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Communiqué #3 - May 14, 2007
INSTRUMENTUM LABORIS
The Assembly began work
on Friday, May 11, by discussing the Instrumentum Laboris,
which was prepared by the preparatory commission from the
various regional reports, along with the contribution of
individual members of PIME or others who sent comments ahead of
time. Among those who contacted PIME, Fr. Giuseppe Buono
reminded us, was Francesco Frontini, who used to be a member
PIME in the mission of Hong Kong. He writes requesting that, in
some way, those ex-members of PIME who want to continue to work
together with PIME, in the missions, be given some possible way
to continue this connection.
The Instrumentum
Laboris was explained to the Assembly by two members of the
preparatory commission. Fr. Giorgio Licini explained that the
first part of the document was put together according to the
various geographic areas of the world where PIME is present
(Asia-Oceania, Africa, America, Italy) and by specific themes
(individual members and Lay missionaries). Fr. G. Criveller
explained that the second part of the document, which is more
concrete and workable, is divided in six sections:
Evangelization, Life in the Regions, Initial Formation,
Continuing Formation and well-being of the members,
collaboration with the laity in evangelizing, and means of
social communication
After the presentation
of this document, Fr. Gian Franco Poli, who has been invited to
be the facilitator of the Assembly, explained the method in
which he plans to help us come to specific deliberations, after
discussions in Assembly that hopefully will lead to, first,
basic objectives and goals, and then to specific decisions that
will be both realist and practical, for the next six years.
In the afternoon, the
Instrumentum Laboris was voted upon and accepted as the means
that the Assembly would use to start its discussion. There was
one change in the basic text of the document: In the 2nd
part, chapter 2, “Life in the Regions”, the last comment
concerning “a single region in Italy”, the words “with its
headquarters in Milan” were removed. In the following set of 6
affirmations in the same category, the words “with the regional
directorate in Milan” were also removed.
REORGANIZATION in ITALY
Fr. Davide Sciocco,
director of the Mission Center in Milan, presented to the
Assembly some possible scenarios for a way to reorganize the
activity of animation, including fundraising, publications and
other activities of the regions in Italy. This proposal was
first presented to PIME in Northern Italy by lay people who work
for PIME. It includes a greater use of lay people in various
sectors. It has been discussed recently in the two regions in
Italy.
FORMATION
Friday finished with a
presentation of the formation communities of PIME in Brazil,
Italy, the Philippines and India by Frs. Francisco Da Silva and
Mark Tardiff of the General Directorate. Topics that emerged
were: the ability to find properly formed persons to be
formators in the Seminaries, whether to have one or two
theological seminaries (presently we have one in Monza, Italy,
with our own professors and one in Tagaytay, the Philippines).
PIME has realized that it is necessary to have an accompaniment
that is personalized according to the situation and needs of the
individual.
PIME in Algeria
Br. Fabio Mussi of the
General Directorate explained to the Assembly the reasons why
the presence of PIME in Algeria came about, and the journey that
it has gone through thus far. It came out of the motion “Duc In
Altum” of the 12th General Assembly in 2001. The
missionaries that will be in Algeria, which will be a mission of
presence, not of action, will be Fr. Silvano Zoccarato, Fr.
Emmanuele Cardani (an associate member of PIME from the diocese
of Novara) and Fr. Davide Carraro. Fr. Zoccarato is already in
Algeria and the other two are presently studying diverse
languages before going to Algeria later this summer. The
mission will be in the city of Touggurt, an oasis city of 80,000
people, 700 kilometers south of Algiers. There is a group of
sisters of the Little Sisters of Jesus there. This mission will
be under the direction of the General Directorate and could also
afford the possibility of other members of PIME to spend some
time there a sort of sabbatical, as well as the possibility of
others, including groups, to experience mission life.
Dr. Raphael Iavazzo
On Saturday morning, May
12, Dr. Raphael Iavazzo, a former seminarian of PIME who is now
a practicing psychiatrist, spoke to the Assembly. He has been
working in coordination with PIME for some time now. He spoke
about the psychological well being of the members of PIME, from
the new missionaries to the elderly.
Sisters of the Immaculate
Also on Saturday
morning, the five sisters of the General Directorate of
Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate came to the General
Assembly to spend some time with us and to briefly explain the
recent chapter they experienced. Sr. Rosilla Velamparambil,
Mother Superior, explained the last Chapter, in which they spoke
about the time of the foundation and their founders. At their
recent chapter they also had present two members of their lay
membership. At the present time, there are approximately 870
members, with 500 of their members from India and almost 200
from Italy.
Sister Alessandra
Bonfanti, of the general directorate explained their research
concerning their founders. Two women, Mother Giuseppina Dones, a
sister of Reparatrix, and a young woman, Giuseppina Rodolfi (who
later became Mother Igilda), were the first two who desired to
have a Religious group of women modeled on the charism of PIME.
They were named “founders”. Mons. Lorenzo Maria Balconi,
Superior General of PIME at the time, was declared “confounder”.
Bl. Paolo Manna, PIME, who gave inspiration to the idea, was
declared “a person of charismatic inspiration.” The sisters
were founded in 1934.
WEEKEND
Some of the members of
the General Directorate had commitments for the afternoon on
Saturday, May 12, so there was no work. Members of the Assembly
were able to take some time to go to various PIME houses in the
area or to rest.
Monday, May 14, will be
taken up by the discussion of the economic situation of PIME.
This will finish the first part of the General Assembly, and on
Tuesday, sessions of lively discussion and debate will begin.
The election of the new General Directorate is scheduled for May
24 and 25. |
