NUNTIA FEBRUARY 2006
10. Holy See
New Vincentian Cardinal. On 22 February, Feast of the Chair of St. Peter, the Holy Father, Benedict XVI, made known the names of 15 new cardinals who will be created in the Consistory on 24 March. Among the new voting cardinals is Archbishop Franc Rodé, C.M., Prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. Msgr. Rodé is 71 years old. He was born on 23 September 1934 in Ljubljana, Slovenia. In 1945 his family took refuge in Austria and in 1948 moved to Argentina. He entered the Congregation of the Mission on 2 February 1952. He studied at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome and the Catholic Institute of Paris, where he obtained a doctorate in theology. He made his vows on 7 March 1957. He was ordained a priest on 29 June 1960. In 1965, at the request of his superiors, he returned to Yugoslavia where he served as a parochial vicar, director of studies of the Congregation and professor in the theology faculty in Ljubljana (1966-1968), and Visitor (1973-1979). He was a consultant for the Secretariat for Non-Believers in 1978. En 1981 he was transferred to that Dicastery and named Vice-secretary in 1982. In 1993, the Pope united the Pontifical Council for Culture and the Pontifical Council for Non-Believers, putting him in charge of the new Pontifical Council for Culture (1993-1997). On 5 March 1997 he was named Archbishop of Ljubljana and consecrated as such on 6 April 1997 in the Cathedral of Ljubljana. On 11 February 2004 he was named Prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. He will be created a Cardinal in the Consistory of 24 March 2006. The new cardinals come from various parts of the world and fulfill diverse functions at the service of the People of God. The Holy Father invites us to pray for them so that the Lord might grant them the graces necessary to carry out their mission with generosity. On 23 March a prayer and reflection meeting will be held with all the members of the College of Cardinals. The day following the Consistory, 25 March, Solemnity of the Annunciation of Our Lord, the Holy Father will preside a solemn celebration with the new cardinals. Msgr. Rodé is the first Vincentian Cardinal of the Latin Rite.
11. General Curia
Activities of the Superior General. On 2 February, the Superior General received the Mother General in the Curia House for her presentation of the annual Renovation request of the Daughters of Charity. The next day he departed for Colombia, where he visited the confreres, Daughters of Charity and members of the Vincentian Family. At the end of his stay, he presided the opening Eucharist for the Fourth Meeting of the Vincentian Family in Latin America. From 15-17 February, he was in Curitiba (Brazil), for the closing ceremonies of the Vincentian Spirituality School, a sharing with younger confreres, a Eucharist with the Daughters of Charity and the blessing of the Philosophy Institute. He then traveled to Bolivia, where he met first with the Daughters of Charity and then with the confreres of the international mission in El Alto. On 25 February, on his way back to Rome, he spent a number of hours with the confreres in Lima (Peru). On 27 February, he had a meeting with the Think Tank team.
Guest at the Curia. Fr. J. Ignacio Fernández de Mendoza (Zaragoza) was in the General Curia from 10-18 February in order to collect information on the missions of the Congregation and so as to continue publishing material in the Spanish magazine Caminos de Misión.
Canonical Visitation in Eritrea. The Vicar General, Fr. Józef Kapu_ciak, carried out a Canonical Visitation of the Vice-Province of St. Justin de Jacobis in Eritrea from 29 January to 11 February. The vice-province was canonically erected in 1992. At present it has seven houses (six in Eritrea and one in Ethiopia), 41 incorporated confreres (36 priests and five deacons), 32 students (six in the preparatory year, seven in philosophy and 19 in theology) and a good group of boys in the two apostolic schools run by the confreres. Fr. Kapu_ciak visited all the places where the confreres live and work. He interviewed almost all the incorporated confreres. In Asmara he had a meeting with the incorporated and admitted students. He participated in the diaconal ordination of five young confreres and the blessing of the new house, which was constructed thanks to the financial assistance of the Provinces of Spain and Naples and the “Oeuvre” of the Orient in Paris. In Eritrea he had the opportunity to visit five communities of Daughters of Charity; in some of them he was able to share the Eucharist with the sisters. He met with two diocesan bishops: Msgr. Yebio Kidane, Bishop of Keren, and Msgr. Tesfamariam Menghisteab, Bishop of Asmara. The confreres live and work in both dioceses. The Vicar General was able to note the dynamism of the vice-province, in spite of the country’s economical and political problems. The confreres work with great dedication in various activities: preaching popular missions, pastoral work in parishes, service to the clergy, spiritual assistance to the Daughters of Charity, formation of our own candidates. They are committed in charitable and social areas.
