Dear brothers,
After the conclusion of the XXVI General Chapter, the delegates are back to their
communities with joy and renewed enthusiasm. In the words of Claret, I would say “This
is the finger of God” (Aut. 609) that made it possible for us to celebrate this General
Chapter in this pandemic time. It was an event in which the promise of the Lord – “I am
with you” – became yet another tangible experience in our congregational history.
The Chapter exhortation, Querida Congregación, Rooted in Christ, Audacious in
Mission, is now made available to all of you and to all those with whom we share the
Missio Dei. Now is the time for the “Fiat”, like that of our Blessed Mother, to the Lord’s
Dreams (Somnia Dei) for our Congregation.
We shall say our “fiat” together through concrete commitments to realize the dream
woven together in the spirit of discernment through generative conversations which
we have had at various levels during the preparation and the celebration of the Chapter.
Pope Francis added his share in these conversations confirming our longing to be
rooted in Jesus and be audacious in mission. The Pontiff also reminded us of the
importance of proximity, compassion and tenderness in our life and mission. In this year
dedicated to St. Joseph, we do well to weave our life and mission into the Dream that the
Spirit of Lord has evoked in us through the process of the General Chapter. Indeed, to
dream is “to open the door to the future, to be fecund in the future” as Pope Francis
affirms.
I invite you to personalize the Exhortation of the General Chapter and bear fruits
in your personal life, in the community, and in your ministry. We live at a time of epochal
changes which necessitate transformative changes in our way of thinking, relating, and
missioning. The discovery, dream, designs, and commitments become transformative
when each Claretian, every community and all our Major Organisms own them up and
act in accordance with them.
Dear brothers, together let us walk the synodal path to be a Congregation rooted
in Christ and audacious in mission.
We shall take care that the phrase rooted & audacious does not become merely a slogan,
but rather the core dynamism of the three transformative processes initiated by the XXV
General Chapter which we shall continue with renewed impetus.
The exhortation of the XXVI General Chapter is accompanied by two guides to
assist both the transmission of the spirit of the Chapter as well as the preparation towards
the forthcoming provincial Chapters and assemblies in all Major Organisms. You will do
well to creatively adapt these guidelines to your context.
When we walk in the Spirit of God, the architect of human history, we would be
at our best without denying our human limitations, seeking in all things the glory of God,
sanctification of our members, and the salvation of people throughout the world (cf. CC 2).
I commend our onward journey to the Immaculate Heart of Mary who ever
accompanies the sons of her heart.
Fr. Mathew Vattamattam, CMF
Superior General
Rome, September 30, 2021
