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The congress there is a way… is the latest of similar international congresses for diocesan seminarians sponsored by the Focolare Movement.
1987: For the benefit of the Church and humanity
1989: The way of unity for the Church and humanity
1994: ONE, so that all may be ONE
1998: Jesus Crucified and Forsaken: bridging Heaven and earth
Drawing on the charisma of unity and the experiences of thousands of priests and seminarians from the five continents, these congresses have helped future ministers to focus on how to face the challenges they were bound to encounter in the Church and in other socio-cultural environments.
Congress 1987
«For the benefit of the Church and humanity»
This congress was held in September at Castelgandolfo (Rome). Some 300 seminarians from all over Europe took part. Just before leaving for the USA, John Paul II invited them to his summer residence for an informal meeting with the different national groups. Listening to the seminarians' experiences, an official from the Congregation for Catholic Education commented: “Whenever we discuss priestly formation, we first of all think about the ones responsible for formation; here I discovered what the seminarians themselves could do”. He encouraged them to go ahead in this way.
Congress 1989
«The way of unity for the Church and humanity»
This time the number of seminarians reached the 600 mark. Apart from the Europeans there were delegations from other continents. John Paul II went to the Mariapolis Centre (Castelgandolfo) to celebrate Holy Mass with them. Chiara Lubich addressed the participants on the theme: 'Reciprocal love: a fundamental nucleus of the spirituality of unity'. She invited them to become experts in the 'art of loving' so as to offer society a more influential evangelical testimony.
Homely by John Paul II
Chiara Lubich's talk
Congress 1994
«One, so that all may be one»
The Mariapolis Centre (Castelgandolfo) welcomed 850 seminarians and 50 formation staff members from 71 different countries. The title of the congress was inspired by Jesus' Prayer for unity: unity as the way to perform the priestly ministry in the service of the Church-communion, while taking in consideration the universal dialogue.
Addressing the participants, John Paul II said:
“It's good that you are here at Castelgandolfo, in this courtyard, because 'focolare' implies something very simple and yet very profound. It implies there is a togetherness. To live as a seminarian does not mean to live in solitude, as a hermit, but together with others. You live away from your family, and you live without a family because of celibacy; however, you live for others, in the larger family. I think that the focolare spirituality trains you well to live this vocation of yours” (Oss. Rom. 31.12.1994)
Video clip: «One, so that all may be one»
The life and spirituality of today's priest
Life experiences from various parts of the world
Congress 1998
«Jesus crucified and forsaken - Bridging between heaven and earth»
How can we speak about God to today's society? How can we be builders of unity even in the most difficult circumstances? How can we avoid our burn-out by activism? These were the main questions that the IV International Congress for seminarians tried to answer.
In a society lacking any points of reference, the new priestly generation rediscovers its roots: Jesus Crucified and Forsaken – bridging Heaven and earth. He is the model for the priest.
Taking part in this Congress were 800 seminarians from 79 different countries.
Video clip: «Bridging between Heaven and Earth»
The Pope's greeting
Dialogue with Chiara Lubich
Further reading: Being a priest today: to live and not simply survive
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Previous congresses
