Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Madrid (Agenzia Fides) - ‘A Charisma at the service of the Word’ is the theme of the 3rd General Conference of the Verbum Dei Mission Fraternity taking place in Madrid 17 January - 14 February. The Conference, being held at the Fraternity’s Centre for Mission and Evangelisation in Loeches Madrid is attended by 67 members of the fraternity from various different countries Fides was informed by Verbum Dei member Teresa Rodriguez present at the Conference. Among others present, founder Fr. Jaime Bonet Bonet and Fr. Miguel Orcasitas, O.S.A, delegate of the Vatican’s Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. The theme ‘A Charisma at the service of the Word’ evokes the missionary horizon of the Fraternity, one of the Church’s new Institutes of Consecrated Life.
On the occasion of the Conference Pope Benedict XVI sent his apostolic blessing to the gathering as well as a special Message in which he invoked the Holy Spirit. "May the Holy Spirit illuminate your work and help discern and undertake with joy what the Lord is asking of you at this time in history". He urged them to "continue to walk with determination keeping close to Christ and collaborating with the Church’s evangelising mission in obedience with the respective local Bishop".
In preparation for the Conference the participants took part in a retreat preached by military ordinary and national director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Spain Archbishop Francisco Pérez González: The Archbishop told those present "Wherever the Word of God is authentically lived there are people with a special vivacity, sensitive to the things of God, resolute and always ready to serve and welcome."
The aim of the Conference is to safeguard communion in fidelity to the proper Charisma, intensify growth of the Fraternity, in keeping with the thought of the Church, the dynamics of the charisma and the signs of the times. In the course of the Conference the participants will elect leaders for the next six years. The Verbum Dei Missionary Fraternity, present on all five continents, strives to live the spirit of the early Christian communities and universal communion, in diversity of walks of life and vocations. The members are men and women totally dedicated to evangelisation and announcing the Word of God to all peoples. Members may come from all walks of life and social and cultural conditions. The Fraternity, present in 135 dioceses, gives special attention to evangelisation among young people and families organising meetings, prayer schools, retreats, schools of evangelisation, mission experience and ongoing formation in Christian discipleship. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 29/1/2007; righe 34, parole 468)
