60 YEARS CELEBRATION, PRECA, BROMPTON, ADELAIDE
Postcard detail.
Preca has been ministering in Adelaide, in Brompton and so supported by the MSC from Hindmarsh. Dennis Rochford MSC participated in the celebratory Mass presided over by Archbishop Philip Wilson.
Dennis and Preca members at the 60 years celebratory Nass.
He writes: "Preca works with youth and religious education in Findon and Hindmarsh and have a strong youth group drawing youngsters from adjoining parishes.
They have received support from the MSC in their work and publicly acknowledge this in their history in SA. From what I can see they build youth into declining parishes. At Findon, for Epiphany, the whole Mass was run by young people, including a reflection by a girl who spoke openly about a relationship with Jesus. That was after the gospel. They are a blessing here."
Most of us are not familiar with Preca, so a visit to their website found the basic information and a photo resource.
Quotes from the Preca website
The Preca Community officially known as the Society of Christian Doctrine – Societas Doctrinae Christianae was founded in Malta in 1907 by St George Preca (1880 – 1962).
A diocesan priest St George Preca, was born and lived on the Mediterranean island of Malta. Aware of the urgent need in spreading the Word of God and making it accessible to all, he was compelled to form an apostolic lay group to meet the need for a deeper formation in faith. Empowered to learn and teach the Word of God, the group flourished under his direction.
Contemplative
The Members, the Associates and friends of the Preca Family seek holiness by living a lifestyle marked by discipleship, prayer and work. They keep alive the sense of God and stay immersed in the presence of God through sacramental life, scripture and frequent daily prayers compiled in a prayer book called The Watch. Even though most adults in the Preca Family are urban dwellers they seek to cultivate inner silence. The Members in particular follow a neo-monastic Rule of Life.
Laity
The Members, the Associates and friends of the Preca Family live with family or by themselves, work full-time to finance family, themselves and ministry. Remuneration relating to ministry cannot be sought or accepted. The Preca Family lives an incarnational spirituality seeking to build the Kingdom of God and renew the temporal order.
Apostolic
Inspired by the fervent desire: Divine Master May the Whole World Follow Your Gospel, the Members, the Associates and friends of the Preca Family are committed to continuous personal formation in the faith and to give witness wherever they are. Members in particular dedicate themselves to a persevering apostolate of catechesis especially to children and youth as catechists, youth leaders and mentors.
Prophetic
The Preca Family is called to cultivate a consciousness which is rooted in the Gospel values of fraternal love, meekness, humility, poverty, simplicity and embracing contempt. The Members renew daily a special vow of meekness: never to take revenge, to be gentle and patient.
Celibacy
The Members of Preca Community dedicate themselves completely to God holding Jesus as “their sole object of their heart”. The Members embrace celibacy for the sake for God’s Kingdom as a gift, a grace and a unique work of the Holy Spirit.
St George Preca’s vision and eventually his mission were inspired by contemplating the words of St Paul to Timothy:
“and what you have heard from me through many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will be able to teach others as well..” 2 Tim 2:2 NRSV
The founder’s deep desire was: Magister Utinam Sequatur Evangelium Universus Mundus (M.U.S.E.U.M.) ‐ Divine Teacher, may the whole world follow the Gospel.
The Brompton centre in the late 1950s
The Preca Family lives its vision and mission according to the Catholic tradition and under the spiritual leadership of the Pope.
