Official Minutes of Vincentian Family Leaders
Fr. Benjamin Romo, C.M., Secretary, has sent the official and more detailed minutes of the recently completed meeting in Paris of leaders of the Vincentian Family.10th Meeting of the Heads of the Branches of the International Vincentian Family
Paris – Mother House of the Daughters of Charity,
February 20-22, 2004
MINUTES
List of participants
Anne Sturm – AIC
Myriam Cuchet – AIC
Robert P. Maloney – CM
Benjamin Romo – CM
Evelyne Franc – DC
Margaret Barrett – DC
José Ramón Diaz Torremocha – SSVP
Marco Betemps – SSVP
Gladys Abi Said – JMV
Edurne Urdampilleta – JMV
Felipe Nieto, CM – MISEVI
Eva Villar – MISEVI
Charles Shelby, CM – AMM
Martha Leticia Tapia – AMM
Yvon Sabourin – RSV
1. ACTIVITIES DURING THE YEAR 2003
AIC
Work on the lines of action agreed upon during the Assembly in Nice (France);
Formulation of documents on formation: one is about Empowerment and the other is a series of booklets entitled: “Step by step with St. Vincent de Paul”;
Strengthening of the twinnings of National Associations;
Continue work on the “Institutional Strengthening Plan”;
Meeting of the Executive Committee in Berlin;
Visits of animation to the countries.
CM
Approval of a book of prayers for the Congregation of the Mission;
Approval of the Practical Guide for the Local Superior;
Participation in the General Assembly of the Daughters of Charity;
Participation in the Council meetings of JMV and MISEVI;
Begin the preparation for the General Assembly of the Congregation of the Mission;
Meeting with new Visitors;
Appointment of Fr. Javier Alvarez as new Director General of the Daughters of Charity;
Visit to the confreres and Daughters of Charity present in China.
DC
Held their General Assembly, election of Sr. Evelyne Franc as Mother General and election of her Council;
Beatification of Sr. Rosalie Rendu, DC.
SSVP
Celebrated the great event of the beatification of Sr. Rosalie Rendu, DC;
Held their Special General Assembly in Rome;
Approved the New Rules of the Society;
Initiated the first two projects of VINPAZ: Zambia and Haiti;
Improved the structure of their twinnings.
RSV
Deepen in the Vincentian spirituality;
Publish a book that recognizes the brotherhood vocation in a community;
Form the young in the Vincentian charism in their own work environments;
Collaborate with other branches of the Vincentian Family.
JMV
Continental encounter of the National Councils of Europe in Madrid;
Youth encounter in Eastern Europe;
Visits to Panama, Portugal, Brazil, France, Mexico, Cuba, Cameroon, Madagascar, Ukraine and Poland;
Publication of the Marian Consecration and Catechesis;
Publication of the book of prayers for JMV;
Beginning of a new team of JMV volunteers in the International Secretariat; they come from Venezuela, Haiti, Philippines and Ecuador.
AMM
Meeting of the International Coordinating Council;
Start the formation process through the formulation of monthly catecheses;
Creation of the web page of the Association;
Start the publication of a trimester bulletin of the Association
MISEVI
The lines of action set forth in their First General Assembly have been carried out;
The formulation of the Document on Spirituality and Document on Internal Rules is now done;
They are working on the internationality of the Association.
2. ACTIVITIES PLANNED FOR THE YEAR 2004
AIC
Visits of animation and formation to Peru, Mexico, Vietnam, Italy, Panama and Poland;
Continue with the project: “Against violence towards women”;
Planning of the Assembly of Delegates in conjunction with the Executive Council for the month of February 2005 in the Dominican Republic or Peru:
Seek funds for formation and service projects;
Strengthening of the team of representatives in international organizations.
CM
Encounter with young confreres for the formation of experts in Vincentianism.
General Assembly in the month of July.
