The articles we present to you in this issue of Documentation IMC were written by four confreres of ours. They write on themes that are very much up-to-date and rather important for our ongoing formation: community and mission, IMC conciliar fathers, at the school of Allamano, and pastoral planning.

The theme ‘Community and Mission’ which our Vice Superior General, Fr. Anthony Bellagamba, presents to us, makes us reflect on our priorities. Interaction and balance are needed if community life and mission are to exist harmoniously. The author begins with the experiences of missionaries: he shows the difficulties (personal, produced by temperament and/or by the intricacies of internationality); he presents to us the community as experienced and presented to us by Jesus, and he even shows us how to live it as Consolata missionaries.

Fr. Francesco Pavese, from the Office of the Postulation of the Founder, takes us to the school of Allamano, and gives us a master key to better read the Pontifical document “The Rosary”. In so doing, he places both documents (Allamano’s words and the Pope’s) as if on two parallel tracks. The document (the Apostolic Letter RVM), along the same lines as the other one, “Novo Millennio Ineunte”, is the sort of initiative that will bring abundant fruits to the life of the Church. The author presents to us our Founder’s spiritual doctrine on Marian Piety

We must continually recall the Council’s renewal, which has not yet been fully concretized. In order better to understand it, it is of great help to listen to the protagonists of that same Council. Along these lines, Fr. Diamantino, IMC missionary in Mozambique, refreshes our memory on the contribution of the IMC Fathers who participated in Vatican II. A modest contribution, we could say, since they were not overly accustomed to deep theological reflection. But they were dedicated shepherds who became true spokespersons for the needs of their young Churches. Open to newness, they transmitted to the Council the riches of their young Churches.

From the General Secretariat for the Mission, Fr. Francisco Lerma shares with us a reflection on true Pastoral Planning and its main components: its main objective, other particular and transversal objectives, and lines of action… He also mentions some of the mistakes that should be avoided in any pastoral activity.

We know that reading and reflecting on these articles will stimulate our common commitment to ongoing formation, which will help us to becomer better servants of the Mission.