About Us
Congregation
We are the Congregation of the Rogationists of the Heart of Jesus (RCJ), or widely known as the Rogationists. As a Religious Clerical Institute of apostolic life and pontifical right, we are composed of both priests and brothers. All of us are grateful to the Heavenly Father from whom every perfect gift comes – our life, our vocation and our eternal destiny. With joy, zeal and dedication, we respond to the call to constantly become a living memory of the Lord Jesus Christ – his way of being and acting. We do this through our public profession of the evangelical counsels of chastity, poverty and obedience. It is our goal to grow in perfect charity, as Jesus himself taught his disciples.
Our Founder, St. Hannibal Mary Di Francia received a precious inspiration from the Holy Spirit, the Rogate; “Pray (Rogate) therefore to the Lord of the harvest so that he may send out laborers into his harvest”(Mt. 9:37-38, Lk. 10:2). That is why we devote ourselves to a fourth vow that is, ‘the understanding of and zeal for’ the Rogate. It is in accordance to this Charism that we live our consecration, and dedicate ourselves to the building up of the Church and to the salvation of the world. We do all these at the service of the Kingdom of God.
Our religious family started as a “small caravan” on May 16, 1897 with the vesting of religious habit of the first three brothers. These were the first ones who wore the emblem sown on the cassock they received, which gave the distinguishing mark of this humble beginnings. On a cloth was printed a heart with the following inscription “Rogate Ergo Dominum Messis Ut Mittat Operarios In Messem Suam” (“Pray therefore to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest”). In these words, the Congregation finds its identity and spirituality. As a matter of fact, the Founder himself reminds us, his spiritual sons:
“Now, here is a new community just being born which comes forth in the Church…It needs intelligent generous people, who understand not only its sacred mission of charity towards the neighbor, like all the other modern institutions, but also of that divine holy word that makes it unique and special: Rogate ergo.” (St. Hannibal Mary Di Francia, Letters)
Our congregation’s vocation and mission are born from the human, spiritual and apostolic experience of our Founder. He lived among the poor and the little ones whom he evangelized knowing that their prayer raised to the Lord of the harvest will blossom and produce abundant fruits.
Charism & Founder
MEMORY – GENESIS OF CHARISM: The memory was undoubtedly vivid as it was equally intense.
THE PLACE – was the Church of St. John of Malta in Messina, well known for the patronage of St. Placid, the martyr. The year was 1868.
At that time, the arch-confraternity, dedicated to the saint, organized adoration before the Blessed Sacrament. It formed part of the “circular” forty-hour Eucharistic adoration, which took place in Messina, Italy. As was the practice during the 19th century, it occurred two to three days after the feast of the titular of the various churches in the city, entrusted to Confraternities or the Third Orders, and also that of the Parishes. It was exactly in this circumstance, before Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament, sometime after October 5, 1868, that a young person “was immersed in the predominant thought of increasing elect priests, holy and apostolic men according to the Heart of Jesus by winning them from God through an insistent prayer. He felt that such prayer is the means to work a greater good in the Holy Church, to save many souls, and to expand the kingdom of God here on earth as it happened in the times of St. Dominic, St. Francis, St. Ignatius, St. Alphonsus, and many others” (from the Writings of St. Hannibal).
He was only seventeen when given the revelation of this prayer. Later on, he found that Jesus in the Gospel commands for such a prayer when He says: “Ask [Rogate] the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers to gather his harvest” (Mt 9:38; Lk 10:2). These words became the fundamental insight to which he dedicated his entire life. The name of that young boy was Hannibal Mary Di Francia. He was born in Messina, Italy, on July 5, 1851. His father Francis was a knight, the Marquises of St. Catherine of Jonio, Papal Vice-Consul and Honorary Captain of the Navy. His mother, Anna Toscano, also belonged to an aristocratic family. The third of four children, he lost his father when he was only fifteen months old.
In childhood he developed such love for the Eucharist. He, subsequently, was allowed to receive Holy Communion daily, an exceptional feat in those days. He proved to be of lively intelligence with remarkable literary abilities. As soon as he felt the call of God, he immediately responded by placing himself and his talents at the service of God.
After his theological studies, he was ordained a priest on March 16, 1878. A few months before his ordination, he met an almost blind beggar, Francesco Zancone. It was a providential encounter, which led him to discover the sad social and moral reality of one of the poorest neighborhoods in the outskirts of Messina, the Case Avignone. This proved to be the start of a long journey, which was characterized by his boundless love for the poor and the orphans. He made the said ghetto his home and dedicated himself completely to the redemption of its inhabitants. He saw them as “sheep without a shepherd”.
In 1882 he started his orphanages, which were called “Anthonian Orphanages” because they were placed under the patronage of St. Anthony of Padua. While providing the children with food and occupation, he brought them up in a way that integrated the moral and religious dimensions of their lives, helping them to discover and follow God’s plan.
He wrote: “What are these few orphans we attend to, these few people we bring the good news to, compared to the millions who are lost and abandoned as sheep without a shepherd? I looked for an answer and I found a complete one in the words of Jesus: ‘Ask (Rogate) the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers to gather his harvest’. I concluded then that I had found the secret key to all good works and to the salvation of all souls”.
