From 5-30 October 2017, nineteen Daughters of St. Paul from six different countries gathered at the St. Paul House on the grounds of the FSP Generalate, Rome, to participate in an International Encounter on the Pauline Charism. The theme of the Encounter was: Living the Mystical Dimension of the Pauline Charism in the Footsteps of Alberione and Thecla.
The program’s rich itinerary was designed to help the participants rediscover the roots and sources of the Pauline charism through formation and updating sessions on the most important aspects of the Pauline spirituality, complemented by the presentation of testimonies and models of life (the Apostle Paul, James Alberione and Thecla Merlo). This abundant input was interspersed with pilgrimages to the many places linked to our Pauline beginnings in Rome (the Queen of Apostles Sanctuary, the rooms of Primo Maestro and Prima Maestra, etc.), as well the numerous sites associated with the origins of the PF in and around Alba.
Before returning to their own countries, our sisters left us this simple but moving testimony: “To walk in the footsteps of those who preceded us,” they said, “filled each of us with gratitude, joy, a sense of belonging to the PF and a ‘holy pride’ at being a Daughter of St. Paul.”
