NUNTIA Newsletter of the Congregation of the Mission

2021 JANUARY EDITORIAL

Whenever we start a new year, new God made me know this on the day connecting to a streaming platform to hopes and new dreams emerge that, with simple words such as “go, continue growing and encouraging again, almost as if something magical sell everything you have and give it to this vocation and raising new happened from one day to the next. the poor, then come and follow me,” challenges. One hears phrases such as “this year my life changed, and, like mine, that I am thrilled when I see 35 confreres will be better” or “this year I will do of so many brothers and sisters on the departing for international missions, such a thing.” However, the question journey. leaving their countries, provinces, is, do we really believe that absolutely I refuse to give up hope, because, and projects to take on, not only new everything can change overnight? while it is true that there are many cultures, but also a dream that has Many may say that this is absurd, that provinces in our Congregation that been alive for 404 years. it is only for dreamers or teenagers seem to be fading away slowly, there I keep dreaming, believing, and who still have magical thoughts or are places and provinces that reflect hoping because I see thousands of who still believe in a God who, with a God who continues to trust us confreres who continue responding a few words, in the best Harry Potter and keeps sending workers into his to the missionary call from different style, does everything without any harvest. places and ministries, seeking to effort. Perhaps they are right. We I continue dreaming because I am proclaim Jesus Christ, evangelizer of all have experienced that feeling of witness to many young people the poor, so that the Lord of history, trying to change something for a long who keep telling the Lord that they together with them, may change time and of finding ourselves with want to live their whole lives in the “from one day to the next” the lives of the disappointment that we still are Congregation of the Mission, serving so many. bearing the same mistakes and sins. the poor. I persist in believing in that Let us persist in dreaming together Yet, I refuse to stop being a dreamer, to “one-day” change every time I see in this New Year. God does not tire stop thinking that one day everything confreres kneeling before a prayerful of dreaming about us and we have truly can change, and if... Are we the Church that implores the gift of the enough reasons to do so. ones who will have no confidence in Holy Spirit, giving them the diaconal this? It will not be I! or priestly ministry. Have a good 2021! I believe that, from one day to the I believe in the “New Year” when I next, everything can change, because see “Brothers,” worn out by the years, P. Hugo Vera, CM THE FAMVIN HOMELESS ALLIANCE reflects on three years working to end homelessness.

This Famvin Homeless Alliance was active in bringing together As a direct result of this campaign (FHA) Impact Report comes at a Vincentian Family members at the homelessness became the central time of global apprehension and United Nation. They focussed on theme of the UN Commission on uncertainty. However, one thing supporting a campaign, led by the Social Development in February is certain, Vincentian service for Institute of Global Homelessness 2020. This is the first time in its people experiencing homelessness based at DePaul University , aimed 75 year history that the UN has around the world has never been at raising the profile of street focussed on homelessness and it more needed. The corona virus homelessness as a global issue. led to a resolution, approved by the pandemic has clearly highlighted the importance and urgency for people having a place to call home. One in which to feel safe from disease, but also to rebuild one’s own life. The FHA was set up in 2017 to mark the 400th anniversary of the Vincentian Charism. Its main goals are to support established and emerging Vincentian homelessness programs around the world, and to advocate for global systemic change to end homelessness in its various forms. To do so, FHA has strived to provide a framework to foster collaboration and exchange amongst Vincentian Family branches. In 2018, the FHA organized a first conference on street homelessness, which gave rise to the “13 Houses” Campaign.

The objective was to change the lives of 10,000 homeless people in 5 years. In only 2 years, the Campaign has reached nearly half of that target, through 54 collaborative projects in 40 countries. In relation to systemic change the FHA UN General Assembly, paving the way for a reduction in homelessness to be a measurable target within the Sustainable Development Goals. As part of this ongoing lobby FHA members also contributed to a book on “Catholic Social Teaching and Homelessness” in collaboration with the Vatican.

In response to recent events the FHA showcased the resilience and alertness of Vincentians who sprung to action as the pandemic took hold of different countries, and 14 trained FHA “Ambassadors” populations, due to take place in after the terrible explosions which drawn from different parts of the 2020, has been rescheduled to the left more than 300,000 homeless Vincentian Family from across the Autumn of 2021 due to the current in Beirut. Two fundraising appeals globe. health crisis. A third conference, on helped the emergency efforts run slum dwellers, is also scheduled by various Vincentian groups in over From local projects for street for the near future. FHA aims to 15 countries. children in small rural towns, to continue developing these and housing programs in big cities, other concrete opportunities for In short, for the past three years, to advocacy coalitions at the UN. Vincentians to serve the homeless the FHA has been the witness of We hope this Vincentian Family together. We thank all of the the global vibrancy of Vincentians mobilization will continue in the Vincentian Family branches who committed to ending homelessness years to come. A second conference have actively taken part in the FHA, at all levels supported by our on refugees and displaced the Vincentian Family Executive Board, the FHA Commission members, FHA “Ambassadors” and all donors who have made the past three years possible, keeping alive the Vincentian Charism, and bringing hope to the most marginalized.

