austraLasia #2873 Heart-warming interview with Mother Apollinaris SCJ
SEOUL: 16 June 2011 -- Brother Hilario Seo has
offered the full text of an interview with Mother
Apollinaris, the Mother General of the Sisters of the
Charity of Jesus (SCJ) also known in English as the Caritas
Sisters, or the Caritas Sisters of Jesus. They
were formally known as the CSM or Caritas Sisters of
Miyazaki, but that name altered officially several years
back. The Annuario Pontificio does not include
initials after their title, which possibly means that they
would alter according to language (SCG in Italian, SCJ in
English). Hilario is of the view, and we would back
this, having read the entire text, that the interview,
[accompanied as it is by excellent high resolution photos as
could only be expected from someone such as Hilario], would
be of interest to Salesian Bulletin editors in the Region
and beyond. If that is the case, get in touch and I'll
send you text and photos. In the meantime, here is a
taste of the contents.....
The interview stands out for the warmth and openness of this
superior general and, it follows, of the Sisters. One senses
the renewal, the attachment to the Salesian charism, the
expansiveness (and the expansion) of the Sisters' vision and
action. They describe their mission in terms of "words
and works but especially a life of proclamation of and
witness to God's merciful love for everyone, especially
the poor and suffering". They draw their
inspiration from St John Bosco and St Vincent de Paul.
The SCJ have spread widely throughout the
world. They are currently in 13 countries, about to extend
to a 14th (the entirely new national of South Sudan) and
have many vocations from a 15th (Vietnam). They are
currently in Japan, Korea, Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina,
Philippines, PNG, China, Australia, the US, Germany and
Italy; iIn fact the Generalate is now in Rome. This month
the Sisters gain their first PNG-born Sister - a blessing
after 25 years working in PNG, in Port Moresby, nearby the
Salesian administrative centre.
Mother Apollinaris warmed especially to
the question regarding challenges and opportunities for the
SCJ in the world today. She speaks especially of the drama
of loss of hope represented by suicide, the incidence of
which is so high in Japan and Korea that the Bishops'
Conferences of both nations have addressed it as a central
theme. Mother Apollinaris says the Sisters wish to
project a culture of Love, Life and Vocation in these two
nations, particularly where young people are beset by a
materialistic culture of success which is ultimately doomed
to failure. The Sisters confront this problem in many
ways through their work with families and the poor and
suffering.
Asked about the Salesian Family, Mother
Apollinaris marvels at the fruitfulness of the Salesian
charism as represented by its 28 official groups, and
highlights the importance of the annual Strenna from the
Rector Major as an inspiration and plan of action. Recently
she brought all of her superiors together in Rome and
brought them to the Rector Major so they could hear his
words as Don Bosco's successor. It is through their
belonging to the Salesian Family and also by their being
located now in Rome that they gain a sense of the Church's
universality and can think and breathe with the Church.
Mother Apollinaris took part in the Synod on the Word of God
and found this very enriching for the same reasons.
She noted the cooperation that is
especially evident in Latin America (she cited Bolivia and
Brazil) amongst member groups of the Salesian Family, and in
the same breath mentioned the close work between the SCJs
and SDBs in Japan.
Now the Sisters are looking forward
to their new presence next year in South Sudan. They have
asked their entire Congregation to be part of this venture,
to form an international community. They will commence by
drawing five sisters from various countries, and will work
side by side with other member groups of the Salesian Family
already established in Southern Sudan. _________________
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