TO THE ITALIAN REGION

June 11, 2003

Memoria of St. Barnabas

Dear Missionaries,

The visitation to the Italian Region, begun by Fr. Antonio Bellagamba in February 2003, continued with the Superior General in the months of April and May, visiting all the communities of the Region. The Fathers J. A. Benedetti, General Councilor for Europe and Franco Gioda, Regional Superior, accompanied the visitors. Alternating visitors was certainly an unprecedented experience made possible by the last General Chapter.  The positive side of this experiment was the possibility of confronting the wide variety of problems presented by so vast a Region with so many diverse activities, feelings, visions and points of view.  The convergence of various understandings and working proposals to be found in this letter reinforce the Visitors’ conviction that the Italian Region has an especially significant role to play at this point in the Institute’s history.

“I saw water coming out of the temple;  where it reached, everything was healed.” (Cf. Ez 47, 1-9.12).

Our journey through the communities of the Region took place during the liturgical seasons of Lent and Easter.  At Eucharistic celebrations with the brethren we were able to reflect on the word of God together.  Frequently themes that had special relevance for us as missionaries came up.  There is one in particular that we would like to propose to the consideration of all the confreres in the Region.

There is a passage in Ezekiel (47,1-9.12)  which describes a vision the prophet had while sitting on the banks of the river Kedar in Babylon.  Those were hard times for the people of Israel:  deportation, slavery, exile from the fatherland and temple, constant risk of religious contamination.  Hopes for a speedy return home were diminishing;  people were experiencing the harsh reality of exile.  How long would this trial last?  When would God remember his people?

The originality of this biblical passage consists in its message that only in God will the people find the secret of future hope and the ability to build something new and lasting.  For this reason the Jerusalem Temple occupies a central place in the vision.  From its side springs forth water and this water makes arid land fertile – it creates an earthly paradise.  The deeper meaning of this vision:  it shows how hope can spring up in the most difficult and desperate of situations, such as that of people who have lost their home.  For believers of all times putting God at the center of existence can turn anything into an occasion of  grace;  any situation can become an experience of salvation if we grasp its meaning and recognize God’s presence. 

Our visitation made clear how widespread is the feeling that this is a particularly crucial junction in the Region – future options are neither clear nor encouraging.  The average age of our personnel continues to rise; prospects of new vocations are poor; the burden of our work and our structures weighs heavily on all involved.  There is no relief in sight.  And yet we must look to the future with hope, confidence and intelligence.  We too can find encouragement in Ezechiel’s vision - reassurance in the face of our present problems.  That water which purifies, heals, gives life and restores still exists today.  It continues to flow from the eternal mystery of Easter.  Today we call it “spirituality” or “life in the Spirit.”  To draw upon this water, there are certain concrete things we must do. 

Defense against the syndrome of old age and hyperactivity

There is a twofold syndrome that afflicts many of the religious institutes working  in Europe.  Our missionaries living and working in Italy are exposed to this danger and we must do all we can to protect ourselves.  There is a persistent pessimism with regard to the present situation of the Institute and the Church.  Either we long for the past or are resigned to the  status quo.  Another reaction to our discomfort with the present is hyperactivity.  We are reluctant to reflect or discern with serenity;  we take on responsibilities that exceed our  capacities

We know that the rising age of our personnel is a result of the calamitous decrease in vocations in Italy and throughout Europe since the 1970’s.  A brief glance at statistics will bear this out.  In 1972 there were 931 Italian IMC members; in 2003 there are only 467.  The most striking decrease was among young people in formation. In 1972 there were 95 Italian professed students and 24 novices.  Thirty years later we have three professed students and no novices.  Between 1977 to 2003,  fifty-three Italian missionaries made perpetual profession – an average of one or two a year.  This is not likely to increase in the immediate future.  The reasons for this drastic decline are well known.

Faced with this situation there is another more insidious reaction that can take place: overwork and denial.  Middle aged and sometimes older missionaries overextend themselves; they are reluctant to reduce commitments made when the community had twice the personnel.  This threatens not just our health and need for physical relaxation but our life of prayer, reflection and ongoing formation.  Younger missionaries are forced to take on jobs for which they are not yet prepared, jobs beyond their capabilities.  They are overwhelmed by activities and projects that lack team or  community support.

At first glance this description might appear excessively negative but it is borne out by almost all the studies of religious life in Italy today.  To be realistic is a virtue; even if we concentrate our attention on positive elements we must be realistic.  It is undeniable that there are many positive developments in the Italian Church and in the service our missionaries in this Region are rendering that Church.  If we seem to concentrate on problems it is only to pinpoint their cause and find appropriate remedies.

Holiness and community discernment are our therapy

The thought immediately occurs, What would our Father Founder say to those missionaries in the Italian Region who face discouragement or are tempted to bury themselves in excessive work.  There are two things he would certainly say.

1.  Life according to the Spirit

We cannot begin to consider this subject without referring to a brief but incisive passage in our  Constitutions: “Our purpose in the Church is the evangelization of people;  we do this for the glory of God and in holiness of life; this is what our Founder meant when he said, ‘First saints and then missionaries.’  This purpose must permeate our spirituality, influence our choices, inform our formation and apostolate and completely guide our existence” (Const. 5).

Holiness of life or life according to the Spirit was always the primary goal Allamano set his missionaries.  Should the Institute ever lose sight of this goal there is no doubt that our Founder would cease to recognize us – he would see us as something alien to his spirit and his missionary program.  As has been true throughout our history the only way out of our current crisis is a return to the source of our charism.  There we would find that holiness of life is the indispensable pre-condition for being Consolata Missionaries.

