VATICAN - Cardinal Tagle, on the occasion of the patronal feast of the Pontifical Urban College: "The pilgrimage of hope indicates the initiative of God that leads us to Jesus

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - It was in a joyful atmosphere, between prayers and convivial moments, that the patronal feast of the Pontifical Urban College took place on the evening of Tuesday, January 7. Founded at the beginning of the 17th century, precisely in 1627 with the papal bull "Immortalis Dei Filius" of Urban VIII, the Pontifical Urban College continues today to respond to its initial objective: to form future priests of mission territories and young Churches. During the opening Mass, which opened the celebrations, Cardinal Luis Antonio G. Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization (Section for the First Evangelization and New Particular Churches), in the wake of the Solemnity of the Epiphany that has just ended, used the image of the Magi during his homily to invite all participants to make their daily lives a pilgrimage to Jesus, following their example. The Magi undertook a long journey attracted and guided by the light of the star. "The formation of seminarians and the ongoing formation of priests, nuns and professors," Cardinal Tagle stressed, "must be a pilgrimage that prepares us to be docile and available to listen to the will of God".
The Mass, concelebrated by Monsignor Salvatore Pennacchio, President of the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy, and attended by officials of the Dicastery, rectors of the Roman colleges, some former formators, former students, professors, religious sisters and many other guests, was followed by the traditional festive dinner which was enlivened by the songs of some groups: the SIMPATIV group (seminarians from Indonesia, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, East Timor and Venezuela), the group from Nigeria and the choir of the College, East Timor and Venezuela).
Don Armando Nugnes, Rector of the Pontifical Urban College, thanking Cardinal Tagle for his paternal presence and his example of missionary life, also expressed his gratitude to all the guests not only for their participation, but also for the valuable role they have played in different capacities and in different ways in accompanying future missionary priests, and finally urged the seminarians to continue their journey in faith and hope. (EG) (Agenzia Fides, 9/1/2024)

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