NUNTIA
SEPTEMBER 2005
68. General Curia
Meeting with Young Members of the Vincentian Family. Fr. G. Gregory Gay, Superior General of the C.M. and Director General of JMV, participated, along with Fr. Manuel Ginete, Delegate for the Vincentian Family, in the Second International Meeting of JMV from 8-13 August in Paris. One hundred sixty-five persons, from 41 countries, participated. Present at the meeting, in addition to the Superioress General, Sr. Evelyne Franc, DC and Fr. Pedro Castillo, were confreres and Daughters of Charity who are advisors to JMV throughout the world. Afterwards, he moved to Cologne, where he was from 16-21 August to participate in the 20th World Youth Day. On 19 August, he participated in the Vincentian Festival.
Various Meetings. From 28 August to 6 September, the Superior General was in the United States. From the 28th to the 1st, he visited the confreres and Daughters of Charity in Phoenix. On 2-3 September, he was in Chicago at De Paul University and for the National Meeting of the SSVP. From 4-6 September, he met with the Daughters of Charity and members of the CM in St. Louis and Perryville. He returned to Rome and then from 8-12 September he made a visit to the Province of Poland. From there he traveled to London to meet with the Daughters of Charity and the members of the Vincentian Family. On 16-19 September he traveled to Paris to participate in a meeting at the Motherhouse of the Daughters of Charity and to meet with the participants of CIF.
Retreat. From 25-30 September, the community of the General Curia participated in a retreat, directed by Fr. Italo Zedde at the house of the Daughters of Charity in La Verna.
Visits of Confreres to the Curia. Fr. Gabriel Naranjo, Visitor of Colombia, visited the Curia on 7 September. He came to Rome to participate in a World Congress on Sacred Scripture. Msgr. Mario Ríos Mont, C.M., Auxiliary Bishop of Guatemala, was in the Curia from 25 September to 3 October. He participated in the Symposium on Consecrated Life. Fr. Stanislav Zonták, Visitor of Slovakia, was in the Curia from 25-27 September, on the occasion of his participation in the Symposium on Consecrated Life. Fr. Robert P. Maloney, was in the Curia from 21 September to 5 October. He participated in a meeting on Religious Life. Fr. Maloney recently completed a book, Be Fully Alive: A Mission-Oriented Spirituality for Lay People. Presently he is writing a book entitled, A Rule for Lay Catholics. He is living in Washington, D.C., and is serving as administrator in uniting the work of the Daughters of Charity, the Community of Sant’Egidio and the Seton Institute in “Project DREAM,” a program whose objective is to prevent the spread of AIDS. “Project DREAM” began in Mozambique in 2002 and has had a 97% success rate in the prevention of transmission of the virus of HIV-AIDS by mothers to newborns. The Daughters of Charity and the Community of Sant’Egidio hope to initiate the project shortly in other cities in Africa and other places.
69. Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life
“Symposium on Consecrated Life: Appraisal and Future Orientations.” This was the title of the Symposium, which was held, from 26-27 September, in the Vatican on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Decree Perfectae Caritatis. More than 250 religious and experts from throughout the world attended. There was Vincentian participation as well. Msgr. Franc Rodé, C.M., Prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, in his capacity as President of the Symposium, opened its work, giving a panoramic glance at the past 40 years. Fr. Luigi Mezzadri, presented a conference entitled, “The Service and Lives of Religious during the Modern Period of the History of the Church (16th-17th Centuries).” Sr. Julma Neo, D.C., General Councillor of the Daughters of Charity, reported on the present situation of consecrated life in Asia. Fr. Robert Maloney, former Superior General of the Congregation of the Mission, presented the conference of the Archbishop of Boston on the situation of consecrated life in North America. Also participating in the Symposium were Msgr. Mario E. Ríos Mont, C.M., Vicar for the Commission “Consecrated Life” of Episcopal Conference of Guatemala, and Fr. Stanislav Zonták, President of the Conference of Major Superiors in Slovakia.
70. Daughters of Charity
Prince of Asturias Prize. The Daughters of Charity received the Prince of Asturias Prize for Concorde 2005 “for their exceptional social and humanitarian work in supporting the disadvantaged, developed in an exemplary way over almost four centuries” and also “for their promotion, throughout the world, of the values of justice, peace and solidarity,” as described in the jury’s report. The Daughters of Charity work in 93 countries with cooperative projects for development and for help to marginalized persons.
