BLESSED JAMES ALBERIONE
(Founder of the Sisters of Jesus Good Shepherd "Pastorelle")
James Alberione was born on April 4, 1884, in the town of San Lorenzo in Northern Italy, of a deeply Christian and hardworking family.
At the age of sixteen, James entered the seminary of Alba. On the night of December 31, 1900, as one century ended and another began, the young seminarian prayed intensely in the cathedral before the Blessed Sacrament. He experienced a particular light coming from the Eucharist and from that time on he felt strongly obliged to do something for the people of the new century.
On June 29, 1907, hew was ordained to the priesthood. The Lord had chosen James for a specific mission: to preach the Gospel to all people in the spirit of St. Paul, using the modern means of social communication.
In response to the the inspiration of God, on August 20, 1914, Fr. Alberione began the Pauline Family with the foundation of the Society of St. Paul (priest, brothers). In 1915 he founded the Daughters of St. Paul. Both congregations have the mission to evangelize with the media of social communications. He also founded the Sister Disciples of the Divine Master (1924), the Sisters of Jesus Good Shepherd (1938), the Sisters of Mary, Queen of Apostles or Apostoline (1959), and the four Aggregated Institutes (1960): the institute of St. Gabriel the Archangel for men, the Institute of our Lady of the Annunciation for women, the Institute of Jesus the Priest for the diocesan priests, and the Institute of the Holy Family for married couple and family. He also began the Association of the Pauline Cooperators in 1917. All these institutes are united by the same ideal of holiness and mission; to live and give Jesus as the Way, Truth and Life to the world.
On November 26, 1971, after having been personally blessed by Pope Paul VI, Fr. Alberione left the earth to return to the Father, On June 25, 1996, Pope Paul II signed the decree of the heroic virtues of Fr. Alberione, thereby declaring him Venerable and last April 27, 2003 declared him as Blessed.
At the age of sixteen, James entered the seminary of Alba. On the night of December 31, 1900, as one century ended and another began, the young seminarian prayed intensely in the cathedral before the Blessed Sacrament. He experienced a particular light coming from the Eucharist and from that time on he felt strongly obliged to do something for the people of the new century.
On June 29, 1907, hew was ordained to the priesthood. The Lord had chosen James for a specific mission: to preach the Gospel to all people in the spirit of St. Paul, using the modern means of social communication.
In response to the the inspiration of God, on August 20, 1914, Fr. Alberione began the Pauline Family with the foundation of the Society of St. Paul (priest, brothers). In 1915 he founded the Daughters of St. Paul. Both congregations have the mission to evangelize with the media of social communications. He also founded the Sister Disciples of the Divine Master (1924), the Sisters of Jesus Good Shepherd (1938), the Sisters of Mary, Queen of Apostles or Apostoline (1959), and the four Aggregated Institutes (1960): the institute of St. Gabriel the Archangel for men, the Institute of our Lady of the Annunciation for women, the Institute of Jesus the Priest for the diocesan priests, and the Institute of the Holy Family for married couple and family. He also began the Association of the Pauline Cooperators in 1917. All these institutes are united by the same ideal of holiness and mission; to live and give Jesus as the Way, Truth and Life to the world.
On November 26, 1971, after having been personally blessed by Pope Paul VI, Fr. Alberione left the earth to return to the Father, On June 25, 1996, Pope Paul II signed the decree of the heroic virtues of Fr. Alberione, thereby declaring him Venerable and last April 27, 2003 declared him as Blessed.