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COSMOCOSMOCOSMO

LINELINELINE April 2014, Volume 7 - N. 4 1233 - 2014

ONONON Piazza San Marcello, 5 00187 Roma

Tel.: +39-06-699301 cosmo@curiaosm.org www.servidimaria.net

Electronic bulletin of quick information from the Center of Communications

SURREXIT DOMINUS!

WISHES FROM THE PRIOR GENERAL Dear sisters and brothers! Also this year, during the holy night of Easter the angel will meet us again at the empty grave: An Angel of the Lord descended from heaven, approached, rolled back the stone, and sat upon it (Mt 28: 2). It was the angel who helped the two women, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to discover the risen Lord and to meet him: “Do not be afraid! I know that you are seeking Jesus the crucified. He is not here, for he has been raised just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay …” Then the women went away quickly from the tomb, fearful yet overjoyed,… to announce this to the disci-ples. “Behold, Jesus met them on their way and greet-ed them” (Mt 28: 5-6, 8). Many people rightly ask in this holy night: Is there this angel in my life, too? Who is the angel who will an-nounce life to me, too? People who are tormented in their countries by war and terror and those ones who suffer in their families and at work under dispute and hate – all people who are yearning for peace. People who suffer from poverty, loss of a job and who don´t see for them in life any economic perspective – all peo-ple who are yearning for justice. People who suffer from diseases and those one who grieve over the loss of a loved one, people who suffer from the senseless-ness of their life – all people who are yearning for love. Then an angel brought the message of Easter to the women. This seems to me to be the track that we need to follow today, too: Who is the angel who will push

away the stone for us? Who is the angel who will an-nounce life to us? They are also present today, the angels. These “angels without wings” are those women and men who stand with all their strength and courage for justice; those women and men who do not give up peace despite all hatred, war and terror; those women and men who nev-er stop loving despite all the suffering and all unkind-ness in the world. It is the people who sing the song of the risen Lord and proclaim the hope to the world. Who is the angel who will announce life to us? It is the question of this night. But it isn´t only a question, it is even an order – for us, too. We can also and should be “angels without wings” for each other: being beneficial for each other, taking away all rocks and fears, telling each other about life – and never stop it, never. That may become an Easter reality in our lives, too! I wish you all a blessed and fruitful celebration of the Holy Week! Happy Easter to all of you!

fra Gottfried M. Wolff, O.S.M. Prior General

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GOING FORTH

Dear brothers and sisters, this time I consider the theme of Going Forth. According to the Gregorian Calendar April is the fourth month of the civil year, and the se-cond month of Spring in the northern hemisphere or of Autumn in the southern hemisphere. According to a commonly accepted interpretation, the name comes from the Latin verb aperire (to open) indicating the month during which the earth opens and flowers and plants bud forth. From ancient times, in the northern hemisphere, April was seen as the month of rebirth and nature’s reawakening after its winter sleep, during which the earth presents its fresh precious blooms and, at the same time, offers the best conditions for plough-ing and sowing. Here let us take up the idea of reawak-ening, coming out of sleep and death. In this month we will be celebrating the Pascal Mystery, in which Jesus Christ the Lamb who was slain on the Cross and buried, goes forth alive from the tomb on “the third day”. On 13 April, we will be celebrating Palm Sunday of the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ. That will mark the beginning of the Holy Week: the palms recall Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem; and then the passion, during which Jesus Christ, the innocent man con-demned to death, goes forth from the city carrying the cross on which he would hang at Golgotha. In between these two moments, Jesus withdraws to Gethsemane along with his disciples Peter, James and John. Here, knowing he would have to dramatically exit the stage, he prayed to God saying: “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I will, but as you will” (Mt 26: 39). It is a bitter cup which the disciples will also drink (cf. Mt 20: 23; Acts 12: 2), and which will be for the salvation of all. It is not easy to go forth from our own views, our own pleasant projects and enter into God’s plan, and implement it. Without Friday there is no Sunday. The 20 of April is Easter, when we celebrate the resur-rection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Even though the en-trance of the tomb was sealed with a “huge stone” (Mt 27: 60), even though the guards were keeping watch at the tomb (cf. Mt 27: 65-66), Jesus went forth, resurrect-ed. The Evangelist Matthew says: “An angel of the Lord descended from heaven, approached, rolled back the stone, and sat upon it. […] The guards were shaken with fear of him and became like dead men. Then the angel said to the women in reply, "Do not be afraid! I know that you are seeking Jesus the crucified. He is not here, for he has been raised just as he said” (Mt 28: 2.

