Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Agenzia Fides) - Yesterday afternoon, October 12, the Pontifical Missionary College St. Paul the Apostle celebrated the inauguration of the new academic year through a solemn Eucharist presided by His Excellency Msgr. Fernando Filoni, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. Present were also the Secretary of the Congregation, Msgr. Savio Hon Tai-Fai and the Adjunt Secretary and President of the Pontifical Mission, Msgr. Piergiuseppe Vacchelli, together with other dignitaries. In his homily, His Excellency Msgr. Filoni started from some reflections by Blessed John Paul II, as written down in his book "Gift and Mystery". He then applied this to the priests of St. Paul’s College and strongly suggested that they should develop three characteristics: a priestly solidarity, sharing of pastoral and personal experiences, and ongoing study.
St. Paul’s College is a residence for priests and religious brothers who do higher studies at various Ecclesiastical Universities in Rome. At the moment there are 190 students present (185 priests and 5 brothers): 99 come from Africa, 82 from Asia, 6 from the Americas and 3 from Oceania. They represent 54 countries. The majority of the students (94) attends classes at the Urbaniana University, whilst the remainingones frequent 12 other Universities or institutes, such as the Gregorian, St. Anselmo, the Biblical Institute, the Angelicum, the Augustinianum, etc. At the Urbaniana University the students follow lectures in Philosophy, Biblical Theology, Dogmatic Theology, Moral Theology, Canon Law, Missiology, Missionary Catechesis and Social Communications in an Intercultural and Missionary Context. Most are studying for the Licentiate degree, whilst some do doctoral studies.
St. Paul’s College, however, is not purely a residence. Together with the four moderators, students try to form a community where the Eucharist, daily prayer and spiritual conferences have their place, as well as social activities and sport. The choir of the college "Rex Gentium" just produced its second CD entitled "For you, Mary", a copy of which was given to His Excellency Msgr. Filoni and all the other visitors. For the academic year 2011-2012 the spiritual objective target is a text from St. Paul’s Letter to the Philippians: "Shine in the world like bright stars, holding fast on the word of life" (2: 15-16). And so the college and its students want to be, through the power of the Risen Lord Jesus Christ, witnesses of faith, hope and love in today's world of indifference and individualism. May the new academic year be a stimulus for all to grow spiritually and intellectuallyfor a worldwide service of the Church and society. (Fr.Daniel Coryn, OMI, Rector) (Agenzia Fides 13/10/2011)
