CENTENARY OF CANONICAL APPROVAL OF WORK OF FR. ORIONE

VATICAN CITY, MAR 20, 2003 (VIS) - Made public today was a message by the Pope to Fr. Roberto Simionato, director general of the Small Work of Divine Providence on the occasion of the centenary of the canonical approval of this institute.

In the message, dated March 8, John Paul II writes to the members of the congregation founded by Blessed Luigi Orione: "Only by remaining rooted firmly in the divine life and by conserving the spirit of your origins, will you be able to respond in a prophetic way to the needs of the present era."

"Creative fidelity in a world that changes: may this orientation guide your way, as Fr. Orione liked to repeat: 'ahead of the times'. If the centenary celebrations of the canonical approval help you to 'remember' the climate of your origins, re-living it, at the same time it stimulates you, also in view of the next chapter, to 'protect' new and courageous initiatives in the field of charity. May your original spirit remain intact!"

MESS;CENTENARY FR ORIONE;...;SIMIONATO;VIS;20030320;Word: 190;