4-6). Yes, Jesus did not remain in the tomb, in the sleep of death, in the tragedy of evil, but went forth. Just as a living creature comes out of an egg which resembles a lifeless stone, so from the tomb in which he was buried, lifeless, Jesus went forth, the Living One! And he brings us with him, inviting us to go forth with him… forth from fear, forth from evil, forth from death. On 22 April we observe the 44th World Earth Day, insti-tuted in 1970, following a great popular movement after a large petroleum leak in California, U.S.A. Its purpose is to promote recycling programs, the use of solar ener-gy, and the awareness of ecological needs. We are in-vited to move beyond a “use and throwaway” mentality to safeguard “Mother Earth” and the environment in which we live. On 27 April, the second Sunday of Easter or of Divine Mercy, the canonization of two beatified Popes will take place. John XXIII (†1963) saw the Church’s urgent need to “move out of itself” and enter into dialogue with the world, offering a response of faith, and convoked the Second Vatican Council. John Paul II (†2005) was well aware that bringing about the message of Redemption in Christ meant becoming all things to all people, so he went forth from Rome and completed more long Apos-tolic Visitations than any of his predecessors.

Have a Blessed Holy Week! Happy Easter! 1 April 2014

fra Camille M. Jacques, O.S.M. Secretary of the Order

FROM THE GENERAL COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS - 04 The General Council gathered together for Council Meetings on 17 and 23 March and 2 April 2014 in the General Curia, San Marcello, Rome. As usual, a synthe-sis of the Council’s decisions is presented in this issue of COSMO ON LINE. 1. Appointment of the members for the Center for the Communications Based on the proposal of the Secretary of the Center for the Communications, the General Council elected the following friars as the members for the Center: Silvester M. (Silvo) Bachorík (TIR), José Ángel M. Camarillo López (MEX), Enrico M. Casini (ANN), Camille M. Jacques (CAN) e Antonio Francisco M. Nofuentes Montes (ESP/ANN). 2. Election of the Delegate to the European Region-al Conference of General Communities The General Council (on 17 March and 2 April 2014) opened the ballots paper for the delegate’s election to the European Regional Conference of General Commu-nities according to the Art. 11 of the Norms for the Gen-eral Communities. It was revealed in the second scruti-ny that fra Hubert M. Moons was elected with relative majority.   

FROM THE GENERAL SECRETARIATS AND OFFICIALS

1. GENERAL TREASURER International Symposium of the General Treasurers At the request of Pope Francis, the General Treasurers of the Institute of Consecrated Life and the Society of Apostolic Life were invited to a Symposium organized by Holy See in Rome from 8 to 9 March 2014.

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The title of the Conference was: “The administration of ecclesiastical goods of the Institute of Consecrated Life and the Society of Apostolic Life at the service of the humanum and of the mission of the Church”. 

Often the economy plays an important role in the hu-man history and also in the religious life. In our day to day life it determines the structure of the social organi-zations and reflects the vision of humanity. Today the religious are compelled to enter into this mechanism of the modern economy knowing the risk of losing their proper identity. The experts on modern economy (religious and lay) from various parts of the world (Brazil, Costa Rica, France, Japan, India, Italy, Luxembourg, Mexico, Slo-vakia, Spain, Uruguay, USA) presented their discus-sions on the complex issues of economy. The participation has gone beyond all the expectation: 650 General Treasurers, 150 invitees and organizers; in which 250 were Italian speaking, 170 English, 150 Spanish and 80 French respectively. The entire Congre-gation for the Institute of Consecrated Life and the Soci-ety of Apostolic Life was present to organize the confer-ence. The Secretary of the State Card. Pietro Parolin was present in one of the sessions, witnessing the per-sonal interest of Pope Francis who wanted to be pre-sent for this session, unfortunately unable to participate due to his journey towards Ariccia for his retreat. I found it was very useful for me. It is foreseen that the acts of the conference will be published in different lan-guages; I already have booked copies to present to the treasurers of all the jurisdictions of the Order as a useful instrument of economical formation and mission.