DC
Wait for the approval and promulgation of the new Constitutions and Statutes of the Company;
Work in the provinces on the Lines of Action approved during the General Assembly;
Continue working to be closer to the poor, strengthen on simplicity and live out the passion for Christ present in the poor;
Welcome the new Director General of the Company;
Celebrate important anniversaries: Chile (150 years of presence); Curitiba (100 years of foundation) and Japan (50 years as Province);
Organize regional and continental formation encounters.
SSVP
Disseminate the Rules of the Association:
Prepare for their Assembly in 2005;
Deepen on the VINPAZ project;
Formulate a basic plan of formation for the members of the Association.
RSV
Organize initial and ongoing formation projects;
Renovate of the General Curia;
Deepen on the vocation and mission of the brother in the community;
Identify more and more with the charism through one’s personal life experience.
JMV
Organize continental encounters with the National Councils of the Association;
Begin the preparation for the Second General Assembly in 2005;
Finish the document “Formation Processes” and “The emerging from the Formation Process of JMV”;
Organize encounters and visits to Italy, U.S.A., India and participate in the V Latin American Encounter and Mission in Peru;
Continue seeking funds for the economic stability of the Association.
AMM
Prepare for a new Director starting July;
Hold an encounter of the Coordinating Team;
Continue with the monthly catecheses;
Plan the International Encounter for next year 2005.
MISEVI
Carry out the commitments of the International Encounter of Mexico and publish a book with the materials of said Encounter;
Prepare for the Second International Assembly of the Association in January 2005;
Continue working for the internationality of the Association through the approval of National Statutes;
Find a space to install a small International Secretariat;
Create a database of formation programs for the members and of places of mission;
3. VINCENTIAN FAMILY CAMPAIGN SINCE 2001. GLOBALIZATION OF CHARITY: FIGHT AGAINST HUNGER
Fr. Benjamin Romo presented a report on the activities made by the Commission on the Project against hunger, on the projects started and some results based on the information received by the Commission from the countries. It was then asked:
That this Campaign be continued in a permanent way since this vicissitude remains to be an urgent call to action for the Vincentian Family;
That the Commission write a letter to all the Vincentian Family National Coordinators in order to make known the partial results received and encourage them to continue with this Campaign, putting into action projects wherein all the branches of the Vincentian Family in the country, region or locality can be involved and that these projects go more in line with eradicating the causes of hunger.
And it was also commented that collaboration in projects against hunger has been better in those countries where there exists a Vincentian Family National Coordinating Council. For this reason all were invited to encourage the countries to form this Commission.
4. VINCENTIAN FAMILY CAMPAIGN SINCE 2003: POLITICAL ACTION AGAINST MALARIA
A member of the Commission of this Project explained the activities organized by them: steps made up to this time and projects for the future. After studying and discussing the draft of the Document which will be presented to the Governments of countries and International Humanitarian Organizations, the participants of this meeting asked the Commission to continue with the work, always focusing their activities toward a political action against malaria.
Here are the steps to be followed:
The Commission will put into writing concrete proposals on how to formulate a document (declaration, manifesto) that will be presented to the international heads of the Vincentian Family in order to get their approval and receive suggestions and contributions;
Once this document is approved it will be sent to the Vincentian Family National Coordinating Councils;
The Vincentian Family National Coordinating Council of the country will study this document and, based on the proposals of the Commission, will formulate their own which will then be presented to the Government, if convenient and to Institutions within the country.
5. FORMATION OF ADVISORS OF VINCENTIAN FAMILY GROUPS
A presentation was made of the many activities that participants of the Vincentian Month for Vincentian Family Advisors (Paris, 2002) have been doing in their own countries. We find that the contents of this session are still being shared with many missionaries, Daughters of Charity and laypersons through courses, seminars, workshops, etc.;
There is better quality in the accompaniment and guidance of Vincentian Family lay groups;
It is asked that this Vincentian wealth be also shared with those priests and religious sisters who, without forming part of the Vincentian Family, also offer their service of accompaniment to these groups.
It is hoped that an experience like that of the Vincentian Month be repeated in two or three years’ time so that new advisors who perform this service will also receive new training.