School of Spirituality of Latin America. Fr. José Antonio Ubillús, Assistant General, participated, from 30 January to 3 February, in the Latin American School of Spirituality sponsored by CLAPVI, presenting the theme: “The Transmission of the Spiritual Experience of St. Vincent de Paul.” Fr. Ubillús returned very satisfied by the attention of the classes, the good work of the groups and the contributions, in the plenary sessions, of the participants, the majority of whom were young confreres from the various provinces of Latin America.
12. CLAVPI
Second Course of the Latin American School of Vincentian Spirituality. For 45 days, from 4 January to 17 February, CLAPVI held the Second Course of its Latin American School of Vincentian Spirituality. Twenty confreres from 13 provinces participated. Half are formators of our own candidates and the other half exercise various ministries. The majority of those assisting are within ten years of ordination. The methodology applied to the course was based on See-Judge-Act-Celebrate. See the present socio-political reality of Latin America and that of the 17th century in the time of St. Vincent. In order to be able to judge our present spirituality, they were presented a doctrinal framework with subject matter relating to and applicable to our charism and vocation. In order to act, the essence and the spirituality of the charism were favored so as to be able to form them and live them in the reality of our lives and ministries, according to the typically Vincentian style in the here and now of Latin America. The celebrate aspect was experienced throughout the course in prayer and in the liturgy. The experience confirmed that validity and necessity of this Latin American School of Vincentian Spirituality.
13. Vincentian Family
Fourth Latin American Meeting. From 12-18 February, the Fourth Latin American Meeting of the Vincentian Family was held in Bogotá. Its objectives were: to inculturate the Vincentian charism in Latin America; to become aware of the commitment in regard to the most vulnerable in situations of poverty; to create ties of Vincentian fraternity, of solidarity with the poor, of uniting forces; and to promote National Councils of the Vincentian Family. There were 117 participants present, coming from 12 countries. The methodology used was: “See, Judge and Act.” Sr. María Pilar López, member of the Vincentian Family Office (General Curia) participated in the meeting; her talk was on “The Spiritual Dynamism of Solidarity with the Most Vulnerable.” The final commitments touched on four areas: formation, Vincentian Family, advisors and service to the poor. The new Coordinating Council is made up of: Maria Eugenia Magallanes (AIC, Mexico), Fr. Faustino Burgos (CM, Visitor, Puerto Rico), Carmen Méndez Nina (JMV, Peru), Sr. Paulina Santos (DC, Peru) and Luis Alfonso Rodríguez (AMM, Colombia).
14. Ethiopia
Golden Jubilee. On 19 February, the province celebrated the 50th anniversary of the arrival of the Dutch Vincentian Missionaries in Ethiopia. The feast began with a double celebration: the priestly ordination of five deacons and the Jubilee. The Eucharist was presided by Msgr. Theo Van Ruijven, Prefect Apostolic of Jimma Bonga, at which Msgr. Leonardus Dobbelaar, Vicar Apostolic of Nekemte, ordained five deacons to the priesthood. His Excellency Berhaneyesus D. Souraphiel, Archbishop of Addis Ababa and President of the Conference of Bishops of Ethiopia and Eritrea delivered the homily. He also read a letter sent by His Eminence Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. His Excellency Archbishop Ramiro Moliner Inglés, Apostolic Nuncio of Ethiopia and Djibouti, concelebrated the Eucharist. He also presented the letter sent by His Eminence, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Secretary of State. Fr. Hagos Hayish, Vice-rector of the Pontifical Ethiopian College (Vatican City State), read the letter sent by Fr. G. Gregory Gay, Superior General of the Congregation of the Mission. Present at the Jubilee celebration were several confreres from the Province of Holland: Victor Groetelaars, Visitor, Leo Moues, Provincial Treasurer and Jan De Potter.
