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| A Priest Associate of the Holy Family tells his story | |
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early priesthood I entertained a great desire to bring together the priests of our diocese, united in love and prayer, to support, sustain and encourage all in fraternal communion. In order to realise this, I prepared a 'Priest's Calendar' giving the birthdays, feast days and ordination days of everyone, so that all might be united in their prayers on these occasions. |
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It was at this stage I had occasion to be in close association with the Holy Family Sisters who introduced me to the Holy Family Priest Associates. I find the mind of Pierre Bienvenu Noailles close to my aspiration, and I was drawn to him. It was on the occasion of my Silver Jubilee of Priesthood on 3 February, 1983, that I committed myself as a Priest Associate. The Priests Association, at that time, had not been as developed as it is now, and we were gradually brought into the knowledge of the aim and effectiveness of the Association as a great help for our priestly life. What attracted me most in the life of the Venerable Pierre Bienvenu Noailles was his great love, concern and burning desire to bring his priest colleagues together in communion of prayer and holy priesthood. I had learnt how he first attempted to found a Religious group for Priests, emphasising the poverty of the Holy Family of Nazareth and seeking God Alone, and how his efforts had failed. His zeal and devotion led him to bring the priests into his Association as an auxiliary group, having as his aim their sanctification, to be close collaborators of their Bishops and to be in full communion among themselves through group prayer, concern and care for one another. During these many years as an Associate Priest I have experienced a sense of belonging to a family of priests, sisters and lay people with true concern and care for one another. My spiritual life has been strengthened and enriched by the ideals set before us by Pierre Bienvenu Noailles. In his zeal for the glory of God Alone I have found that the spirit of God Alone gives me an inner force to live the spirituality of the Association meaningfully. My priestly commitment as a Priest Associate has opened to me a new dimension to live with greater zeal and generosity, to be available to everyone at all times in humble and loving service, motivated by the spirit of God Alone. The encouragement and support of our Sisters of the Holy Family in keeping the Association alive and active has been a continual source of comfort we enjoy as Priest Associates. We are very much strengthened and fortified by being surrounded by the prayer of all the members of the Family of Pierre Bienvenu Noailles, and especially by the Holy Family Sisters around the world. Fr Joseph P. Emmanuel Selvarajah, Bishop's House, Jaffna, SRI LANKA. |
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