A Vincentian missionary formation session is being held in Paris from 10-30 November 2019. It is hoped that we will be able to offer this ongoing formation each year. This formation session has been organized by the International Formation Center and has involved the collaboration of Father Aarón Gutiérrez, CM (Assistant General, responsible for the missions).
The purpose of this formation session is to give continuity to the new impulse with regard to the missions ad gentes … a focus that was initiated during the time of Father Robert Maloney, CM, who established new international teams to minister in various missionary areas. In a letter addressed to the Visitors, Regional Superiors, and Superiors of the various International Missions, Father Aarón and Father Andrés stated: Forming oneself is a process in which the missionary reflects beforehand on his past experience, and allows for “critical interaction” with others, to assess his situation in the face of his missionary present, but he has to think and dream with leaning toward the future. This formation provides an opportunity for personal and community growth in the area of missionary outreach (an element that has always been encouraged by our Congregation.
Objectives of this formation session:
- To give new life to the experience of being sent forth as disciples by Jesus Christ in order to continue his mission.
- To reaffirm and strengthen the commitment to evangelize in places that are beyond the boarders of one’s homeland. To move from a certain provincialism in order to clothe oneself in the universal aspect of the Church and the Congregation and in order to discern the signs of the time.
- To deepen their understanding of the Ratio Missionum of the Congregation in order to grow in accord with the criteria, values and attitudes of their missionary vocation and to live that vocation in a more committed and radical manner.
This formation session is composed of three modules:
[1] missionary insertion;
[2] Biblical, theological, and Congregational understanding of mission;
[3] mission: personal and community growth.
We wish a good course to the confreres presently enrolled and we invite all others to contact CIF for future formation.
Director of CIF: Andrés Román María Motto, CM
General Coordinator: Aarón Gutiérrez Nava, CM
Translated:
Charles T. Plock, CM
Eastern Province, USA
