Our Identity, a Vocational Culture and a
Vision of the Future of the Congregation of the Mission
On Saturday, December 5th, the First International Meeting of Vincentian Seminarians was held. The purpose was to create a virtual meeting place in which the seminarians could reflect on their identity, on the creation of a vocational culture and on the vision of the future of the Congregation of the Mission.
At 15:00 hours (Rome) the meeting began and Father Hugo Vera, CM moderated this gathering. He began by explaining the importance of this time together.
This was followed by a video made by Nomcebo Zikode (the author and composer of the famous song Jerusalem) which showed children and adults from the community of Akamasoa singing and dancing. This is the parish community that is led by Father Pedro Opeka, CM in Madagascar.
The Province of Colombia was responsible for the opening prayer. The theologians, the seminarists in the Internal Seminary and the young men in philosophy, through means of a video presentation, invited those participating in this event to join together in prayer for vocations.
The members of the General Council and the General Curia introduced themselves and spoke about their various responsibilities. Then, the seminarists at the Internal Seminary in Indonesia provided the participants with song in their native language.
Father Robert Maloney, the former Superior General, addressed the seminarians and developed the central theme. In his intervention, Father spoke about the characteristics of Vincent de Paul and our spirituality, highlighting the fact that a vocational culture and permanent formation are inseparable realities. He further stated that the object of every missionary vocation is to create a vocational culture. Lastly, he pointed out that the Congregation of the Mission is profoundly spiritual and profoundly practical and is focused on the person of Jesus Christ and the person of the poor.
At the conclusion of Father’s intervention, the community at the Seminary in Cameroon presented a festive dance which is preformed on the occasion of the death of a patriarch (the symbolism of the dance is the victory of life over death).
Then the participants were able to present some questions to Father Maloney and this exchange enriched all. At the conclusion of this moment we were transferred to Latin America where the seminarians from Brazil presented us with music.
At the conclusion, Father Mavriĉ, deeply moved by the number of young men who had gathered together, spoke to them as the NOW of the Congregation and stated: In you I find the strength to hope for a new vocational culture. This newness we are living and building up in the here and now. We do this as mystics of charity who know how to open ourselves to Jesus Christ for the purpose of serving those men and women who are most poor, serving those persons every day of our lives, serving them with joy and as members of an authentic community for the mission that bring joy to our own life and joy to the life of others.
The Superior General manifested his joy and spoke words of encouragement when he stated: You are the Advent of the poor, you are the hope that renews our Congregation, you are the heart that beats within the Vincentian Family and beats with a missionary spirit that calls us forth to be evangelizers of the poor.
The participants were led in a concluding prayer by the seminarians from the Central American Province. Each one prayed the prayer for vocations, O Hope of Israel, in their own language. Then they joyfully sang and danced to the rhythms of Bendigamos al Señor! (Let us bless the Lord).
This meeting with taped. An environment of communion and joy pervaded the time that was spent together. This gathering concluded on a note of hope that despite adversity of the present time, the charism of Saint Vincent de Paul continues to have relevance and enriches the world, the church and the poor.
By: Manuel Gradin
Seminarist
Province of Argentina