71. General Councillors
Visit to Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. From 6-9 September, Fr. José Antonio Ubillús, Assistant General, visited the confreres who work in the Holy Spirit Interdiocesan Seminary in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. During his visit, he interviewed the confreres of the mission, the rector of the seminary, the Archbishop of Port Moresby, the Apostolic Nuncio and the seminarians. Later, from 9-19 September, he visited the confreres who work in the Holy Name of Mary Interdiocesan Seminary, Good Shepherd Parish, and Nazareth Apostolic Centre in Honiara, Solomon Islands. He interviewed and met with the confreres. He visited the places where they exercise their spiritual, pastoral and academic work.
Visit to the Vice-Province of Mozambique. Fr. José María Nieto, Assistant General, visited the Vice-Province of Mozambique from 13 August to 14 September. The vice-province presently has a community in Johannesburg (South Africa) and six others in the south of Mozambique: Maputo, Matola, Machel-Chokwe-Chilembene, Chirrundzo and Magude. The vice-province has 20 members: three of them are Mozambicans and the rest come from Portugal (8), Brazil (4), Mexico (3), and Argentina (2). The perspectives for the future, with regard to personnel, are not very promising, since several members are returning to their provinces of origin and the number of native vocations is limited. Vocational promotion and the formation of our own candidates is a critical topic and needs discernment. The principal ministries of the vice-province are the formation of our own candidates and missionary parishes. Our confreres live in a country which, thanks to the recent years of peace, is improving its situation little by little. Nonetheless, Mozambique is still a very poor country: hunger and malnutrition, epidemics of disease (AIDS especially), short life span, high illiteracy, unemployment, subsistence economy, very low salaries, limited and deficient infrastructures. It is not very structured socially. Administratively and politically, it is consumed by corruption and economically it depends on the “help of outside interests.” In Mozambique, there are also two other Vincentian communities: Nacala, at more than 2000 km to the north of Maputo, is a community of the Province of Salamanca. Here, in collaboration with a community of lay Vincentian missionaries, our confreres take care of three parishes and carry forward a work of human promotion, especially in the education and health fields. Chongoene, a community of the Province of Mexico, takes care of the minor seminary of the Diocese of Xai-Xai, some 250 km. from Maputo. In Mozambique, the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Let us pray the Lord of the harvest to send workers into his field. Dear confrere, maybe this field could be your next missionary assignment! Our vice-province would thank you for that.
72. SIEV
New Team for SIEV. From 20-21 September, the International Secretariat of Vincentian Studies (SIEV) met at the General Curia in Rome. Present were the various members of the team which finishes its membership in SIEV and the members of the new team, named by the Superior General and his council. These confreres have concluded their responsibility on SIEV: Fr. Robert Lovera, (Turin), who served as Executive Secretary, and Frs. Kazimierz Stelmach, (Poland), John Prager, (Eastern Province), José María Nieto, (General Curia), Julio Suescun, (Zaragoza), and Jean-Yves Ducourneau, (Toulouse). The new team of SIEV is composed of Frs. Alexander Jernej, (Austria), who is the Executive Secretary, Gilson Cézar Camargo, (Curitiba), Juan Carlos Cerquera, (General Curia), Eugene Curran, (Ireland), Elie Delplace, (Paris), Hugh O’Donnell, (Director of CIF), and Mitxel Olabuénaga, (Zaragoza). We thank the outgoing team of SIEV for the service it realized and to the new one we wish success in this service that the Congregation entrusts to it.
73. Mission in the Solomon Islands
Retreats. Fr. Victor Bieler, gave two sets of retreats. One, from 17-22 July, was to the Fathers and Brothers of the Society of Maria (Marists), and the second, from 31 July to 5 August, was to the clergy of the Solomon Islands. Both were held in Holy Name of Mary Seminary.
Second Annual Meeting. From 2-4 September, the Vincentian confreres of the Solomon Islands organized the Second Annual Vincentian Convocation. This was attended by 360 lay people, members of the SSVP, JMV, and parishioners of Good Shepherd Parish, where Fr. Ivica Gregurec is the pastor. Among the speakers were Fr. John Rybolt, who spoke on the person of St. Vincent de Paul and Fr. Victor Bieler, who shared his reflections on the implications and challenges of globalization to the Vincentians. As a result of the convocation, the confreres are being asked to organize more conferences of the SSVP and more groups of JMV.
