100 Tempo
Forte
2003 Last Session. On 9-18 December, a long tempo forte session
of the General Council was held. Much of the time was dedicated
to preparation for the upcoming General Assembly on 5-29 July
2004. The General Council also reviewed reports from Fr. Benjamín
Romo on the Vincentian
Family Office, from Fr. John Freund on
the Web Site, from Fr. Joseph Foley on
our office at the United Nations, from Brother Peter Campbell on the Vincentian Solidarity Office. The Treasurer
General presented a report on the financial situation of the
Congregation over the last three months. Appointments were made
for the new international missions and other missions, as well
as for the newly created Region of Egypt, whose new superior
is Youssef Milad. We
also discussed the results of the consultation in view of the
naming of a new Director General for the Daughters of Charity.
101 General
Curia
Preparatory
Commission for the GA/2004. The
members of the Preparatory Commission for the 40th General
Assembly (2004): John Sledziona, Simão Valenga, Manuel
Ginete, Corpus Delgado and Jorge Pedroza met at the General Curia
from 1-13 December for their second work-session. During
that time they verified the list of participants to the General
Assembly, revised the Directory, compiled and organized
the responses of the provinces to the Consultation Document,
as well as the postulates. From the provinces' input, they
elaborated a Documentum Laboris. Finally, they presented to the Superior General
and Council suggestions for the running of our next Assembly. In
the month of April 2004, all the documentation which the Commission
has prepared will be sent from the General Secretariat to the
participants of the Assembly in English, French and Spanish.
Visit
to Peru, Ethiopia and Eritrea. From
20-31 October, Fr. Elmer Bauer, the
Treasurer General, visited the Province of Peru. During his
visit he worked with the provincial treasurer and also had
the opportunity to visit works of the province in Lima,
Chiclayo, Chincha, Pisco and Ica. From 10-19 November, he visited the Province of
Ethiopia. He gave a one-day workshop for the local superiors
and treasurers which included the topics: Spirituality of the
Treasurer, The Role of the Treasurer and the Concept of Temporal
Goods in our Constitutions and Statutes, Practical Concerns
of the Local Treasurer, Preparing Budgets and Financial Reporting,
and the Relationship between the Local Superior and Local Treasurer.
He also had the opportunity to visit works of the Province
in Addis Abeba, Ambo, Jimma, and Bonga. Finally,
from 20-27 November, Fr. Bauer visited the Vice-Province of
St. Justin De Jacobis (Eritrea). During his visit he met with
the local superiors and treasurers as well as the vice-provincial
council. He had the opportunity to visit works of the province
in Asmara, Decamare, Hebo, Tekelabi, and Shariki.
Meeting
with the Students from the Leonine. The
meeting of the students from the Leonine College with the Superior
General and the community of the General Curia took place at
the Curia on 13 December, the Third Sunday of Advent. This
year, the student-confreres in Rome come from Northern India
(3), Indonesia (3), Ethiopia (2), Poland (2), Congo, Eritrea,
Slovakia, Naples and Nigeria. During this meeting, Fr.
Fernández de Mendoza, the Vicar General, delivered a conference
on the Refoundation of Religious Institutes and Societies of
Apostolic Life. Later, during the Eucharist, Fr. Maloney,
speaking of John the Baptist, emphasized his practical, concrete
and humble style of preaching centered on Christ, as well as
his knowledge of the language and images appropriate for inviting
the people to conversion. After the celebration there was
an aperitif and dinner. One of the students delivered a
word of thanks to the Curia for the invitation and the fraternal
and Vincentian sharing.
Meeting
with the Daughters of Charity. On
20 December, the Superior General and the members of the Curia
met with the Daughters of Charity of the Casa Maria Immacolata
(Via Ezio, Rome) for a pre-Christmas gathering during which we
celebrated the novena, enjoyed a delicious supper and exchanged
gifts. Sr. Maria Teresa DeDonno, D.C., was recently named
Sister Servant of this international community of Daughters of
Charity in Rome.
102 CIF
17th Session. On
12 December, the 17th session of the CIF formation
program concluded. Eighteen confreres from 13 provinces
and one religious of the Brothers of Mercy had participated in
it. This was a transition session because Fr. Rybolt, the
ex-Director of CIF, was present until the middle of October,
and Fr. O'Donnell assumed his new office as Director. The
atmosphere of the session was very positive for its spirit of
unity in diversity and for the good sharing with the confreres
of the Motherhouse. During the session, which was in English
and Spanish, the topics were: St. Vincent, his spiritual heritage,
the Vincentian mission and the Constitutions and Statutes. Also
treated were themes relating to the Vincentian Family and the
Office of the CM at the UN. The next session, in English
and French, will take place from 22 February to 28 May 2004.
