Daniel Comboni
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Ready to begin the XVIII General Chapter in Rome
Saturday, September 5, 2015
The Chapter delegates have concluded the preparatory week and are ready to begin the XVIII General Chapter, opening with a Solemn Eucharist on Sunday, September 6. The week began with the presentation of the 67 Chapter Delegates, ten permanent observers and a facilitator. Each continent prepared a biblical image and a symbol that represents it. In groups, the participants shared their feelings, fears and expectations. The most repeated key words were conversion, dialogue and simplicity.
From left:
Bro. Enzo Biemmi, FSF
facilitator,
and Fr. Rogelio Busto, MCCJ.
The XVIII General Chapter has as its theme "Comboni Missionary called to live the joy of the Gospel in today's world", inspired by Evangelii Gaudium of Pope Francis.
On the second day, Msgr. Marcelo Semeraro, Bishop of Albano and secretary of the group of nine Cardinals who assist the Pope in the reform of the Curia, explained the key guidelines of the Apostolic Exhortation. The third day he led us in a day of prayer on chapter five of the exhortation "SPIRIT-FILLED EVANGELIZERS."
In the last days of the week, the facilitator, Bro. Enzo Biemmi, shared with us in depth the attitudes necessary for a Chapter of discernment and communion. The Pre-capitular Commission presented the draft of the By-Laws, the Programme of the Chapter, as well as the working document "Thematic Synthesis for Discernment”.
Two details: the German-speaking Province donated to the Chapter an icon of St. Daniel Comboni, done by Fr. Sieger Köder, and the Comboni Missionary Sisters donated a candle that illumines the Chapter Hall during the work.
Some interesting facts: 52 percent of the Delegates are taking part in the Chapter for the first time. As origin, 34 are European, 20 African and 13 American. So we have 51% of European presence and 49% non-European.
From left: Fr. Rogelio Busto Juárez, Alcides Costa, Fr. Saverio Paolillo,
Fr. Erasmo Norberto Bautista Lucas, and Fr. Luis Alberto Barrera Pacheco.
From left: Fr. Moschetti Daniele and Fr. Tesfamariam Ghebrecristos Woldeghebriel.
From left: Fr. Enrique Sánchez González, Fr. John Baptist Keraryo Opargiw,
Fr. Alberto Pelucchi Alberto, Fr. Giuseppe Moschetta, Fr. Tesfaye Tadesse Gebresilasie, and Fr. Firmo Bernasconi.