74. CLAPVI
Formation Meeting. According to the schedule of the present triennial plan, CLAPVI held its Second Formation Meeting. The topic was “The Church’s Social Pastoral Position in the Vincentian Charism.” The planning of this meeting was oriented in two dimensions: one informative: statement of the key points of the Church’s Social Doctrine, following the proposal of the recently published, Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church; and the practical dimension: application to the pastoral lines of the Vincentian charism. The meeting was held in Panama from 12-18 September. Eighty-one persons, from the different branches of the Vincentian Family, coming from 17 Latin American countries participated. The participants concluded the CLAPVI Panama 2005 Meeting by drafting a proposal to the Conference of Visitors of Latin America: the creation of a Latin American Justice and Peace Commission of the Vincentian Family.
75. Argentina
Provincial Assembly. From 18-22 July the Provincial Assembly was held at the Provincial House in Buenos Aires. The objective of the Assembly was to develop priorities and lines of action based on the conclusions of the 40th General Assembly (Rome, 2004). Present were 20 confreres, taking part in a fraternal atmosphere and representing the entire province.
76. Colombia
Participation in the World Congress on Sacred Scripture. Fr. Gabriel Naranjo, Visitor of Colombia, was in Italy from 8-21 September to participate in the World Congress on Sacred Scripture organized by the Catholic Biblical Federation and the Pontifical Council for the Unity of Christians, on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of Dei Verbum. Fr. Gabriel gave a talk entitled, “The Bible in the formation of priests in Latin America after the Council.” Four hundred persons participated and there were 57 panelists. Other speakers included Cardinal Paul Poupard, Mr. Andrea Riccardi, founder of the Community of Sant’Egidio, and Mr. Michel Camdessus, former director of the International Monetary Fund.
77. Ireland
International Priests’ Retreat. From 25 September to 1 October, an international retreat for priests was held at the Shrine of the Holy Curé of Ars (France). It was preached by Fr. Kevin Scallon, of the Province of Ireland, and Sr. Briege McKenna. About 850 priests from 71 countries assisted. From the Congregation, Frs. Piotr Kwiecie_, Janusz _migiera, Janusz O_wieja, Jaros_aw Bar, from the Province of Poland; Fr. Thomas Lane, from the Province of Ireland; and Fr. Pedro Castillo, from the Province of Venezuela participated.
78. Poland
Important Celebrations. The Superior General, Fr. G. Gregory Gay, visited Poland from 8-12 September. The main purpose of his visit was to celebrate 100 years of the presence of the Congregation of the Mission in Odporyszów (the parish and shrine dedicated to the Virgin Mary). He celebrated the Jubilee Mass. There were many confreres, Daughters of Charity and faithful from the entire diocese present. During the homily, the Superior General said, “On this day … we gather together to celebrate 100 years of the presence of the Vincentians in this basilica dedicated to our Blessed Mother.” At the Eucharistic celebration, the Superior General blessed the cassocks for eight seminarians, who were finishing their Internal Seminary. Another objective of the visit was the celebration of the 150 years of the St. Vincent de Paul Society in Ostrow Wielkopolski (Diocese of Kalisz). Msgr. Stanis_aw Napiera_a, Bishop of Kalisz, presided the Eucharist. After the communion, Fr. Gregory said, “Your Conference (SSVP), in these 150 years, even in the midst of trials and tribulations which you have known well, has remained firm because the Conference is built on a rock. We could call that rock the charism of St. Vincent de Paul. The charism of St. Vincent de Paul is none other than being faithful to following Jesus Christ.” During his stay in Poland, the Superior General had the opportunity to meet with many confreres (he also visited some of the elderly confreres), Daughters of Charity of two provinces (Warsaw and Kraków) and all the seminarians.
79. USA – South
Emergency Aid Fund. Fr. Daniel P. Borlik, Visitor of the Southern Province, USA, has communicated that his province has opened an Emergency Aid Fund in favor of the victims of Hurricane Katrina. The aid can be sent to:
Congregation of the Mission
NOLA Relief Fund / Fr. Perry Henry, C.M.
3826 Gilbert Ave.
Dallas, TX 57219
USA
Likewise, he informed us that Fr. Perry Henry, will be in charge of channeling and distributing the aid, according to needs, from the Holy Trinity Pastoral Center. The USA Southern Province is grateful for all the prayers for the victims and survivors of this disaster.
