The Pauline Year, an important and challenging event for the whole Pauline Family, has finally begun.
Rawalpindi
28 June 2008 While the Holy Father opened the Year by presiding over solemn vespers for the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul in Rome, our sisters of Rawalpindi participated in the opening Liturgy in the local cathedral. During the Mass, Sr. Shamim Inayat and Sr. Robbia James spoke to the people about the relevance of the Pauline spirituality today, highlighting how the Apostle served everyone by offering them the Truth, the Word of Life. This mission calls for hard work and sacrifice, they said, but God has promised his faithful laborers the glory of heaven.
Lahore
29 June 2008 The Pauline Year opened with a solemn Eucharistic Celebration presided over by Rev. Fr. Andrew Nisari, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Lahore. Sr. Magdalene Ishaq, our Congregations first Pakistani Delegation Superior, emphasized the significance of the year, saying that Paul was a great evangelizer and a tireless builder of unity.
During the Liturgy, a new statue of St. Paul was unveiled and two books in Urdu on the life of the Apostle were launched. After the Mass, the statue was taken in procession to our St. Paul Communication Center, accompanied by a joyful crowd of people.
On the apostolic level: the Delegation has published two new books in Urdu to celebrate the Pauline Year: Joshila Quaid (Leadership Secrets of St. Paul) and Muqadas Paulus (The Life of St. Paul). The first book, which offers guidelines on how to become an effective leader in the spirit of St. Paul, is meant for young people. The second, a simple introduction to the life and mission of the Apostle, is meant for all classes of people and was distributed to everyone free of charge so that they would have the chance to get to know this great figure. The Delegation is also preparing other material in Urdu on St. Paul.
Lahore – With the Fervor and Courage of the Apostle Paul
The FSPs of Pakistan celebrated the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul by means of a very meaningful and courageous initiative that was strongly supported by the local bishops and priests and also by our Protestant brothers and sisters.
The initiative was meaningful because it consisted of the launch of a new VCD and DVD on the Apostle Paul.
It was courageous, given the delicate situation of the country at this moment. But the fortitude and zeal of our sisters helped them conquer every fear. In just one morning, they disseminated 350 copies in Urdu in the parishes they visited in Lahore, Rawalpindi and Karachi!
Their juniors, novices and aspirants were ecstatic. In fact, all our sisters were surprised by the enthusiasm of the people, who joyfully welcomed the chance to get to better know the great Apostle of the Gentiles.
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