Mark McGreevy FHA Coordinator FRATELLI TUTTI: Taiwan Helps Congregation of the Mission again

of the Pope by his use of the parable of the Good Samaritan. We cannot remain only with many words and explanations. Rather, we are to act on behalf of those in need. The check is a clear sign of their commitment to act.

After the formal ceremony of giving over the check, Ambassador Mathew Lee invited us to share in a lunch. The arrangement was COVID proofed by a table divided by Plexiglas shields. We were treated to a box lunch of the same type that the Embassy donated to serve the poor through the efforts of Konrad Cardinal Krajewski, the Almoner of the Office of Papal Charities. Also during the lunch conversation, Ambassador Lee heard For the second time during the abundant, it is hard to imagine Fr. Tomaž talk of rescheduling a 2020 administration of Fr. Tomaž Mavrič trying to accomplish something at trip to the Rwanda Burundi Mission to the Embassy of the Republic of China night without adequate lighting. This sometime in 2021 and Ambassador (Taiwan) to the Holy See has responded small light will help the household Lee asked if he could join Fr. Tomaž in positively to a request from Fr. Tomaž use the nighttime hours for cooking, this trip! to help the Vincentian Solidarity study, reading, performing manual Office fund a project, this time for labor, and improving hygiene. The Fr. Miles Heinen, cm the Region of Rwanda – Burundi. The families will be chosen from the Assistant General project is an interesting partnership devout households of the parish. The arranged by our Confreres Fr. Jean recipients will receive two days of de Dieu NIZEYIMANA and Fr. Samuel training about how to manage their Ngendakumana with BEGECA (Private new lighting system. Limited Company for Procurement for You will notice that the backdrop Church-related, Charitable and Social for the picture features Fratelli Tutti, Institutions) to purchase and install a the new Encyclical Letter from Pope small light powered by a solar panel in Francis. Ambassador Mathew Lee 60 households of their parish. Where explained that the government of electricity is plentiful and lighting Taiwan has taken on the challenge GO TO THE “PERIPHERIES”

Finally, on December 11, 2020, the ground-breaking of this new construction project took place. The leaders of the indigenous people led the services on this momentous occasion. The Diocesan Administrator of the Diocese of Malaybalay, Msgr. Noel Pedregosa blessed the construction site. We would like to thank all those people and communities who have been part of this project: the San Marcelino community of the Philippine Province, One of the challenges posed by Pope mountains. Adamson University headed by its Francis is to go to the “peripheries!” St. To better respond to their plight, the President, Father Manny Manimtim, Vincent de Paul, our founder, reminded Church aims to build a kumbento that CM, some of the friends of Fathers Kit us that the life of a missioner must be will stabilize and give permanence and Roger and the parishioners of San that of a Carthusian at home and an to the Mission of the Church while Agustin Mission station who, in one apostle in the field or the rural areas. ensuring the safety of the Missionaries way or another, contributed to this That is, our works and ministries will be as well as the lay leaders. project. We hope and pray that God will more fruitful for the people we serve The project will be managed by the continue to bless this project. to the degree that we put on the spirit Mission Station Pastoral and Finance of Chiat in order to acquire a holiness Council. The priests-in-charge will Fr. Kit Torayno, CM appropriate to our vocation. monitor the compliance of the building Province of the Philippines Certainly, this calls for missionary specification and oversee the finances. activity. As Vincentian priests and Presently, the assigned priests in the brothers, we are “sent to evangelize Mission-Station are living in the sacristy the poor!” which has been temporarily converted In response to this call, the into two separate small rooms. Congregation of the Mission in the Philippines is sending Father Kit C. Torayno, CM and Father Rogelio P. Coloyan, II, CM to become members of a ministry team at San Agustin Mission- Station, Kalagangan, San Fernando, Bukidnon. This is one of the most remote mission-stations in the Diocese of Malaybalay. One of the responsibilities of this team is the protection of indigenous peoples and their way of life. The lumad groups usually come down from the mountains to sell their products … but most of them do live high up on the CRONICLE OF THE MEETING OF BROTHERS Long live the Brothers of the CM

