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Letter from the President of the Apostolic Movement to the adherents

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 Dear brothers and sisters,

in this prolonged period of social distancing I thought of communicating many times with you. With great satisfaction I appreciated the enormous work you, priests and lay people together, have produced to continue the journey of the Apostolic Movement,  using modern methods of communication, ensuring continuity in the formation of the Gospel, through online catechesis, video call prayers and via web celebration broadcasts.

The tragedy produced by the COVID-19 pandemic, which ruthlessly recalled our vulnerability, has also made us rediscover that which really gives value to life and we often tend guilty to neglect: respect and love for our neighbor.

On the other hand, we have discovered how even in such a difficult moment the Apostolic Movement, which is rooted in the true and firm faith, strongly expressed the mission and service of charity that takes place in, with and for the Church. Despite the social distance, I perceived a spurt of spiritual growth of the adherents, which finds justification only in the very and unrepeatable origin of the Apostolic Movement, whose specific identity and integrity we are called to strengthen, making use of the talents received, in the communion of each adherent, the same mosaic tiles and members of the one body.

An encouragement to resume the mission with vigor comes from our Bishop, H.E. Vincenzo Bertolone, who in the pastoral note sent to the diocesan lay aggregations on the occasion of Easter 2020, reminded us that: “The Apostolic Movement founded in Catanzaro on November 3, 1979 through Mrs. Maria Marino, who is its Inspirer and the Founder… is an ecclesial movement of lay faithful… that works in parishes with love and simplicity, in obedience for the faith to the parish priests, reminding every man the word whole and pure, so that every person is brought back to Christ and is entrusted to the care of the pastors of the Church”.

A continuous exhortation not to get tired on our journey comes from the example of our Inspirer and Founder who, supported by the Virgin Mary, Mother of the Redemption, responded generously every moment of her life to the Lord’s command: “Go, Save, Convert”. Even now, she daily personally expresses her closeness and affection to us, urging us to unity, reconciliation, peace, prayer and to intensify the mission, believing in the grace of God that works its wonders.

In this period in which we gradually resume our activities, I too warmly invite you to continue faithfully on the journey of faith, to resume the mission in communion with your parish priests, to create unity in full respect for the dignity of all the adhering members and in the one body in the Church. We are supported by the certainty that the Apostolic Movement is a cradle where you can take refuge and from which you always reach out to the world, for it represents the reception of Christ Jesus’ souls.

Let us entrust our Founder to the Virgin Mary, so that, through her, the Lord may continue to train in his love and truth each adherent of the Apostolic Movement, so that as a single body, it puts to fruit the variety and richness of gifts and charismas, for the good of the Church.

Hoping to be very soon with you.

I greet you in the Lord.

Catanzaro, 23 May 2020

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Benedetto Caroleo