Visit
of Fr. Ubillús. From
2-5 December, Fr. José Antonio Ubillús, Assistant
General, visited Frs. Hugh O'Donnell and Juan Julián Díaz
Catalán, the directors of CIF. Fr. Ubillús
took the occasion of this visit to greet and dialogue with the
confreres who were taking part in the session of CIF. Fr.
Ubillús made a very positive evaluation of the program
at CIF.
103 Austria
Terrorist
Attacks in Turkey. In
a letter after the terrible terrorist attacks which plagued the
city of Istanbul (Turkey), Fr. F. Kangler, the superior of the
community there, related how they affected the student population
of St. Georgs College, located very near the synagogue where,
on 15 November, a powerful bomb exploded and killed 25 people
and left 300 wounded. Many of the latter were taken to
the hospital where the Daughters of Charity work. One of
the victims of this attack was the father of one of the students
of the College. The second attack took place on 20 November
against the British Consulate, which is also not very far from
the College, and caused anxiety among the students. In
this second attack 27 people lost their lives and around 450
were wounded. On these two occasions our confreres accompanied
the victims in diverse ways and responded creatively, together
with the professors, to the normal reactions of panic among the
students by showing them the necessary attention.
104 Naples
Ten
Years of Missionary Presence. Last
6 December, at Gruda e Re (Scutari), Albania, the Archbishop,
Msgr. A. Massafra, presided at the solemn celebration of thanksgiving
for the presence of the Vincentian Missionaries in this country. At
this celebration, the Visitors of Naples, Rome and Slovakia and
a representative of the Province of Turin took part. The
Regional Superior, Fr. G. Ferrera organized this event and Fr.
G. Guerra, the Visitor of Naples, summarized the story of these
ten years referring to another decade (1931-1941) of the missionaries
of Naples and Rome in Albania before the communist dictatorship.
Presentation
of the Collection of Letters. On
17 December, the presentation of the second volume of the letters
of St. Justin De Jacobis took place at the Provincial House of
Naples. This volume, entitled Epistolario,
completes the publication of the writings of this holy missionary
(the first volume, Diario,
was published in 2000). The event was presided by Fr. Ignacio
Fernández de Mendoza, the Vicar General, who read the
conference, "On Being A Missionary," prepared by the Superior
General who could not be present. During the presentation
of this important volume the members of the Vincentian Family,
friends and students were present. They appreciated this
work and the Visitor, Fr. Guerra, has recommended its reading
in the introduction of the book.
105 Orient
Closing
of the Jubilee. The
closing of the celebrations for the Golden Jubilee (1953-2003)
of the Basilica of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, at Achrafié (Beirut,
Lebanon) was celebrated on 27 November with a Eucharist presided
by His Beatitude, Msgr. Nasrallah Sfeir, the Patriarch of Antioch
of the Maronites, and at which numerous bishops (among them an
orthodox) and many priests assisted. During the homily,
he emphasized the important role of the Vincentian Family and
the Vincentians in missionary and social work in Lebanon. The
solemnity was preceded by a prayer vigil at which around 1500
faithful took part and where the confreres continuously administered
the sacrament of reconciliation.
106 Salamanca
Canonical
Visitation. Over
several periods, Fr. José Ignacio Fernández
de Mendoza, Vicar General, made the canonical visitation of
this province: 13-18 September (London, England), 25 September
to 2 October (Nacala, Mozambique), 27 October to 5 December
(Spain). This province has 107 confreres in 20 canonical
houses. During the visit, Fr. Fernández de Mendoza,
who was almost always accompanied by Fr. Antonio Otero, the
Visitor, got to know the situation of the communities in each
place and the works of apostolate which the missionaries undertake:
popular missions, vocational promotion, formation of our candidates,
animation of lay Vincentians, spiritual exercises, preaching,
parishes, schools, publications and pastoral service to the
Daughters of Charity. The province maintains a wholesome
lifestyle. The missionaries -- old, young and adults -- carry
out the apostolate of the province with great zeal.
