On June 20, 2004, the General Superior sent a letter to the Institute summoning the eleventh General Chapter to be held in San Paolo (Brazil) from April 10, 2005. In the same letter the Superior announced what would be the major theme of the Chapter: “OUR MISSIONARY STYLE” (Ratio missionis). This topic was a natural and further development of the X General Chapter on “Our Ad Gentes”. Fr. Peter Trabucco went on in his letter explaining how all the missionaries would be involved in the preparatory phase through the study of the Lineamenta prepared by a pre-chapter commission, and the Instrumentum Laboris which would be drafted by the same commission, utilizing all their input. Furthermore, the letter was addressing a warm invitation to all communities to pray for the Chapter, utilizing the aids prepared with the Consolata Missionary Sisters. An attachment accompanied the same letter with the “norms for the election of the Delegates”: a process which would begin on July 10th, 2004.The letter of convocation was mailed by the General Superior to all Superiors and elected delegates on December 1st, 2004. The General Superior notified Superiors and delegates that beside the Instrumentum Laboris, the commission had prepared about ten extra “working sub-themes” (schede) meant to cover most of the suggestions submitted by the confreres.

Following is the list of the missionaries who would attend the Chapter:

General Direction and its Offices
1. Fr. Piero Trabucco General Superior
2. Fr. Antonio Bellagamba Vice General Superior
3. Fr. Norberto Ribeiro Louro General Councilor
4. Fr. Aquiléo Fiorentini General Councilor
5. Fr. Jean André Benedetti General Councilor
6. Fr. Marco Marini General Administrator
7. Fr. Darci Vilarinho General Secretary

Regional Superiors
8. Fr. Roberto Lorenzatti Regional Superior Argentina
9. Fr. Michelangelo Piovano Regional Superior Brazil
10. Fr. Sandro Carminati Regional Superior Colombia
11. Fr. Rinaldo Do Regional Superior Congo Isiro
12. Fr. José Martín Ruiz Regional Superior Ethiopia
13. Fr. Franco Gioda Regional Superior Italy
14. Fr. Luigi Brambilla Regional Superior Kenya
15. Fr. Artur Pereira Marques Regional Superior Mozambique
16. Fr. Leonard De Pasquale Regional Superior N. America
17. Fr. Luís R. G. Tomás Regional Superior Portugal
18. Fr. António M. Fernandes Regional Superior Roraima
19. Fr. Álvaro Palacios Arregui Regional Superior Spain
20. Fr. Giuseppe Inverardi Regional Superior Tanzania

Elected Members

21. Fr. Paolo Angheben Ethiopia
22. Fr. Francisco López Vázquez Corea
23. Fr. Diamantino Guapo Antunes Mozambique
24. Fr. Giuseppe Ronco North America
25. Fr. Mário Alves da Silva Portugal
26. Fr. Anthony Ichuloi Oure Spain
27. Fr. Rubén Horacio López Argentina
28. Fr. Giacomo Baccanelli Tanzania
29. Fr. Thomas Ishengoma Tanzania
30. Fr. Jaime Carlos Patias Brazil
31. Fr. José Salvador Medina Brazil
32. Fr. Agostinho A. Barbosa Silva Venezuela
33. Fr. José Luís Ponce de León South Africa
34. Fr. Alonso Alvarez Quintero Congo Isiro
35. Fr. Stefano Camerlengo Congo Kinshasa
36. Fr. Joaquín H. Pinzón Güiza Colombia
37. Fr. Antonio Bonanomi Colombia
38. Fr. Laurindo Lazzaretti Roraima
39. Fr. Silvano Cacciari Italy
40. Fr. Gottardo Pasqualetti Italy
41. Fr. Francesco Bernardi Italy
42. Fr. Ernesto Viscardi General House
43. Fr. Zachariah King’aru Ivory Coast
44. Fr. Matthew Ouma Kenya
45. Fr. Antonio Vismara Kenya
46. Fr. Vincenzo Salemi Kenya

Elected Brothers:

