The Restorative Servants of the Holy Family
The Institute of the Good Shepherd has the project, in accordance with the desire of its founders, expressed in the Statutes, to form a community of religious women whose vocation conforms in every way to our own liturgical and pastoral charism. Given the youth of our community, this project has not yet been realized.
Nevertheless, a young enterprise, the Esclavas Reparadoras de la Sagrada Familia (Restorative Servants of the Holy Family) is supported and encouraged by the Institute at our house in Bogotá, Colombia. For the time being it is an "association of the faithful" under the authority of the Archbishop of Bogotá and the spiritual direction of Father Gabriel Barrero, superior of our local house.
This community brings together four young women from Latin America, and is preparing to receive several new vocations. We invite all young women wishing to know this community better to get in touch with them directly: esclavasreparadorasbogota@gmail.com
Who are we?
The Reparative Servants of the Holy Family are a community in formation. We were welcomed by the Institute of the Good Shepherd to live near their house in Bogotá. We desire to become a religious institute of apostolic life with a mixed vocation, that is, a life materially composed of contemplation and action. More precisely, a life combining the exercises of contemplative life with works of the apostolate and of mercy.
The name "Reparative Servants of the Holy Family" was chosen to show that, by means of community life, in the spirit of Nazareth, we seek to communicate to families the spirit of Christ according to the words of St. Paul: "through love be servants of one another" (Gal 5:13).
The sisters with His Excellency Bishop Luis Manuel Ali Herrera (right), Auxiliary Bishop of Bogotá and Vicar for Consecrated Life, and Father Luis Gabriel Barrero (left), Superior General of the Institute of the Good Shepherd.
What are our purposes?
Our internal end: The acquisition of Divine wisdom through the assimilation of the plan of love of the Most Holy Trinity, who calls us to live eternally within his "family". We seek to join the divine model of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph by sanctifying ourselves to accomplish the will of God, by means of holy obedience.
Our external end: We want to exercise the apostolate of the family in all its dimensions, recognizing the primordial effectiveness of prayer and sacrifice, to ask the heavenly Trinity for the Christian renewal of the family, following the example of the earthly trinity, the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. This family is the "apple of our eyes". We seek to help it become the first seminary for future priests, the first novitiate for future religious, and the nursery for vocations to marriage.
How are we going to achieve these ends?
First, we take as a rule of life that which was written by St. Louis-Marie Grignon de Montfort for the Daughters of Wisdom, with adaptations in accordance with the spirit and charism of the Institute of the Good Shepherd. We seek to follow their guidance and spiritual maxims, and we pray for their apostolates.
Secondly, we take as food and as a rule of life the teachings of St. Francis de Sales in his Introduction to the Devout Life and in his Treatise on the Love of God. His spirituality seeks to cultivate the perfect surrender of oneself in the hands of God.
Finally, knowing that the enterprise of the sanctification and the salvation of the Christian home is of a weight which exceeds human strength, and for which we do not feel worthy or strong enough, we offer ourselves as victims in the Holocaust to Merciful Love, following the example of St. Therese of the Child Jesus, begging the Sacred Heart of Jesus to triumph in families all over the world.
How do we exercise our prayer and our apostolate?
Our life of prayer: We attend Mass every day according to the extraordinary form of the Roman rite. We have vocal and mental prayer, reading and examinations of conscience every day. Each week we confess our sins to the confessor given to the community, with whom we also have spiritual direction. We have a monthly retreat day. We keep the fasts recommended by the Church: the vigils, the ember days, and Lent. Finally, we follow the spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius each year for ten days.
Our apostolic work: We seek, first of all, the immolation of our life through prayer and penance for the kingship of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in homes. Secondly, we dedicate ourselves to the various ecclesial works as collaborators in the priestly ministry. Third, we are working on the formation of Catholic women.
