"The table has become bigger". 75th Anniversary of the Calasanctian Family

The meeting of the Calasanctian Family took place in Rome, Italy. The General House was the big tent that hosted the 7 sister congregations that have as their common root the obedience and loving dedication of St Joseph Calasanz. Over the years, the fidelity of Calasanz has reached the hearts of men and women who have been challenged by his life and have multiplied in the wide world of the reform of society through education.

Father Pedro Aguado, Father General of the Order, called the brothers and sisters together to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Calasanctian Family. This meeting had the ring of a pleasant surprise. The echo that resounded in the participants as they heard the identity and journey of the sisters congregations revealed the greatness of the charism inspired by the work of the Holy Spirit.

God, in his manifold ways of accompanying humanity, wanted the good of children and young people through fathers and mothers who would dedicate their life project to the project of caring for children and young people. The founding Fathers and Mothers listened attentively to the inner voice of the seed of the Kingdom of God, which inscribed them in the Book of the Indispensable.

The surprise gift of the participants is a gift of the Holy Spirit that is in the air. The house of Joseph Calasanz is a testimony to the challenges that each of the sisters’ communities face today. The lights were also part of this presentation. Each General Superiors of the congregations gave thanks for their institutional lights.

The programme of the meeting began on the day of the patron saint of Calasanz, 27 November. At the beginning of the meeting, each of the Congregations presented their charism, their presence in the world, the concerns and joys in the development of their mission. These presentations had as common axes the conviction of growth and the search for new horizons and more vocations, as well as the challenge of the authenticity of the vocational experience and community environments that allow more life. The presentations had a positive echo, with the image of “enlarging the table” describing the spirit of hope and joy with which this moment of charismatic exchange was greeted. The meeting ended with the celebration of the Eucharist, presided over by Fr Pedro Aguado. At the end of the Mass, the postulator, Fr Ángel Ayala, showed the sandals of the Founder, St Joseph of Calasanz, and presented each Superior General with a relic as part of the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the Calasanctian Family.

The next day, 28 November, the first activity was to attend the private audience with Pope Francis in the Consistory Hall of the Apostolic Palace in Vatican City. This audience was attended by all the participants of the meeting of the Calasanctian Family, the religious communities of the Parish of San Francesco, the Nazarene Community, the Studentato Calasanctianum of Montemario, San Pantaleo, the Piarist Sisters, the novices of the Calasanziane Sisters and, above all, four girls who belong to the mission of the Calasanctian Sisters. Everyone listened attentively to the voice of Pope Francis and welcomed the message of hope that invites us not to neglect the charism and to strengthen the pedagogical culture of encounter with children and young people. After the blessing, the Pope greeted each of the participants with a fraternal gesture.

The participants of the meeting went to the offices of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, where they met the Prefect, Cardinal Joao Braz de Aviz, and the Secretary, Sister Simona Brambilla. Both were surprised by the variety of the Congregations that make up the Calasanctian Family. The central theme of the meeting was the challenges facing Consecrated Life. Sister Simona explained that the communities must learn to talk to each other so that the Holy Spirit can lead us to what is common. It is important to maintain differences of opinion because this allows us to be open to dialogue. This is a call to consecrated living: not to hide legitimate conflict, but to avoid war. Avoid a fratricidal war that ends in division. Conflict is a source of life. Pedagogical conflict moves us away from a unified way of thinking because it is part of the pathology of abuse. It prevents us from discovering the different gifts of the Holy Spirit.

The vaccine for this pathology lies in the worship of the otherness of the other, of the heart that is offered to us as a gift. We must destroy the pyramid. The harmony of difference. Authority without power, as Jesus teaches us at the washing of the feet. The meeting with Cardinal Braz de Aviz culminated in the Eucharist, which he himself presided over.

After this morning in the Vatican, the afternoon was spent reflecting on what had been experienced so far. The Order’s Communications Office then presented the new SCOLOPI APP, which includes new features on the 75 years of the Calasanctian Family. In the APP you can read the biography of the founders, as well as a brief historical development of each congregation and a common map where you can see all the missionary presences of each Congregation.

At the end of the day, four young people held a panel discussion with the participants. They were: Fr Moise Kibala Sakivuvu from the Cavanis Fathers, Sister Perlita Secuya from the Piarist Sisters, Sister Dania Margarita Cerda from the Calasanziane Sisters and Fr Juliao de Oliveira, Sch. P. from the Betania Province. The young people spoke about their vocation experiences, their joys and challenges and the wishes they have for the Major Superiors based on their experiences in religious life.

The Piarist Mothers presented those present with books on the history of their congregation, a chalice for Father General and a special gift for Father Angel Ayala in recognition of his help as Postulator to the sisters congregations.

On the last day, 29 November, the participants met to discuss the future perspectives of the Calasanctian Family. The meeting of the Calasanctian Family ended with a Eucharistic celebration presided over by Father Manoel Rosalino Pereira, Father General of the Cavanis Fathers, and a thanksgiving meal for all that was shared and lived during these days.

The participants of the meeting were:

Order of the Pious Schools