47. Bro. Alessandro Bonfanti Europe
48. Bro. Carlo Zacquini America
49. Bro. Domenico Brusa Africa



THE COURSE OF THE CHAPTER ACTIVITIES

Initial phase

The 10th of April 2005 all the Chapter members report to the “Joseph Allamano Mission Animation Center” of San Paolo (Brazil), where a solemn Eucharistic celebration opens the eleventh General Chapter. The General Superior, in his homily on the gospel of the disciples of Emmaus and their encounter with the Risen Lord, highlights the importance for the members of the Chapter to repeat that same experience, by an attentive reading of the reality of the Institute and mission, read from the perspective of Christ who, with his word is able to warm the heart and open the minds to the correct knowledge of the situations. He also invites them to make of the Eucharist the heart of the chapter, by strengthening every day communion and mutual charity, and pursuing efficaciously the unity of intents. The Superior reminds them that the mission of announcing the Risen Lord remains always the primordial outflow of our work, and the “suprema lex” of the Chapter itself.
During the same Eucharistic celebration the Holy Bible is enthroned to become during the Chapter the constant inspiration of every reflection and planning. Together with the Bible the text of the Murang’a conference is exposed in the Chapter Hall. In fact, the eleventh General Chapter is celebrated one hundred years after the well known Murang’a Conference, and intends to follow the same objective which our first missionaries intended to achieve by drafting a missionary project which would assure effectiveness in the unity of intents.
The following day the Chapter members, together with those of the Consolata Missionary Sisters, go on a pilgrimage to the Shrine of our Lady Aparecida, patroness of Brazil, to implore help and protection of the Mother of Jesus. The day offers also an opportunity for mutual knowledge and friendship, and opens the process of some reflections on themes of mutual interest.
The 13th of April, after the invocation to the Holy Spirit, there is the roll call of all the Chapter members and, having ascertained the legitimacy of those summoned to the Chapter, the General Superior officially declares opened the eleventh General Chapter. The Chapter members, then, read the profession of faith and the oath to fulfil faithfully their role.
Two other confreres are added to the number of Chapter members, who had been invited by the General Direction: Fr. Francisco Lerma of the General Secretariat for Mission, and Fr. Patrick Silva as an added secretary.
The assembly begins the study of the Chapter Rules. An ad hoc commission is established to study some rules which need a better discernment. Two rules regarding the study of the special orientations (second part of the Instrumentum Laboris) are put on hold, and they will be taken up and approved later on when there will be a better awareness of the process. Having completed the study of the rules, the members give them a unanimous ad tempus approval.
After that, the election of moderators, secretaries, and members of other commissions are elected:
- Moderators: Fr. Giuseppe Ronco, Ernesto Viscardi, and Giuseppe Inverardi;
- Secretaries: Fr. Francisco Lerma, and Gottardo Pasqualetti who form a team with Fr. Patrick Silva;
- Editorial Secretariate for the final edition of the Acts, composed of three members: Two members are chosen by the Comitato Direttivo, and the third will be one of the secretaries:
- Liturgical Commission: Fr. Vilarinho Darci, Ishengoma Thomas, López Francisco and Salvador Medina;
- Secretariat for information: Fr. Bernardi Francesco, Patias Jaime, Alvarez Alonso and De Pasquale Leonard.
- Mixed Commission IMC/MC: the assembly decides that the two IMC representatives will remain Fr. Fiorentini Aquiléo and Louro Norberto;
- Commission “ludrica”: Fr. Camerlengo Stefano, Do Rinaldo, and Alvaro Palacios.

The Chapter Agenda is discussed and unanimously approved. The Assembly decided that the President of the Chapter should send letters of thanks to those who had mailed messages and promised prayers. A second message will be sent to the Congregation of Religious and that of the Evangelization of Peoples, to keep them informed.
Three more activities complete this introductory phase:
- a day of recollection, preached by Fr. Patrizio Sciadini, a Carmelite;
- half a day of introduction to the “spirit” of the Chapter, conducted by the same priest;
- a day of enrichment of two “witnesses”, Sr. Ana Roy of the Auxiliary Sisters of the Priesthood, and Mons. Luciano Mendes de Almeida, Archbishop of Mariana.

