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Rome, June 8, 2002

To the Visitors of the Congregation of the Mission

My very dear Confreres,

May the grace of Our Lord be always with you!

Today, in accord with Article 138 of our Constitutions, I am convoking the 40th General Assembly of the Congregation of the Mission. After consulting the Visitors and investigating a large number of possible sites, we reached the decision, at a tempo forte session of our General Council, to hold the General Assembly once again in Rome at Casa Maria Immacolata, Via Ezio 28, 00192 Roma. The Assembly will begin at 9 a.m. on Monday, July 5, 2004 (with all of the participants arriving either on July 3 or 4), and will end at 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 29, 2004 (with the possibility of delegates departing on July 30 or 31st). At the same meeting of the General Council, having consulting the Visitors in Dublin and then undertaking a more detailed consultation with them by mail, we chose as the theme of the Assembly the topic most commonly proposed by the Visitors; namely,

Our Vincentian identity today, having lived the new Constitutions for 20 years — an evaluation and three challenges for the future.

In accord with Statute 88 § 1, “having heard the provincials and paying attention to different regions and works” we have also appointed a Preparatory Commission, whose members are:

Fr. Corpus Delgado (Zaragoza, Spain)

Fr. Manuel Ginete (Philippines)

Fr. Jorge Pedroza (Mozambique)

Fr. John Sledziona (New England, USA)

Fr. Simão Valenga (Curitiba, Brazil)

Even as I write, the Commission is holding its first meeting here in Rome and will soon be in contact with you to ask your help in beginning preparation for the General Assembly, which will also elect a new Superior General.

I deeply appreciate your most generous service to the Congregation and ask your assistance now as we begin to work toward the Assembly.

Your brother in St. Vincent,

Robert P. Maloney, C.M.

Superior General

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