NUNTIA – APRIL 2006
30. Holy See
Msgr. Ghattas resigns. The Holy See announced that the Synod of the Coptic Catholic Church, gathered in Cairo (Egypt) from 27-30 March, accepted the resignation of our confrere, His Beatitude Cardinal Stephanos II Ghattas, 86 years of age, Patriarch of Alexandria of the Copts since 1986. To succeed him, the Synod elected, on 30 March, Msgr. Antonio Naguib, 71 years of age, who is originally from Minya (Middle Egypt). Msgr. Ghattas was born in Cheikh-Zein-Eddin near Tahta on 16 January 1920. He entered the Minor Seminary of Egypt in August 1929. He did his secondary studies in the Holy Family School of the Jesuits, finishing them in 1938. In September of that year, he was sent to Rome to the “Propaganda Fide” School. In 1944, he obtained a degree in Philosophy and Theology and was ordained a priest on 25 March of the same year. Upon returning to Egypt, he was named Professor of Philosophy and Dogmatic Theology at the Major Seminary of Tahta, afterwards Tanta. In 1952, he entered the Congregation of the Mission. He made his Internal Seminary in Paris. After six years of apostolate in Lebanon, he was named treasurer and superior of the Vincentians in Alexandria. In 1967, the Coptic Catholic Synod elected Fr. Andraos Ghattas, Bishop of Thebes-Luxor and he settled in the Cathedral of Tahta on 16 June of the same year. In 1984, after having completed the constructions of the bishopric of Luxor, His Excellency Msgr. Andraos Ghattas was named, on 24 February, Apostolic Administrator of the Patriarchy, to replace His Beatitude Stéphanos I Sidarous, C.M., elderly and infirm. The latter offered his resignation to the Catholic Coptic Synod, gathered in the patriarchal residence of Pont-de-Koubbeh. On 9 June 1986, His Excellency, Msgr. Andraos Ghattas was unanimously elected Patriarch of Alexandria. He took the name of Stephanos II, out of devotion to and affection for his illustrious predecessor, and to indicate continuity.
Vincentian Bishop for a new diocese. On 7 April, the Holy Father erected the new Diocese of Celje (Slovenia), with territory taken from the Diocese of Maribor and named His Excellency Msgr. Anton Stres, C. M., until then Titular Bishop of Ptuj and Auxiliary of Maribor, the first bishop of the new diocese. Msgr. Stres was born on 15 December 1942 in Dona_ka gora, in the parish of Rogatec (Slovenia). He did his primary and secondary studies in Zagreb (Croatia). He entered the Congregation of the Mission on 22 August 1960 in Belgrade (Serbia). He completed his military service in Ohrid (Macedonia) (1962-1963). After three years of studies in the Theology University in Ljubljana (Slovenia), he continued his studies, in 1967, in Paris. He made his perpetual vows on 25 March 1967 in Paris. He was ordained a priest on 20 April 1968 in Ljubljana.
He was Director of Students of the C.M. during three periods (1972-1978, 1980-1984 and 1987-1988). He was on the Provincial Council for two periods (1975-1979 and 1981-1987). He was Superior in _martno and Ljubljana. He was Visitor of the Province of Yugoslavia (subsequently, Province of Slovenia) from 1988-1997. He obtained a Degree in Theology in Ljubljana in 1974 and in Philosophy in Paris in 1984. He became an extraordinary Professor (1985-1990). He was principally Responsible for the Chair of Philosophy from 1983-1993. In 1999 he was Dean of the Faculty of Theology. He was the principal editor of the Theology Magazine from 1981-1989. He was President of the Justice and Peace Commission in Slovenia from 1985. He was Advisor to the Pontifical Justice and Peace Commission from 1994; in charge of studies at the Social Academy in Ljubljana from 1997; President of the Commission of the Episcopal Conference of Slovenia for Regulations on Relations between Church and State.
He was named Auxiliary Bishop and Vicar General of Maribor in 2000; liaison of the Military Vicariate of Slovenia in 2002. He has written 18 books and essays, more than 200 articles and treatises within reach of the people in various magazines and newspapers.
31. General Curia
Itinerary of the Superior General. From 11-16 April, Fr. G. Gregory Gay, C.M., Superior General, celebrated Holy Week in Seville (Spain); from 17-27 April, he participated in the meeting of the 34 new Directors of the Daughters of Charity in Paris; on 29 April he presided the Thanksgiving Eucharist, at “Casa Maria Immacolata”, for the 25th anniversary of priesthood of the confreres from Poland. From 29 April to 2 May he traveled to Istanbul for the meeting of the Conference of Visitors of Europe and the Middle East (CEVIM).
