Community project of Life 2021 -2022
“He appointed twelve whom he also named apostles that they might be with him and he might send them forth to preach.” (Mk 3:14)
Grateful to God, we start the 101th year after the publication of the Testament Letter and the First Constitutions. We are thankful for all the gifts He bestowed on us, first of all for the gift of community which is, indeed, a gift. In fact, when we, who are united in the one hope of our calling, are one body with Christ as our head, we are also members one of another (1Cor 12:12). This brings us all to the awareness that since no one has the capacity to receive all spiritual gifts, but the grace of the Spirit is given proportionately to the faith of each person, and the grace privately bestowed on each individual becomes common possession of all.
In this spirit of gratitude, the International Community of Theologate of Manila has chosen to focus on the community dimension.
Mindful that this dimension is now ever more necessary than in any other time, we desire to do the best we can, with the help of the Lord, in order to be a sign of unity and mission in the midst of the world, which is in many aspects divided. The ongoing pandemic only brought to light what was already one reality that few were able to recognize and accept: the reality of individualism and division. As an apostolic community united to the religious life, we ask the Lord the grace to strengthen our unity with Him and among ourselves “thus giving our own modest contribution to the fulfillment of Christ’s wish: the formation of a single Christian family embracing all humanity” (TL1). - 6 -
Through this community planning, we renew our commitment to listen to the Lord’s call, to be with Him, willing to be sent as His witnesses until the ends of the world. Our community wants to express once more our thanksgiving to God for our apostolic and religious vocation “in such a way that our external behavior will become the manifestation of the interior life of Christ within us.” (TL7)
