Life of the Congregation (2)

At Lambaré, Asuncion Paraguay, the 2nd (Intermediate) Regional Chapter was held from 17-20 July with the participation of 18 members in the presence of the Superior General, Rev. Fr Gaspar Fernández Pérez scj and his General Councillor for Missions, Fr Tobia Sosio scj.

The event was preceded by four days of pre-chapter involving about 15 lay people, very involved in the life of the communities, who had been invited by the three vicariates of the Region.

After organising the internal proceedings of the Chapter, the Regional Superior, Fr Gustavo Agin scj, presented a brief report. Finally, after three days of session, the 18 religious members established their priorities for the next three years: mission vocations, laity, community.

These themes revolve around the options presented by the General Chapter of 2011. The Superior General invited us to approach them from the following perspectives: International Missionary Brotherhood, Lively & Fraternal Communities, Ongoing Formation: “Openness to the action of God”, Vocational Animation and Economy of Communion (the latter topic, not specifically addressed, is already a reality in the region, especially in the field of formation and cooperation with the Congregation thanks to aid provided regularly or occasionally to other communities).

Mission

Operating in a more and more secularised society, mission in Latin America still makes the heart leap in people who accept their spiritual dimension and it continues to nourish their faith in communities where at a moment in history, the Good News is a reality. While faith and life undergo the constant threat of an anti-life culture, we perceive the latent desire to answer the call of the Pope and bishops to form a Church that is in a «permanent state of mission» (Aparecida ).

The challenges are not insignificant, and the chapter members realised that this was not the time for writing new documents. Indeed, it was time to «go out» and to dare to say Here I am in new areas where harsh reality speaks for itself, but where the missionary disciples of Jesus are not as present as they should be.

‘With men and people affected by all kinds of injustices and poverty, we contemplate the disfigured face of Christ, who “put himself in the place of all victims.” In all our works, we should make ourselves present to all people in their different forms of poverty.’ (R. of L. §115).

The proposals of the Chapter:

• Apostolate of Meeting and listening. A «Church that comes out of herself.»
• Formation of the People of God: forming apostles who are qualified and capable.
• Pastoral Conversion (starting with the conversion of hearts to Jesus Christ)

As an encouraging example, we see the missionary path that lies before us: the mission of Tacuarembó (Uruguay), the Missionary Community of Setubinha north of Minas Gerais (Brazil), the missionary presence in Santiago del Estero (northern Argentina), in the suburbs of Sabara (Belo Horizonte, Brazil), the presences in San Joaquín, and Tevycuarymí La Colmena (in the Paraguayan Interior), the PAPETRA project for attention to people in distress, etc.

Vocations

Our region was blessed last year by seven perpetual professions (six priestly ordinations are planned for 2014); the next coming period looks less prolific. Indeed, the number of vocations for our «Little Family» dropped slightly recently. All this has led us to the following reflection: we propose an initial serious formation by well organised and qualified formators, but the animation work for vocations demand more commitment from every religious.

The goal is not to capture young people to fill the seminary no matter what their motivation (see EG 107). Our mission is to provide a response to someone who has been drawn by the Lord. It is an ecclesial service that we cannot deny. This means that we must be able to propose vocation, stimulate the question of vocation starting beginning from real life, to propose our charism, in the same way that we are called to offer, stimulate and propose the Gospel.

The proposals of the Chapter:

• Encounters together, times of prayer, retreats and weeks for vocations in the communities.
• Spiritual Exercises, for vocational discernment, coordinated by trained religious and laity (brothers in each vicariate, have already been introduced to the art of accompaniment).
• Experience of exchange (of personnel) in various vicariates.
• A joint team of lay and religious for each vicariate, in addition to the existing regional team.

Laity

We arrived together at the convictions summarised below: our religious life will be more religious when lived amongst lay people, we will thus enlighten our community life and our configuration to the Ecce Venio of the Incarnate Word. Moreover, if the desire of Jesus is that the Gospel is addressed to everyone, it is impossible to think that this can be done without the participation of the laity. Thus, we cannot conceive of mission without them.
It’s not that we need the laity, but rather that the Heart of Jesus includes both religious and lay Betharramites and we are all called to be missionary disciples.

Proposals of the Chapter: they boil down to four Commitments or Missions

• In education: sharing, fellowship, formation, spiritual accompaniment, family pastoral work.
• In the social field and support initiatives with «people in distress.»
• With the laypeople in various works: support their groups, facilitate their organisation.
• Religious communities: spaces of welcome in the homes of religious communities.
• Organise a regional meeting of lay Betharramites in the next three years.

Community

We noted that a particular style of religious community is now outdated, but we have not yet reached a new way of being ... The PCA (Apostolic Community Project) often not realised or simply existing only on paper. Why? Perhaps because of relationship problems between religious (antagonism, resentment, unforgiveness). Perhaps because of individualism (losing the sense of community because of one’s own pastoral project). Perhaps because of an overload of responsibilities, leading to activism or dissipated efforts. It will seem repetitive, but ask us first and always, why do we want to live in community?

What beliefs / proposals on community life? :

• Community life is born of personal choice. We need to commit to it more.
• It arises from one option to live with Jesus Christ, through Him and in Him. We must renew ourselves from the heart.
• We said «yes» to the Apostolic Community Project and the annual budget. Let it be real!
• It is a faith option that we make space to share faith and life. A new reality: religious and laity together.

Religious and lay Betharramites: missionary disciples of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Thus the intermediate Regional Chapter took place in the certainty that Jesus Christ, humble and obedient, called us to renew the commitment of the historic Mobile Camp, which continues its pilgrimage in Latin America begun in the time of the founder. Days lived or days survived (several of us went down with flu), have given us hope, (often undermined by discouragement and routine).

Our motivation was to rediscover ourselves, religious and laity, as a Betharramite family, ever driven by the ceaseless fermentation in our hearts. This leaves us steadfast against both the anti-life culture and the crises of our age and instead impels us to be more united to join with St. Michael Garicoïts in saying “Here we are, Yes, Father!”, “forever and for love” because “we must hope even more when all seems lost.”

In fraternity and friendship in the Lord, I warmly greet you all on behalf of Betharramites of America.

In Corde Iesu: Gustavo scj
Regional Superior