Rome, Italy. Toward the end of its intensive sessions, the General Government convoked an online meeting with all Major Superiors of the Congregation on March 20, 2024. The Vicar General, Fr. Henry Omonisaye, CMF, who moderated the meeting, gave a brief introductory remark stating the objective of the meeting pursuant to number 26 of the action plan of the General Government. He explained that the meeting fundamentally aims to provide a space for sincere conversations and a nuanced understanding of the ministry of governance. Set in a time when the Church emphasizes the inherent value of the synodal journey, whereby leadership means fomenting greater communion and participation of all.
The presidents of regional Conferences from Africa, Asia, America, and Europe presented their narrative reports. For the most part, they shared their collective experiences in the service of authority and how the Discerning Leadership Course impacted and qualified their missionary animation as superiors of the Congregation. Thus far, the course offered by the Congregation on each continent have been replicated at the provincial and local levels. It is hoped that the reaped gains will cascade to every evangelization platform of the entire Congregation. Moreover, they also shared the initiatives of each Major Organisms within the Conference for the celebration of the 175th foundation anniversary of the Congregation. Guided by the theme of Spreading the Flame of the Spirit, they identified signs of revitalization and good practices to keep our missionary charism alive.
For his part, Father General, Mathew Vattamattam, CMF, shared some thoughts in light of the intensive council sessions. His reflection zeroed in on the experience of interconnectedness and the path of synodality. He likewise gave a panoramic view of the state of the Congregation: current statistics, universal mission, communities, courses of renewal, vocation ministry, administrative affairs, activities such as the 175th foundation anniversary, and the Spirituality Congress. He recalled the words attributed to the late Fr. Peter Schweiger: “We are a congregation small enough to know each other yet big enough to do beautiful things in the church.” He exhorted the Major Superiors to persevere in charismatic communion through the sharing of our resources and to cultivate a culture of transparency, accountability, and the value of living one’s missionary vocation in joy.
Source: Fr. Efren Limpo Lo CMF, General Secretary
