The Province of Slovakia held their triennial Provincial Assembly in Bratislava at the provincial house with the Confreres arriving to begin at 15:00 on Wednesday May 10, 2017. All 35 confreres with active voice were present. The liturgy of the hours, meditation, Eucharist and the Divine Mercy Chaplet were appropriately celebrated during these 4 days.

This assembly was a change in method for the Province in Slovakia in that the assembly focused very heavily on formation. The topics presented addressed the psychological, spiritual and community dynamics that are involved in faithfully living the vows. The speakers were Mons. Marek Forgáč, auxiliary bishop of Košice, Fr. Miles Heinen, CM, Assistant General of Congregation of the Mission and Fr.. Štefan Boržík, PhD. The movement of this treatment of the vows culminated in a pilgrimage by bus to the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows in Saštín-Stráže where the Archbishop of Travana, Msgr. Jána Orosch, joined us. At the end of the Eucharist the province re-consecrated itself, imploring Mary’s help, to follow Jesus Christ evangelizing the poor. The evening ended in a wonderful banquet at which Fr. Jaroslav’s 50th birthday was noted.

Interspersed through Thursday and Friday were presentations of the life and works of the houses. There was also a two-hour presentation by the Provincial giving a state of the Province overview with a call to renewal individually, collectively and in ministry focus, particularly through collaboration.

On Saturday, the last day of the Assembly, in the morning elections of the Visitor and four provincial Councilors were held. The results are awaiting confirmation of the Superior General and the General Council.