On January 21, 2020, the Brothers Mavric, who stressed the importance according to the coordinator’s of the Congregation of the Mission of the Brothers’ vocation within guidance, those present were divided and other interested confreres met the Congregation of the Mission, into virtual rooms by languages. in a webinar in two sessions. The first characterizing the ‘double character’ In these ‘chat rooms’ the confreres session was aimed at missionaries of the same, clerical and lay. Father addressed three questions that from COVIAM, CEVIM and APVC. It Tomaz expressed concern about the helped them to reflect on the Plan started at 9:00 am, time in Rome, decrease in the number of Brothers, for the Promotion of the Brother’s and was attended by 45 confreres. since the 1960s / 70s, when the vocation and to reflect on how each The second session started at 5:00 congregation had more than 500 one of us, as Lazarist Brothers, has pm, time in Rome, was reserved for brothers, while today there are only lived his own vocation in the context CLAPVI and NCV missionaries, 44 123. In this conext, an international of his province of origin. In the Groups confreres attended. The activities commission was brought together many relevant points were addressed, were coordinated by Fr. Hugo to design a Plan for the Promotion of which I highlight five main points: Vera, responsible for the Office of of the Brother’s vocation in the CM. Communication of the CM. The analysis of the Plan was the 1) It is important to recover the Both sessions mentioned above main subject addressed in the online relevance of the Brother’s vocation included the initial speech of our meetings within the Congregation of the Superior General, Father Tomaz After the Superior General’s speech, Mission, not as a second-class missionary, but as a member with that have negatively marked the In general, the sessions developed full duties and rights. We have the Brother’s vocation in the CM. in a very harmonious and organized same vows, which gives us a common way. It was good to see that we vocation. 4) Work in the Provincial and Brothers, despite being few, remain Domestic Assemblies on the idea alive and active in the CM. There 2) The figure of the Brother has that the Brother’s vocation is a are young faces, new brothers who disappeared in several provinces. We theologically complete vocation in want to change the negative stigma must do intense work to re-establish itself. The Brother is not one who that has accompanied us in the past that a Vincentian missionary can also has failed to be a priest, but he is a centuries. We hope we can. Long be a consecrated lay person. In this missionary who has been called by prosperous life to the Brothers of the way the vocations of Brothers will God to follow Christ the Evangelizer of Mission Congregation. arise where today they are scarce. the Poor, as a consecrated layperson Nobody loves what they do not know, in the CM. Hno. Adriano Ferreira, CM. if the possibility of lay consecration Chronicle of the Brothers’ Meeting in the CM is not presented in a clear 5) At the General Assembly, there and modern way, that is, without the will be a profound reflection on the stigmas of the past, the Brother’s clerical identity of the Congregation. vocation will contintue to disappear. Wouldn’t it be time to change that identity? 3) Offer the Brothers a formation similar to that of priests, giving After the sharing of the groups priority to their character as a there were some announcements. Vincentian missionary, before Father Andrés Motto confirmed offering him technical training. Giving that in October, the CIF Session for equal attention to the formation of the Brothers will take place (which priests and brothers is the first step was scheduled for last year and was in reducing the historical differences postponed due to the pandemic). IMPACT OF COVID 19 PANDEMIC ON VSO ACTIVITY (Vincentian Solidarity Office)

Due to the worldwide Coronavirus 1) prioritize your projects How to contact us: pandemic, the VSO has limited 2) plan for delays in project funding Fr. Gregory Semeniuk, C.M. funds and is experiencing longer 3) use the downturn to gain new Executive Director than usual wait times for processing skills in project management Email: [email protected] applications. Please keep this in 4) take more care in presenting a mind in your planning for 2021. Work detailed VSO application María José Pacheco del Río stoppages have caused shortages in 5) look to being better project Associate Director of Finance and raw materials affecting the global managers in the future Business Support supply chain on nearly everything. Email: [email protected] Likewise, the lack of commerce has The pandemic will end as COVID 19 negatively impacted funds available vaccines are being distributed. To Lauren Lynch, Project Manager Email: through donations. People are afraid make the most of this slowdown, [email protected] to part with money because future seek ways to learn about project Regina Rossi, Executive Assistant income is uncertain. The funding management. Consult the VSO Email: [email protected] agencies on which we rely as well as webpage and become familiar many other charitable organizations with our application, process, and Vincentian Solidarity Office are experiencing this shortage. past projects. See the English VSO | 500 East Chelten Avenue | The VSO is not unique in its need Webpage. To close, the VSO is here to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19144 | to adjust to the present situation. address your questions and concerns, USA Adjustments are being made on so do feel free to contact us at any Telephone: +1 215-713-3998 an as needed basis to continue to time. accomplish goals using best practices and to keep the negative impacts to Our goal: To assist the Congregation an absolute minimum. of the Mission with obtaining funds Here are a few suggestions of action for its evangelization and service of in this time of pandemic: the poor. PRIESTLY ORDINATION GENERAL INFORMATION IN THE PROVINCE OF

