One Heart One Spirit Newsletter - Winter 2019
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December 18, 2019
Lay Spiritans Renew Commitment, Embody Spirit of Selfless Giving
On October 2, the Feast Day of Spiritan founder Claude Poullart des Places, several Lay Spiritans made a renewal of commitment at the Spiritan Center in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania.
During a special Mass celebrated by Fr. Bill Christy, C.S.Sp., Debbie Zugates made a permanent commitment as a Lay Spiritan, as Carol Serafin, Tom Berna, and Janet Berna renewed their commitment.
Lay Spiritans are a special group of people who feel a call to lead their whole life according to the Spiritan charism, and show this by a commitment within the Congregation.
These “inspired laity” are moved by the Holy Spirit to serve the poorest of the poor, those who are vulnerable and at risk of being excluded from society. Read More.Greetings from SOMA
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Download Newsletter Celebrating the Feast of "Second Founder" Francis Libermann
On February 2, we celebrate the Feast Day of Spiritan "second founder," Ven. Francis Libermann, C.S.Sp.
Venerable Francis Libermann had a most remarkable journey of faith. He was born into an orthodox Jewish family in the Alsace region of France in 1802, and given the name Jacob.
Jacob Libermann’s father was a rabbi, and Jacob was preparing to become a rabbi himself when his studies led him to the New Testament and to Christianity. He was baptized Francis Mary Paul, in 1826, at Christmas.Soon he was studying for the Catholic priesthood, but violent attacks of epilepsy put his vocation on hold. It was fifteen years before he was finally ordained.
In 1841, Francis Libermann founded the Congregation of the Holy Heart of Mary, encouraged by the Pope to serve as missionaries to the slaves and former slaves in the French colonies of the Caribbean, Indian Ocean, and Africa. Read more.
