ROMAN UNION OF URSULINES CELEBRATES CENTENARY

VATICAN CITY, NOV 28, 2000 (VIS) - Made public today was Pope John Paul's Letter to Rev. Mother Colette Lignon, prior general of the Roman Union of the Order of St. Ursula, on the occasion of the centenary of this institute, born on November 28, 1900. The letter, written in French, was dated November 10, 2000.

The Pope recalled that it was Pope Leo XIII who had the "happy initiative of gathering in one Union the many monasteries of Ursulines who had emigrated throughout the entire world since the foundation of the very first community by St. Angele Merici in 1535."

Highlighting their presence on nearly all the continents, the Holy Father wrote of their "solid educational experience, most especially in the service of young people." He underscored that catechesis can occur directly through the teaching of the Word "but also through the witness and example of a life given in service to the Lord and His Church." Transmitting the faith in both of these ways, he said, "is essential in a world where so many young people do not have the solid guidance which family education gives."

"Forming Christ's disciples who are capable of witnessing in their family, professional and social life to the spiritual and moral values which the Gospel has sown in the heart of man is an indispensable work in order for the new evangelization to bear abundant fruits in the century which has just started. In this perspective what is especially important is service to the poor, the 'little ones' whom the Lord wishes to be in first place and whom our societies, too often marked by an appetite for riches and competition, have a tendency to exclude from economic growth and social organization."

"In announcing the Kingdom," the Pope concluded, "the Church walks on the path of men and with them, she shares their questions about the meaning of life, she reveals the Word of the Lord to them and gradually reveals His presence to them, in order to lead them to the full knowledge of His love, shown in the treasure of the sacramental life entrusted to her."

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