Rome (Fides Service) – On the eve of the canonisation of their Founder, Daniele Comboni, on Thursday evening, 2 October the 26th chapter of the Comboni missionaries, opened in 1 September, closed. Next week a post-chapter commission will elaborate the programme lines emerging from the work which will guide the activity of 1,800 Comboni missionaries working in different fronts of evangelisation in the world. Two fundamental elements emerged from the debate during the Chapter: focus attention on the theme of evangelisation in its dimension of justice and peace, ongoing formation of missionaries. The first theme sees special attention in the field of justice and peace, in order to rebuild the dignity of the person and the unity of the human family reconciled according to the project of God, as well as commitment to prepare the laity to assume responsibly social and government commitments to promote justice and peace at all levels in all countries. The second aspect will highlight ongoing formation of missionaries to understand better the challenges and signs in the world today and to know how to respond adequately to the new needs of the man of the third millennium.
During the Chapter the members of the Council were elected to flank the Superior General Fr. Teresino Serra. For the first time an African is part of the general government of the institution: Tesfamariam Ghebrecristos Weldeghebriel, dell’Eritrea. Other membesr are: Fr. Fabio Carlo Baldan, Italian,Vicar general; brother Romero Arias Hérnan (Peruvian) e p. Jose Magri (Brazilian). (S.L.) (Fides Service 4/10/2003; lines 19 - words 249)