Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Roma (Agenzia Fides) - The 13th General Chapter of the Missionaries of San Carlo (Scalabrini) opened in Rome on January 16th with three days of spiritual reflection guided by Bishop Luciano Monari of the diocese of Piacenza-Bobbio and therefore successor of the founder Blessed Giovanni Battista Scalabrini, Bishop of Piacenza from 1876 until his death in 1905. The Scalabrini missionaries, founded by Fondati dal Blessed Giovanni Battista Scalabrini (1839-1905) in 1887, today number 731: 7 bishop, 591 priests, 13 Brothers, 120 religious students, present in 30 different countries with over 400 pastoral centres and activities.
The Chapter’s work-plan theme is “The Scalabrini Mission Programme: fidelity to God’s plan and fidelity to our Charisma”. As the work-plan states “The goal is interaction of the following aspects: the reality and perception of migration as a field in which to set our fidelity to God’s plan with regard to migration, as Scalabrini missionaries, in continual formation, at the service of migrants, with pastoral initiatives, with our organisation of government and administration, with the involvement of lay Scalabrini and partners, the media, study centres, ecclesial bodies and the Scalabrini Migration Network”.
The work-plan underlines that migration affects the whole world and involves some 200 million migrants and 20 million refugees and displaced persons. “Although for many migration means crisis, for Scalabrini missionaries migrants are an opportunity to live the Congregation’s charisma tackling the challenges the world of migration poses”. The main challenges include the following: discover, study and help eliminate the causes of migration; share joys and anxieties of migrants and accompany them on their migratory path; undertake intercultural dialogue indispensable for understanding and helping migrants; give special attention to preparation of religious and chosen pastoral programmes; give priority to integral pastoral care for migrants in every area; live individual and community consecration as a new way of being on mission: be ready for change, accept differences, watch for signs of the times in migration, have the courage to denounce violence and to announce the path of communion. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 17/1/2007; righe 29; parole 390)
