Ljubljana (Fides Service) - The Union of European Conferences of Religious Major Superiors U.C.E.S.M, established 23 years ago to promote cooperation and reciprocal help among Major Superiors in Europe and encourage collaboration with European Bishops’ Conferences, held an elective assembly in Ljubjlana Slovenia, 16 -22 February.
The main purpose of the meeting was to elect a new U.C.E.S.M President to take the place of outgoing chairman Spanish Scalopian Father Jesus Ma Lecea and reflect on the role of Consecrated Life to form a moral conscience in the new multi-cultural Europe. Former Master General of the Order of Preachers (Dominicans), Father Timothy Radcliffe O.P., gave an address on “The role of Consecrated Life to form a moral conscience in the new multi-cultural Europe”. To promote reflection Archbishop Stanislav Hocevar, Archbishop of Belgrade, and Sister Beatrix Mayrhoffer, SSND, head mistress of a multi-cultural school run by the School Sisters of Notre Dame in Vienna, shared their experience.
The meeting was attended by 67 members of national Conferences from 24 different countries and a group of representatives of various institutions: Congregation for Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, Council of European Bishops’ Conferences, Council of Presbyterial Commissions, Renovabis Association for solidarity of Germany Catholic with central and eastern Europe, Latin American Confederation of Religious, Union of Superiors General General, International Union of Superiors General. (R.Z.) (Agenzia Fides 20/2/2004; Righe 20; Parole 265).