32. Postulator General
Sr. Giuseppina Nicoli, new Venerable of the Church. On 28 April, the Holy Father, Benedict XVI, authorized the Promulgation of the Decree of the Heroic Virtues of Giuseppina Nicoli, declaring her Venerable. We await the Decree of the Holy Father on the miracle for her beatification. In that respect, we recall that on 30 June 2005, the Medical Review Board (before the Congregation of the Saints), called to pronounce on the miracle attributed to the Servant of God, Sr. Giuseppina Nicoli, expressed its unanimously favorable opinion on the extraordinary, immediate and irreversible healing that was cited by Battista Colleoni in 1933. A Congress of seven theologians, presided by the Promoter General of the Faith, will be convoked to give a judgment on the supernaturalness of the event in question.
33. CLAPVI
Fourth meeting of young missionaries. CLAPVI, consistent with the interest that, since 1999, it has shown for young missionaries, encouraged by the clear desire that our Superior General showed to them at the end of our 2004 General Assembly, just had the 4th Meeting of Young Missionaries, which is held every two years for them. This year it took place from 23-29 April in Mexico City. In spite of the difficulties in obtaining visas, 22 participants assisted. The subject matter touched areas of our formation: Human: with the topic of “Emotional Intelligence”; Spiritual: with the explanation and practice of “Lectio Divina”; Vincentian: with two topics: “Human Predisposition in the Vincentian Virtues,” and “The 2004 General Assembly in the Perspective of Young Missionaries,” for which we centered on two principal documents: “The Lines of Action of the Final Document of the 2004 GA referring to CLAPVI,” and the “Draft Project of the Superior General for the Coming Years.” The other areas: identity and vocation, apostolic activity and community life were touched on in the replies to the Lines of Action of the Final Document of the GA. The object of the meeting was: “To strengthen the fraternity and our identity as young Vincentian missionaries, accepting the integral, ongoing formation that we require today to improve the emotional nature and effectiveness of evangelization of the poorest.”
34. Argentina
Towards the 150 years of Vincentian presence in these lands. On 1 April, the sisters and confreres met in the Provincial House of the Daughters of Charity to plan the first year of a triennium in preparation for the 150th Anniversary of Vincentian presence. The Commission has determined already that this year 2006 will be a year dedicated to Vincentian Spirituality, aimed more at the “charism and identity of the communities founded by St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac.” Participating, on the part of the Congregation of the Mission, were Frs. Sergio Plana, Wilfredo Aguilera, Daniel Álvarez, Raúl Castro, Juan Carlos Gatti and Vicente Bokalic, Visitor. There were present several Daughters of Charity, representing the various regions of the province. In the near future, the Commission will make known the conclusions and the proposal of work for all the local communities.
35. Central America
Visit of the Assistant General. From 16 March to 23 April, Fr. José Antonio Ubillús Lamadrid, C.M., Assistant General, visited the Province of Central America, spread out over Panama, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Guatemala. On this visit, Fr. Ubillús personally interviewed each and every one of the confreres, students, postulants and aspirants who make up the province. He visited the places where the confreres carry out their missionary activity among the poor and marginalized. Likewise, he had the opportunity to meet with a number of communities of the Daughters of Charity and with flourishing groups of the Vincentian Family.
36. Brazil
Vincentian Family meeting. The Vincentian Family of Brazil held its 8th National Meeting from 10-12 March in Belo Horizonte (MG). Eight branches of the Vincentian Family were present. Fr. Manuel Ginete, Delegate of the Superior General for the Vincentian Family, was also present. He offered a reflection on the most vulnerable and the situation of the International Vincentian Family, speaking of the particularities of each country and region where the Vincentian Family is located. He mentioned the advances made and the challenges that exist in the Vincentian apostolate of serving and evangelizing the poor. The theme was: “Vincentian Family, show your face!” The objective of the meeting was to exchange experiences, to grow more deeply in Vincentian spirituality and charism, and, above all, to seek “enchantment” and to excite people in the apostolic projects of the Vincentian Family for the poor. Fr. Mizaél Donizetti Pugioli, C.M., National Coordinator of the Vincentian Family, said that the Vincentian Family in Brazil is becoming more sensitive and has much enthusiasm in working together with the poor. It is trying to have groups in the branches and with other organisms who are involved in action for the poor.
