Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Greetings of peace.
As we have been communicating for some time, the year 2027 will bring together two significant anniversaries for our community: the 150th anniversary of the birth of our Founder, Joseph De Piro, and the centenary of Brother Joseph Caruana being sent to Ethiopia by De Piro himself as the first MSSP missionary. It is as if two stars are aligning in the midnight sky, shedding a powerful light to guide our way forward.
A beautiful relationship between a father and a son
It is highly significant that we celebrate this double anniversary by focusing on the profound relationship between these two men. Brother Joseph looked up to De Piro as his spiritual father – a bond clearly evident in the manner in which they corresponded. The constant, persevering love Brother Joseph experienced from our Founder was, without a doubt, a source of great sustenance as he embarked on such a daring mission.
In the coming months, we look forward to sharing insights from an ongoing study of Brother Joseph’s letters home. These writings beautifully highlight the spiritual intimacy that existed between the two, despite the vast physical distance separating them.
It is as if two stars are aligning in the midnight sky, shedding a powerful light to guide our way forward.
Reflecting on this bond, we are reminded of Jesus’ words regarding His own relationship with the Father, passages such as, “I and the Father are one.” (John 10:30), “The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone.” (John 8:29). These words easily apply to the unity of spirit that existed between our Founder and Brother Joseph. With this in mind, we turned to the Gospels to find a motto to guide our celebrations, selecting the words of Jesus:
“As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” (John 20:21)
The truest way to celebrate this milestone is to allow ourselves to be caught up in this whirlwind of love – a reflection of the divine love between the Father and the Son – which impels us toward our brothers and sisters in evangelization. Truly, it is communion that powers mission.
Looking Ahead: Our Jubilee Year
We propose opening our anniversary celebrations on June 30, 2027 (our Foundation Day) and concluding them on June 30, 2028. This gives us a full year, as from now, during which each region and entity can plan how best to mark these significant events.
Of utmost importance will be initiatives that can help us deepen our understanding of these brothers and allow ourselves to be enflamed with the same fire they held for the Lord and His people. We look forward to hearing about your plans so we can inspire and encourage one another.
As the General Administration, we are committed to providing relevant resources to support you. In particular, we are currently designing a dedicated logo that captures the essence of these celebrations for everyone to use.
A Shared Prayer
Let us begin praying now through the intercession of our Founder and Brother Joseph, so that these may be deeply meaningful celebrations. Brother Joseph regularly asked our Founder: “Pray for me… that I may become a true missionary.”
On our part, let us turn to both of them with the same request, asking them to pray that we, too, may become true missionaries.
Your brother,
Fr Martin Galea mssp
Superior General.