Narrow screen resolution Wide screen resolution
5. The Consolata Lay Missionaries PDF Print E-mail
Written by Consolata.org   
Tuesday, 07 February 2006
65. Enucleation of the orientation

Each baptized person is called to holiness of life, evangelization and the construction of God’s kingdom. The Second Vatican Council has strongly reaffirmed this reality especially in the documents Ad Gentes 36, Apostolicam Actuositatem 3, Lumen Gentium 33. After the Synod on the Laity, the apostolic exhortation Christifideles laici was issued which reinforces the same ideas.

In the light of these documents, the journey of the lay missionary movement in the church has been considerably strengthened with vitality and hope.

The XGC has officially recognized the right of lay people, who so desire, to participate more fully in the charism and spirituality of the Institute, and has specified what is to be their particular form of participation: “ For the Chapter, the Consolata Lay Missionary is someone who, motivated by a desire to answer Christ’s call, makes mission the choice of his/her life, participates for a few years in the missionary project of our Institute, in his/her own country or in foreign missions, and is inspired by the spirituality of our Institute” (XGC 67). The Chapter also requested that the General Government begin a process of consultation in order to prepare a written “statute on the laity” (69).

Further clarification and strengthening of the LMC would be a providential opportunity for mission.

66. Aspects which motivate the orientation

1. The LMC are a sign of the vitality and fecundity of the charism of the Founder.

2. The community of the LMC is expecting from the Institute a recognition and accompaniment for further experiences.

3. Some missionaries are still hesitant and perplexed regarding this issue, and others do not have a real knowledge of this vocation.

67. Practical Proposals

1. Taking into account past experiences, the General Government should evaluate the Statute already published, reviewing those points which are not yet clear or still controversial, such as autonomy, criteria for acceptance, and the form of insertion into the IMC community.

2. There should be an ongoing dialogue between the two General Governments of IMC and MC, together with the LMC, regarding their respective journeys and decisions about the Consolata lay missionaries.

3. The GSM should continue its dialogue with the members of the LMC, helping the General Government to define the statute or other juridical form, taking into account the observations made at the general meeting of Turin (2004)

4. Those regions which still do not have any LMC communities should make an effort to begin them.

5. Each region is to decide whether or not there should be mixed communities of IMC members and LMC, always safeguarding the requirements of community life.

6. The Institute should continue the formation of the LMC, with the direct collaboration of the lay missionaries and with a missionary mandate, or sending forth, to the missions.

7. The missionaries should be properly informed about the LMC, so that they may appreciate their vocation and be ready to live and work with them in the various activities of the Institute.

8. In all the publications of the IMC ample information should be given about the LMC, their activities, and particular events related to their communities as well as individual members.