Vincentian Studies Course - Codify

VINCENTIAN STUDIES COURSE

BOQUERON, CHIRIQUI, PANA

JOHN P. PRAGER, C.M. 1995

4. THE CONSTITUTIONS: APOSTOLIC ACTIVITY

GOAL: Understand the criteria for the Vincentian Apostolate

READINGS FOR THE TEACHER:

Antonello, E., "Le Missionnaire Vincentien et les Pauvres, Vincentiana 28 (l984), p. 785-795.

Baylach, J.O., "La C.M. y la Nueva Evangelización pedida por el Santo Padre," CLAPVI 69 (l990), p. 367-398.

Braga, C., "Renovación de las Formas del Servicio al Clero," Anales 91 (l983), p. 170-181.

Claffey, D., "Teología de la Liberación y la Nueva Evangelización, CLAPVI 66 (l990), p. 49-54.

Corera, J., "Nueva Evangelización para Vicentinos Ayer y Hoy," CLAPVI 65 (l989), p. 337-342.

Guerra, F. & J. Mascina, "Los Misioneros Vicentinos," CLAPVI 47 (l985), p. 107ff.

Ibáñez, J.M., "El Compromiso con la Justicia, Dimensión Esencial del Servicio Vicenciano," in Justicia y Solidaridad con los Pobres en la Vocación Vicenciana,(Salamanca:CEME, (1988), p. 115-158.

--, "La Opción por los Pobres, Exigencia y Criterio Verificador de la Nueva Evangelización," in Vicencianismo y Nueva Evangelización, (Salamanca:CEME, l993), p. 161-198.

McLellan, A., "Tradición Vicentina y Justicia Social en el Mundo de Hoy," CLAPVI 67 (l990), p. 132-141.

Orcajo, A., Compromiso Social Vicenciano, (Salamanca: CEME, l993).

Ortega, R., "La Nueva Evangelización," CLAPVI 71 (l991), p. 420-440.

Pérez-Flores, M., "Identidad de los Ministerios de la C.M., Vincentiana 38 (l994), p. 114-123.

--, "Sacerdotes de la Misión para una Nueva Evangelización," in Vicencianismo y Nueva Evangelización, (Salamanca:CEME, l993), p. 199-230.

Prager, J.P., "Vicente de Paúl, ¿Profeta?," CLAPVI 47 (l985), p. 77-85.

Quevedo, A., "Nueva Evangelización y Cultura," CLAPVI 68 (l990), p. 291-301 y 69 (l990), p. 413-429.

Rigazio, A., "San Vicente y la Nueva Evangelización," Vincentiana 36 (l992), p. 20-29.

Roche, M., "San Vicente y la Formación de Ministros Ayer y Hoy, CLAPVI 12 (l976), p. 122-128.

Romo, B., "Hombres Nuevos," CLAPVI 76 (l992), p. 229- 249.

Ubillús, J., "Nueva Evangelización," CLAPVI 76 (l992), p. 214-228.

READINGS FOR THE NOVICES:

Constitutions Numbers 10-18; Statutes 1-12

OPTIONAL READINGS:

Maloney, R., "On Being a Missionary Today," Vincentiana 38 (l994), p. 317-324.

Our Responsibility with Regard to the Laity" Vincentiana 32 (l988), p. 239-245.

Prager, J.P., "The Shadow Side of the Vincentian Mission," Vincentiana 39 (l995), p.

38th. General Assembly," Letter to the Confreres," Vincentiana 36 (l992), p. 362-368.

37th General Assembly, Unum Corpus, Unus Spiritus in Christo: Lines of Action for the C.M.:l986-1992, (Rome:l986).

CASE STUDY

At the breakfast one morning, Joe, the superior of St. Anthony's Parish, asks the confreres if they had sent in their replies to the provincial's letter? ," What letter?", asks Frank.

Joe says with a sigh, "The one about disponibility for going to two new works the province wishes to undertake."

"I sent mine." interjects Mark, the youngest confrere. "I told him I'd be willing to go to either place, the new mission in Africa or the rural parish. As long as I can
work with the poor."

Tom, an older man with much experience says, "I haven't written yet. But I'm thinking about questioning the wisdom of taking on new works when we have so few vocations. I think it would be better to consolidate what we already have."

Lou, ordained about fifteen years, says, "I'm almost done. I think I'm too old for Africa. I'm not sure if I can adapt to another culture. I'm willing to go somewhere else in this country. I'll probably offer to go to the rural parish.

"Not me.", says Frank, with some feeling." I'm doing good work right here. I like the city. It's close to home. I enjoy the cultural events and also being near the center of the province. I'm not ready to pull up stakes yet. There's plenty to do in St. Anthony's."

"What about you, Joe?" "I haven't written yet. I'm not really sure what I want to say. I need more time to think. Part of me wants to recapture the missionary spirit. Part of me wants to stay here. I can think of good reasons for doing both."

"Well, you'd better write soon," Mark says. "The letters are due on Friday."

The following questions can be discussed:

1. What do you think about the replies to the provincial's request?

2. How well do the criteria used by these confreres respond to the criteria in No. 12 of our Constitutions?

3. If you were the provincial, what would you do with Tom's suggestion?

4. What would be your own reply to the provincial?

5. Are there other criteria that have to be used to make decisions about apostolates?