On June 12, 2023, during the CICM 16 General Chapter, we celebrated the 200th anniversary of the birth of our Founder, Théophile Verbist.
Mgr Félicien Ntambue, Bishop of the Diocese of Kabinda and Administrator of the Archdiocese of Kananga (DR Congo), presided over the Eucharistic celebration with the participation of all the participants of the General Chapter, the CICM Community of Rome (from the Generalate (Casa) and the CICM Collegio), friends and the Belgian Ambassador to the Holy See.
Charles Phukuta, the outgoing Superior General of CICM, gave the homily in which he invited the community to imitate the daring spirit of Father Verbist by loving God and our brothers and sisters, especially the abandoned and marginalized. In response, all the participants thanked the Lord with the following prayer on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the birth of Verbist:
God Our Father,
You inspired Théophile Verbist
to dedicate himself to missionary work.
Your Spirit guided him to realize your plan of love
for the most vulnerable and led him wonderfully
to found our Congregation.
Thus, without delay, he committed himself
to the realization of your plan of love
with great zeal and faith.
His dedication and early death in China
were a seed that continues to bear fruit
for the Church and humanity.
As we celebrate the bicentennial of his birth,
we thank You for our Founder and for all those
who followed him as CICM missionaries.
Help us intensify the humble offering of our lives
and to be faithful to our religious vows and
missionary commitments.
May we live more fully “Cor Unum et Anima Una”
so cherished by Théophile Verbist.
Father, may your Spirit make us walk without fear,
following Jesus with Mary of the Immaculate Heart.
May your Kingdom of love and truth
be established everywhere
and grow without end. Amen.
