Category Archives: International

STIGMATINE LAITY INTERNATIONAL ENCOUNTER – SEP. 8-19, 2016

Logo2
Stigmatine Laity
International Encounter

September 8-19, 2016

Invitation

The General Council, along with the Province of the Sacred Heart (Verona), invite the Stigmatine Laity to celebrate the Feast of the 200 years of the founding of the Congregation of the Sacred Stigmata with this following program:

Contents:      Rome:            “Jubilee of Mercy”
                           Verona:         “200 years of Stigmatine life”

Program:

September 8 – Thursday
– Arrival and accommodation in Rome

September 9 – Friday
– Visit to Rome: Vatican Holy Door /  Historical Center

September 10 – Saturday
– Audience with the Holy Father / Visit to the City / Mass in Saint Agatha Church

September 11 – Sunday
– Mass and lunch in Santa Croce at Flaminio.

September 12 – Monday
– Departure for Assisi and arrival in Verona / Sezano.

September 13 – Tuesday
– Bertonian journey in Verona

September 14 – Wednesday
– Verona: Visit to the Stimmate Church with the Holy Mass/Visit to the city/Evening entertainment.

September 15 – Thursday
– Visit to Milan

September 16 – Friday
– Visit to Lake Garda Sirmione: place of Brunora Ravelli/Shrine of the Crown

September 17 – Saturday
– Formative meeting and exchange of experiences/Holy Mass at the Shrine

September 18 – Sunday
– Dossobuono (ABCS): Mass, dinner and concert

September 19 – Monday
– Departure from Verona: Train Station or Airport

Fr. Tadeu Lima, CSS
Fr. Claudio Montolli, CSS

Back from the 2nd International Meeting of Stigmatine Laity in Brazil

Waltham, MA, Sep. 3, 2015

Hi, everyone,

We had a WONDERFUL time!!
We were told at the opening of the conference that it would be “Bertonian Immersion” – which it truly was.

There were:

1) excellent presentations by priests and novices on Bertonian history, prayer and spirituality – and

2)  presentations from each of the 11 countries on the Lay Associates in each country (startup, current formation, activities etc

3) a field trip to Casa Branca for the grand tour, wonderful dinner, and a novena Mass…. a two hour liturgy that was breathtaking.

4). morning prayer in the chapel every morning before breakfast

5) daily Mass in the chapel every day before supper

6) wonderful food

7) wonderful accommodations (they ended up putting the three of us in the Provincial House – Fr. Nelton was in the Provincial room/office – John across from him – Ruthie and I were across from Br. Joseph’s room (he was away during this time – we met him only the last day)

8) and several evening ‘entertainments’ put on by those of with enough talent to do so. (the American delegation decided to stay in the audience!)

Everyone was very friendly…. people remembered Fr. Henchey, Tereza and Vicente…

There were 11 countries represented: Brazil, Paraguay, Chile, USA, Italy, Thailand, Ivory Coast, Tanzania, Botswana, South Africa, Philippines & American. Thank God for the last seven I mentioned….. our common language was English so we got to know each other well. John knew several of the 4 Thai people (I had met one once) & some Filipinos –  and three of the South Africa folk had been our bosom buddies five years ago in Verona (Fr. Daniel had taken us English speaking – after the conference  – on that grand tour of Italy for a week.)

We were graced with another blessing: immersion in the Brazilian culture… because of assorting scheduling changes we ended up as the first arrivals and last to leave – therefore – at both ends, we were ‘one of the family’ ie eating our meals in the kitchen with Fr.

Nelton, the novices, the farm workers and female staff. (good sign language was the order of the day!)

Another blessing was that we were rested when the conference started, and then had some time at the other end to reflect on all that we’d experienced and learned.

I was amazed at the beauty of the complex – and how wondrously they’d designed it to ‘bring the outside to the indoors – and vice versa’ so that one lived enjoying nature and construction working in harmony… very impressive…

Ruthie was entranced by the parade of the cows who marched past our windows every morning, returned every night and sometimes grazed just yards away… then there were the beautiful birds…and, of course, the great kindness of every person at the complex – and the wonderful, wonderful food.

The trip down was without incident – and the long leg from Miami to Capison was only 1/3 full we could stretch out to sleep.

The return trip, however, was 25 hours. The plane was more crowded, we were delayed on the Tarmac by mechanical issues for three hours – missed our connection in Miami, etc etc…However, we praise and thank God for everything in every circumstance (I Th 5:17…. first principle of the spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius….and certainly the attitude of St. Gaspar! )

Oh, and yes, both busts of St. Gaspar arrived intact!

It was a great privilege to have been part of Stigmatine family these many years and we thank you for this.

Page and Ruthie
(and I’m sure I speak for John)

2015 International Conferences of the Stigmatine Laity in Brazil

This 2nd International Meeting of the Stigmatine Laity will take place at the Retreat and Conference Center of the Province of the Holy Spouses (“Santana Farm”) in Corumbataí, SP, Brazil, from August 24 to 31, 2015.

The Province of the Holy Spouses will be represented by:

Page Vandewater
Ruthie  George-Vandewater
John Marzilli

Follow the invitation letter and the documents prepared for this event:

  • History of the Stigmatine Laity in the Province of the Holy Spouses

History of the Stigmatine Laity in the Province of the Holy Spouses – a slideshow to be presented by Mrs. Page Vandewater

History of the Stigmatine Laity in the USA

Translations:

Storia del Laici Stimmatini negli Stati Uniti 

História dos Leigos Estigmatinos na Província Santos Esposos, nos EUA

  • American Culture

American Culture (English) – a slideshow to be presented by John Marzilli

Translations:

Cultura Americana (Italiano)

Cultura Americana (Português)

May St. Gaspar Bertoni bless all the participants for a fruitful meeting and a great time together!

Tereza Lopes