Vatican, 26.April 2002. Cardinal Dario Castrillon, Prefect of the Congregation of the Clergy, praised today the charity "Aid to the Church in Need" for the formulation of its charisma. The Cardinal spoke during a Mass at St. Peter's tomb in St. Peters Basilica today. The Mass was being concelebrated by the Cardinal with Fr. Werenfried Van Straaten, o. praem., founder of the Work and all ist ecclesiastical assistants from around the world. They are in a pilgrimage to Rome as part of a general meeting of its ecclesiastical assistants.

The definition of the charisma of Aid to the Church in Need, founded in 1947, states in part that the Work is mainly based in prayer, in the contemplation of Christ, especially as the Good Samaritan. And as a pastoral service to the Church, to the new evangelization, with a deep love for the Church, the persecuted and the suffering in union with the Pope and the bishops. The charity also sees itself as a prophetic service to the truth of the Gospel and to reconciliation among men. Cardinal Castrillon said that to his knowledge, this is the first charity to formulate its charisma and to give it consciously to the Holy Father as a service to the Church.

After the Mass at St. Peters' tomb, all participants of the pilgrimage re-consecrated the charity and themselves to the Blessed Virgin. The consecration prayer says in part: "Mother of Sorrows, show us how to serve your Son with greater fervour and devotion in the poor, the persecuted, the weak and the needy".

Photo: Rome, October 1999. Cardinal Daria Castrillon (right), Fr. Werenfried (center), Pater Alliende (left)