On the occasion of Pro Orantibus Day, the 21st of November, the Nuns Secretariat in the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, organised again this year a celebration in the Pontifical Angelicum University in Rome. The day opened with the celebration of the Eucharist led by the Prefect, Card. João Braz de Aviz..That was followed by an address by the Secretary, Archbishop José Rodriguez Carballo e and Fr. Ciro Bova, OP, on the relevance today of the contemplative life. Archbishop Carballo highlighted two “temptations” and ten challenges. The Dominicans, Sr. Sr. Maria Pia Fragni, OP, of the monastery of Pratovecchio, and Sr. Maria Felicita Amigoni, OP, of the monastery of Bergamo, offered two personal accounts regarding the importance of uniting contemplation and visibility, even through an apostolate exercised in silence.
Inspired by this Day, the General Delegate for the Carmelite Nuns, Fr. Mario Alfarano, O.Carm, sent out a circular inviting people to pray for the Carmelite nuns living in 85 monasteries and for the eremitical communities in the Order, of both men and women. Along with the request for prayer, he invited people to make a voluntary financial contribution to the construction of the new monastery in Mutare, Zimbabwe, a very recent foundation.