From October 24 to 26, the first joint meeting of young confreres Lazarists of two Provinces: Slovak and Vice-Provinces of SS. Cyril and Methodius took place. The meeting was held in the north of Slovakia in the picturesque village of Krushetnitsa. Visitors of both Provinces were also present: Fr. Jan Trzop and Fr. Jaroslav Jaššo. The meeting was organized by Fr. Jaroslav, he also prepared two wonderful conferences on the topic “Fraternal life in community.”

The first conference on the topic “Life in Community” was based on two sources: meditation on life in Community by Fr. Robert Maloney, CM, Superior General of the Congregation of the Mission in past, which can be concluded in the following levels of Community:

а) Community foundation – general experience: each of us brings our impact to community; the question is how do we use our experience? For the benefit of whom? Is there a joint activity present?
b) common understanding of current situation;
c) our common share in the community;
d) joint implementation of plans and the importance of obedience.

The second source of the first conference were our Constitutions, most significantly points #20 and #24 which highlight that we bear joint responsibility for the peace and quiet in the communities, and we show with our lives and ministries what we live in, what our lives are based on, and what is important to us.

The second conference was entitled, “Fraternal life in community. ” This conference was named after the title of the Document of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life of 15 January 1994 on which the entire conference rested. The main points of the conference were the following:

а) the main and highest rule is following Christ;
b) learning and saving the spirit of our Congregation;
c) getting familiar with the current status of the Congregation of the Mission;
d) the priority of spiritual restoration compared to external actions;
e) efficiency and effectiveness of evangelization depends on the testimony of one’s own life.

The important components of this meeting were also the joint prayer, the Holy Mass, the option to take the Sacrament of Confession and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, as well as option of fraternal communication on various urgent topics of spiritual life in our Communities, where everyone had the opportunity to share their thoughts and experiences.

May God bless everyone who has caused this meeting!

Fr. Sergyi Pavlish, СМ
Krushetnitsa, Slovakia, October 26, 2017