Eucharistic celebration and New Pauline Cooperators

On Sunday, 29 June, in communion with the universal Church, we gathered in our chapel to celebrate the solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, and be inspired anew by the lives of these two great apostles, our patron saints. We also welcomed our friends, Cora Calma, Rosie Kutami and Trish Spiteri who in the presence of family, friends, and members of the Sister Disciples of the Divine Master and the Daughters of St. Paul, made their Pledge as new members of the Pauline Cooperators and received the emblem and the Manual of Prayers of the Pauline Family.

Fr Anthony Capirayan SSP presided at the Eucharistic celebration and Fr Nestor Candado SSP concelebrated. In his homily, Fr Anthony beautifully described the meaning of the event, highlighting the aspect of thanksgiving, He said, "Eucharistic celebration and the Pledge of New Pauline Cooperators" are reminders that these two elements are inseparably linked. The Eucharist and our Pauline identity flow from the same source and toward the same purpose. As our founder, Blessed James Alberione, consistently taught: "We were born from the Eucharist and we must live by the Eucharist."

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Cora, Rosie, and Trish have reflected on Blessed James Alberione’s project for the Pauline Family in the world, namely, “to live and announce Jesus Christ, Master and Shepherd, Way, Truth and Life to all people,” and have embraced it with all their hearts.  At the very beginning, when he felt the strong call to do something for the men and women of the new century, Fr Alberione first thought of forming Cooperators, in imitation of St Paul, who invited men and women to join him in spreading the Gospel.

Cora has recently celebrated her 92^nd birthday and has been associated with the Pastorelle Sisters and the Society of St Paul for over forty years. Rosie has been a member of the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) Team with our sisters in St Luke’s parish for many years and continues to support our scholars’ program in the Philippines. Trish Spiteri, who has a love for pastoral work, has pursued studies in theology and spirituality, and now works as a Pastoral Worker in St Luke’s parish, Lalor.

Pauline Cooperators are an integral part of the Pauline Family, called to holiness, to witness to Christ according to their state of life. They seek to foster every initiative that promotes knowledge and love of Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Every Pauline Cooperator supports the mission of the Pauline Family through prayer, works, and suffering.

The celebration marked a memorable event in the life of the Pastorelle sisters and the Pauline Family.  It was animated by a wonderful choir led by Ms Medina and concluded with the sharing of a light supper and much conversation and sharing of life.

In the days to come, we make ours the prayer that Fr Anthony expressed at the end of his homily, “may we leave here today not just having received the Eucharist, but carrying within us the Eucharistic spirit—hearts overflowing with gratitude. We pray especially for Cora, Rosie, and Trish that as they embrace their Pauline vocation as Cooperators, they may live a life of constant thanksgiving, becoming living witnesses to the joy that comes from a grateful heart.”

Sr Mary La Bruna, sjbp