15. Philippines
United in Prayer. Fr. Marcelo V. Manimtim, Visitor of the Philippines, informed the General Curia that Mrs. Carolina DelaGoza, mother of Fr. Rolando DelaGoza, former Procurator to the Holy See and General Archivist, died on 21 February. Let us lift up our prayers for her eternal rest.
16. Indonesia
New Doctor of Moral Theology. On 17 February, Fr. Yustinus Vinsensius obtained the title of Doctor of Moral Theology with the defense of his thesis. His doctoral dissertation was on the subject: “The Discussion regarding the Doctrine of Intrinsece Malum Before and After Veritatis Splendor.” The discussion was in the auditorium of the Pontifical Alphonsian University. Present for the event were several Vincentian confreres: one from the Vatican Secretariat of State, others from the General Curia and the Leonine College. In addition, there were some companions and friends present. Congratulations Fr. Yustinus!
17. Mexico
Canonical Visitation. From 23 January to 3 March, Fr. José María Nieto, Assistant General, visited the Province of Mexico. This is a young province, with an average age of around 48 years. It also has many confreres: 102 incorporated, three of whom belong, temporarily, to the Vice-Province of Mozambique. In 2005, five confreres were ordained priests and the present number of candidates to the C.M. is 39: 12 in the minor seminary, 12 in philosophy, one in the Internal Seminary, 12 in theology and two in the pastoral stage. The province has 21 communities. Of these, 19 are spread out throughout all of Mexico: five in the north, five others in the center and the rest around or at a certain distance from the enormous Mexico City. One community is in Mozambique, on mission “ad gentes” and the other is a parish in the city of Los Angeles (California) dedicated to looking after the Mexican immigrants in the USA. The province, in addition to the Provincial House, has three formation houses, three mission parishes, and 12 parishes in cities or suburban areas, principally among the humble and working social class. The confreres divide their efforts among parish ministry (predominantly), service of numerous groups of the Vincentian Family, mission “ad gentes” and to indigenous peoples, popular missions, formation of our own candidates, vocational promotion, service to the Daughters of Charity and attention to the poor of the streets in the center of the capital. In Mexico, a very large, rich and young country, traces of ancient and multiple cultures mix with the characteristics of modern societies. Past and present, in any case, are surrounded by a deep sense of popular piety dominated by devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe. The Congregation arrived in Mexico in 1884. At present, it has before itself the challenge of continuing to incarnate the Vincentian charism at the service of the changing and modern Mexican society. May the Lord bless our confreres on this journey!
18. Paris
New Priestly Ordinations in Vietnam. On 24 January, Vincent-Ferrier Nguyen Cong Chinh was ordained a priest in the parish of An Ngai by the hands of Msgr. Paul Nguyên Binh Tinh, Bishop of _à Nang. On 8 March, three other Vietnamese confreres will be ordained: Paul Tong Phuoc Hao, Jean Nguyen Du Hia and Pierre Tran Cong Minh by the hands of Msgr. Michel Ho_ng _úc Oanh, Bishop of Kontum. And on 25 May, Feast of the Ascension of Our Lord, three confreres will be ordained priests in the Chapel of St. Vincent de Paul in Paris: François-Xavier Nguyen Thanh Ly and François-Xavier Tran Duc Hoa, from Vietnam, and Benoît Bède Kitchey, from Benin, by the hands of Msgr. André Vingt-Trois, Archbishop of Paris.
Provincial Assembly. The coming Provincial Assembly will be from 21-25 January 2007 in the Motherhouse in Paris. Fr. Pierre Cornée, Visitor, will send out the official convocation and the names of the members of the Preparatory Commission. Fr. Cornée has asked that ideas, concerns and considerations be sent no later than 1 April.
