VINCENTIANA, 1995, Nº 2

April 21, 1995

To the Visitors of the Congregation of the Mission

My very dear Confreres,

May the grace of Our Lord be always with you!

As you will recall, the Meeting of Visitors is scheduled for June 3 - 15, 1996 in Salamanca, Spain. At this time, I am writing to consult you about topics and the methodology for that meeting. We have a great deal of flexibility as we plan our gathering in Salamanca since it is not a General Assembly, whose structure is governed by the Constitutions and Statutes, as well as a detailed Directory. Rather, this is a meeting freely convoked by the Superior General as a service to the Visitors, and through them, to all the confreres of the Congregation; there are no formal norms regulating it.

As in the past, two of the goals of this meeting are:

1. to assist you, as Visitors, in animating the life and ministry of the Congregation in your province;

2. to foster mutual communication between the Visitors and the General Curia, and among the Visitors themselves.

I would also like, at the meeting in Salamanca, to add a third goal; namely, to begin preparation for the General Assembly of 1998 by seeking your advice in regard to the theme for the Assembly, the Directory of the Assembly, and the members of the Preparatory Commission.

Over the past year, reviewing the concerns expressed in reports and letters from the Visitors, we have noted, here in the General Curia, a number of themes that emerge repeatedly:

a. Vocations in the Congregation of the Mission

b. On-going formation of young confreres

c. Congregation of the Mission parishes

d. Popular missions

e. The work of the formation of the clergy

f. Our collaboration with the Vincentian laity

g. Community life

h. Collaboration, as a help to the small provinces

Our particular interest right now, however, is to know what themes, among those above or others, are of special interest to you.

Could you please send me, therefore, so that your response arrives here in Rome before June 10, 1995, the following:

1. any points about which you, as Visitor, are concerned and which you would suggest should be studied during our meeting;

2. any suggestions you might have in regard to the methodology to be used during the meeting.

I look forward to hearing from you. In the meantime, I assure you of my prayers during this Easter time. May you experience much peace and joy in the Risen Lord.

Your brother in St. Vincent,

Robert P. Maloney, C.M.

Superior General

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