Happy Birthday
23 February 2026
Joseph Kelly
Transcanada
Manuel Viana
Angola
Philippe Rivals
France
Richard Fagah
France
Joseph Boto
Madagascar
Willy Nketari
Paraguay
Michael Ejinkonye
Brasil Sudoeste
Michel Ossoua
France
Ronald Abraham
Zimbabwe
Joseph Umele
Nigeria North-East
Flavian Komba
Tanzania
Gabriel Liatova
Angola
Martins Ekere
Nigeria North-East
"A popular illusion about the nature of zeal is to picture the zealous person, as someone always in movement, always in a visible effervescence, always out of himself. This is the idea a great many people have of Saint Francis-Xavier, and wrongly, for Saint Francis-Xavier, although he had a heart burning with zeal, must have been very calm."
Francis Libermann
Cf. Commentary of the Provisional Rule, 150, 1845.
"Une illusion bien connue sur la nature du zèle, c’est de se représenter un homme zélé toujours en mouvement, toujours dans une effervescence sensible, toujours hors de lui-même. C’est là l’idée qu’un très grand nombre de personnes se font de Saint François-Xavier, et à tort, car Saint François-Xavier, quoi qu’il eut le coeur brûlant de zèle, devait être fort calme."
François Libermann
Cf. Commentaire de la Règle Provisoire, 150, 1845.
"Uma ilusão bem conhecida sobre a natureza do zelo é considerar que um homem zeloso é aquele que está sempre em movimento, sempre numa efervescença sensível, sempre fora de si mesmo. É essa a ideia que muitas pessoas fazem de São Francisca Xavier, e sem razão, porque São Francisco Xavier, mesmo com o coração ardendo de zelo, devia ser muito calmo."
Francisco Libermann
Cf. Comentário da Regra Provisória, 150, 1845.
Happy Anniversary
23 February 2026
Death Anniversaries
23 February 2026
Anthony Byrne
Beaumont Hospital
Peter Lafferty
Carfin, Scotland
Henri Wintenberger
+ 68.Muespach (France)
William Hurney
+ Alexandria (USA)
Christian Schmitz
+ Neuss-Üdesheim
Louis Anglade
+ Antsiranana (Madagascar)
Florent Bernhard
+ Fadiant (Sénégal)
FRANCISCUS Jean-pierre
+ Knechtsteden (Deutschland)
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In the wake of Itaici, recent chapters of provinces, foundations, districts and groups have shown a surprising dynamism, not just in facing up to present difficulties but in renewal and formulating new projects. Young confreres requesting their first appointment are not asking for quiet postings but for the most demanding of missions. We are also discovering that we are not alone: we are working with lay people in a new way. We are sharing some of our responsibilities with them, as well as our inspiration and spirituality. In our mission, there is no way in which are seen as inferior replacements; they have their own unique witness to give, showing a more authentic face of the Church, extending into ways beyond our reach.
Pierre Schouver, Christmas Letter, 1993
1841 Libermann
François Libermann enters the Seminary of Strasbourg to prepare for his ordination.
1861 Gabon
The school at St. Marie now has between 73 and 80 students. Six have begun to study Latin with Mgr. Bessieux -Àwhen he is not cutting, clearing the ground, planting with a cutlass or a pickaxe in his hand (B.G. 2, p. 229).
1969 Brazil S.W.
Fr. Ailbe O'Brien, with Séan Ryan as assistant, is installed as parish priest of Nossa Senhora do Carmo, Via Alpina, on the east side of Sao Paolo city. This is the first parish taken by the Spiritans in the city of Sao Paolo and has been ex-tensively developed by the American Province of the O.M.I.
1971 Papua New Guinea
The presence of Spiritans in PNG starts in 1971 when seven priests from the Irish Prov-ince who have worked in Nigeria arrive in the Mount Hagen area. These pioneer Spiritans and others who will join the team later will labour in the Mount Hagen diocese for nine years.
