Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Ravenna (Fides Service) - On 27 April at San Pietro in Vincoli in Ravenna, Italy, the Xaverian Missionaries in Italy elected new directing staff for the next four years, Father Marcello Storgato, communications officer told Fides. The new Regional Superior is Father Carlo Pozzobon, former Vicar of the Province. An expert vocations' animator, Father Pozzobon is known to the Pontifical Mission Societies and especially for his active relationship with Missionary Childhood. The new superior will be accompanied by Father Mario Menin, with missionary experience in Brazil, professor of dogmatic theology and missiology at the Inter-diocesan Theology Studio in Reggio Emilia and editor of a periodical of theology and anthropology of mission "Ad Gentes". The new counsellors are: Father Mario Ughetto, young Xaverian with a degree in Education Science, a formator at the Xaverian Novitiate in Ancona and involved in missionary animation of youth; Father Sergio Boscardin, long missionary experience in the Amazon and at present Rector of the Xaverian Macomer community in Sardinia; Father Pierluigi Felotti, missionary in Bangladesh, who has worked for years at the unitary Secretariat for Missionary Animation (SUAM) presently rector of the Xaverian community in Reggio Calabria.
The 180 Xaverians in Italy are engaged in five main activities: missionary animation in ecclesial communities and national and international realities; vocation pastoral among young people; formation for youth preparing for mission; caring for Xaverians who are elderly and sick; collaboration in activities undertaken by Missionary Institutes as a whole in various sectors. About a hundred Xaverians need assistance and care for reasons of health or age. As in every family missionaries hold the older members in great consideration that continue to be witnesses of the mission to which they have devoted their life. One new and interesting prospect on which the Chapter is reflecting at the moment is lay Xaverian life, a lay form of living the charism of Blessed Conforti and Xaverian spirituality for mission ad gentes. The chapter of Xaverians in Italy will close on 30 April. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 28/4/2004; Righe 25; Parole 345)
