptions in Morlupo. It is going to done from 21-27 May 2007.

The events of the Chapters and the changing of the Governments of the Circumscriptions do not simply mean completion of the requirements for organization done by the Congregation, but also the humble and trustful recognition of our continuing history and the provident Presence that accompanies us, above all, through our Holy Founder, who, in our Institution, is inspirer and father.

Considering this particular moment of the life of the Congregation, which has seen the involvement of all the Circumscriptions, I would like, for this coming Festivities , to call your attention to the evangelical icon which prespares and, somehow, interpretes Easter.

I am refering to the washing of the feet which is being placed by John the Evangelist at the center of the last supper, the night before the passion.

It is significant that the 4th Gospel, refering to the last moments of Jesus with his disciples and gathering, in the discourses of the last supper, the fundamental themes of his message, did not mention, like the synoptics, the ritual gesture of bread and wine, a decisive event for our faith.

Instead, John places the attention on Jesus who washes the feet of his disciples and left the same gesture as testament to be done with their brothers. He did not order to repeat a rite but to do it as he did it, that is to repeat, in every time and in every community, gestures of mutual service by which the supreme love of Jesus for his is to be made present: he loved them to the end.

My wish for this coming Easter is addressed to all, particularly to those who have received the ministry of authority, animation and guidance of their brothers, our lay collaborators, the children and the young persons in the different missions where we are called to administer everyday, and also to myself, may we learn, like our Lord Jesus Christ, to gird ourselves with the “towel” of service and wash each others feet.

If I then,the Lord and the Teachr, washed your feet,
you also ought to wash one another's feet.
For I gave you an example
that you also should do as I did to you.
(John 13, 14-16)


The spirit of accomodation and of reciprocal service, which is the glue of fraternal life in communion, is born from the love of Christ that brings life for us and is sustained in the sharing of his example.

Easter is the full manifestation in Christ of the love of the Father for each of us. During the celebration of Easter, in the faint glimmer of the last supper, shines with all splendor this truth: the love of God has become one with the love of brothers.

Benedict XVI reminds us: Only if I serve my neighbour can my eyes be opened to what God does for me and how much he loves me. The saints—consider the example of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta—constantly renewed their capacity for love of neighbour from their encounter with the Eucharistic Lord, and conversely this encounter acquired its real- ism and depth in their service to others. Love of God and love of neighbour are thus inseparable, they form a single commandment. But both live from the love of God who has loved us first.

During these days, “in view of the past approaching Easter”, we would like to go to Jerusalem with Jesus, aware that “to do Easter with Him”, we need to receive and live his inheritance of mutual love.

May the Virgin Mary, servant of the Lord and Mother of the Church, accompany us in this journey.

I am extending this greeting to all the members of the Family of the Rogate, the Sisters, the “Missionarie Rogazioniste”, the lay Associations and Collaborators, Alumni and all those who form part of our Apostolate.

In the grace of the Resurrected Lord, Happy and Holy Easter!

Fr. Giorgio Nalin, RCJ
Superior General

{mos_sb_discuss:11}