Reports

On April 18 the second phase of the Chapter begins with the reading/presentation of the reports. The report of the General Direction is read first, section by section, to offer the possibility of clarifications. Fr. Marco Marini, General Administrator, integrates with plenty of data, and input on the financial and administrative situation of the Institute. At the end of the reading, the Assembly is divided into groups for a deeper analysis of the Report itself, and the detection of themes which can be reconsidered by the full Assembly later on. The opinions of each group and the themes gathered are shared with the whole Assembly. Once completed this second phase, the presiding moderator asks the Assembly if it accepts the report of the General Direction as read, and if it wishes to publish it on the Official Bulletin of the Institute. With only one vote against both proposals are approved. Before the presentation of the Reports of the Circumscriptions, the Assembly discusses the proposal of the General Direction to invite a Consolata Lay Missionary to share with the Chapter members, on behalf of the other lay missionaries, the document finalized at the LMC meeting of Turin in August 2004. The Assembly approves with a substantial majority.
The presentation of the reports of the Circumscriptions follows, beginning with those of Africa. Each Regional Superior has 10 minutes for the presentation and other 20 for clarification of questions from the Chapter members. An extra time is given to the bigger Regions. The circumscriptions of America, Europe and Korea follow those of Africa. Once completed the presentation of the reports of each continent, the Continental Councillor is invited to offer his personal point of view, fruit of his closeness to the confreres and the contact with their missionary work.
The deepening of the reports of the Circumscriptions is done by Continental Groups. Their task is to analyze the complex situations of the continent, and to make a synthesis which will be presented to the Assembly. In it all the positive aspects, the problems and the practical proposals for the future will be highlighted and summarized.




Instrumentum Laboris

The discussion of the first part of the Instrumentum Laboris begins on April 25. After a thorough presentation by Fr. Giuseppe Ronco, who was a member of the pre-chapter commission, the text is divided into five parts, and is analyzed by five groups. They will make corrections and suggest ameliorations. The work of the groups is then handed to the Editorial Commission composed of Fr. Gottardo Pasqualetti, José Luis Ponce de León, Joaquín H. Pinzón G. The Editorial Commission will then try to sharpen the content and the form of the text, before they submit it to the Assembly for approval.
A similar procedure is followed also for the second part of the Instrumentum Laboris which deals with the schede (special issues) both those prepared before the Chapter by the preparatory commission, and those suggested by the continental groups. The total number of schede is 16. For the preparation of the new schede, work groups are set up, formed by competent persons in the subject under discussion. A particular attention is paid by the scheda “Organization in view of a more coordinated and effective service”, which was studied by all the groups. Also the scheda on the “Lay Missionaries” has been dealt with particular attention, due to the input to the Assembly of Mr. Silvio Testa, a Lay Consolata Missionary. The work on these schede has taken up most of the time of the Assembly until the end of the Chapter itself.

Other decisions

They are aspects or themes which were not studied in a scheda, and yet the Assembly wished to take into consideration in order to deepen their meaning and offer practical proposal to enhance them. These are: new openings, Europe, ridimensionamento, vacation, postulation, assumption of responsibility, additions to the General Directory, ongoing formation, first mission appointment, cultural goods, ”Da Casa Madre”.

Election of the General Direction

It was preceded and prepared by two straw-ballots taken during the week before the election. Their purpose was to surface names of confreres who could be considered as possible candidates for the new General Direction. The morning of May 9 was dedicated to silence and prayer and it was concluded with the Mass of the Holy Spirit presided over by Fr. Pietro Plona, a confrere who was not a member of the Chapter. In the afternoon, the process of election began.
Having read the rules on the election, the Assembly decides that, after the election of the General Superior and Vice General Superior, the councillors will be elected according to the alphabetical order of the continents, but their position in the General Council will be determined by the years of religious profession of each of them.
Following are the results of the ballot in which each member has been elected:

Superior General:
Fr. Aquiléo Fiorentini 35 votes
Fr. Francisco López Vásquez 13 votes
Fr. Francisco Lerma 1 vote

Vice General Superior:
Fr. Stefano Camerlengo 36 votes
Fr. Antonio Vismara 8 votes
Fr. Francisco López Vásquez 2 votes
Fr. Jean André Benedetti 2 votes
Fr. Antonio Bonanomi 1 vote

Second Councilor:
Fr. Francisco López Vásquez 40 votes
Fr. Antonio Vismara 4 votes
Fr. Francesco Bernardi 2 votes
Fr. Franco Gioda 1 vote
Fr. Francisco Lerma 1 Vote
Fr. Leonard De Pasquale 1 vote

Third Councilor:
Fr. Antonio M. Fernandes 34 votes
Fr. Michelangelo Piovano 7 votes
Fr. Salvador Medina 5 votes
Fr. Alonso Alvarez Quintero 1 vote
Fr. Antonio Bonanomi 1 vote
Fr. Roberto Lorenzatti 1. vote

Fourth Councilor:
Fr. Matthew Ouma 26 votes
Fr. Zachariah King’aru 21 votes
Fr. Stephen Okello 1 vote

May 11, during a solemn Eucharistic Celebration, presided by the new General Superior, Fr. Aquiléo Fiorentini, all the members of the new General Direction read the profession of faith and take the oath “de munere fideliter adimplendo”.