80. Peru
Fifty Years of Existence as a Province. On 25 August 1955, Fr. William Slattery communicated to Puerto Rico and Peru that they had been elevated to the condition of autonomous provinces of the CM. On 25 August of this year, the province gathered for a private celebration of thanksgiving for these 50 years of mission and service to the Church in Peru. There were several celebratory moments: a) pilgrimage to the cemetery where repose the remains of our missionaries who gave up their lives for the paths of Peru; b) the meeting of “young missionaries,” on the 23rd and 24th; c) on the 25th, a theme of pastoral formation, concelebrated Eucharist of thanksgiving and fraternal luncheon; d) meeting with the branches of the Vincentian Family. We all await the month of October, when the celebration will be expanded with the presence of Fr. G. Gregory Gay, Superior General, and with the members of the General Assembly of CLAPVI.
Week of Vincentian Studies. From 5-9 September, the 18th Week of Vincentian Studies was held. The program turned around the theme, “The problems of youth in our reality and how to accomplish the sharing of our charism with all generations.” About 250 persons assisted, predominantly young people from the Vincentian Family. The speakers were psychologists, sociologists, and those in pastoral works. There was an exhibit of murals with the works of the Congregation of the Mission in Peru and a triptych made for the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of the Province.
81. Salamanca
Week of Vincentian Studies. From 22-28 August the 31st Week of Vincentian Studies was held in Salamanca. The topics centered on: “New Paradigms and the Vincentian Charism.” About 300 persons participated, representing the various groups of the Vincentian Family. The subjects were handled by specialists.
82. Turin
Retreat. From 5-10 September, 25 confreres from the Province of Turin, seven from the Province of Rome, and four from the Province of Naples held their annual retreat. Fr. Germano Marani, S.J., was the preacher on the theme, “the merciful paternity of God in an orphaned world.” The preacher, with a captive style, with personal remembrances and through Russian icons, knew how to communicate with simplicity the Oriental experience, opening up a little-known theological world.
83. JMV
Second General Assembly. In the framework of the 175th anniversary of the Apparitions and in the very birthplace of the Association, the Vincentian Marian Youth held its Second Ordinary General Assembly in Paris, from 7-13 August, with the theme: “With a lay spirituality, we share the mission: challenges.” One hundred eighty-five assembly members, representing 50 countries where the JMV is established, participated. “Our objective was to evaluate the road taken from the First General Assembly (Rome 2000); to deepen and strengthen our convictions relative to identity, formation and apostolates proper to JMV; to make new commitments of participation in service projects with the entire Vincentian Family; and to elect a new International President and new lay members of the Inter-national Council.” The new JMV International Council 2005-2010 is made up of: Yasmine Cajuste from Haiti as new International President, Dorys Castillo from Ecuador, Denise el Khoury from Lebanon, Voanginirina François de Paul Ravazaha from Madagascar and María Jesús García Oliveira from Spain.
******
NOMINATIONS
DESZCZ Stanislaw 22-09-2005 Director DC – Congo
WANG John 08-10-2005 Visitor – China
PRIESTLY ORDINATIONS
QUIÑONEZ PEREA Juan Roberto Aeq 09-07-2005
ESTRELLA CASTILLO Luis Alberto Aeq 09-07-2005
LASTARI HATMOKO Tomas Ids 08-09-2005
KURNIAWAN DWI MADYO UTOMO
Fransiskus Xaverius Ids 08-09-2005
MEDI WIJAYA Andreas Ids 08-09-2005
TRAN CONG Pierre Than Par 21-09-2005
TRAN NGOC Joseph Diem Par 12-10-2005
NECROLOGIUM
NOMEN COND DIES OB PROV AET VOC
IZQUIERDO GARCÍA Dionisio Sac 08-09-2005 Ven 75-57
PISTOIA Alessandro Sac 16-09-2005 Rom 69-53
BOEGEL Joseph Sac 23-09-2005 Orl 83-63
MURPHY Sean Sac 01-10-2005 Hib 79-63
SAUNDERS Charles Dalant Sac 07-10-2005 Ocn 101-69
NIESSEN Herman Sac 11-10-2005 Hol 86-66
FELLI Antonio Sac 11-10-2005 Rom 78-56
******
To all the members of the Congregation of the Mission
Those interested in acquiring copies of past issues of Vincentiana may request them from the Nuntia and Vincentiana Office through your Visitor. The shipping costs will be covered by each province.