107 Turin
Canonical
Visitation. From 20
October to 26 November, Fr. Józef Kapu?ciak, Assistant
General, made a canonical visitation of the Province of Turin. He
was able to visit all the local communities, distributed in 13
houses and two communities ad instar domus. He
also dialogued with all the incorporated confreres (79 priests,
three brothers, two deacons and two students). In each
house he held a community meeting at which he treated with the
confreres the objective of the visit and the situation of the
CM in the world. During this visit, Fr. Kapu?ciak was able
to see that the province, despite its high median age and the
scarcity of vocations, continues being very dynamic. The
confreres perform numerous ministries. Among them, the
principal ones are: popular missions, spiritual assistance to
the Daughters of Charity, formation and animation of the Vincentian
associations, charitable activity, parishes and service to the
clergy. In some places, Fr. Kapu?ciak had occasion to visit
the Daughters of Charity and to celebrate the Eucharist with
them.
108 USA-Midwest
Canonical
Visitation. Fr.
Victor Bieler, Assistant General for the Missions, made a canonical
visitation of the Province of the Midwest of the United States
from 20 October to 24 November. Fr. Bieler visited almost
all the 130 confreres in the 14 canonical houses (two of them
in Kenya) which this province has, the oldest of the five which
actually exist in this country. At the conclusion of
this visit Fr. Bieler informed the Provincial Council that
he found the confreres happy and dedicated to community life. He
also appreciated the number of works in which the missionaries
have taken initiatives for the evangelization of the poor. In
the same way, the confreres of the province appreciated the
visit of Fr. Bieler and his rich experience and knowledge of
the CM in the world.
109 USA-West
Canonical
Visitation. From 20
October to 21 November, Fr. José Antonio Ubillús,
Assistant General, made the canonical visitation of the Province
of the West of the United States, which embraces the states of
California and Arizona. It has 46 confreres in nine canonical
houses. Fr. Ubillús dialogued with the priests,
brothers and students, and visited all the works of which this
province has charge. He returned to Rome very happy with
the Vincentian mark which all the ministries of the province
have: parishes, evangelization centers and formation of the clergy.
110 Vincentian
Family
JMV. From 5-8 December, the First Meeting of the
National Councils of JMV in Europe took place in Madrid (Spain). At
this event, the representatives of ten countries on this continent
gathered together with the members of the International Council
and those of the International Secretariat. In the short
final document of this meeting four convictions, two challenges
and three commitments for the next two years were highlighted
(elaboration and exchange of formation materials, support for
the campaigns against famine and against malaria and the organization
of meetings and of working together among the neighboring countries). This
meeting, which was animated by prayer, reflection and exchange,
is the first that JMV proposes to hold in each continent before
the next General Assembly of the Association. The planned
sites for the continental meetings are: Manila, Philippines (for
Asia); Lima, Peru (for Latin America); and Nairobi, Kenya (for
Africa). More information can be found at www.secretariadojmv.org
MISEVI. On 22-23 November, the meeting of the International
Coordinating Team of MISEVI was held in Madrid. The
Superior General and the Delegate for the Vincentian Family took
part. The topics discussed were: evaluation of the recent
meeting of MISEVI in Mexico, steps to be taken to continue the
animation of the Association in the countries where it is present,
definition of criteria for the approval of National Statutes,
and countries which need accompaniment so that MISEVI succeeds
in establishing itself as a national association. During
this meeting it was proposed as a goal to help at least four
countries found MISEVI in 2004; that is, elaborate their statutes
and have members in formation. Also at this meeting there
was discussion about the formation community which presently
exists in Madrid and an evaluation of how the permanent communities
in Honduras, Bolivia and Nacala (Mozambique) are performing. Finally
the next General Assembly of MISEVI in 2005 was discussed. More
information can be found at http://www.misevi.org/portada/portada.htm
Religious
of St. Vincent de Paul. The
year 2003-2004 has been proclaimed by the Religious of St. Vincent
de Paul as "The Jean-Léon Le Prevost Year," in order to
celebrate the second centenary of the birth of their founder. Jean-Léon
Le Prevost was born in Normandy (France), on 10 August 1803. He
was in contact with the great French writers of the period and
was interested in literature. Having returned to the practice
of Christian life, he gave himself to works of mercy and became
a member of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. He knew
Sr. Rosalie Rendu and Frederick Ozanam. He was married
to Aure Etiennette De Lafond. He founded the Institute
of the Religious of St. Vincent de Paul in 1845. Widowed
in 1859, he fulfilled his desire to become a priest the following
year. As founder and Superior General he governed with
prudence and wrote the Constitutions of the Institute. In
1871, because of health problems, he gave up the government of
the new Congregation to the Vicar General and retired humbly
in a house of formation where he stayed for the rest of his life. He
died on 30 October 1874. Jean-Léon Le Prevost's
reputation for holiness, which he had during his life, continued
even after his death. In fact, the Congregation for the
Causes of the Saints recognized the heroism of his virtues, declaring
him "Venerable" in 1998. More information can be found
at: http://www.relsv.qc.ca/fr/fondateur/#top (in
French).
