Ricardo Rozas, CM served as the Chronicler of the XLI Vincentian Studies Week. His report follows.
On July 3rd, 2017 the XLI Vincentian Studies Week, which was held at the Vincentian House in Santa Marta de Tormes (Salamanca), was concluded. That event took place during the time of the celebration of the 400th anniversary of the Vincentian charism … and it was the Vincentian charism that was the focal point and the motivating force behind the reflection that occurred during those three days of sharing among the members of the Family.
We began by reflecting on the present status of the Vincentian charism during which time the Superior General of the Congregation of the Mission, Tomaž Mavrič, CM, invited us to contemplate Vincent de Paul as the mystic of charity and to dream together in order to continue to make real the kingdom of God in our midst and in order to walk together as we engage in a common mission, the mission of reaching out to others, especially those persons who are most poor.
Clothing oneself in the spirit of Jesus Christ was the theme of the second day. This was a very important theme for Vincent de Paul, and as such, should also be a theme for our on-going reflection (especially in light of the fact that the charism has been handed on to us and we, in turn, are the ones who must keep this charism alive). Sister Carmen Rodríguez, DC, reflected on the anthropological, biblical and present-day understanding of “clothing”, “clothing anew” and “unclothing”…
On the third day, Israel Peralta, national president of MISEVI, reflected on the theme of the shared mission. What is this shared mission? Why engage in a shared mission? How to engage in a shared mission? Such a mission cannot be undertaken in a manner that is not in accord with the present reality. Indeed, there is a need to be aware of the difficulties that such a mission will have to confront but there is also a need to be conscious of the opportunities that such a mission will present to us … opportunities that appear before us when we act in a co-responsible manner when we dream together about our common mission when we can say to ourselves that we are capable of engaging in such a mission. One mission, united together, carried forward by many women and men.
There was a very distinct format to the Vincentian Studies Week. The first day we reflected on the reality and gave a Vincentian interpretation to that reality. On the second day, we reflected on the spiritual reality and deepened our understanding of Vincent’s spiritual experience. On the third day, we reflected on strategies for ministry that would enable all to provide people with an organized charity, a charity that responds to the needs of the present era.
This time of reflection also involved some new elements, for example, evangelization and art (Siro López, through various paintings, addressed this issue) as did the theatre group of the VMY from the Miraculous Medal School in Cartagena and another school in Murcia (their theatrical presentation was entitled, Only by love). Bea López gave a presentation on evangelization and photography (a photographic presentation that animated us to reflect on the concept of a shared mission).
We highlight here two specific moments: a daily reflection (through the use of various audio-visual means) that was guided by Brother Francisco Bertbegal, CM and a daily synthesis that was presented by the various branches of the Vincentian Family that helped the participants to focus on the reflection on each specific day.
Each afternoon there was an opportunity to share our various life experiences. Alejandro Fernández Barrajón (a member of the Mercy Order) and María Donat, DC led these discussions on day one and two and then on the third day there was a presentation on the Vincles Project in Barcelona.
The Eucharist was celebrated each day and it was during those celebrations that we found meaning for our mediation, reflection, and sharing.
We want to express our gratitude to all the participants in this event, to the various presenters, and to all those who collaborated in this endeavor. We also express our gratitude to those who followed us on the various social networks. As Father Jesús María González Antón stated: we have begun a new stage in our formation. The number of remaining Vincentian Studies weeks is not as important as the quality of the time that we spend together.
By: Ricardo Rozas, CM
Theologian
Translated:
Charles T. Plock, CM
Philadelphia Province
History of the Vincentian Study Weeks