19. Poland
Provincial Assembly. The Provincial Assembly was held in the Provincial House of Kraków (Poland) from 6-9 February. Sixty-five confreres of the province participated in it. There were some special guests during the Assembly: Fr. Roman Gorowski, Visitor of New England (USA), Fr. Józef _ucyszyn, Visitor of Hungary, and Fr. Paul Roche, Vice-Visitor of the Vice-Province of Sts. Cyril and Methodius, who could not participate because he was in the hospital. In preparation for the Provincial Assembly, the Preparatory Commission distributed materials for the Domestic Assemblies, which were held in each of the 29 houses of the province. During the Provincial Assembly, they had workshops in four groups, focusing on four topics: 1) the Constitutions and the future of the province, 2) vocational activity and initial formation, 3) ongoing formation, and 4) apostolic activity in collaboration with the Vincentian Family. The Final Document of this Assembly will be drafted and sent to all the confreres of the province.
20. Toulouse
Provincial Assembly. Fr. Yves Bouchet, Visitor, announced the upcoming Provincial Assembly. It will be from 21-25 January 2007 in the Motherhouse in Paris. Fr. Cornée will send out the official convocation and the names of the members of the Preparatory Commission, to whom ideas, concerns and considerations for the next Provincial Assembly can be sent before 27 March.
21. Zaragoza
Internal Seminary of Teruel. The community of the Interprovincial Internal Seminary of Teruel enjoyed the visits of confreres from the provinces which have students in this formation year. From 8-10 February, they were Frs. Nicola Albanesi, Visitor of Rome, and Vittorio Pacitti, Director of Students in Piacenza (Italy). From 14-16 February, it was Fr. Pierre Cornée, Visitor of Paris. The visits were a blessing for everyone. For some, it was the occasion to get to know more closely the richness of this formation year. For others, it was to get to know the ministries and plans of both provinces. For everyone, it was a moment of animation and getting to know more closely the richness of our Congregation.
The Vincentian Audiovisual Center (CAVV) has produced some DVDs with religious themes for evangelization. They are the following:
1. Icon of St. Vincent de Paul
2. The Icon of the Resurrection
3. Icon of the Nativity
4. The Icon of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple
5. The Icon on Baptism
6. The Icon of the Trinity
7. The Icon of Unity
8. The Icon of the Transfiguration
Whoever desires to acquire these can contact Fr. Sami Bou Chalhoub, CM; Centre Audiovisual Vincentien; Beirut; Lebanon. E-mail: samibch@inco.com.lb
******
APPOINTMENTS
GONZÁLEZ HERNANDO Joaquín 03-03-2006 Visitor – Madrid
RAFTERY Eamon 03-03-2006 Director DC – Nigeria
JASPERS Harry 08-03-2006 Visitor – Holland
LUTTENBERGER Gerard H. 10-03-2006 Director DC – New York
VAN AERT Jan 10-03-2006 Director DC – China
BENOLO François 11-03-2006 Visitor – Madagascar
BURBANO Edmundo 11-03-2006 Director DC – Ecuador
PRIESTLY ORDINATIONS
NGUYEN CONG Vincent Ferrier Chinh Par 24-01-2006
YONAS Mesfin Desta Aet 19-02-2006
MITIKU Hambissa Birri Aet 19-02-2006
MEBRATU Hailegiorgis Mamo Aet 19-02-2006
IYASU Tesema Hordofa Aet 19-02-2006
AMMANUEL Michael Helsabo Aet 19-02-2006
NGUYEN DUC Jean Hoa Par 08-03-2006
TONG PHUOC Paul Hao Par 08-03-2006
TRAN CONG Pierre Minh Par 08-03-2006
NECROLOGIUM
NOMEN COND DIES OB PROV AET VOC
MÉNDEZ ALVAREZ Amador Sac 09-02-2006 Sal 82-65
SOLANO SEPULVEDA José Nicolas Sac 13-02-2006 Col 95-66
GOCH DEINA Aloisio Sac 16-02-2006 Flu 89-72
LLUCH GARÍN Santiago Sac 21-02-2006 Cae 93-72
HOLZHÄUSER Peter Sac 02-03-2006 Ger 93-71
IANNONE Giuseppe Sac 10-03-2006 Rom 92-67
SCHWANE Robert A. Sac 12-03-2006 Ocn 78-61
