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Dear Sisters and Friends
Greetings to you from Rome. We have begun the Lenten season on Ash Wednesday in the Catholic Church and people all over the world are earnestly praying, especially for healing of our Holy Father Pope Francis during these days of his illness. Rome community has been joining in the evening rosary at St.Peter’s square and online every evening. In spite of his ill health, Pope Francis has given us a beautiful Lenten message.
“We begin our annual pilgrimage of Lent in faith and hope with the penitential rite of the imposition of ashes. The Church, our mother and teacher, invites us to open our hearts to God’s grace, so that we can celebrate with great joy the paschal victory of Christ…” Pope Francis invites us to journey, to journey together and to journey together in hope as pilgrims of hope. He says, “The Church is called to walk together, to be synodal. We are called to walk at the side of others, and never as lone travellers. The Holy Spirit impels us not to remain self-absorbed, but to leave ourselves behind and keep walking towards God and our brothers and sisters.”
On 7 February, on the feast of St. Josephine Bakhita, I had the opportunity to meet with Pope Francis with a group of young volunteers from all over the world, working on anti-trafficking movement. During this meeting, I was able to share with Pope about our Sisters in Myanmar who run an anti-trafficking program at Kawthaung, Thai-Burma border and the concerns and problems our sisters and people of Myanmar are facing now. The Pope listened intently and assured me of his prayers and blessings for the people of Myanmar. Let us continue to pray for Pope Francis! Thank you for all your support and God bless you!
Smitha Thomas RNDM
RNDM International Mission Newsletter March 2025
