Happy Feast Day to all our Religious Brothers and Sisters from the President of NIPRELS

 

Dear brothers and Sisters.

On this great day in which we celebrate: the world day of the consecrated life, the year of the great jubilee of mercy for the consecrated life and the end of the special year of the consecrated, we rejoice with you all and say 'buone feste'! We thank all our members and indeed all the consecrated men and women who all over the world offer their lives and service for the holistic enrichment of the world. Our prayer is that the Lord who has called each of you may continue to remain with you to guide and sustain you and before you to lead and protect you.

We know that the live you live is not an easy one, yet you have lived it with apostolic courage and faithful trust in divine providence. You have heroically confronted the unknown making leaps of faith day after day, you have patiently born challenges, bruised but not bent, wounded but not worn out, humbled but not succumbed, chastised and chided but not chained! You have been misunderstood, prejudged and misjudged yet you have not given up! The testimony of your steadfastness is the visible increase in the number of the called in our country even today inspite of the meterolic rise of lewdness and propensity for sensual and corporal gratification.

For those of you who live with us here, we see from our encounters with you, great hope even for tomorrow and are greatly encouraged.

 

If the live is that challenging how much more for you who dwell by this "River of Babylon" here in this 'città eterna'. Yet, till this day, you have carried your heads high and not let your shoulders drop. Suffering but smiling! Holding forth like St Paul,  seeking to capture the prize to/for which Christ called you.

Without overstating  the obvious, we simply say that we are proud of you, especially for all your contributions towards the growth of our association. May your labours never be forgotten.

Our congratulations go to you all, our gratitude to your families (biological and religious), and for your different apostolates, goes our appreciation.

 

Congratulations once more! Happy feast day!  Grace filled jubilee! and Blessed moment of Self Re-dedication!

 

May God who began this good work in you bring it to a successful end.

'Coraggio e pazienza!'

Fr Stanislaus Okonkwo

President

For all NIPRELS exco.