37. Chile
Beginning preparation for the Provincial Assembly. The Preparatory Commission for the Provincial Assembly (CPAP ’06) sent out the tasks for the holding of the Domestic Assemblies in view of the Provincial Assembly which will begin on this coming 2 October. In this Assembly lines for drafting the Provincial Plan will be proposed, a Revision of the Works will be made, and the Provincial Norms will be revised. The Domestic Assemblies will be held during the months of May and June.
International Scholasticate. This year, the Scholasticate of the Province of Chile has acquired a more international aspect. In addition to the Chilean and Bolivian students, who have been formed there for several years, a young man from India has now joined them. This young man immigrated to Chile some time ago and lived here with his uncle, who is a diocesan priest. Amit had vocational interest and, since he already knew the Vincentian charism in India, he asked to enter our scholasticate.
Provincial Newsletter in its 30th year. Coinciding with the death of Fr. Robert Schwane, former Visitor of the Province, the Provincial Newsletter – which Fr. Schwane founded in 1976 – celebrates 30 years of informing the province and our friends. What began as a couple of small sheets with short notices and some interesting items grew, with time, thanks to the work of various confreres. The work of Fr. Robert Schwane as Visitor was much broader and it is worth thanking him for it.
38. Slovenia
Visit to the Slovenian confreres in Canada. Fr. Józef Kapu_ciak, Vicar General, made a canonical visitation, from 23-27 April, to the confreres of the house in Toronto, Canada, which belongs to the Province of Slovenia. The Province of Slovenia has eight houses: four in Slovenia, one in Serbia, one in Croatia, one in Argentina and one in Canada. For this reason, Fr. Kapu_ciak decided to make the canonical visitation in stages. The comunity of Toronto, Canada, is made up of seven confreres who work in three parishes (two in Toronto and one in Montreal). They consist of Slovenian immigrants. In addition to pastoral work, the confreres assure spiritual assistance to the elderly Slovenians in the “Dom Lipa” Home in Toronto, in which two of our senior confreres also live. One confrere publishes a quarterly magazine “Boza Beseda” (Word of God) for the Slovenians who live in Canada.
39. Nigeria
Visit of the delegate for the Vincentian Family. From 28 March to 12 April, Fr. Manuel Ginete, C.M., Delegate of the Superior General for the Vincentian Family, visited the Vice-Province of Nigeria. During this time, Fr. Ginete attended and participated in the National Meeting of the Vincentian Family, which was hosted by the Association of the Miraculous Medal in Warri, Nigeria. Fr. Ginete offered a PowerPoint presentation on “The Vincentian Family in the World: Mission and Challenges.” He also offered several workshops to Vincentian students and participants in separate meetings of AIC, SSVP, AMM, and JMV. He concluded his visit by participating in the National Meeting of JMV and gave a conference on the role and responsibility of its members.
Seminar for young missionaries. From 24-27 April, the Vice-Province organized a seminar for the young confreres in the Vincentian Theologate of Enugu, Nigeria. Twenty-one confreres participated in this seminar. The two speakers, Fr. Moses Ugwu (diocesan priest) and Sr. Theresa Eke, D.C., facilitated, during the workshop, an exchange on “Tensions and Management” and “Collaboration in Ministry to the Vincentian Family.” The group had time for discussion and relaxation. The seminar concluded with a picnic which was full of humor and friendship.
40. Peru
Vincentian animation. The Center for Vincentian Animation (CAVI) organized programs for Christian, Vincentian and missionary formation; for example, a spiritual and Vincentian retreat for parish catechists in March; a five-day Vincentian formation course/workshop for professors on the main lines of Vincentian education (Know, Love and Evangelize); spiritual days on the Paschal Mystery; spiritual retreat for the members of the SSVP; and the official announcement of a national “PowerPoint” competition on “Vincentianness.”
Meeting of Vincentian vocational promoters. Fr. Alfonso Berrade, Provincial Visitor, presided over a day’s work session with the Provincial Vocational Promoter and the local promoters. They reflected on essential points of pastoral work for youth in the parishes and schools and, within that, vocational promotion. They spoke about call, acceptance, criteria for selection and spiritual and human accompaniment of the candidates to the Congregation. They laid out some practical criteria for animating vocations to the brotherhood in the Congregation.
