Celebrations of the patronal feast of the Congregation of Marian Fathers opened on the evening of Dec. 7th with vespers for the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary. This year we were led in prayer by Archbishop Marcello Bartolucci, Secretary of the Congregation for the Saints. After greeting our guests, Fr. Andrzej Pakula, General Superior, recalled the assembled that 2013 will mark the 340th anniversary of the approval of the first Marian community. To commemorate this anniversary, he proclaimed 2013 the Year of the Marian Community. In turn, Archbishop M. Bartolucci spoke in his homily about liturgical roots of the celebrated solemnity, its spiritual dimension, and the teaching of the Magisterium of the Church. Remembering the circumstances of the Congregation’s founding and renovation, the Archbishop called its history a “history of grace.” He encouraged the Marians to go forth on that road as if on “a pilgrimage of grace,” under the protection of the Immaculate Mary.

Several members of the Vatican dicasteries, as well as rectors of the Anselmianu, and Claretianum universities where the Marians make their studies, kindly attended the festivities along with the Roman friends of our Congregation. The celebrations continued in fraternal mood during the festive dinner.

Tomasz Sekulski MIC

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