Synodality and Communication
We are grateful to the Lord our God for the opportunity He has given us in these days to participate in the meeting with the confreres of the different realities where we are present as a congregation.
The occasion was the General Assembly held from August 29 to September 3, 2022, at the Generalate in Rome, where we gathered 14 priests and 2 religious confreres representing the different presences in the world: Brazil, Philippines, France, India, Italy, Mexico, Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda.
It was a moment of grace that served to get to know each other better, to pray together, to evaluate the journey since the last General Chapter, to plan for the remaining years of government, sharing community life and our experiences. All this in tune with the journey of the Church that is questioning synodality in its life and mission.
We also had the participation of people from outside our Congregation who helped us in this meeting: Father Tomaž Mavrič, Superior General of the Congregation of the Mission (Lazarists), who led the first day of spiritual retreat; Father José Maria La Porte, professor of institutional communication at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross, who spoke to us about the importance of communication in order to be present in today’s digital world; and our friend Massimo Ilardo, professor and filmmaker, who reminded us of some teachings of the Ecclesiastical Magisterium in this regard and invited us to always show our charism as Missionary Servants of the Poor alive.
The Assembly concluded with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist presided over by our confrere His Excellency Msgr. Vincenzo Bertolone, bishop emeritus of Catanzaro-Squillace. His presence always gives us impetus to face the challenges that arise and that we must overcome together.
Now it is time to get back on the road, more aware of what we have done and what remains to be done. Recognizing that we are fragile and in need of divine help, we entrust ourselves to Mary Immaculate Mother of Mercy, to our Patrons St. Joseph, St. Francis, St. Vincent and to our Blesseds Giacomo Cusmano and Francesco Spoto: may their intercession obtain for us the fruits we hope for and may they always guide us in the adorable will of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the “Human Word.”
