In November, Fr Uday Marneni ALCP/OSS, Parish Priest of Tatura attended the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of his Order, the Apostolic Life Community of Priests – Opus Spiritus Sancti (ALCP/OSS), otherwise known as the ‘Holy Spirit Fathers’ at the Community’s Generalate in Sabuko, Tanzania.
Fr Uday is one of five Holy Spirit Fathers serving in Australia. He was chosen by his Provincial Council based in Hyderabad, India, to represent ALCP/OSS priests serving in Australia at the Jubilee Celebrations.
It was Fr Uday’s first visit to an African nation and he was inspired by the experience: “The Holy Spirit Fathers are one of the largest Orders of Priests in Tanzania, so it was wonderful to see the positive impact they have there,” said Fr Uday. “The celebrations were very vibrant and very participatory. In India we sing, clap and make hand gestures during Mass, but in Tanzania, people sing and dance throughout the Liturgy wholeheartedly; it was amazing to witness their culture in the Mass.”
The Golden Jubilee celebrations on 21 November commenced with a solemn Mass of Thanksgiving, celebrated by Most Rev. Jude Thaddaeus Ruwa’ichi, Archbishop of Dar-es-Salaam at the Holy Spirit Fathers’ Provincial House in Sabuko. Ten Bishops, 200 priests, 350 nuns, 150 seminarians and 800 lay people, from dioceses in five continents where community members render their pastoral assistance and ministry, participated in the celebrations.
Opus Spiritus Sancti is Latin for ‘work of the Holy Spirit’, hence the colloquial name, ‘Holy Spirit Fathers’. The Apostolic Life Community of Priests (ALCP), is one of five distinct communities which form the Opus Spiritus Sancti Federation* founded by German Priest, Fr Bernhard Bendel in the 1950s. (Although Fr Bernhard, is on record saying that he was merely an instrument of the Holy Spirit who is the true founder of the Federation of OSS Communities).
The ALCP was initially founded in November 1974 by two German priests to serve the rapid growth of these Opus Spiritus Sancti (OSS) communities. A founding charism of the Order is “to be an Easter - Pentecost community, sustained, awakened and penetrated by living in the presence or the Risen Lord and the Holy Spirit, believing in the continuous action of the Holy Spirit, carrying on the work of Jesus Christ, in the Church and in the world, until God will be all in all.”
Over the years the community of priests has consistently grown and has branched out to two Provinces: Africa and India. The Diocese of Sandhurst is privileged to have three ALCP/OSS priests from the Indian Province ministering in our Parishes. Fr Jophin Joy, in Nathalia and Nagambie, Fr Vijay Bandanadam in Benalla and, of course, Fr Uday Marneni. The Archdiocese of Brisbane and Diocese of Toowoomba also have ALCP Priests from India serving in their communities.
Image above: Fr Uday Mareneni on far right with fellow ALCP/OSS Priests from the Indian Province.
End note:
*The Opus Spiritus Sancti is a federation of five communities within the Catholic Church which, as well as the Apostolic Life Community of Priests, includes: the Community of Apostolic Christians; the Secular Institute of Diocesan Priests; the Secular Institute of Women; and the Apostolic Life Community of Sisters.
Every member of the individual communities becomes a member of the large family of Opus Spiritus Sancti by virtue of their Dedication and Lifetime contract with the Individual communities. Thus, members participate in the apostolic work of the universal Church and strive to:
• live our Easter-Pentecost Spirituality in witness to the incarnate presence of the Risen Lord;
• be a sign of the Church in miniature;
• attend to the signs of the times and respond to the action of the Holy Spirit in our lives;
• act as leaven for the renewal of the Church and the world;
• care for all of creation and to seek peace and justice in the world; and
• pray for a New Pentecost and to live the values of the Reign of God until God is all in all. (1 Cor. 15:28).
