By Fr George Kolodziej SDS
A great and long awaited event for the Salvatorians in Australia and worldwide is scheduled to take place on 15 May 2021 at the Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran in Rome.
The ceremony of beatification of Fr Francis Mary of the Cross Jordan, Founder of the Salvatorians, will be presided over by Cardinal Angelo De Donatis, Vicar General of His Holiness, Pope Francis.
The Beatification
This will be the most significant event in Salvatorian history, from the time of its founding to the present day.
What makes this event more profound, is during these uncertain times of the COVID-19 pandemic and all its ramifications, we are still able to unite as a family and celebrate this historic event.
Due to current travel restrictions worldwide rendering it impossible for many to attend this celebration in Rome, we are blessed to be able to take part in the beatification of Fr Francis Jordan through live streaming offered by the Catholic TV station TELEPACE, which can be accessed via: https://telepacenews.it/diretta/
Everyone is invited to join in this celebration, with the following projected times:
- Rite of Beatification at Basilica of St John Lateran:
15 May 2021 at 10.30 a.m. (Italian time) (6:30 pm – Sydney/Melbourne Time, 4:30 pm – Perth Time) - Mass of thanksgiving for the new Blessed Francis
Jordan at St Peter’s Basilica:
16 May 2021 at 15:00 (Italian time) (11:00 pm – Sydney/Melbourne Time, 9:00 pm – Perth Time)
Fr Francis Jordan
Father Francis Jordan was born on 16 June 1848 in Gurtweil, a small town in the Archdiocese of Freiburg, Germany.
After ordination to the priesthood on 21 July 1878, he was sent to Rome, where he spent the most part of his life.
Motivated by the apostolic zeal and desire to make Jesus Christ, Saviour of the world, known and loved by all people, everywhere, he founded the Society of the Divine Savior (Salvatorians) in 1881 and the Congregation of the Sisters of the Divine Savior (Salvatorian Sisters) in 1888.
He also organised groups of lay people to take part in the Church´s mission of evangelisation using all ways and means.
He died on 8 September 1918 in Tafers in Switzerland.
The Miracle
A young couple that was expecting a baby in 2014 in Jundiai, Brazil, was informed by several medical doctors and specialists that their unborn child was suffering an uncurable bone disease called skeletal dysplasia.
Being members of a group of lay Salvatorians, the parents began to pray through the intercession of the Venerable Servant of God, Fr Francis Jordan, inviting other members of the Salvatorian Family to join them.
The child was born in a complete healthy condition on 8 September 2014, the day of Fr Francis Jordan´s death anniversary.
After the required canonical procedures had been successfully completed, the Holy Father, Pope Francis declared that this miraculous healing was worked by God through the intercession of Fr Francis Jordan.
The Society of the Divine Savior in Australia
The Society of the Divine Savior’s (Salvatorians) history in Australia began in 1961, following a letter of invitation sent a few years earlier by the Archbishop of Perth, Redmond Prendiville to the head of the Society in Rome, Fr Bonaventura Schweizer.
In response to this invitation, Fr Schweizer sent the first Salvatorian Father, Fr Paul Keyte to Australia in 1961.
Fr Paul was appointed to take pastoral care of the newly established parish of Bellevue and then, Greenmount.
Since then, thanks to the growth and wonderful personal support of the Polish Province of the Salvatorians, the Society has been able to extend, undertaking pastoral care in several parishes in the Perth region, including Balcatta, Ocean Reef, Nollamara and Clarkson as well as some regional areas of Western Australia.
After the turn of the century, the Salvatorian Fathers have also been involved in the ministry of parishes in the Broken Bay Diocese in New South Wales and in some Sydney and Melbourne parishes.
Following the teaching their founder, Fr Francis Jordan, the Salvatorian Fathers aim to take a broad approach to their priestly ministry, not restricting themselves to the parish pastoral ministry only.
Rather, over the last several years, they have extended to reach all facets of life by engaging in ministry, such as school chaplaincy and providing spiritual retreat facilities following the establishment of the new Spirituality Centre at Currambine in 2018.
Local celebrations of this event will take place on Wednesday, 8 September 2021 with a Thanksgiving Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral, Victoria Square, Perth WA commencing at 6pm. Please record this date in your diaries to join in the celebrations!