fra Piergiorgio M. Mazzoleni, O.S.M. Generale Treasurer 

2. CENTER FOR THE COMMUNICATION On 3 April 2014 at 9 o’clock the members of the Center for Communications fra Camille M. Jacques, e fra Án-gel M. Camarillo, fra Antonio M. Nofuentes e fra Enri-co M. Casini along with the Secretary of the Center for the Communications, fra Souriraj (Souri) M. Arulanan-da Samy, met together for the first meeting. Fra Sil-vester (Silvo) M. Bachorík, was absent due to the can-cellation of the flights in Germany because of airways strike. Fra Enrico M. Casini was elected as secretary of the meetings to verbalize the minutes. Fra Camille M. Jacques has presented the statutes, 2013 General Chapter decree and the decision of the General Council regarding the Center for the Communication, following

that the president fra Souri has presented the program of the Center for the Communication for the six years (2013-2019) and the budget for 2014. All the members have actively and positively contributed a lot for the bet-ter collaboration for the communication in the Order. In the afternoon, statutes of the Center for Communica-tions were revised with new amendments. The next meeting is foreseen in 7 and 8 October 2014 at Gelsen-kirchen-Buer, Germany.

fra Enrico M. Casini O.S.M. Secretary of the Meetings

FROM THE JURISDICTIONS AND PRIORIES

1. ANN PROVINCE:

Canonical Visit of the Prior General in the SS. Annun-ziata Community, Florence (24-28 March 2014)

2. BRA PROVINCE: Formators’ meeting From 3 to 6 March 2014, the Servite formators from Brazil (friars and sisters) have gathered in the con-vent of Servite Sisters of Brazil at Jacarepaguá, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 5 sisters from the Servite Sisters of Riparatrici, 8 Servite Sisters of Brazil and 8 Servite Friars from St. Peregrine Province, Brazil were pre-sent for the meeting. Fra José M. Milanez presented the Proper Liturgy of the Order, and di fra Marcos M. Roberto Huk pre-sented the theme of formation and the Servite Saints and blessed (hagiography of the Order).

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The meeting begun with the Eucharistic celebration presided over by fra Paolo Sergio M. Angeloni, the Prior Provincial of St. Peregrine Province, Brazil. At the end of the meeting the participants have showed their satisfaction regarding the meeting, the theme reflected, and the sharing. A special thanks and prayers to the community of the Servite Sisters of Brazil, for their hospitality and fra-ternal support.

fra José M. Milanez, O.S.M.

3. PHI VICARIATE: On 7 April 2014, the Memorandum of Agreement be-tween Bishop Gabriel V. Reyes, DD, of Antipolo and fra Benito Ma. Isip, the Vicar Provincial was signed for the possession of newly created St. Joseph Parish. The parish will be entrusted to the pastoral care of the Order of the Servants of Mary in the Philippines for 50 years and it is renewable. Fra Gregorio Ma. Obejas is the new parish priest and fra Pascual Ma. Salas is the as-sistant parish priest. On 27 April 2014, the parish of St. Joseph will be formally erected and fra. Gregorio Ma. Obejas will formally become the parish priest.

fra Benito Ma. Isip, O.S.M. Vicar Provincial PHI

4. IND PROVINCE: The Vocation Camp was conducted in Jegan Matha Priory, Trichy in India. There were 81 students, of which 35 are selected to begin their Postulancy formation. 

