by Sister M. Victoria Victorino, PDDM
Our congregation, the Pious Disciples of the Divine Master [PDDM], was founded in Alba, Italy, on 10 February 1924 by Blessed James Alberione. We are part of the Pauline Family which is made up of five religious congregations, one lay association and four secular institutes. Our common vision-mission as a family is to live Jesus Christ, Way-Truth-Life, and to share him with the world in the spirit of the great Apostle Paul, using the most modern instruments of evangelisation.
Throughout this period of preparation for the PDDM Centennial Celebration, which was launched worldwide on 21 November 2022, we shone the light on the women disciples of Jesus the Teacher, who followed and served him. Among others, we take inspiration from the Bethany sisters, Martha and Mary, as primary models of PDDM spirituality and mission.
Blessed James Alberione himself gave them to us as icons of contemplation-in-action. The listening stance of Mary and the active service of Martha are two foundational attitudes that we try to live out in our daily life and mission.
Needless to say, this is a real challenge which carries its own share of tension and stress. Just recall the gospel passage in Luke 10:38-42, narrating the friendly visit of Jesus to his friends Martha and Mary. Here we have a glimpse of the challenge of Jesus to Martha—how to discern what is the “one thing necessary” and how to unify our lives around it, transcending all distractions.
What is that “one thing necessary”? To recognise the presence of Jesus and to be ready and available to serve him, in whatever circumstance he presents himself. This has been the challenge to us PDDM in all these 100 years.
We have walked through difficult and dramatic paths. Our first two sisters were chosen by Blessed Alberione himself from among the Daughters of St. Paul on 21 November 1923. With their help, he selected other possible members, and when their number reached eight, he saw that the time has come to form the new institute.
On 10 February 2024, the group was formally called Pious Disciples of the Divine Master, with the mission of honouring and serving Jesus, living in the Eucharist, in the priesthood and in the liturgy.
Why February 10? Because that is the liturgical memorial of St. Scholastica, the sister of St. Benedict, whose order runs on the pillars of “Ora et Labora”—Prayer and Work. Here again, is the reinforcement of the lifestyle desired by Blessed Alberione for us.
Orsola Rivata, one of the first two chosen by Alberione, was later designated as the leader of the new group and was given the name Sr. Maria Scholastica, which means ‘disciple.’
Presently, the Eucharistic-priestly-liturgical mission of the PDDM has developed into various forms and expressions. In some parts of the world, we have the publication of liturgical journals and books, but we are really more recognised and known for the liturgical centres and workshops which help nourish and form the piety of the faithful
Sister M. Scholastica was an intelligent and active collaborator of Blessed Alberione in moulding and forming the first members of our institute. While nourishing the contemplative spirit built on silence, recollection and prayer, she inspired many sisters to create new avenues for the mission, opening up workshops of liturgical articles such as vestments, devotional cards and the like. All these, while organising the perpetual Eucharistic adoration and the services to the Pauline houses, full of aspirants to the priesthood. These were the early forms of the three-fold mission of the PDDM.
But with this growth also came the tension and misunderstandings. The founding event of our congregation developed within the Church through episodes that bore the seal of the cross.
Father Alberione initially established the PDDM as distinct and separate from the Daughters of St. Paul. However, due to various canonical procedures they were joined under a single decree of approval.
The intervention of the founder, of Mother Scholastica, and the life offering of the first Pauline priest proclaimed Blessed: Father Timothy Giaccardo [1896-1948], all contribute to the institutional recognition of our congregation.
On Holy Thursday, 3 April 1947, the decree of diocesan approval was promulgated and on 12 January 1948, we were given the pontifical approval.
In the celebration of our 100 years as an institute, we continue to tread the path opened up for us by the women of the gospel and by our mothers and fathers in the faith.
More specifically, we are grateful to our Italian missionaries who planted the PDDM charism in the Philippines in 1956, then with the help of other Filipino women missionaries, followed the Spirit’s lead to share the PDDM life and mission with Taiwan [1981] and some years later, with the people of Hong Kong [2000]
More specifically, we are grateful to our Italian missionaries who planted the PDDM charism in the Philippines in 1956, then with the help of other Filipino women missionaries, followed the Spirit’s lead to share the PDDM life and mission with Taiwan [1981] and some years later, with the people of Hong Kong [2000].
Presently, the Eucharistic-priestly-liturgical mission of the PDDM has developed into various forms and expressions. In some parts of the world, we have the publication of liturgical journals and books, but we are really more recognised and known for the liturgical centres and workshops which help nourish and form the piety of the faithful. We collaborate as well with the biblico-liturgical initiatives of the Society of St. Paul and Daughters of St. Paul in the various media platforms.
Through the years, many sisters have been prepared in the field of liturgical arts such as painting, sculpture, architecture, music, as well as in interior design of liturgical space, pastoral liturgy and catechesis, hence fully enhancing the aspect of the Eucharistic-liturgical apostolate.
In some countries like Korea, India and Taiwan, we manage the Clergy Homes for sick and elderly priests. The younger sisters with specialized studies help in the formation of priests and candidates to the priesthood in the area of biblical, liturgical and psycho-spiritual formation.
Here in Hong Kong, our Italian architect, Sister M. Michelangela Ballan, was part of the team that designed the Church of St. Andrew in Tseung Kwan O. Presently, she is working with the diocesan team in finishing St. Joseph Church in Fanling.
Three of us are working in the pastoral liturgical formation of the faithful in three different parishes: Our Lady of the Annunciation Church in Tsuen Wan, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Wan Chai, and St. Jude Church in North Point.
In all these venues and instances, we are challenged to live out our call to be contemplatives in the world, unifying our lives around the ‘one thing necessary’ that is, the presence of Jesus in the Church community, as well as in the most needy and disadvantaged of Hong Kong society.
As we thank the Lord for the blessings of these 100 years, we continue to pray and work that “enlightened, guided and nourished by Jesus Master, we may multiply the inventions of apostolic charity to bear witness to the presence of God in the world” [PDDM Rule of Life 133].
The Centennial Celebration of the Anniversary of PDDM in Hong Kong will be anticipated on 15 January 2024 at 10 in the morning at the Church of our Lady of the Annunciation in Tsuen Wan, with Cardinal Stephen Chow, s.j., presiding at the thanksgiving celebration.
