Meeting of the European Comboni Provincials in Paris

During the two daylong meeting, topics common to all the European Comboni provinces were discussed. In particular the coordinator of the European provincials, Fr. Alberto de Oliveira Silva (Portugal), presented an agenda with the following topics: the three European projects, namely the house of Limone as a spirituality center, a European Center for Mass Media and a project of involvement in work with and for migrants; the criteria for the participation to the Social World Forums and the Comboni Forum, every two years; and the sharing of information among the various sectors of activity.

There was also a reflection on the topic of unification (grouping) of the Comboni circumscriptions in Europe. In his presentation, Fr. Alberto Pelucchi, vicar general of the Institute and responsible for the provinces of Europe, shed light on the strengths and weaknesses of the possible fusion of provinces. It was decided that the topic will be revisited at the next meeting due to take place in Nuremberg, Germany, in July.

Finally, Fr. Carmine Curci, director of the missionary news agency MISNA (Missionary International Service News Agency – owned by the general administrations of the missionary institutes of Consolata, Comboni Missionaries, Xaverians and PIME) was invited to attend. For the last few months, Fr. Carmine has been taking care ad interim also of the publication of the English language Comboni newsletter online – SouthWorld.net – while the search is going on for a full time replacement.

From the left the superiors of the Comboni circumscriptions of Europe in Paris: Fr. Gianni Gaiga,
(representing Poland); Fr. Martin James Devenish (London Province – LP); Fr. Alberto Pelucchi
(General Council); Fr. Alberto de Oliveira Silva (Portugal – P); Fr. Corrado Masini (Italy –I);
Fr. Josef Altenburger (Deutschprachige Provinz – DSP); Fr. Ramón Eguíluz Eguíluz (Spain – E).