6. PRESENTATION OF THE WEB PAGES OF THE BRANCHES OF THE VINCENTIAN FAMILY
Each branch made a presentation of their own web page, speaking especially about its internal structure and the formation materials it offers. The following are their addresses:
www.aic-international.org
www.famvin.org/cm
www.filles-de-la-charite.org
www.secretariadojmv.org
www.amminter.org
www.ozanet.org
www.misevi.org
These web pages seek to exchange information on the life and works carried out in different countries and continents, offer formation materials to its members and channel energies in common projects that will better serve the poor.
7. THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE VINCENTIAN FAMILY IN THE LAST 10 YEARS
This was a moment filled with memories, thanksgiving and joy. Through a presentation made by Fr. Benjamin Romo, we looked back on the journey made by the International Vincentian Family. This has gradually passed from knowledge to formation, prayer and common commitment in favor of the poor. To this small mustard seed God gave it the grace to become a robust tree that offers its best fruits in favor of the poor. At the end of the presentation, the participants gathered around the table of the Lord to give thanks to God for the gift of the Vincentian charism and for the gift of persons like Fr. Maloney who, throughout the ten years, has encouraged laypersons in the different associations to discover in a deeper way the Vincentian charism and to go with a renewed spirit to serve and evangelize the poor. The whole Vincentian Family expressed its gratitude to the Father General for his life witness and the dynamism he has injected in each of the Vincentian associations.
8. PROPOSED THEME FOR THE YEAR 2004 – 2005
This topic initiated with an evaluation of the celebrations for the feast of St. Vincent in the different countries. It was said that more and more countries, regions, dioceses, parishes, schools, hospitals and other institutions celebrate this feast with great fervor and enthusiasm. This has been very positive although it is noted that the theme that the international heads present each year for this celebration is not always taken into consideration by the different coordinating councils who organize this event.
For the celebration of the feast of St. Vincent for this year 2004 and for the common theme for the Vincentian Family for the year 2004-2005, three proposals were presented for dialogue and discussion:
“Vincentian Family Year of the Youth”;
“The femeninism of poverty”;
“For an alliance of generations”.
After a rich sharing on these themes the first one was chosen. Hence, the theme for the Vincentian Family for the year 2004-2005 will be:
Vincentian Family Year of the Youth:
“Sharing the charism with all generations”.
Prayer-formation-service
The heads, as they have been doing every year, will send a letter to all the national associations and coordinating councils of the Vincentian Family, offering suggestions for the organization of this event.
9. PROPOSED TOPICS TO BE TAKEN UP IN THE AGENDA FOR THE MEETING IN 2005
9.1. Femeninism of poverty
To go about making the presentation of this topic, a Commission was appointed composed by:
Eva Villar (Misevi);
Edurne Urdampilleta (JMV);
Felipe Nieto (Misevi);
An AIC member (to be appointed);
A member from the DC (to be appointed).
9.2. Vincentian Family Office
Study the possibility of a functional organization that will allow the Vincentian Family to work better and to have a clearer presentation to the outside, at par with other organizations and institutions.
9.3. International Agreement of all the branches of the Vincentian Family
We discussed the possibility of coming up with an agreement to which all the branches of the Vincentian Family, in its broader sense, will be invited. This topic can be taken up in the next meeting.
A copy of the book The Vincentian Family Tree will be presented to each of the branches present in the meeting.
We also talked about the possibility of having an encounter for all the consecrated members of the Vincentian Family in November 2004, taking advantage of the Meeting of the Superior Generals in Rome.
10. EVALUATION OF THE ENCOUNTER
It was a positive encounter for the participants, the Associations represented and we believe that it will be so for the persons whom we serve;
We were able to discover our progress in the last ten years;
We thank and appreciate the simultaneous translation which facilitated communication;
We thank the Daughters of Charity for their wonderful welcome and attention at all time.
11. NEXT MEETING
Place: Paris, Mother House of the Daughters of Charity;
Date: January 28-30, 2005;
Arrive: Afternoon January, 27.
Benjamin Romo, C.M.
Delegate for the Vincentian Family
Secretary
(Translated by Ana Maria Escaño, JMV)
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