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INTERNATION@L NEWS
EUROPE
POLAND
The National Council of Poland met in the DC Provincial House in Krakow on January 14. The main agenda that they took up during this encounter were:
- Revision of the National Statutes;
- Preparation of formation materials for the 3rd phase of formation (16 years old and above);
- Drafting of “The Immaculate,” the magazine of the Association with the collaborative efforts of the three provinces;
- Organizing integration activities among the three provinces and the interchange of formation materials.
During the winter vacation they shall be having two retreat sessions for the leaders and animators.
SPAIN
On February 11-12, the VMY National Council met in Madrid with the objective of following-up the Annual Plan for the 2005-2006 Course. Among the most important topics that they took up were:
· The presentation of a work guide of the new National Statutes approved on December 1, 2005 for study purposes in the different centers
· Financial Report of the Association
· Report about the International Family Encounter in Valencia 2006
· Approval of the document “Service Communities in VMY”
· Scheduling of the different National Encounters for the next few months.
v On February 23, the National Secretariat participated in the reception of the prize, “BANDERA DE ANDALUCIA” (Flag of Andalusia) which the Junta de Andalucia presented to VMY of La Linea, Cadiz (VMY Youth community) for the labor done in the “Centro Contigo,” a social work for promotion, integration and animation.
ITALY
On February 4-5 the National Council met in Naples, to elect a new National President, Secretary and Treasurer. The previous President, Maria Agnese Lovito, had to give the position up for health reasons. We join her in prayer for her speedy recovery. The following were elected as: President-ANTONELLA Malfatti; Secretary- VINCENZO Strati and Treaurer- PAOLA Achilli. We thank them for accepting this service.
· They presented to the groups a document for deepening about the first line of action of the Final Document of the AG 2005: “SPIRITUAL LIFE.”
· After the first contact with VMY Albany, the desire to give life to a summer missionary experience was born. This may be done simultaneously for formation and service purposes, both for the participants and the beneficiaries, the Albanian adolescents and youth. They also studied the possibility of starting with a sanitary project in the country.
SLOVAKIA
The young members of Bratislava had an encounter for the centers of the Western Region wherein they had a spiritual formation, vocation talks and prayer. They chose candidates for the National Council. Sr. Margita Grobarcikova, previous National Sister Advisor, had a sharing wherein she thanked them and expressed her love and affection for the young people of Slovakia. At present she is doing her mission in the Czech Republic.
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GABON
The officers of the Association met to elect of the National Coordinator. Jean Remy Nso was elected. With his team, they foresee a visit to the different centers of the country to plan for the activities of 2006. We wish them enduring enthusiasm and we join them with our prayers.
MADAGASCAR
The National Council had a meeting in the Diocese of Ihosy on January 3-5 to discuss about the life of the Association, revision of the National Statutes, planning of Activities for 2006 and the application of the Final Document of the AG. Their annual theme is, “Live the Spirituality of the VMY and be Builders of Reconciliation.”
They took the opportunity of this encounter to thank and bid Bishop Benjamin Ramaroson and Sr. Rufinne Ralavaio farewell. They are accompanying the National Council as Advisors even up to the present.
The Vincentian Family held a prayer session and sharing in Fianarantsoa. They organized their Program of activities for 2006 and decided to commit themselves this year for the corporal and spiritual service of the prisoners.
On February 18 Fr. Jorge, VMY Equatorial Guinea Coordinator, visited the office and updated us about the activities in the capital (Bata.) They created a new group from the students of Colegio de la Milagrosa which began its apostolate in a Home for the Aged.
NIGERIA
We were updated about the activities they had for the past four months:
· November 28 – After the novena for Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, they held a Eucharistic Celebration with Fr. Peter Iwuoha, Assistant National Priest Advisor, and distributed medals to the parishioners and the sick persons within the vicinity.
· December 1 – They held an orientation seminar workshop and campaign about AIDS. Sor Emilia Asuquo, a trained nurse who is the VMY National Sister Advisor and the Diocesan Coordinator of HIV/AIDS Apostolate, facilitated the said workshop. Twenty-three members participated and later went around distributing information leaflets throughout the city.
