From Gabon, where our Institute was founded 36 years ago:
Canon Bertrand Bergerot, the Provincial writes “A Marian procession and Mass with the students for the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary at the Notre Dame d’Ibékélia School in Libreville”.
RETURN TO THE SEMINARY FOR THE ACADEMIC YEAR 2026/27
As for the new ones, they were, as every year, at the Sisters Adorers in Noirmont, in Jura, Switzerland, where Canon Louis Poucin de Wouilt, Prefect of the Year of Spirituality, and Monsignor Gilles Wach, Prior General of the Institute, preached.
“Let us be firm in our ways, unchangeable in our resolutions, and perseverance will be the test of our self-surrender to God, and our deliberate choice of the devout life” Introduction to the Devout Life, Part IV, Chapter I
“In carefulness not slothful. In spirit fervent. Serving the Lord. Rejoicing in hope. Patient in tribulation. Instant in prayer.” Epistle of Saint Paul to the Romans 12:11-12
THE LATE DR ANTHONY COULDERY [UPDATED]
It is with great sadness that the Province announces the passing to his Eternal reward of Dr Anthony Couldery. He passed away this morning.
Dr Couldery was a long‑standing and devoted supporter of our work in Great Britain and further afield, offering his generosity and encouragement unfailingly over many years. His steadfast commitment to the Institute, together with his personal kindness and quiet dedication, has been a profound source of strength to our clergy and apostolates. His loss will be deeply felt, and we remain grateful for the fidelity and goodwill he so consistently shared.
We give thanks to God for his life, for his friendship, and for the good he quietly but faithfully accomplished. May Almighty God grant him eternal rest, and may Our Lord reward him abundantly for his charity and devotion.
The Requiem will take place at Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, Gillingham, Gedelston on Thursday 24th September 2026 at 1pm.
O most merciful Jesus, Lover of souls, we beseech Thee, by the agony of Thy most Sacred Heart and by the sorrows of Thy Immaculate Mother, cleanse in Thy Precious Blood the soul of Thy servant Anthony, newly departed, and bring him swiftly into Thy kingdom of light, joy, and peace. Amen.
A WEEK OF GRACE AND BLESSINGS
Ordination Week – 29 June 2026 – 3rd July 2026
On Monday, 16 seminarians and 5 oblates received the cassock from the hands of Monsignor Gilles Wach, the Prior General.
On Tuesday, 63 seminarians and 11 oblates received clerical tonsure and minor orders from the hands of His Lordship Alain Castet, Bishop Emeritus of Lucon in France.
On Wednesday, 8 seminarians were ordained sub-deacons and 6 were ordained deacons by His Grace Salvatore Cordileone Archbishop of San Francisco
On Thursday, Canon Mateusz Wlodarcyzk, Canon Sebastian Hugoboom, Canon Nicholas Johanni and Canon Toan Nguye – Ordained Priests for ever by His Eminence Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke. Later a solemn Te Deum was sung at Gricigliano followed by dinner and fireworks.
On Friday, the newly ordained priests celebrated their first Mass in the presence of their families.
Deo gratias.
CORPUS CHRISTI AT GRICIGLIANO
Corpus Christi at Gricigliano and the celebration of the 70th anniversary of priesthood of His Eminence Cardinal Simoni, friend of the Institute, now retired in Florence after 28 years spent in the atrocious prisons of the Albanian communist regime.
Solemn Mass, procession of the Most Blessed Sacrament through the gardens of the Seminary, Adoration and the reading of the Apostolic Blessing of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV in honour of His Eminence.
“I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he shall live for ever.”
(Gospel according to Saint John, VI)
“Whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily shall be guilty of the Body and Blood of the Lord.”
(First Epistle of Saint Paul to the Corinthians, XI)
“How sweet is Your Spirit, O Lord! To show Your tenderness to Your children You give them a delicious bread from heaven; You fill the hungry with good things, and the rich and weary You send away empty‑handed.”
(Antiphon of the Magnificat – First Vespers of the Office of the Feast of the Most Blessed Sacrament)
GRICIGLIANO OUTING TO LUCCA FOR GOOD SHEPHERD SUNDAY
The seminarians and their Superiors recently recieved many graces by a visit to Lucca which is around 48 miles from Florence.
During the visit, the abode of Saint Gemma Galgani was visited. St Gemma Galgani (1878–1903) is honoured in the Catholic Church as a Daughter of the Passion, a young laywoman whose short life was marked by deep humility, intense suffering, and extraordinary mystical union with Christ. Orphaned early and afflicted with severe illnesses, she offered every trial for the conversion of sinners and the salvation of souls. After a miraculous healing in her teens, Gemma grew in contemplative prayer and, on 8 June 1899, received the stigmata, entering more profoundly into the mystery of the Lord’s Passion. Guided by her guardian angel and inspired by St Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows, she longed to join the Passionist nuns, a desire fulfilled only at her death when she was clothed in their habit. She died on Holy Saturday at the age of twenty‑five, leaving the Church a radiant example of sacrificial love, purity of heart, and unwavering devotion to Christ crucified.
PROVINCES OF IRELAND AND GREAT BRITAIN HOLD JOINT PROVINCIAL RETREAT
The two neighbouring provinces of Great Britain and our confreres across the Irish Sea met recently at the Insitute’s house at Ardee, Co. Louth. The eight priests of the GB Province joined the seven Canons serving in Ireland for their Provincial Days.
It was a grace‑filled time marked by prayer, conferences, fraternity, and visits, made all the more special by the presence of Monsignor Wach, Prior General of the Institute. We were especially delighted to welcome Monsignor to the house in Ardee, where he expressed deep admiration for the beauty of the chapel and was pleased to see the excellent performance of the newly installed heating system. We were likewise honoured by the visits of His Grace Archbishop Martin and Seán Cardinal Brady, whose presence added further joy and encouragement to the occasion.
During the week, there were outings to Dublin, Belfast, Maynooth and Silverstream Abbey.
MONTH OF MARY – GRICIGLIANO
May – This is the month of Mary!
ICKSP: AROUND THE WORLD
A miscellany of recent photographs from around the world.
NEWS FROM THE SEMINARY
The seminarians have just come through an intense period of preparation and examinations. With that now behind them, they were able to pause and breathe, taking a reflective walk through the beautiful Tuscan countryside to pray and regain perspective after the busy weeks of study.