Conclusive Acts

On May 10, at the end of the afternoon session, the General Superior asks the Chapter Assembly if all the themes of the agenda have been properly acted upon, and if the XI General Chapter can be declared concluded. Having received a positive answer, he declares the Chapter terminated. He then offers special thanks to Fr. Michelangelo Piovano and the Region of Brazil for the cordial and loving hospitality during the celebration of the Chapter.
On May 15, during the solemn Eucharistic Celebration of Pentecost, presided over by the General Superior, the Assembly thrust in the hands of the Holy Spirit the post-chapter period, asking on all the confreres and the Consolata Missionary Sisters a particular blessing of Mary SS Consolata and of Blessed Allamano






MESSAGE TO HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI
00120 VATICAN CITY

The Consolata Missionaries gathered in São Paulo, Brazil, for their General Chapter, rejoice at Your Holiness’s election as the Successor of Peter, the Bishop of Rome and the Pastor of the Universal Church. They pledge their filial devotion and pray that the maternal presence of Mary will guide your Petrine ministry of consolation for mankind. They reaffirm their commitment to a life devoted entirely to proclaiming the Gospel ad gentes. They ask for Your Apostolic Benediction on the work of their Chapter, the activities of their Congregation and on the Christian communities among whom they carry out their mission.
São Paulo, April 20, 2005
Father Piero Trabucco Superior General.





MESSAGE FROM THE SUPERIOR GENERAL


May 20, 2005

My dear Missionaries,

In one month we will celebrate the feast of our Beloved Mother – the Consolata. On the feast of Pentecost we brought our Eleventh General Chapter to a conclusion in São Paulo and embarked upon a new stage in the journey of our Congregation. I feel a deep sense of heartfelt gratitude to the Lord who showed himself present in our midst.
In my name and on behalf of the other members of the General Directorate I want to thank each of you, dearest brothers, for your prayers, your interest in our work and the congratulatory messages you have sent us. Thank You! We are encouraged by the realization that those of our brothers who are already living in the presence of the Lord are interceding on our behalf and are asking the Lord that we remain faithful and dedicated to our mission.
The General Council will meet in Rome (June 16 – July 31). In these first weeks and then in August each member of the General Directorate will hand over his responsibilities to others. In the second half of June and during July the Council will discuss those matters that need urgent resolution such as certain assignments. In September we will begin our ordinary work in Rome.
Looking over the Acts of the Chapter I realize that our experience in São Paulo was a moment of Grace, a gift the Holy Spirit gave to our Congregation. The Chapter members have now left Brazil and the Chapter has come to an end. We must now bring these documents to life. They must transform our journey and our hope as missionaries at the service of the Church and the world. During this time together we shared our thoughts and discernment to determine what God was asking of us, the Consolata Missionaries. Three elements marked our discussions:
1. Listening to our real life situations: In the first two weeks we listened to each other, celebrated the wonders and hope the Lord revealed in our missions; we shared the worries, fears and the apostolic concerns that are part of the world we live in.
2. Attention to formation: All of us hope to see our formation improved; it must be more useful to our young people and provide genuine preparation for the challenges history and God will issue today.
3. Continents: The Chapter discussion embraced the real life situations of our communities, the challenges confronting missionary work in different countries and the need for moving forward together in the diversity of our commitments on different continents.
We are in the process of translating the Chapter Acts into various languages. We believe that these translations will be available to everyone at the end of June. They will help our communities in their efforts to be an example of life and apostolic zeal to the people among whom we work.
Le me express my wish that the Holy Spirit – to whom we prayed continually and then celebrated solemnly on the Feast of Pentecost as the Chapter ended – be the true protagonist of our missionary work. We are now preparing to celebrate the Feast of the Holy Trinity – may this feast remind us to work together in unity and in a spirit of family.
In conclusion I turn once more to Our Mother, the Consolata. I and the other members of the new General Directorate will go to Turin on her feast day, June 20, to pray before her sacred image and beg her protection and help for our whole Congregation.
I salute you and call down the blessing of our Father Founder!

Fraternally,
Father Aquiléo Fiorentini
(Father General)