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TAU-INFO
Vol. 16 - No. 1 - March
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Year
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Publication Name TAU-INFO Vol. 16 - No. 1 - March |
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Rv 5:12
As we wish everyone PEACE at Easter, our thoughts go to the land of Jesus where the people are yearning for peace, but do not see much hope at the moment. However, even while we hear of killing and suicide bombing each day, there are others who are working positively and achieving peace in small ways. We pray that these efforts, however small, may bring forth fruit and sow seeds of peace among an anxious people. If your congregation is involved in that Land, we would be happy if you share something of their activities / involvement / struggle for peace in that area. In fact, Tau-Info is very meagre this time, because we did not receive news from our members. We invite you to send us any news of interest about your congregations, to share with the Conference. Thank you.
(In the following article, we see how Romania, after years of persecution is once again being re-built and we pray the same may happen in the Holy Land.)
Franciscans in Romania
Before beginning, I would like to write a short premise to help understand better the Romanian en-vironment. Romania is a country made up of three big provinces: Transylvania, Moldavia and Muntenia. Before 1900, these three provinces were separate: Moldavia and Muntenia were independent while Transylvania belonged to the Austro-Hungarian Empire and even if its population was predominantly Romanian, the Romanians were oppressed. In Moldavia, even if the majority of the population is Orthodox, there are a number of Catholics of the Latin Rite. In Transylvania there are also Catholics of the Latin rite, but they are Hungarian who have lived in these parts for so many years and are Romanian citizens while keeping their Hungarian nationality. There are also Romanian Catholics in Transylvania but these are of Oriental rite - Greek, Catholic and Byzantine.
The Franciscans came to these parts from the time of Saint Francis. At the beginning the superiors of the communities were Italian, but they were gradually followed by Romanians. Those who were most active in Moldavia were the Friars Minor Conventuals (OFMConv.) The Friars Minor (OFM) came here for a few years but did not stay long because of the difficult situation in which the Catholics were. In the 19th century, the Con-ventual Franciscans passed over to Transylvania also where they were inserted in Eparchs (dioceses) of Oriental rite, so much so that the Franciscans working in Transylvania became bi-ritual.
In Transylvania there are also Friars Minor (OFM). They belong to the Latin rite Catholics and are Hungarian. On the other hand, they belong to the Hungarian province.
The history of the Franciscans in Romania is that of the Romanian people and of the Catholic Church in Romania. They lived with the people and experienced all the difficulties and persecutions that the Christians, especially the Catholics, had to undergo. They lived through the Communist persecution. The Franciscans who belonged to the Greek Catholic Church were suppressed by the Communists and were expelled or imprisoned.
After the fall of Communism in 1989, the Catholic Church experienced a new thrust. Pastoral activity was intensified. The Franciscan Conventuals returned to Trasylvania (in Oradea and Carei), in the Greek Catholic Church. In Moldavia the Capuchins (OFMCap.) arrived and have convents and seminaries. Many feminine Franciscan congregations also went to Moldavia.
In Transylvania, because of the Oriental rite, there are not so many religious Orders or Congregations, but even there, since the year 2000, at Satu Mare, the Congregation of the "Figlie della Misericordia" of the TOR have arrived.
The sisters work in the parish and the nearby school to make known the Merciful Father and inculcate in the new generation the love of God and neighbour. Besides, the sisters continue a rich ministry in favour of the poorest and most needy children who are very numerous in these parts. Even children and young people are involved in this apostolate. To be more effective in helping the needy children, the Congregation has started building a Family House which we hope to see completed very soon with the help of Providence.
Sister Sanda Chirila
Satu Mare
9th December 2003
With this you are receiving Sr. Carola's circular with the theme and dates of the General Assembly in 2005. You will also find information concerning a pilgrimage to Assisi and the Rieti valley, immediately after the General Assembly. The pilgrimage is being offered to the participants of the General Assembly by the "Franciscan Pilgrimage Programs" in the U.S.A. This programme is only available in English. As you will see, a certain number of partial scholarships is also available. For regis-tration and/or further information, you are requested to write directly to the organisers whose address as well as e-mail address are on the enclosed flyer. We hope many of you will be able to avail yourselves of this wonderful opportunity.
Sister Enrica Gregoria has replaced Sr. Angela Fresia as superior general of the "Francescane di Mondovi" (No. 171, pg. 36 in the Directory).
S. Maria Eurosia Vidale replaces Sr. Mansueta Gentile as superior general of the "Francescane Missionarie di Susa"(No. 187, pg. 39 in the Directory)
Sr. Veronica Mäzler replaces Sr. Elvira Keim as superior general of the "Gemeinschaft der St. Anna-Schwestern" (No. 066, pg. 16 in the Directory).
Sr. Catherine McGovern replaces Sister Margaret McElroy as superior general of the "Franciscan Sisters of Mill Hill"(No. 097, pg. 22 in the Direct-ory).
Mother Elsa Alcaraz was elected superior general at the general chapter of the Congregation of "Figlie della Misericordia" (who have been mentioned in the above article on Romania) in October 2003. She replaces Sr. M. Berislava Smak.
Change of address:
The "Franciscaines Servantes de Marie" have changed their address to:
Maison Mère St Antoine
Service du Généralat
15, rue Monin
41000 BLOIS
France.
Our last issue of Tau-Info had just gone to Press when we received a communi-cation from the "Hermanas Terciarias Misioneras Fran-ciscanas" in Argentina, giving us the good news that, on the 125th anniversary of their foundation, the Relics of the Foundress, Mother María del Transito would be taken definitively to the Chapel built in her honour. This was on the 8th December 2003. We can still give thanks to the Lord for this happy event for the Congregation.
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