Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Guadalajara (Agenzia Fides) – “The General Chapter is an historical event and a moment of special grace for any Institution, during which the members of the Chapter and the Institution itself live in the presence of the Holy Spirit,” says the message sent by Cardinal Ivan Dias, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, to the members of the Order of Missionaries of Guadalupe who met for their IX General Chapter (see Fides 7/1/2009).
“This is a moment of sincere and humble reflection on life and on the activities of our Institute, in order to value and reaffirm its authentic charism and mark guidelines for its future, remaining faithful to our own foundational charism,” the Cardinal’s message said. He also reminded them that the strength and wealth of every Institute is precisely “its own members, properly formed and willing to live the common charism they share with their brothers.” And thus, the importance of “the discernment of genuine vocaions in the Society and in the formation of its members on all levels, that is to say, in all that concerns their formation from beginning to end.”
Cardinal Dias continues making reference to the charism of the order, that is, the mission “ad gentes,” reminding them that in order to carry out this mission, all the members “should act in harmony with the Church and her pastors, remaining in complete affective and effective with the Church.” Also important in this area are the laity, who are associated with this mission. However the Cardinal also added that in order to avoid ambiguity and doubt, “the distinction between members and associated lay members should be clear.”
“The efficacy of the evangelization depends on the spiritual life of the missionary,” the text says. In fact, “if the missionary activity and preaching do not come forth from a profound personal spiritual life, the missionary will be nothing more than “a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal.”
The Prelate concluded his message by reminding all the members of the importance of fraternal life “which offers them all the moral and spiritual support they need in order to fulfill their own vocation and mission in the society.” Feeling supported “will help the missionary face the arduous realities of the mission ‘ad gentes,’ while offering the community a serene place where it can regain spiritual strength.” (RG) (Agenzia Fides 9/1/2009)
