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Testimonies
about Father Marie-Dominique Philippe
Letter
of Sister Nirmala, MC
Sister
Nirmala, who succeeded to Mother Teresa as superior General of the
Missionaries of Charity, sent the following letter to Father Jean-Pierre-Marie,
Prior General of the Congregation of the Brothers of Saint John, for
the « return to the Father » of Father Marie-Dominique
Philippe.
Kolkata, August 27, 2006
Dear Père Jean-Pierre Marie,
May the pierced Heart of Jesus be your comfort !
Last night, we received the news of “going home to God”
of our dear Father Marie-Dominique Philippe O.P., your dear Founder,
Father and guide.
We, Missionaries of Charity, are with you and with all the Brothers
and Sisters of the Community of St. John at this time of your sorrow
and at the same time, the moment of Glory of your dear Founder who
beholds face to face God, our Loving Father, he has loved, contemplated
and adored, and spoken of all his life on earth.
This morning already we have offered the Eucharistic Sacrifice for
the repose of his soul and we will continue doing so. We also ask
him to intercede for us.
It is wonderful to see that Father Marie-Dominique Philippe went home
to God on the 26th August which is the feast of our Lady of Czestochowa,
connecting him to our dearly beloved Holy Father John Paul II, and
also the birthday of our Mother, Blessed Teresa of Calcutta. With
the three of them in Heaven, we can expect great things for the Church
!
We are deeply grateful to our dear Father Marie-Dominique Philippe
for the special love he had for our Society. He fulfilled a unique
role in helping us to deepen our understanding and our living of our
charism. He is a shining light in the Church and in the world of our
times, which has dispelled the darkness of ignorance and indifference
in many hearts.
We are deeply grateful to your Founder for encouraging the priests
of your Community to help us through retreats and seminars. In many
parts of the world, we have received your dedicated and inspiring
guidance all these years, and we pray that you may be able to continue
this fruitful ministry for many more years, for the Glory of God and
the good of souls.
I remember with great love my meeting you and dear Father Marie-Dominique
Philippe outside St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome on the eve of
our Mother’s Beatification where we had gone to rehearse our
parts in the Beatification Ceremony. I am sure he is smiling at us
from Heaven now !
We assure you of our prayer for you and for your community. Let us
commend our Congregations to the prayer and care of our Lady and that
of our dear Father Marie-Dominique Philippe and our Mother, Blessed
Teresa of Calcutta.
Yours gratefully in Jesus
Sr. M. Nirmala, MC
Superior General
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