Opening of historic celebrations. On 2 February, the three-year celebration of the 150th anniversary of the arrival of the Vincentian Family in Peru was opened officially. It recalled the 45 Daughters of Charity, two priests and one brother of the Congregation of the Mission who arrived on 2 February 1858 in the city of Lima. Since then, the Vincentian Family has grown. The Visitor of the C.M. and the Visitatrix of the D.C. and Msgr. Alfonso Cabezas, C.M., presided over the celebrations. The latter gave the opening talk and presided the Eucharist concelebrated by more than 30 Vincentian missionaries. It is hoped that, through these celebrations, the presence of the Vincentian charism in Peru will be strengthened and collaboration, among all the branches of the Vincentian Family in favor of poorest, will be made more effective. The Congregation has taken the first steps by supporting various works that the Daughters of Charity carry out among the poorest. In Peru there are ten congregations and nine lay groups in the Vincentian charism.
41. Paris
Toward the Provincial Assembly. The Preparatory Commission for the Provincial Assembly next January met after the Easter feasts. Fr. Pierre Cornée, Provincial Visitor, thanked those who had sent in their personal or community contributions for this Assembly.
42. Poland
Annual Retreats. As usual, again in this year 2006, the province has organized annual retreats for our confreres. There will be nine groups: two in the Provincial House of Kraków, two in Zakopane – Olcza (the chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal), two in the Vincentian House of Sopot and three in the “Vincentian” Formation Center in Krzeszowice. The preachers will be our confreres and a group will be guided by an OFM Capuchin monk.
Priestly Jubilee. On 30 April, in the Basilica of St. Vincent de Paul in Bydgoszcz (Vincentian community), the celebrations of the 65th anniversary of priestly ordination of Fr. Antoni Smoluk, C.M., were held. The Eucharist was presided by Fr. Marek Bednarek, Local Superior, together with Fr. Smoluk, other confreres and diocesan priests. Daughters of Charity, parishioners and members of his family participated. After the Mass, all the participants shared an exquisite meal.
43. Religious of Saint Vincent de Paul
Rest in peace. Mr. Marcel Laroche, father of Fr. Yvon Laroche, Superior General of the Religious of St. Vincent de Paul (RSV), died, at the age of 93, on 30 April in Quebec, Canada. Mr. Laroche passed to the Father’s house on Sunday night. He left his children in sorrow: Yvon, Marc, Vincent, France and Francine, members of his family and friends. Mr. Laroche was a man of faith, a father and a friend to everyone. He was well known in his neighborhood where he was a shoemaker and town councillor. Now he lives, face to face, with God, Our Father, whom he loved and served. Fr. Yvon Laroche presided the funeral on 4 May in Sacred Heart Church in Quebec. We offer our most sincere condolences to Fr. Yvon and his family. We join in his intentions by asking for the eternal repose of his father’s soul. May he rest in peace.
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APPOINTMENTS
AGNER DUMAS Venerando 03-03-2006 Director DC – Philippines
DINH TAT TIEN Joseph 10-04-2006 Regional Superior – Vietnam
MORO GONZÁLEZ Justo 10-04-2006 Visitor – Cuba
FREIRE QUINTERO Manuel 28-04-2006 Director DC – Seville (Spain)
_LIWIN_KI Pawe_ 28-04-2006 Director DC – Che_mno (Poland)
STASIOWSKI Marcin Marek 28-04-2006 Director DC – Kraków (Poland)
PRIESTLY ORDINATIONS
PALACIOS PAREDES Julio Aeq 22-04-2006
PASHMAY CURILLO Segundo Aeq 22-04-2006
NECROLOGIUM
NOMEN COND DIES OB PROV AET VOC
COMAS Jorge Sac 18-04-2006 Cub 53-23
AGUIRRE ARAMBURU José Antonio Sac 20-04-2006 Cae 76-59
HANH Pierre, Marie Paul Sac 22-04-2006 Par 85-65
RICCARDI Carlo Sac 27-04-2006 Rom 83-67
URBINA HAYE Ernesto Sac 28-04-2006 Orl 34-12
RUZ PARÚGUEZ Juan Miguel Sac 29-04-2006 Sal 37-15
VILOTTI Guerrino Sac 30-04-2006 Tor 87-67
LE GENTIL Jean-Marie Sac 01-05-2006 Par 80-61
BERVOETS WILLEM Sac 07-05-2006 Hol 84-65
DOYLE John Sac 07-05-2006 Hib 79-61
KRISTIN Ernst Sac 07-05-2006 Aus 82-62
