We Return Home as Different Persons
By: Fr. Christian Mauvais, CM Visitor of France
Two days ago the formation session for the new Visitors concluded. During ten days we shared community in the house of the Daughters of Charity who offered us very comfortable accommodations. Under such conditions the workshop had to be enriching since this time together had been well-prepared by our brothers in the Curia … in fact the members of the Curia were present during these ten days, listening to us and sharing their insights with us.
We were presented with the texts of the various presentations and here I simply want to present some highlights, some words that have been etched in my mind, and some insights that will nourish my prayer during the coming months.
First of all I want to underline the spirit of fraternity, simplicity, and joy that was shared by all those present, all members of one large family, serving and ministering with the same charism … it was this spirit that characterized our gathering and that united us with one another. One of the highlights was the time that we spent at the Curia, a time in which we found ourselves sharing in an intimate manner with the confreres at the General Curia. That was a profound experience of community in a relaxed, festive environment which allowed us to deepen our sharing … we were all made to feel that we were at home!
In addition to the various passionate presentations we had some sessions with confreres filled with the spirit of the gospel. Once again we found ourselves in relationship with the five fundamental virtues of our spirituality … virtues highlighted by Saint Vincent, an important figure in the history of the Church.
- Luigi Mezzadro impressed us with his wonderful catechesis on the theme of mercy which took place in the Church of San Silvestro (founded under the watchful eyes of Mary and the Pieta of Michelangelo.
- The words of the Bishop of Palma, a Visitor from Naples but now a bishop who shared with us his experience as Visitor and Bishop. He reminded us that “we are not tourists in the Church, but a sign of the gift of the spirit … a sign of the need for said gift. That gift must be shared and also must be made known to the bishops.
- Cardinal Rodé invited us to maintain our youthfulness and the newness of the gospel … he exhorted us to keep our eyes open and to be attentive to the inspirations of the Holy Spirit. He also highlighted the importance of a personal encounter with the living person of Christ. He then spoke about the fact that our encounter with the poor reveal the beauty of our charism and also reveal our true identity.
- Two members from the International Secretariat of the VMY spoke about the joy of living their ministry as lay members in the Vincentian Family. They highlighted “the importance of being related with the Vincentian Family in order to live the charism in a passionate manne”r. They also spoke about being proud to be members of this large family and that as the family acts together in a collaborative manner, it gives witness to the fact that indeed we are a family.
- Father General and the members of the General Curia invited us to maintain and strengthen our preferential option for the poor: “The Congregation of the Mission will continue to develop in those places where we are with the poor and will die in those places where we have maintained our distance from the poor”. Father also spoke about the international dimension of the Congregation and exhorted us to recover our Vincentian identity (we are too far removed from the poor).
I will conclude here with the word of Blessed Oscar Romero which were cited by Father Gregory in his homily at the celebration of the Eucharist that concluded our time together: We cannot do everything, yet it is liberating to begin. This gives us the strength to do something and to do it well. It may remain incomplete, but it is a beginning, a step along the way. It is an opportunity for the grace of God to enter and to do the rest … we are prophets of a future that does not belong to us.
I arrived with some fears and I also was hopeful of discovering some further insights into my role as Visitor. I leave confident and assured and know that the specific, concrete realities will continue to form me … I also know that I need to be humble in order to live and act as a leader of the Province.
Translated: Charles T. Plock, CM
