دير مار موسى الحبشي Deir Mar Musa al-Habashi

Fr. Paolo Dall’Oglio

Its a long time that I’ve had the desire to write some thoughts about the evangelical consecrated chastity in the global and interreligious context. A question will arise, where is the link between this item and the world crisis that we are passing through, and what positive things could this argument produce?

Jens Petzold, who was baptised four years ago in the monastery, consecrated himself to God in the monastic profession during the celebration of the Eucharist on Easter Monday. Boutros Abo did the same on the feast of the Cross, September 14, after almost five years of life in the monastery.

Letter to the Friends of the Monastery of Saint Moses, 1998 

We have some good news that we would like to share with you.

In April 1997 Father Paulo was received back into the Society of Jesus. The community of the monastery has been through a period of uncertainty but this has also been a time of openness to the Lord, through dialogue with the Bishop and the Society of Jesus. For some months Paolo has divided his time between the community of the monastery, some Maronite parishes and constructing a house for spiritual exercises as the assistant to an elderly Jesuit. Finally in October he returned to Deir Mar Musa full-time. He is now working to the foundation of the monastery, for which he received a mission by the Society of Jesus, as requested by the local Bishop. This was good news for everybody. It was a strong experience of discernment in the Church and was a great consolation for many Friends of Mar Musa, Paolo and the Jesuits. It also was a cause of edification for the faithful, who always find it difficult to accept the tensions between personal calls and institutions. So give thanks to the Lord!