5. VEN PROVINCE: Pastoral visit of Mgs. Corrado in the parish of our Lady of Rosary and St. Mary’s Abbacy in Follina

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6. P.F.T. «MARIANUM» In 2006 (COSMO, n. 3-4, p. 3-5), there was an article titled “The Marianum Library: A treasure, the Order must come to know and to support”, which expressed the problem of lack of space to preserve the books in the library, the importance of its value (treasure – pat-rimony) and its history. The extension made in 1992 and in 1998 using the compact cabins instead of shelves have extended the space from 2500 meters to 4000 meters. Now even this kind of extension pos-sibility is not available. Temporarily to resolve the is-sue, the books are preserved in the boxes due to lack of space in the library, creating considerable discom-fort both for cataloging and for consultation. A careful study proves that from 1990 to till the date, every year at least 2500 units increase (new entries) comprising of volumes, books, journals, hence there is a need to extent the shelf every year to at least 60 to 65 meters. The principle scope for constructing the new library is to resolve the problem of the lack of space and of the management of the treasure. This project is enriched with two important funds from the ex-Hungarian prov-ince and France-Belgium vicariate and finally of a do-nation based on Marian-iconographic. The new library is constructed on so called “foot-ball ground”, occupying around 900 meter square feet with two floors: ground floor – for about 3,000 cubic meters large – with reference hall, books on open shelf, office, conference hall and Historical Archives of the Order; basement floor – for about 4,300 cubic meters large – only used for the deposit of books. The maximum availability of the shelf is foreseen for about 12,000 meters along with that of the present 4,000 meters. The increase of 8,000 meters (in the plan) may help the development of the library for an-other ten years. In carrying out the new project, various technical problems arise as the work proceeds, and they are resolved during the implementation of the work. In order to protect the area surrounding the construc-tion, 320 steel poles (diameter 20 cm) were installed at a distance of every 50 cm, like a wall with different heights of 8 meters and 18 meters (photos 1-4). After having removed the soil underground for the sufficient space, the floors were raised and the roof and terrace was constructed (photos 5-6). The basement floor and wall were constructed with particular modern technology so as to resist humidity. In these days they are digging again in the basement in order to build the book storage area with a height of 9 meters. The work is being carried out according to the planned schedule and contract signed by the Zappieri building company.

fra Silvano M. Danieli O.S.M. Librarian P.F.T. «Marianum»

Drilling for the installation of the steel poles

Fixing the steel poles in the right place

Fixing the steel poles in the northern side

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Supportive steel rods are fixed for the wall and the roof

Readymade concrete blocks are fixed for the roof

Fixing the steel poles in the southern side

7. SAN MARCELLO During the 1983 General Chapter, fra Tito M. Sartori was elected as the first councilor for the six years term 1983-1989 and he was transferred from Monte Berico community to San Marcello Community, Rome (7 De-cember 1983). During his service as general councilor, had contributed a lot for the final drafting of the constitu-tions in particular which was approved on 25 March 1987. As predicted in the month of May 1985, as Pos-tulator of the Order on the proposal of the Prior General fra Michel M. Sincerny, the General Council elected him as the Postulator of causes for beatification and canonization following fra Venanzio M. Ramasso (3 May 1987). After completing the mandate of General Councilor dur-ing the 1989 General Chapter, fra Tito M. Sartori re-mained at the service of the Order as the Postulator, confirmed by three Prior Generals, until Pope Benedict XVI established the age limit for the office of postulator as 80 years. During his long service as postulator (1987-2011) fra Tito M. Sartori has followed many causes with passion and competence for the Order and for the entire Servite Family, arriving at the happy conclusion – beatification – the third order member Fr. Ferdinando Maria Baccilieri (3 October 1999), the cloistered nun Sr. Maria Guadalupe Ricart Olmos (11 March 2001), the founderess of the Compassionate Servite Sisters Sr. Maria Maddalena Starace (11 April 2007) and the lay secular Order member Cecilia Eusepi (17 June 2012).

After completing his long ser-vice to the Order and to San Marcello Community, he re-turned to his province on 12 March to the Monte Berico Community in Vicenza. On behalf of the Prior General and friars of the Order, we thank you, fra Tito M. Sartori, for the faithful service that you have rendered to the Order and to the community and we wish you all the best for your ministry in your Province.

fra Paolo M. Orlandini, O.S.M. Prior of the Community

fra Franco M. Azzalli, O.S.M. Postulator of causes for beatification and canonization

