16 June is a special day for the Salvatorian Family: it is the birthday of our Founder Fr. Francis Jordan in 1848. Most probably during his own life, birthdays were not used to be celebrated. But times have changed and now we take it as a moment to thank God for the gift of life of this man of God.
In the Motherhouse community the confreres gathered for a prayer service, near to the tomb of Fr.Francis Jordan, reflecting on the deep relation Fr. Francis Jordan had with the Scripture. The memory of the birthday itself was started with the Eucharist, giving thanks for the life or our Founder, reflecting on the following quote of Fr. Francis´ spiritual diary: “For you the first and most important thing should always be to become holy and pleasing to God, so to live and so to die. With God´s grace eliminate whatever in any way does not lead to this goal or hinders its attainment.” (SD I/31)
However, the celebration was not limited to its spiritual dimension. Fraternal sharing, with some food and drinks made this day a bit different from other working days and made us grow in our commitment as a religious community that is called to witness God´s goodness and kindness that was revealed in a unique and definite way through his Son, Jesus, the Saviour of the world.
