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2010-The year of the 1st
centenary of the foundation of Joseph De
Piro’s
Missionary Society of St Paul
On 30th June 2010 we members
of the Missionary Society of St Paul
will be celebrating the 1st
centenary of our foundation. Our
Superior General, Fr Bernard Mangion,
sends his message to all of us browsers
of the Joseph De Piro Official Site of
Canonization.
Dear members MSSP, benefactor and
friends,
The year 2010 (30th June)
marks the first centenary of the
foundation of the Missionary Society of
St Paul founded by the Servant of God,
Joseph De Piro. The Founder was very
conscious of the great gift which Divine
Providence gave to the little island of
Malta by sending the great apostle of
the gentiles who converted the people of
the island to Christ. God, through His
miraculous intervention, made it clear
to the islanders that this preacher was
close to Him and is worthy of belief. No
less miraculous is the preservation of
this faith through the many visititudes
the island endured throughout the past
2000 years. Joseph De Piro strongly felt
that it is the duty of these islanders
to "… to pass on to others what St Paul
passed on to us."
It is no coincidence that the Servant of
God had such a missionary heart, which
eventually gave birth to the Missionary
Society of St Paul. In its 100 years of
existence it gave its little share in
the spreading of the gospel with great
generosity. Wherever its members reached
they worked with great love and zeal
among the people and helped them
appreciate God's love and mercy towards
them. They always took special care of
the poor and the weak who are the
beloved of God.
The year 2010 should be for us a year of
thanksgiving and prayerful reflection.
We should not only thank God for the
good the MSSP has done but we should
also look around and find ways and means
to improve and expand our
various ministries so as to genuinely
witness to the goodness of God to his
people. The example of our Founder will
always urge and encourage us to become
true disciples and apostles of Jesus
Christ.
Fr Bernard Mangion MSSP
Superior General
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