of the whole Guanellian Family was defined. Programs will be soon
made public through our press.
5)
Evaluation on the points of “Letter of Communion” of June 2007. A brief
evaluation was carried out on how progress has been made in the appli-
cation of what was decided together last year and proposed to the two
Congregations by the Letter of Communion: Experiences of formation to
charism; youth and vocation ministry; collaboration in the mission.
6)
New “Don Guanella Museum” in Como. Brief updating on the works
that are proceeding, and on the statutes that we have reviewed in some of
its parts to favor a major collaboration between the two Congregations.
7)
Guanellian Historical Places. Preliminary steps for a “project of
sharing” between the two Congregations with regard to the Guanellian
historical places like the Sacred Heart Shrine and Museum in Como,
Fraciscio, Gualdera, and the Marian Shrine of Gallivaggio that is
ministered by the Servants of Charity since 1 November 2007.
After a day of intense work, we gathered for evening prayer and a prayer of
thanksgiving to the Good Lord, and afterwards we exchanged Christmas
greetings. The second meeting of the year will be held in June 2008.
Father U
MBERTO
B
RUGNONI
Vicar General
5. Participation of father Carlos Blanchoud at the meeting
of Latin American Councils - Richness of fraternity,
dialogue and prospective
There was a very particular and important event for the Guanellian family
in the city of Areguá, Paraguay. Four Provincial Councils and Delegation
Council present in Latin America gathered together for the first time on 15
March 2007.
Two General Counselors coming from Rome had participated in it. Sr.
Georgina Alves Da Costa (Vicar General), and Father Carlos Blanchoud; The
other participants were the Provincial Superior Father Sergio Rojas and 4
Counselors from the Cruz del Sur Province; Provincial Superior Father Ciro
Attanasio and 4 Councilors from the Santa Cruz Province; Delegate Superior
Father Enrico Colafemina and 2 Councilors from the Nuestra Señora de
Guadalupe Delegation; Provincial Superior Sr. Antonina Sánchez and 3
Counselors from the San Jose Province; Provincial Superior Sr. Neli Bordignon
and 4 Counselors from the Nossa Senhora de Aparecida Province.
40
In total 24 religious had dialogued on these points:
1)
The face of our Congregations in Latin America. As the Church and
religious life in Latin America present their own typical animation and
showing their particular image, so our Congregations are in need of a
typical animation, coordination, style of life and mission, that should
present to Latin American their Guanellian face.
2) Establish some principles in planning better the meetings at inter-
provincial and Latin American level: prayer, reflection in the local
communities; the responsible persons for initiatives, themes,
methodologies, schedules, logistics, the role of the General Counselors
for this geographical area.
3) The initiatives proposed by the Motions of our General Chapters are to
be carried out together.
4)
The Guanellian Study Center: better coordination at Latin American
level, and feasibility of opening at least three Centers in union with the
Study Center of Rome.
5) Youth and vocation ministry, with the new team of men and women
religious at Latin American level and the project studied one month
before.
6) GLM and cooperators, with different experiences in the different
nations of the Continent, and the responsibility to animate the laity in
the local Communities.
7) A week-long On-going formation to be held two times towards the
middle of 2008, in order to give the possibility to men and women
religious to participate, on the occasion of the Centenary of the religious
Consecration of Don Guanella and his first confreres. At the end, future
meetings at Latin American and inter-provincial level were fixed.
Some governing bodies took the occasion to have their own Council
meetings a few days before. On the 16
th
, the Councils of the two Congregations
continued to talk about their own business separately. The Servants of Charity,
with their three Councils, reflected and worked again on the theme of the Latin
American aspect of the Congregation, the role of the Councilor of geographical
area, the common Novitiate at Luján, the future Latin-American theological
seminary and the preparation of the formators, exchange of confreres to form
international
communities,
the formative project,
the Formators Course in Rome,
the regency, and the fourth year of theology. We have to give thanks to the Lord
for these days of meetings (alas too few!) they have pointed out the richness of
fraternity, dialogue and prospective, which are bringing hope for a future of a
good renewal of religious life in our two Congregations.
Father C
ARLOS
B
LANCHOUD
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