Dans le sillage d’Itaïci, les récents chapitres de provinces, fondations, districts et groupes ont fait preuve d’un dynamisme surprenant, non seulement pour gérer au mieux les difficultés, mais pour se renouveler, faire des projets. Les jeunes confrères qui font leur demande de première affectation ne recherchent pas des postes tranquilles mais les missions les plus exigeantes. Nous redécouvrons aussi que nous ne sommes pas seuls. Nous travaillons autrement avec les laïcs. Nous partageons les responsabilités avec eux et même notre inspiration et notre spiritualité. Dans la mission, ils ne sont pas seulement un ersatz, ils ont leur témoignage propre qui donne un visage plus authentique de l’Église et un autre rayonnement.
P. Schouver, Supérieur Général, Lettre Noël 1993
1841 Libermann
Libermann entre au séminaire de Strasbourg pour préparer son ordination.
1861 Gabon
L’établissement de Sainte-Marie compte 73 à 80 élèves, six ont commencé l’étude du latin avec Mgr Bessieux lui-même qui, la serpette ou la pioche à la main coupe, défriche et plante.
1969 Brésil Sud Ouest
Les PP. Ailbe O’Brien , curé, et Sean Ryan prennent la charge de la paroisse de Nossa Senhora do Carmo, Vila Alpina dans la partie est de Sao Paolo. C’était notre première paroisse à Sao Paolo; elle avait été fortement développée par la province d’Amérique des O.M.I.
1971 Papouasie, Nouvelle-Guinée
La présence spiritaine commence en 1971 : sept prêtres spiritains de la Province d’Irlande qui avaient travaillé au Nigeria arrivent à Mount Hagen. Ces pionniers et les autres qui les ont rejoints par la suite ont travaillé dans le diocèse de Mount Hagen pendant neuf ans.
Na esteira de Itaici, os recentes capítulos das províncias, fundações, distritos e grupos, deram provas dum dinamismo surpreendente, não só para vencer da melhor maneira as dificuldades, mas para se renovar, fazer projectos. Os jovens confrades que fazem o seu pedido de nomeação não procuram lugares tranquilos, mas as missões mais exigentes. Nós redescobrimos também que não estamos sós. Trabalhamos de outra maneira com os leigos. Partilhamos com eles as responsabilidades e mesmo a nossa inspiração e espiritualidade. Na missão, eles não são apenas uma imitação, têm o seu testemunho próprio que apresenta um rosto mais autêntico da Igreja e um outro brilho.
P. Schouver, Superior Geral, carta de Natal 93
1841 Libermann
Libermann entra no Seminário de Estrasburgo para preparar a sua ordenação.
1861 Gabão
O estabelecimento de Santa Maria tem 73 a 80 alunos; seis começaram o estudo do latim com Mgr Bessieux, que com a podadeira ou a picareta na mão, corta, arroteia e planta...
1969 Brasil Sudoeste
O P. Ailbe O’Brien, pároco, e o P. Séan Ryan tomaram conta da paróquia de Nossa Senhora do Carmo, Vila Alpina, no leste da cidade de S. Paulo. Esta era a nossa primeira paróquia em S. Paulo e tinha sido intensamente desenvolvida pela Província Americana das O.M.I.
1971 Papuásia Nova Guiné
A presença espiritana começa em 1971 quando sete padres espiritanos da Província da Irlanda, que tinham trabalhado na Nigéria, chegam ao monte Hagen área da PNG. Estes pioneiros e outros que mais tarde a eles se juntaram, trabalharam na diocese Monte Hagen durante nove anos.
Marcher ensemble dans l’espérance : le Cardinal Dieudonné Nzapalainga sur la synodalité, la paix et l’avenir de l’Église en Afrique centrale
Dans un nouvel entretien, le cardinal Dieudonné Nzapalainga évoque l’avenir de l’Église en Afrique centrale. Découvrez ses réflexions sur le 30e anniversaire d’Ecclesia in Africa, le pouvoir...
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Lay Associates
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