The morning Eucharist with Lauds was celebrated in Portuguese and was presided by Fr. José Luis Fernández Acevedo, CM, Visitor of Mozambique. Silent meditation followed which culminated in the praying of Expectatio Israel.
After breakfast a video presentation of the summary of the activities yesterday was shown.
A power point presentation about the draft of the project on solidarity based on the postulate approved at the GA 2016 was presented by Fr. Milles Heinen, CM, one of the Assistant Generals. He facilitated the clarification and comments afterwards.
Before the break in the morning there was the group photo by the whole assembly and by the different conferences of the Congregation.
To get the views of the Visitors regarding the document on the project on solidarity the assembly was divided into continental groups to discuss the suggested plan. A secretary per group would submit the result of the discussion to the Secretary General.
Fr. Gregory Semeniuk, CM. Executive Director of VSO (Vincentian Solidarity Office) discussed the role of its office and the help it can extend to the different provinces in the proper stewardship of its resources. It can also help build the capacity of our confreres for financial sustainability in their projects for the poor. After the presentation the assembly was divided into language groups to engage them in the discussion on the following guide questions: (1) What is your experience with projects in your province? (2) What strengths does your province, vice-province, region or international mission have in the area of development? (3) What are your needs in the area of confrere capacity/ (4) What aspect of Vincentian development work offers the greatest opportunities for increasing capacity? Since the VSO envisions the Mission Impact Training set on July of 2020 at CIF (Center for International Formation) in Paris, the group were also asked for their recommendations for the said training. The responses of each group will be submitted by their respective secretaries to Fr. Semeniuk, CM.
Bro. Francisco Berbegal Vázquez, CM, from the Province of St. Vincent de Paul, Spain shared their plan for the Promotion of the Vocation of Brothers. With the data given the brothers are facing extinction and their promotion is an utmost concern. He suggested strategies for the Curia, Visitors and their Council and individual missionaries to arrest the declining numbers of brothers and promote their vocation in the Congregation. After the presentation the floor was opened for discussion. A video presentation from Costa Rica regarding the vocation of the brother was shown. Towards the end there was an appeal in the assembly to support the plan of our brothers in the Congregation.
In the evening the vespers was led by Fr. Acevedo, CM.
Fr. Raymundo A. Regua, CM
Chronicler, Philippines
