Provincial Update #8 – Blessed Sacrament

SESSION OF FORMATION FOR PROVINCIAL AND REGIONAL SUPERIORS (APRIL 13-16, 2015)

It is a four-day working together, recalling and deepening important elements of the mission as members of the government of the Congregation and as animators of the Consecrated Life of SSS religious.

OPENING CELEBRATION:

On April 13, 2015 (Monday), at 08:30 AM, the celebration for the opening of the Session for Formation was presided by Fr. Eugenio Barbosa Martins, Superior General. This opening was in the following order: Greetings to the Assembly; Entrance Hymn – ‘Ubi caritas et amor Deus ibi est’; Enthronement of the Word of God, Reading of John 21:1-14 – ‘The Risen Jesus and the Disciples’, Period of Silence; Enthronement of the Rule of Life, Reading of ROL #4 – ‘The Spirit of the Congregation’, Period of Silence; Reading of ‘Perpetual vow of personality’ of St. P.J. Eymard; Prayer to St. Peter Julian Eymard; Hymn – ‘Veni Creator’; Prayer to the Holy Spirit; then the lamp was lit. . . . .

PRESENTATION OF PARTICIPANTS:

Each participant introduced himself – his Name, Province/Region; his Ministry experience in the Congregation and/or in the Church; his Expectation(s).

OPENING REMARKS:

The official opening of the Formation Session was done by the Superior General. He emphasized ‘the most important point of this session will be, therefore, the exchange of experiences and dreams to bring quality to our activity in governing.’

PRESENTATION OF THE REPORTS:

“In the service of our brothers” – Our Mission as Government and animators of the Religious Life SSS (by Fr. Eugenio Barbosa Martins, Superior General) = = = The presentation centers on recalling the elements that Fr. General considers indispensable for the fruitful exercise of our service of authority in the Congregation namely, the person of Jesus Christ, our Rule of Life and the Renewed Eucharistic Spirituality.
The Provincial/Regional Council and its internal organization (by Fr. Joseph Vu Quoc Bihn, General Consultor) = = = The report emphasizes two main topics which are directly connected to the ministry as animators and administrators at Provincial/Regional level. They are the following: The persons and the roles of the Provincial/Regional Council and The meetings and how they function.
The Provincial/Regional Council in its relations towards the Province/Region (by Fr. Sebastian Luistro, Vicar General) = = = The report focuses on ‘The Provincial/Regional Council (PRC) as the liaison between the General Council (GC) and the local communities that form a Province or Region’.
The Provincial/Regional Council in its relations with other bodies ( Giulio Maccali, General Consultor and Secretary to the Council) = = = The report deals with the relation of the Provincial/Regional Council to the following bodies: within the Congregation (the General Council and Administration, the Provincial/Regional Chapter, the AGC, the other Provinces/Regions and the Geographic Conferences); with the Institutions of the Universal Church (Magisterium of the Holy See – and the local Church, and with other Religious Institutes); and with the Society that challenges us.
The Provincial/Regional Council and the First Formation and the Vocation Apostolate (by Fr. Martin Tine, General Consultor) = = = The report dwells on the Vocation Apostolate, the First Formation (Aspirancy, Postulancy, Novitiate, Scholasticate, Preparation for Perpetual Profession) and the On-going Formation (5 years after perpetual profession).
Report of the Procurator General and Postulator ( Carlo Vassalli) = = = The report gives updates on the causes of Fr. Longari and Bro. Nadiani.
Presentation of the Committee for the International Eucharistic Congresses ( Vittore Boccardi, Secretary-General, Pontifical Committee for the International Eucharistic Congresses) = = = The report offers information on the coming 51^st International Eucharistic Congress in the Philippines and about the history of the International Congresses and the Church in Asia.
For an Economy of Communion (by Fr. Sebastião Machado Leite Mezencio, General Treasurer) = = = The report exposes the world of finances for a wider and deeper perspective and some more technical aspects.

GROUP (WORK) SHARING:

Every after each report the Plenary is divided into 4 groups (two English and two French). The delegates share their experiences in their Provinces/Regions and their dreams for the Congregation. When back in the Plenary, the collated answers are shared in the big group.

PRAYER AND MEDITATION; EUCHARIST AND ADORATION:

There is the prepared Prayer and Meditation with Mary and/or Saint Peter Julian Eymard (English and French) for every opening session. The assembly is being nourished by the celebration of the Mass at noon and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in the evening at 6:30.

ACCOMMODATIONS:

The participants are being accommodated at the Generalate building, parish community building and at the Largo XXI Aprile building.

PRAYERS FOR:

The on-going Amplified General Council Meeting (Rome)
The repose of the soul of Fr. Joseph Roy, SSS (he was one of the American missionaries to the Phil.)