SOLTs hold general assembly

Members of the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity (SOLT) from all over the world converged on Corpus Christi July 4-22 for their General Chapter meetings and assembly.

Some 133 priests, religious and lay faithful attended the assembly that meets every five years to elect their leadership, look at the group’s needs and consider its continuing mission of evangelization.

“It was like a mini Vatican II,” said Father Rogel B. Rosalinas, SOLT, and General Priest Servant headquartered in Rome.

The General Chapter agreed to the request of Bishop Wm. Michael Mulvey to extend the term of Father Rosalinas for two years as General Priest Servant with the intention of working on the application for pontifical approval for the community. The SOLT Sisters’ chapter also agreed to the bishop’s suggestion and extended the term of Sister Anne Marie Walsh, SOLT, for two more years.

“It is my opinion that all his directions [Bishop Mulvey’s] to us are a manifestation of God’s hand again molding the Society,” Father Rosalinas said in “Communio,” a SOLT newsletter.

Father James Flanagan founded SOLT in New Mexico in 1958 and later moved its international headquarters to Robstown, Texas, which it considers its home base. SOLT is a Society of Apostolic Life of Diocesan Rite and thus comes under the protection of the bishop of Corpus Christi.

One of the topics of discussion at the general assembly is the society’s aspiration to gain pontifical status. Father Rosalinas said they were working closely with Bishop Mulvey to secure designation as a pontifical congregation.

“Bishop Mulvey is helping us to expedite this process. We are trying to respond to his great directions. He has been very helpful,” Father Rosalinas said.

Bishop Mulvey celebrated Mass for the assembly on July 12 and brought key members of his curia to show his support for SOLT. Members of the curia participating in the Mass were Vicar General Msgr. Louis Kihneman, Chancellor Father Joseph Lopez and Vicar for Priests Father Emilio Jimenez.

“I want to assure the Society that I am your bishop, I am your ordinary and I am here for you as well as my staff that is here and that is why they are here to say to you that we are working with you,” Bishop Mulvey said in his homily.

“This is an important time for you in SOLT today. We are to live the word of God first. The word of God must be there when we turn to our heavenly father: how did you forgive; when did you take up your cross; did you listen to those who were in charge; how did you use your talents; where is your humility; did you show mercy; were you clean of heart,” Bishop Mulvey said.

Father Rosalinas said it is important to understand that SOLT is a community of priests, religious and lay faithful and no one individual represents its mission. This too was a matter of discussion for the assembly that worked on setting out more clearly its identity and charism.

“We live a Marian Trinitarian spirituality, serving in ecclesial family teams in areas of deepest apostolic need, to bring all peoples into union with the Most Holy Trinity through discipleship of Jesus and Mary,” was adopted as the mission statement of the society.

Working in ecclesial teams composed of priests, sisters and laity is central to the SOLT identity. Just as the Holy Trinity is “distinct but inseparable,” so are the SOLT ecclesial teams.

“Father Flanagan was not directed by God to found three societies, one for priests, one for sisters and one for laity. Nor was he enjoined to found simply one society, an amalgam of confused vocations. No, he was bidden to found one community of three vocations, more strongly united because of the distinctness of the three,” the assembly’s final position paper said.

Father Rosalinas siad that anytime SOLT is invited to carry out a new assignment—be it administering a parish, school or ministry—it does so in ecclesial teams that include at least one priest, sister and lay members, be they single or married. If the bishop asking for their help only wants a priest, the society turns down the assignment.

While Robstown is the SOLT’s international headquarters, their ecclesial teams are found 16 countries throughout the Americas and Asia. They will soon start a mission in Ghana in Africa and possibly one in Spain. They are also looking at Russia and India as possible areas for evangelization.

Currently SOLT has 145 priests, including four transitional deacons and nine permanent brothers. The society also has 110 sisters.

Four women made temporary vows of chastity, poverty and obedience as SOLT Sisters at St. Theresa Church in Corpus Christi on July 14.  Two days later, on July 16, four sisters made their perpetual vows at Corpus Christi Cathedral.

Its lay members include married people, single persons, consecrated widows, consecrated virgins and permanent deacons.

On July 15, 13 women signed a renewal of promises as consecrated widows at Our Lady of Corpus Christi Adoration Chapel. These were 13 of 44 consecrated widows with the remaining renewing their promises in their home parishes.

A consecrated widow also makes the promises of poverty, chastity and obedience. These promises are made annually.

“The lay faithful sanctify the temporal order. They usually have a deep relationship with Our Lady and are essential members of our community,” Father Zachary of the Mother of God, SOLT, and General Lay Servant said.

It is Father Rosalinas’ hope is that SOLT continues to move forward as one family, “always in the service of Christ and His Church.”