On December 2, the first Sunday of Advent, the student-priests of the Congregation of the Mission who study at the various Universities in Rome, joined the confreres of the General Curia for an annual meeting during this time of the year. This meeting affords all the opportunity to share in on-going formation, common prayer, and fraternity.
“I raise my eyes toward the mountains.
From where will my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
the maker of heaven and earth.
(Psalm 121,1-2)
On December 2, the first Sunday of Advent, the student-priests of the Congregation of the Mission who study at the various Universities in Rome, joined the confreres of the General Curia for an annual meeting during this time of the year. This meeting affords all the opportunity to share in on-going formation, common prayer, and fraternity.
We would like to call attention to the wonderful welcome of the student-priests by the General Curia and hope that we can develop more meetings of this type, instead of simply being limited to this traditional day. Just as importantly, we would like to encourage everyone to use the Italian language, which all more or less understand and speak, and make a commitment to use it in these gatherings, like in others, as it has not been stressed enough in the past.
The meeting began at 10:15am with a prayer of the Vincentian Family and a welcoming address by John Gouldrick, CM, the superior of the General Curia. Manuel Ginete, CM, the delegate of the Superior General for the Vincentian Family, followed the address with a presentation on the “Leadership Role of the Congregation of the Mission in the Vincentian Family.” After an introduction, Fr. Ginete explained the “Role of the C.M. in the Vincentian Family: Facts and Perceptions”, commented on this “Role in Vincent’s broader Ecclesiological framework”, “Implication on Ongoing (Permanent) Formation of the C.M.”, in regard to the Vincentian Family, and finished with some concluding remarks.
Overall, the presentation was interesting and didactic while taking advantage of modern technology to present the topic in a Powepoint format. However, it was given in English (with a written translation in Italian), a language that not all the participants understood well. A short question and answer period following the discourse helped clarify and articulate questions that arose.
Following the presentation, Greg Gay, CM, presided over the Mass (with a homily in Spanish; another language not all knew well) that was celebrated by all participants. Afterward, lunch in a local restaurant was a great occasion to practice international sharing and fraternity.
We especially thank Józef Kapusciak, CM, Vicar General, for organizing the day.
Fr. Antonio Ruiz (Province of Madrid),
tradujo: P. Derek Swanson (Provincia de EE. UU.- Midwest)
