Fr Bruno Cadoré visited the Dominican Sisters International (DSI), the international body of Congregations of Dominican Sisters at their 7th General Assembly holding at Ciampino, a city some kilometres outside of Rome. Fr Bruno was in company of some brothers from Santa Sabina.
First Part
During the visit, fr Bruno shared with the sisters on the topic, “The New Evangelization and the Dominican Mission today in response to the recent Synod of Bishops on the New Evangelization and the Transmission of the Faith”.
In his presentation, the Master went back to the beginning, the approval of the Order by Pope Honorius III in which he entrusted to Dominic and his brothers the task of evangelization in the footsteps of the apostles. At that time, Dominic was confronting something new in the society and the Church and he employed a new way of preaching the gospel to confront the new challenges. The task for us now is to return to this founding principle of our Order. The Church invites us in this new time and circumstances to look for new ways to proclaim the gospel of salvation, which itself never changes. To meet the challenges of the new world, we need apostolic creativity. He reminded the sisters that what makes us a Family (sisters, friars, nuns, laity) is our ability to love the world together. Our communion as a Family is in the Church and for the Church. Now is the time to renew our calling to evangelize, to preach the Good News of salvation.
After his presentation, the sisters had the opportunity to share with him and also ask him some questions.
Second Part
Fr Bruno celebrated the Eucharist of the Solemnity of the Ascension with the sisters. He was assisted by the friars. The celebration was melodious, colourful and multilingual. The readings and the songs were rendered in different languages. The sisters made the presentation of the gifts to the altar with an African song and dance.
In his homily, fr Bruno explained that the story of the ascension is our own story. After Jesus ascended, the apostles went out to preach, empowered by the Holy Spirit. It is time for us to go out and preach in a new way to a new world.
Third Part
After the celebration of the Eucharist, fr Bruno and the friars joined the sisters for lunch. They shared the meal in a festive mood as a family. This also gave the sisters the opportunity to interact more with the Master and the friars.
The DSI Assembly will come to an end on Wednesday, the 15th of May, 2013. By that time, it is expected that the sisters would have elected a new International Coordinator to replace Sr Fabiola Velasquez Maya, the outgoing International Coordinator.
(13 May 2013)