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Communiqué # 11 - May 28, 2007
Evaluation of the
Assembly (including the procedural norms), Continuing Formation
and Well-being of the Members, A Report from the Milan Mission
Center, The New General Directorate, Pilgrimage to Mentorella
Evaluation of the Assembly.
The first part of Friday
Morning, May 25, was spent in evaluating the experience of the
Assembly so far. There is a general feeling that the spirit of
the Assembly has been peaceful and constructive. The
pre-Assembly preparation was good but could even have been
better. The Instrumentum Laboris should be based not only
on the reports from the various circumscriptions but also from
the reports of the General Superior, the Superiors of the
Circumscriptions, and the Acts of previous Assemblies and
Plenary Councils. This document perhaps should be prepared even
further ahead of time. There were also some requests that more
time be spent during the Assembly discussing missionary activity
and life in the various circumscriptions.
Continuing Formation and Well Being of the Members.
The afternoon began
with the final discussion of the document related to Chapter 4
of the Instrumentum Laboris (Continuing Formation and
Well Being of the Members). Among other points that are
mentioned, each missionary should take care of all aspects of
his development – physical, psychological, emotional and
spiritual. All members should have an annual check-up with a
doctor that knows him. In the regional house of each
circumscription, there should be basic medical information of
all the members of the circumscription.
PIME Mission Center in
Milan. Fr.
Davide Sciocco, director of the Mission Center in Milan for the
past three years, gave some information concerning projects and
spiritual adoptions. He also asked the members of the Assembly
and all members of PIME to invite relatives and friends to
subscribe to Monde and Missione, the Italian-language magazine
published at the Center.
Procedural Norms of the Assembly.
The
members of the Assembly, in trying to reduce the procedural
norms for the Assembly, spent some time going over those used
this time. This will become a base for norms for future General
Assemblies, which will be worked on in the next six years.
Presentation of the New General Directorate.
The afternoon session finished with the five members of the
General Directorate briefly giving their personal history and
mission experience.
On Friday evening, Fr. Fernando
Milani organized and evening of fun, celebrating the new General
Directorate and the 25th Ordination Anniversaries of
Fr. Carlos Nunes and Fr. Ken Mazur. It included music from the
“Brazilians” “Italians” and “Japanese”, a special visit from a
“jester” and his “Japanese teacher”, and various language
bloopers from Fr. Mark Tardiff.
Pilgrimage.
On Saturday, May 26, the members of the General
Assembly went on pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of
Mentorella. Fr. Gianni Criveller spoke about the German Jesuit,
Athanasius Kircher (1602-1680), who restored this Shrine. The
day before Pentecost is the Solemnity of Mary, Queen of the
Apostles. Mass was celebrated by Fr. Zanchi, recently reelected
Superior General. In his sermon he spoke about the Mary, our
mother, being with us every step of the way as we continue our
journey as a family of apostles. Mass was followed by a typical
Roman meal in the nearby village. Sunday was a free day and
beginning on Monday, the discussion will turn to the
implementation timetable of the decisions taken so far.
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