· December 18 – To mark its 3rd Anniversary, VMY Nigeria held a recollection and a campaign in favor of the destitute. They were able to collect food, materials and money which they shared to the local adopted families.
· January 8 - Sr. Emilia and Fathers Peter and Michael (CM Local Superior in Ikot Ekpene) comprised the facilitating team to strengthen the Marian Consecration through a retreat. There were 47 members who joined.
· January 14-16 – VMY welcomed the Mother General of the DC, Sr. Evelyne Frank, during her visit to Nigeria with a cultural dance offering, some words of welcome and handing-over of typical souvenirs.
· February 5 – Fr. Abel Agbulu organized an orientation seminar about the Association in the Christ the King Parish in Akowonjo, Lagos. After the talk, 96 young people expressed their desire to join the Association. The DC and the CM of the diocese will be following through the formation of these young people.
· February 23-25 – They held a seminar/ workshop on agriculture and food production. They intend to raise corn, vegetables and other crops which they hope to distribute directly to the poor. They are seeking aid both from the government body and the NGOs. Congratulations VMY Nigeria! More power!
MOZAMBIQUE
Deves Herculano Bernardo Gimo, JUMAR National President, informed us that the National Council started its activities on January 28 with a meeting where they chose their annual theme, “Together with Mary, the Word of God is the Lamp Upon My Feet and the Light Unto Path” Psalms 119(118) and 105.
They have decided to strengthen the formation of the members in the different services that they are undertaking (Liturgical, Press and Socials Bureau Offices.) For this same purpose, they are also segregating the members according to their age groups in order to facilitate formation. The first formation session took place on February 26 with the group officers (Presidents, Secretaries and Treasurers) as participants. Then, on March 5, the National Council transferred to the Xinavane Region to facilitate a formation workshop and launch the Manual of the Association which will serves as the model for formation until the end of this year. They also agreed on the annual contribution for each member and updated their statistics.
Together with the Vincentian Family, they participated in the Vincentian Spirituality Formation Course on February 19 at the SSVP Office.
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PHILIPPINES
The National Council is preparing for the Summer Youth Camp which will be held in Olongapo City on May 5-8. It will focus on the aspects of spirituality, service, human formation and apostolates of the members. Some activities which will highlight the encounter include talks, forums and round table discussions (about the Four Pillars of CoM- VMY, Essential Qualities of the Leader in the CoM – VMY, Burning Issues in the Philippine Setting, etc.); workshops about the different VMY Saints; Taize Prayer; Service Day and Liturgical Celebrations. Members, Officers and Advisors from the different regions of the country will be joining it.
Let us unite our prayers with theirs so that this camp may bear fruit in abundance
for the service of the other young people and the least fortunate.
INTERNATION@L NEWS
AMERIC@
COLOMBIA -CALI
Sr. Olga Dossman, Provincial Sister Advisor of Cali, informed us that the province has scheduled three encounters for this year: in April for the Advisors, October for the parents of the VMY members and in November for the officers of each group. They will continue with the drafting of their Plan of Life, an endeavour which started last year together with the Vincentian School for the formation of the charism.
· She also shared that she has been assigned to Medellin where she will be taking up Masters in Biblical Theology. Our sincere gratitude and prayers for her new mission.
PANAMA
Sr. Norma, National Sister Advisor, wrote to inform us that the National Council held a Formation Workshop which ended with a youth festival. They also formed a new VMY group. Thus, they are now initiating an orientation process. The advisorship and the closeness of the CM in this country are truly commendable.
On January 13 the National Council met to evaluate the course of the VMY Bolivia. The centers have assumed a great commitment for the service of the poor. The members manifest the desire to continue formation and seek for means to sustain the Association financially.
They also evaluated the 4th National Assembly and the three-year plan (2003-2005) and proposed to continue with the same plan strengthening some of their lines of action in the light of the Final Document in Paris. The theme for the next three years will be, “VMY, Happy to be Called to Continue the Redemptive Work That the Son of God Started on Earth.”
We are also informed about the formation of a new Youth Center in the La Salette Parish.
Welcome to VMY!
This month the VMY members, together with other lay members of the Vincentian Family, joined the mission service organized by the Daughters of Charity in a parish in the north of the country.
