On December 9, 2018 there was a gathering, a celebration and a sharing with the Vincentian Missionaries studying in Rome … all of these confreres were invited to the General Curia.
Welcomed by the members of the community at the General Curia, some twenty student confreres from thirteen provinces of the Congregation of the Mission were present for this gathering which began in the morning with words by Father Tomaž Mavrič, CM., Superior General. Father spoke about the richness of this intercultural and international gathering as well as the importance of specialized studies in theology and philosophy for the development of the mission in the homeland of the present students.
After introductions of the participants in this gathering, the members of the community at the General Curia and the student confreres shared their reflections in small groups. Their dialogue was guided by some questions that had been prepared by Father Miles Heinen, CM … questions that revolved around the expression of one’s culture in an international context.
The sharing revealed many different points of view with regard to who we are, our values and differences as well as the difficulties that are encountered in living in a multi-cultural situation. There was also much discussion about the impact of one’s culture on the expression of one’s faith.
The participants then gathered together for the celebration of the Eucharist that was presided by the Superior General and concelebrated by all those who were present. In his homily the superior general invited us to intensify our commitment to personal prayer and meditation (thirty minutes a day) … and to do this in accord with our Constitutions and Statutes, especially during this time of Advent but also in an on-going manner throughout our lives. Father recalled the words of St. Vincent: Give me a person of prayer and that individual will be able to do anything (CCD:XI:76) … words that make it very clear that the value and the joy of our apostolate and mission are derived from our prayer and meditation which are to be done in accord with the method that Vincent himself explained (a method adapted from that of St. Francis de Salles). We were also reminded about the importance of making Sacred Scripture a part of our meditation and prayer (especially the daily Scripture readings).
The Eucharistic communion was then reaffirmed at the fraternal table which was shared in a spirit of unity and much dialogue. We give thanks for this most edifying day, for the invitation and the acceptance that was manifested by the Superior General and all the members of the community at the General Curia.
Eliézer Okonosky, CM
Province of Curitiba
Translated: Charles T. Plock, CM
Eastern Province, USA
