How
beautiful Heaven will be,
the Kingdom of
that God whom we serve!
But how much more beautiful will it be
for us
if a multitude
of souls
follow us there,
won through
our hard work
and the merits
of Christ.
M. Teresa Spinelli
In our Vocation Centre the Sisters
are responsible for the spiritual nourishment of young girls
who show interest in religious life. They give all the help
necessary to discern what God wants of them, by way of prayers
in groups, live-ins, seminars and retreat opportunities.
Then when they have fully decided to join the Congregation,
they are invited to spend several days or weeks in several
houses of ours, to gain experience prior to their entrance
as members in our Congregation.
Once in the Noviciate the
program is orientated to help the young sisters to discern
better and mature in their religious vocation. The Formation
program is the responsibility of the Mother Mistress for
a period of three years, until the young sisters are allowed
to take the habit and make the vows for a one-year trial.
The young sister passes then from the Noviciate to the Juniorate
for a period of five years, until her perpetual profession.
In the meantime the young sisters are helped to study the
story of our Congregation, the teachings of St.Augustine
and the writings of Mother Foundress, Sr.Teresa Spinelli.
Besides, they attend courses together with other religious
of other Orders or Congregations, men and women. After this
five-year period, if the Formator discerns and confirms
the vocation of the candidate, the sister makes her perpetual
profession and is assigned to one of our houses as a new
member of the community.
Brazil
Philipinnes
Africa
India
Malta
Italy
The
Religious vocation continues to be nourished by an
on-going formation. This consists mainly of prayers
in common, according to a time table approved by the
community as well as personal prayer. Other spiritual
help lies in weekly community prayer meetings, where
the Bible is read and shared, Adoration of the Blessed
Eucharist weekly, the daily Liturgy, spiritual reading
and direction as well as days of renewal both within
and outside the community with other religious, monthly
and annual retreats, and last but not least are the
courses of study about Religious Formation, the writings
of the Church, St.Augustine and Community project.
The conventions open
for all the sisters of the various communities, periodically
are a further nourishment to make us religious, Augustinians,
Servants of Jesus and Mary, grow in union and fraternal
love, to realise our charism of identifying ourselves
with the Suffering Servant of God, Jesus Christ and
live one heart and mind with him and with one another.
This union among the members reflects the communion
of saints in Heaven.
The sisters live in a community
of love whose aim is to sow the seeds of God’s Kingdom
in the hearts of the people of God they meet during their
daily service. Mother Teresa Spinelli writes: “Only
those called by God are able to live this life, those who
are determined to serve God within the community life”.
The Patron and Mother Superior of the Institute
is Our Lady, chosen by Mother Teresa Spinelli, our Foundress,
as the humble servant of the Lord to whom we have to look
up to as our model in our service for our neighbour.