Fr. Benjamin Romo, National Priest Advisor, informed us that they re continuing with their personal visits to the groups and accompanying them in recollections, anniversaries and assemblies.
The National Council proposed to work on two objectives this year: the Marian Consecration and the making of formation materials.
Gaby Pantoja, National Secretary, shared to us that on February 25-26 they had a National Assembly to review about the national and international character of the Association. During their formation they took up the issue on VMY in the face of the socio-political situation of Venezuela. They also discussed about equally important topics such the revision of the actual situation of each of the groups, centers and their financial-related projects.
CUBA
They presented to us the first issue of their national news bulletin, EFFETÄ (“Be Open” in Greek) in which the pictures of the Vincentian Family founders are placed as the cover. It contains an article about the Women’s Day as well as a write up about the Lenten origin and course.
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
On February 19 the Miraculous Medal Center held an encounter which started was initiated with nine young people from the different communities in the said center. They also commenced the catechesis: First Phase for 11 young people.
ARGENTINA
Fr. Gustavo Gonzalez, National Priest Advisor, informed us that their National Assembly was held with two general aims:
· To integrate the Final Document of the 2nd General Assembly 2005 in the provincial level; this was done through group reflections about the issues and proposals of the Final Document for the next three years
· To elect new members of the National Council wherein Maria Jose Rebottaro was chosen as the new National President.
ECUADOR
On February 10 - 12 the 1st VMY National Adolescent Encounter was held in Guayaquil. Fifty-one members between 11-14 years old coming from seven cities participated. The VMY Youth members served as hosts and prepared the reception, meals and logistics for the encounter. Among the topics that they took up were the “Origin and History of VMY” and the “Spirituality in VMY.” They ended with a Eucharistic Celebration and an agape.
UNITED STATES
The group in Missouri is preparing for their “Mission Vincent #3” which will be held on March 24-26. They are also planning to visit the hurricane victims in New Orleans. Then, as a way of commemorating their 2nd Anniversary as an Association, they had a Eucharistic Celebration and an agape. Also, they constructed a Multi-purpose Room for formation sessions and social encounter of the Association. People from all ages within the vicinity pitched in a hand to collaborate this project.
In Chicago, the young people who joined the WYD met on January 29. They chose a central commission with the advisorship of Fr. Kevin Collins, CM and Sr. Sheila Marie Hart, DC. Great job, guys! Keep it up!
BRAZIL
Clever Fabio Oliveira, Regional Coordinator of Fortaleza, informed us that they held their 7th Provincial Assembly on February 3-5 in the Vincentian Family Center under the theme, “Come to the Foot of This Altar.” There were 60 participants (members, seminarians and sister advisors) coming from the three zones that comprise the region: Fortaleza, Maranhão & Serra.
The Assembly had as it objective the revitalization of the identity and mission of VMY from one’s origin taking the Lines of Action of the previous National Assembly and the 2nd General Assembly in Paris as points of reference.
They also elected the new Provincial Team:
Sister Advisor: Sr. Lenice (Cascavel);
Regional Presidents: Cleber Fabio Oliveira Teodosio (Bela Cruz) and Maria Gorette Paiva Timbo (Ipu.) VMY paid homage to Sr. Ana Gonçalves and Orlando, previous Sister Advisor and President respectively. They proved very helpful in the development of the Association in Fortaleza.
During the feast of St. John Bosco, Father and Teacher of the Youth, our Director General, Fr. Gregory Gay, confirmed:
- The appointment of Sr. Cecile Compere as the new National Sister Advisor of VMY Haiti. We thank Sr. Lila Cochla for the wonderful service she rendered in accompanying the National Council and we wish abundant blessings for Sr. Cecile for her new ministry.
- The election of Lucasz Zieba as the National President of Poland, taking the place of Danuta Pietkarz, who has rendered her service as the first President of the Association for a number of years. Thanks to both of you for your availability!
- The re-election of Aristide Madagasha of Algeria and Deves Herculano Bernardo of Mozambique for their 2nd term as National Presidents. Thanks to you both for ratifying your commitment as leaders of the VMY.