On February 16, 2022, the Dieta General Fathers had a break during their meeting to attend the Wednesday General Audience of Pope Francis at the Aula Paulo VI, Vatican City. It was a big gathering of people with the Vicar of Christ, whose fraternal zeal and joyful spirit give so much inspiration to the Adorno Priests especially at this time of grief and sorrow because of the violent incident that took the life of the young priest, Fr. Richard Masivi, CRM in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The last meeting with the Holy Father was on April 6, 1988, when the then Pope John Paul II (now Saint John Paul II) visited the parishes in the Diocese of Rome. It was an occasion also that the Adorno Priests gathered to meet with the Vicar of Christ and Bishop of Rome in the parish of the Guardian Angels in Monte Sacro.
Thirty-four years later, during the General Dieta of the Adorno Fathers in Sacrofano, Rome, the Chapter Fathers, led by the Superior General, Fr. Teodoro O. Kalaw, CRM, the 60th Superior General, went to the Vatican to meet with the Holy Father During the Wednesday General Audience.
The Holy Father spoke about loving the Church, recognizing the goodness and holiness in the members as well as the inconsistences and sins of some.
Pope Francis would like us to ask ourselves, “…if, in our hearts, we love the Church. The people of God on a journey, with many limitations but with a great desire to serve and love God. In fact, only love makes us capable of speaking the truth fully, in a non-partisan way; of saying what is wrong, but also of recognizing all the goodness and holiness that are present in her, starting precisely with Jesus and Mary.”
He likewise adds that “loving the Church, safeguarding the Church and walking with the Church. But the Church is not that little group that is close to the priest and commands everyone, no. The Church is everyone, everyone. On the journey. Safeguarding one another, looking out for each other.
“I encourage you to ask for the intercession of Saint Joseph precisely at the most difficult times in your life. Where our mistakes become a scandal, let us ask Saint Joseph to give us the courage to speak the truth, ask for forgiveness, and humbly begin again.”
In the same note, the theme for our General Dieta this year; “A heart contrite and humble, O God, you will not spurn” taken from Psalm 51:19 speaks broadly about acknowledging the truth and recognizing our shortcomings, humbly asking for forgiveness to be able to begin anew.
After the message of the Holy Father, the Dieta Fathers waited for the opportunity to greet and to have photo op with him. When the Holy Father came to where the Adorno Fathers were waiting and after Father Ted was introduced as the Superior General of the Order, he affectionately tells Father Ted, “You are a boy.” The Holy Father also noticed that Fr. Ted’s shoelaces are untied and he said, “if you don’t tie them and you fell, your enemies will laugh at you.” All the CRM Fathers felt blessed and had a great time exchanging greetings that can be likened to friends who have not met in a very long time.
Father General presented gifts to the Holy Fathers, the icon of the CRM Three Founders: Ven. Augustine Adorno, St. Francis Caracciolo, and Fr. Fabrizio Caracciolo. Copies of books of our history as well as books written by Fr. Laurianus Banyuzukwabo, CRM on human trafficking.
Father Teodoro O. Kalaw, CRM was elected three years ago during the 63rd General Chapter of the Adorno Fathers. He has been ardently working hard in leading the Order to respond to the needs and signs of times.
The Dieta General this year began on the 6th until concluded on the 18th of February 2022. The outcome of this meeting seeks to bring the Order into three years up to the General Chapter in 2024. This comes with many changes for the good of the Order. Perhaps if we look back to this meeting with the Holy Father after many years from today, we may remember a Superior General in the words of the Holy Father, “a boy,” yet in him lives in the spirit of the Founders to animate, inspire and unite the religious priests and brothers of the Order of the Clerics Regular Minor always “Ad majorem Resurgentis Gloriam.”