For him, the Rogate was an explicit command and an infallible remedy. To carry out his apostolic ideals in the Church and in the world, he founded two religious Congregations: the Daughters of Divine Zeal (FDZ), in 1887, and the Rogationists (RCJ) ten years later. He wanted both institutions to live the Rogate as a fourth vow. The institutions were canonically approved on August 6, 1926.
To spread the prayer for vocations, he promoted several initiatives: the “Holy Alliance”, a movement of prayer for vocations intended for the clergy (now known as Priestly Union of Prayer for Vocations), and the “Pious Union of the Evangelical Rogation” for all the faithful (now known as the Union of Prayer for Vocations). The annual World Day of Prayer for Vocations that falls on every 4th Sunday of Easter, instituted by Pope St. Paul VI in 1964, may be considered a response to his intuition. Hannibal Mary Di Francia died on June 1, 1927, at the age of 76. His sanctity and mission as an “outstanding apostle of the prayer for vocations” are deeply felt in our time by all who are concerned with the need for vocations in the Church. Pope St. John Paul II beatified him on October 7, 1990 and called him as the “authentic forerunner and zealous master of the modern pastoral care for vocations”. On May 16, 2004, the same pope proclaimed him a saint. The feast of St. Hannibal Mary Di Francia is celebrated every June 1.
Rogate Empowerment Center of St Thomas Province-India
The Rogationists came to India in 1987. Over the 33 years, the Rogationists are praying and working for vocations in India. Various activities have been conducted over the years: Organizing World Day of Prayer for Vocations every Year with-pontifical Messages translated and distributed in vernacular languages, Posters, Flyers, Prayer for Vocations, Adorations and homilies on the World Day of Prayer for Vocations reached all over India, Vocation materials for propagation of Prayer for Vocations have been disseminated along with the, Studies and seminars conducted on the same.
In 2018 a series of REFLECTION-Study (four encounters) were conducted under the banner of HENOSIS. As we celebrated the 150th anniversary of the inspiration of Rogate, on the request from the Q. P. Council, the sector of Rogate and Formation had taken lead in organizing conjoint (RCJ & FDZ) programs for the year. REC takes lead on organizing different RELEVANT reflections and gatherings in vision of propagating Rogate under the title HENOSIS. The first program was named ‘Henosis’ and it had four sections and was conducted in different months. It was organized as the half-day (Saturday afternoons) activity of REFLECTION; ADORATION; and AGAPE. Some RCJ fathers and FDZ sisters are taking lead in giving reflections while a resource person would give the keynote address on EMPOWERMENT THEMES such as Recent Ecclesiastical Documents, Yoga, Sacraments etc., vis-à-vis Charismatic Empowerment (Ecclesiastical document’s relation to the Charism; Charismatic empowerment from the Genesis of the Charism to the First Superior Generals; From the fist Superior Generals to the Present Superior Generals accordingly, (especially based on the documents and circulars).
In 2019 a REFLECTION-Study (one encounter) was conducted under the banner of HENOSIS 209-‘Extraordinary Mission Month and Vocation Empowerment Today’). October 2019 is not just any Missionary Month. It is the Extraordinary Missionary Month (EMM) decreed by Pope Francis on the occasion of the centenary of the promulgation of Pope Benedict XV’s apostolic letter on mission, Maximum Illud.
As a Rogationist answer to the invitation of the Church, the Rogate Empowerment Center has organized a half-day program on November 9, 2019- 2.45 to 5 pm, with the tittle: ‘Extraordinary Mission Month and Vocation Empowerment Today’.
In 2020 REFLECTION-Study (THREE encounters) are envisioned. i. HENOSIS 2020-VOCATIONAL KEYS, ii. HENOSIS- WORLD DAY OF CONSECRATED LIFE 2021; iii. WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS 2021) In 2021 a NATIONAL VOCATION CONVENTION is envisioned.
Vocations.in and the Research
However, the research wing of ROGATIONISTS in India could not make any outstanding contribution to the treasury of knowledge on Vocations-India until Rev. Dr Joby Kavungal with this specific scope formed a BOARD OF KEY ASSOCIATES consisting of its key members: Fr Sijo Maliyekkal, Fr Prabin RS, Fr Anieesh Nellithanathuparambil, Fr Rinish Arackaparambil, Fr Nikhil Attookkaran and Fr Ljo Arackalan as its equip. With the help of these dedicated CORE ASSOCIATES of ROGATE, REC aims at developing a VOCATION LITERACY EMBARK in Indian Church, collaborating with various national organisms such as CBCI, CRI, NVSC, Religious Institutions and other National and Regional Centers. We will approach various areas on Vocations as platforms with a research and analytical mind.
The centre works with these ecclesial bodies to understand their research requirements and develop a customized solution that meets their needs in pastoral vocation ministry.
As an emerging efficient and only research Institute on Vocations, REC is able to provide the highest quality at national and regional monitoring, research and analysis services to help you stay in touch, informed and one step ahead of the time on VOCATIONS.
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