8. COMUNITÀ DI DEIR RAFAT Attack of Vandalism There was a vandalistic attack on the Shrine dedicated to our Lady of Palestine in Deir Rafat (where our Servite Friars are living in the Holy Land) around 1.30 in the night between 31 March and 1 April 2014. It is one of the attacks by the Jewish fundamentalist “The price to pay” against Christians says police, the investigation is on. There are two writings in Hebrew with black spray on the wall of the monastery blasphemy insulting Jesus Christ and Blessed Virgin Mary. In addition to the blas-phemed writings (graffiti), as usual the vandals have destroyed the nearby parked vehicles. The Latin Patriarch Mgs. Fouad Twal, immediately visit-ed the Shrine of Deir Rafat to witness personally the damage and to assure the support to three Servite friars and 12 cloistered sisters belonging to the monastic fami-ly of Bethlehem who take care the religious activities of the Shrine. Fra Roch M. Boulanger, one of the Servite friars who live in the monastery of Deir Rafat, assured that, “the community is quite calm in front of this attack and I re-gret that the vandals are not able to understand the Christ’s message of peace”. The complete article is found on the web site:  (http://www.terrasanta.net/tsx/articolo.jsp?wi_number=6275&wi_codseq=%20%20%20%20%20%20&language=it)

Vandalistic writings on the wall of the monastery Deir Rafat in Holy Land

Fra Roch M. Boulanger, O.S.M. Community of Deir Rafat, Holy Land

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PROFESSIONS, ORDINATIONS, ANNIVERSARIES  

SILVER JUBILEE: Prayerful best wishes to friar Federico M. Franco Guerrero on the 25th anniversary of their priestly ordination on 4 May. Congratulations and prayerful wishes to friar Carlos M. Montana who makes his solemn profession on 8 May 2014 at Aguascalientes in Mexico. 

FROM THE SERVITE FAMILY A group of lay people along with the members of the Secular Servite Order from Czech Republic have made a pilgrimage to Italy; here they are in the Shrine of SS. Annunziata, Florence.

The OSSM in Italy – a Promise in the fraternity of St. Juli-ana – Mestre VE, 16 February 2014.  

MISCELLANEOUS 1. YAP: YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE...

Hereinafter the COSMO ON LINE will be published be-tween 10 to 15 of every month with the news of pre-vious month and information for the upcoming months. We kindly request you to communicate us promptly on or before 1st of every month the im-portant and notable events (past and future) of your fraternities, communities, jurisdictions, congrega-tions, ect., thus the entire Servite Family may be in-formed of.

The new e.mail ids of Postulator of the Order and the Historical Institute OSM (fra Franco M. Azzalli): Postulator of the Order: postulazioneosm@gmail.com Historical Institute OSM: istitutostoricosm@gmail.com 

2. EVENTS TO COME Let us remember these forthcoming events in our prayers: The UNIFAS-USA Assembly will meet in Milwaukee, Wis., on Saturday, April 26. The topic of the meeting will be gun violence and what Servites can do to help to prevent it. Assembly members will visit the nearby Sikh temple in Oak Creek, Wis., where a gunman opened fire on Sunday, Aug. 5, 2012, killing six worshippers. The Mexican Province (MEX) will celebrate its Provincial Chapter from 28 April to 2 May 2014 at Brigido Pérez 2617, Las Pintas, Jalisco. Mexico. The Sisters of the Mother of Sorrows Servants of Mary – India (INS), will gather for the 27th General Chapter from 3 to 15 May 2014, at Servite Generalate, Chennai. The theme of the Chapter is “Let Your Light Shine”. On 5 and 6 May 2014, there will be European Regional Conference Meeting at Milan in Italy. The Sisters of the Mother of Sorrows Servants of Mary – Pisa (Soure dell’Addolorata Serve di Maria - PIS), will cele-brate their General Chapter from 5 to 15 May 2014, at “Casa Accoglienza”, Livorno, Italia. The theme of the Chap-ter is “Here I am, send me!” (Is 6:8). The 29th Night Walk of the Servite Family in Italy will take place on Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 May 2014. The Night Walk will begin at 17.30 from Mestre and will end in the Servite Priory of S. Elena, Venice (12.9 km). The Ladysmith Servite Sisters will gather for a General Chapter on 27–30 June 2012, at the Siena Retreat Center in Racine, Wis. The theme of the chapter is “Prophets of a Future Not Our Own”, a line taken from a prayer by Bish-op Ken Untener on the anniversary of the martyrdom of Bishop Óscar Romero.

The information on 7th International Congress of UNIFAS (Collevalenza, Italy 4-11 August 2014) is found in our web site: http://www.servidimaria.net/sitoosm/en/ordine/famiglia_osm/unifas/vii%20convegno/Vii%20congress.htm