Seeking funding, opening and closing communities
The second PGC is drawing to a close. But the members are not yet thinking of resting. After the Eucharist on the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, work continued as usual. They focused on the Development and Solidarity Bureau (BDS) and the opening and closing of communities.
As we all know, the mission needs structures and projects, and the Congregation is not in a position to finance them all. The BDS was created to raise funds from organizations that finance certain projects in line with our charism and apostolic project. As part of its responsibilities, the PGC remains attentive to the functioning of this Congregational structure. With this in mind, this morning it examined the report of the BDS Director, Brother Didier Remiot, assisted by Father Gervais Bakerethi. Despite the palpable achievements for which our two brothers deserve the recognition and encouragement of the PGC, there is a real need to prepare the next generation. The Provincials are committed to identifying and training brothers for this purpose as soon as possible.
Another fact is that the need for renewal requires us to open new communities and close others, in order to respond to the opportunities and apostolic demands of the moment. In view of local needs, some Provincials have presented PGCs with plans to open and close new communities in order to revitalize the mission within their sphere of responsibility. Official information will be provided in due course.
The remainder of the meeting was devoted to information on the organization of sessions scheduled to take place between now and December. There are mainly two sessions:
The session for religious brothers, to be held in Rome from June 26th to July 4th, 2024;
The session on the Byzantine Rite, which will bring together mainly AAs and OAs directly involved in the Near East Mission. It will be possible to add a few brothers and sisters who are interested in this mission, with an opening for two or three participants from other Provinces. It will be held in Plovdiv, from October 20th to the 28th.
The last block of the day was devoted to meetings between Provincials, followed by a moment of conviviality with the brothers of Emmanuel House, of course after Vespers.
P. Thierry KAHONGYA