The Province of Madagascar is pleased Robert Ramaharavo. Due to a lack event. According to Monsignor Gaetano with the priestly ordination of three of documents, they were blocked in Di Pierro, Bishop of the Diocese of confreres who have completed their Nairobi, Kenya until April 2016, which is , they decided to hold the formation at the Seminary of Enugu, why they were unable to join the entire ordination on 10 January in the Parish of Nigeria. They received the sacrament academic formation year in 2015-2016. Saint Joseph, ECAR . of the priestly order on Sunday, 10 In April 2016, they arrived in Enugu at Another grace that the Province will January 2021, the feast of the Baptism the common seminary for Africa and experience will be the ordination of of the Lord, from the hands of Bishop Madagascar. There they continued their confreres Nicolas and Sitraka Cuéllar, Gaetano Di Pierro, Bishop of the Diocese priestly formation for four years (2016- who have finished their studies in the of Farafangana. 2020). Seminary of Saint Vincent de Paul The ordination took place on the in . The ordination will grounds of the School of the Daughters 2017: They received the Ministry of Lector be presided by our dear confrere, of Charity, Parish of Saint Joseph, ECAR 2019: They received the Ministry of Monsignor Benjamin Marc Ramaroson, Vangaindrano, Diocese of Farafangana, Acolyte Archbishop of Antsiranana, on 21 in southeastern Madagascar. It was a 25 September 2019: They made their January. Before this ordination as grace, as two of the newly ordained, definitive incorporation. deacons, they will make their definitive Father Luke and Father Maharavo, are 21 December 2019 the Diaconate for incorporation into the Congregation sons of this diocese. They come from two Mamy and Lucas and 16 January 2020 of the Mission. Both come from this pastoral jurisdictions, for Maharavo (health). Archdiocese of Fianarantsoa. and , which are about 50 In summary, the same expression is kilometers away, forming a triangle Last year, due to the restrictions on repeated on our lips: Thank you Lord for with the Parish of Saint Joseph, the international flights between Nigeria, your blessings. To You, glory and eternal center of the diocese’s Southern Region. Addis Ababa, and Madagascar because praise. Father Mamy, although born in the of the Covid-19 pandemic, they were Diocese of Fort-Dauphin, joyfully joined able to return to their homes only on 30 the celebration. Many branches of the October 2020, by means of a repatriation Father Andriamifidisoa Alin Michel, CM Vincentian Family were present and flight organized by the Malagasy State Province of Madagascar actively participated in thanksgiving for with the embassy in Ethiopia. For this these new servants to the Church. reason, they could not join the other Since 2015, COVIAM (Conference of group ordained on 13 September 2020 Visitors of Africa and Madagascar) had (six confreres) in the Parish of John Paul decided to begin a common project II in Fianarantsoa. of formation in theology in Enugu Consequently, at the Provincial (Nigeria). The Province of Madagascar Council meeting in November 2020, sent three candidates in August 2015: the Visitor, Father Alexandre Zéphirin confreres Lucas Arseni Rakotonirina, Rafanomezantsoa, and his Council Mamonjisoa Mamy Tsiba and Copertino decided to look for a new date for the GENERAL INFORMATION

NOMINATIONS / CONFIRMATIONS

NKEE MOKELO-MO-EYALI Jean Rufin 13/01/2021 Director HC - Congo

ORDINATIONS

PEREIRA Lorenzo Sac ARG 12/12/2020 WOJCIESZAK Artur Sac POL 23/01/2021 KOTONIRINA Lucas Arsèni Sac MAD 10/01/2021 RAMAHARAVO Copertino Robert Sac MAD 10/01/2021 TSIBA Mamonjisoa Mamy Sac MAD 10/01/2021

NECROLOGY

Nomen Cond. Dies ob. Prov. Aet. Voc. SARMIENTO FRANCO David Sac 01/01/2021 COL 89 70 CASTILLA GARCÍA Pablo Sac 03/01/2021 SVP 94 78 DODIK RISTANTO Agustinus Sac 11/01/2021 IDS 48 27 PEÑA MERINO Benjamín Fra 18/01/2021 SVP 90 72 ZOPPI Ettore Sac 25/01/2021 ITA 93 75 VENCES GARCÍA Delio Sac 28/01/2021 COL 92 73 MILAD Youssef Sac 30/01/2021 ORI 63 31 PEÑA MERINO Jeremias Fra 31/01/2021 SVP 82 64

Congregation of the Mission GENERAL CURIA www.cmglobal.org Via dei Capasso, 30 – 00164 ROMA Tel: +39 06 661 30 61 Fax: +39 06 666 38 31 Email: [email protected]