Vincent Pallotti
-(1795-1850)
Founder of the Pallottine
Fathers, Brothers, Sisters and UAC
Vince is the man who speaks about infinite
as his adjective of choice. I suppose we could make some comparison to
the way the very active sport people use the term extreme sports today. For
them, pushing the limit is climbing a mountain by clinging to rocks with
fingers & feet or jumping off high cliffs on snowboards.
To be honest the terms may have something in
common but are far apart in their usage. Vincent Pallotti
was a man very active but not just for his own heightened enjoyment.
As a young priest, he was associated with men
and women of energy and vision. He became more involved in student
associations, retreats, parish missions and his spirit became attuned to what
he would call "the infinite Love of God."
For many of us candles are not used at home –
not only because we all have electric lights but also for safety, since open flame
is always dangerous. Still I think the fire on a candle is a very good example
of how God’s Love, Charity-in-Act was such an active force in his life. If I
hold a burning candle straight and the person next to me, lights their candle
from mine, I lose nothing but the other is now burning just as brightly. The
flame needs something to burn – a wick, candle and oxygen. Vincent brought all
the powers of his mind and heart to make his response, to this love of God real
and active. The words Paul uses writing to the Corinthians became a dynamic
call to Vincent and his followers:
"13For if we are beside ourselves [mad, as some say], it
is for God and concerns Him; if we are in our right mind, it is for your
benefit, 14For the love of Christ controls and urges and impels
us…"( Amplified Bible 2 Cor 5: 13-14).
Spanning the time from the Vincent Pallotti of the 19th Century to the Pallottine Charism of the 21st
century is the Union of Catholic Apostolate (UAC). Members see
themselves as:
–
a people called to
unity, for the sake of one another
and for the cause of evangelisation.
–
living an
apostolic vocation
–
animated by
one spirit – the experience of God
the infinite Love
–
having a
common apostolic mission, namely that
of spreading faith and re-enkindling charity in response to the experience of
God the Infinite Love and Mercy
Some projects and activities taken on by the
UAC Community :
–
Meetings to pray, learn and enjoy fellowship together.
–
Social gatherings
and prayer celebrations for Advent, Prayer of Christian unity and St. Vincent Pallotti feast day, also co-sponsoring The Walking
Pilgrimage to Our Lady of Peace Mission Cairn
–
Individual
members are also involved in a number of apostolic works. These include RCIA,
Pastoral Care, Baptismal prearation,
–
The Pallottine parish priests and Union
of Catholic Apostolate (UAC) members are
eternally grateful for this man who gave us this universal vision from his
experience of God as Infinite Love,
Fr.