Visits
to Spain, the United States and CIF. Fr.
Benjamín Romo, Delegate to the Vincentian Family, was
in Madrid from 20-23 November, visiting the AMM National Secretariat
and leading a day of spiritual retreat for the new volunteer
members of the JMV International Secretariat. Ana Maria
Escaño (who is preparing to return to her country), Fr.
Pedro Castillo and Sr. Asunción García also participated
in this retreat. Later, from 26-28 November, he was in
Paris sharing with the participants at CIF the reality of the
Vincentian Family and of each of its associations. At this
meeting, the role and the tasks that the Vincentian missionaries
have in relation to the laity, so that our service may be an
effective and authentic collaboration for the service and evangelization
of the poor, were treated in a special way. Finally, from
2-12 December, he was in New York visiting some lay groups of
that city in order to offer them elements of formation on the
spirituality of Vincentian laity and the specific nature of certain
branches of the Vincentian Family, and to share experiences of
collaboration with the Vincentian Family. Around 120 people
took part in these formation sessions in New York, including
laity, Daughters of Charity and confreres. Fr. Romo ended
his stay in that city by preaching a triduum in honor of Our
Lady of Guadalupe.
*****
APPOINTMENTS
DE
LA RIVERA Carlos 15-12-2003 Visitor - Chile
MILAD
Youssef 17-12-2003 Regional
Superior - Egypt
VAN
BROEKHOVEN Jan 17-12-2003 Director
DC - Netherlands
CORNÉE
Pierre 31-12-2003 Visitor - Paris
DIACONATE ORDINATIONS
On
this page appear, by way of exception, the confreres of Vietnam
(Province of Paris) who have only been ordained deacons, because
their priestly ordination could be delayed for a time more or
less long.
B'NAHRIA
YATINE Paul 21-11-2003 Par
- Viet
NGUYEN
QUANG Pierre Tien 21-11-2003 Par
- Viet
NGUYEN
VAN Joseph Cuong 21-11-2003 Par
- Viet
PHAM
DUY Joseph Lan 21-11-2003 Par
- Viet
PHAM
TRONG François Xavier Chau 21-11-2003 Par
- Viet
TRAN
CONG Pierre Thanh 21-11-2003 Par
- Viet
PRIESTLY ORDINATIONS
SANTOS
SOUSA Adriano 31-05-2003 Flu
DIGAL
Susanto 04-11-2003 InS
CODA
ZABETTA Federico 28-11-2003 Rom
FARFÁN
MURTHE Héctor Manuel 06-12-2003 Col
GUZMÁN
BABATIVA Luis Humberto 06-12-2003 Col
JARA
GALVEZ Arnulfo 06-12-2003 Col
MANCILLA
RANGEL José René 06-12-2003 Col
SOTO
PULGARÍN Edgar Leandro 06-12-2003 Col
SESSAREGO
TASAYCO Piero Andrés 07-12-2003 Per
AGUIRRE
ROJAS Ronald Arturo 08-12-2003 Per
NECROLOGIUM 2003
Nomen Cond Dies
Ob Prov Aet
Voc
MANGIAPANE Tommaso Sac 30-11-2003 Nea
1º 74-56
PENA Joaquim H. Sac 04-12-2003 Flu
7º 68-48
FERNANDEZ Joseph Fra 05-12-2003 Par
1º 91-67
KICZUK Casimir Sac 16-12-2003 Nan
1º 92-74
VAN DER LOO Willem Sac 16-12-2003 Hol
1º 93-74
UREÑA SALAZAR Fulvio G. Sac 18-12-2003 Cos
1º 43-24
GARCÍA
José Antonio Sac 26-12-2003 Arg
3º 82-65
Happy New Year 2004!
