We were astonished to read about a survey that was carried out in
preparation of a Convention on Vocations held last January in Rome. The polls
discovered that about 2,000 Italian young people had nurtured in their hearts the
desire to be priests or religious (some of them for several years), but they never
found a priest or a Sister available to help them through discernment and
spiritual direction.
Unfortunately, in the long run the logic of our permissive society prevailed
on them. The crisis lays more on the lack of priests and Sisters willing to guide
young people, rather than on the common idea that God calls no more, and
young people do not want to follow Him.
The progress of the Guanellian Lay Movement and the contribution from
the two Congregations
We devoted a lot of time to this topic at both our Meetings. We believe that
a testimony of spiritual and active communion between our Congregations is an
essential condition for to laity to commit themselves in living and propagating
our charism. At the same time, we believe that the diffusion of the Guanellian
charism among them will be a true incentive for the vitality of our religious life.
For this reason, we feel strongly challenged and involved in the growth of the
MLG that at this time is defining its identity and organization.
The following are the points that we have found more important:
– the need to define better the identity of the MLG, especially regarding
those who do not have the gift of our Christian faith;
– the desire for our Guanellian Cooperators to become the “animating
core” and “backbone” of the whole MLG;
– the commitment to reinforce the Cooperators Association by a greater
involvement of Guanellian religious in their guidance and formation. We
covered also the formation of our Operators. We believe that it is
important the “School of Formation in the Charism for Lay People” we
are offering, as well as the constant commitment of the local
communities to present our Guanellian Educational Project (PEG),
among all our staff. One has the impression that, although the PEG was
presented more than ten years ago, in many of our Houses it is still
completely unknown to their staff.
Collaboration in the mission
We are aware that we both are going through the same problems regarding,
at least here in Europe, the constant adaptation to the state legislation and the
improvement of our service to the poor to whom we have to give what is typical
of our apostolic mission, “Bread and Lord”.
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The 18
th
General Chapter of the SdC made the suggestion that we should
“encourage the implementation of a Guanellian institution, devised and managed
by the entire Guanellian Family, as a sign of our charismatic unity” (P.37). The
two General Councils have agreed to take into consideration the suggestion, but
also to prepare ourselves for the possibility by further reflection, prayer, and
openness to the signs of Providence.
In this regard, Africa was mentioned. We are receiving from the Continent
many requests, especially from our Confreres, soliciting the presence of DSMP.
It is difficult to accept these requests, given the shortage of personnel and the
commitments toward recent openings.
In the meantime, we have agreed to develop the initiatives in which both
our Congregations are already involved:
– The “Mediterranean without Handicaps” Association: Sister Michela
Carrozzino, President of the Association, was invited to present the
situation of the Association, and to provide information on the recent
Congress held in Malta: (“Towards a New Humanism: Ethics and
Disability”, April 23-25). We agreed that it is necessary to invest in
culture. The Association offers an effective support in this regard, and
should be encouraged by seeking more interest within the Guanellian
Family of the contents discussed and proposed by the International
Congresses organized by the Association.
– The Guanellian Study Centre in Rome. We should update its Statutes to
give new vigor to this common project. Fr. Nino Minetti, Director of the
Study Center, has great ideas about for the upcoming years. Both
Congregations are carefully examining them.
– The new “Don Guanella Museum” in Como, sponsored by the two
Congregations, is being set up to give greater visibility and familiarity
with our Founder and his work;
– The “Pro-Children of Kabul” Association, desired by our beloved Fr.
Giancarlo Pravettoni, is no longer run by us Guanellians but by the
CISM, the Conference of Italian Major Superiors. The two
Congregations are still giving their support when the Association
promotes some activities for the children of Kabul, Afghanistan.
Conclusion
We have touched other subjects in our open and fraternal dialogue; but they
will be examined in depth later. Every meeting served as an opportunity to
exchange news on the principal initiatives, and the most difficult problems that
the Governments of our Congregations are dealing with. As brothers and sisters,
we tried our best to support each other in our journey of being more prophetic
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and faithful to the charism of charity that the Church expects from us, sons and
daughters of Fr. Luigi Guanella.
We now feel the need to entrust to the Divine Heart of Jesus, to the Heart of
Mary, Mother of Divine Providence, to Blessed Luigi Guanella and Blessed
Clare Bosatta, this journey of communion so that we may all be strengthened in
our resolutions of doing good. As the Founder said, we are convinced that the
well being of our Congregations is directly proportionate to the love that
circulates among us: “The religious congregations, that have blossomed along
the centuries, had prospered because they possessed the blessing of loving each
another in the Lord” (Reg. FSC, 1899, 974).
Dear Brothers and Sisters, we entrust this “letter of communion” to you, to
your life and mission, so that all together we may bring to fulfillment the
inspirations of the Holy Spirit. We exhort you to read it and give some thought
during your community meetings in this part of the year that for some marks the
end of the social year, while for others is the beginning of the new pastoral year.
At every level of responsibility, Provincials, Delegates, or Local Superiors,
we recommend to build bridges of communion between our two Congregations,
remembering each other every day in mutual prayer and furthering opportunities
for family meetings and celebrations.
A fraternal and cordial greeting.
Rome,
the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart, 2007
Mother G
IUSTINA
V
ALICENTI
Father A
LFONSO
C
RIPPA
Mother General
Superior General
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