With an amazing persistence the Church calls religious to a high level of spirituality that leads to that holiness which is their specific vocation in the Church.  Here is what we read in  the instruction Starting Afresh from Christ: “It calls for a concentration on an intense spirituality in the strongest sense of the word, that is, life according to the Spirit. Consecrated life today needs a spiritual rebirth which will help to concretely bring about the spiritual and evangelical meaning of baptismal consecration and of its new and special consecration” (20).

2.  The practice of discernment

“The difficulties and the questioning which religious life is experiencing today can give rise to a new kairós, a time of grace. In these challenges lies hidden an authentic call of the Holy Spirit to rediscover the wealth and potentialities of this form of life” (Starting Afresh from Christ, 13).  It is our grave and important responsibility to live our present time ready to discern the will of God and the possibilities he opens up for us continually. 

Consequently discernment is just as important for  missionaries as determining and carrying out  the Will of God - something on which our Father Founder  was insistent.  We are undoubtedly living through a time of great upheavals.  It is a “time of crisis” or  a “generalized crisis” that leaves nothing unaffected – neither the most solid of situations nor the most rooted of values.  Our time is rife with uncertainty, ambiguity and doubt.  What can we do to discover the kairós, the paths the Lord is opening up for us?  Discernment is absolutely necessary! 

Without going into detail concerning its practice (Cf. IMC Bulletin, 90) there are certain attitudes that must be present if we are to discover God’s will for us and our missionary service in Italy – if we are to revive hope for the future.

-  Discernment must always be accompanied by profound faith in God;  we must be convinced that God and man build history together – even the little history of our Institute.

-  We must learn to understand the reality that surrounds us.  Our last General Chapter did not merely urge us to do this in every Circumscription, but gave us examples of how it could be done (XCG 9-17).  We would suggest that those in charge of the Region help foreign missionaries and missionaries returning home after long absences understand the Italian situation.

-  We must keep our hopes for the future alive, confident that God will not abandon us.  After the darkness comes the dawn.  As far as possible the whole Regional community must be involved in the process of discernment for important Regional decisions.

-  Our search must be honest – we must avoid idolizing or demonizing the present.  We must make every effort to discern the evil that exists and the seeds of good that are never absent.  We must never forgo dialogue – even when our efforts to launch new projects place us in opposing camps.

A Region determined to be “credible and visible”

The 2000 Conference was a significant moment for the reunited Region.  It made an effort to combine realism and hope with perhaps a little more emphasis on the second of these elements.  The program took as its motto: “To be credible and visible in Italy.”  In line with what the Conference laid out we would like to  present the thoughts that occurred to us over the course of the visitation along with subjects that came up most frequently during our talks with the confreres.  We will present these subjects in schematic form.  We hope that this will assist the Regional council and possibly encourage the Region to continue on the path it has chosen.

The Regional Community and its spirit

The visitation provided an opportunity to experience first-hand the rich and complex situation in the Region.  There are 21 communities, some of them large and there are 152 missionaries with an average age of  70.  There are two houses of formation – one for aspirants and postulants, and another for novices.  There are five parishes, and five communities serving sanctuaries or public churches.  The Region is engaged in a wide variety of works – some of which have consequences beyond the boundaries of the Region (care for the sick, formation and Italian language courses).

This broad and complex  range of activities makes frequent and prolonged visits from the Regional superior a practical necessity.  These visits are indispensable – they contribute to the unity of the Region and create an esprit de corps.  The first   visit each year is devoted to helping local communities in creating a community program;  the final visit is dedicated to an overall review of the past year’s accomplishments. 

After the most recent  Conference, the Regional Council decided that the position of Regional director for mission and vocation promotion (MVP) should be a full-time job.  The director should assist local mission and vocation promotion personnel in carrying out their very important work.  This decision is a step  in the right direction;  it not only creates a unified approach but  can provide moral support to local promoters who may feel isolated and not up to the challenges they encounter.  The Regional director should experience the daily life and activity of local promoters through frequent and protracted visits to their communities.  It would be similarly useful and appreciated if the Regional administrator could visit local communities in the course of his work.

Communion and sharing are two other elements of fundamental importance if we are to grow together and create a family.  The local community should not just meet daily for prayer but it  should set aside time each week for community meetings.  Such meetings give us a chance to discuss the problems of the community, the Institute and the Church.  They provide an excellent opportunity to listen to each other,  voice our own thoughts, analyze the community’s progress, review and make plans together.  Meetings are an absolute necessity – especially for large communities - and should take precedence over all other activities.  There should be communion and sharing on the Regional level as well.  This can be achieved through periodic Regional meetings, newsletters and frequent e-mail communication.

We ask everyone to dedicate their best efforts to making the local community the heart of our communion.  We know how easy it is to avoid community life with the excuse of apostolic commitments or the need for rest and recreation.  Evasions of this sort seriously harm the community and diminish the effectiveness of our apostolate.

Finally we would call attention to another fundamental instrument for cultivating an alert, creative and positive spirit in the Region.  Ongoing, permanent formation.  Without going into detail we would emphasize the importance of repeating certain yearly, Regional experiences.  These projects should extend over a period of days – they have worked in the past and their results are apparent.  Special permanent formation projects that address the needs of young missionaries should be included in the annual program.  If possible the Regional superior or a member of his council should attend these events.

“You go into the vineyard too.”

This passage of the Gospel tells us how the landlord sent workers into his vineyard at all hours.  It calls to mind one of the fundamental laws of the Kingdom:  efficiency is not the sole measure of success. Whether young or old, experienced or novices we all need zeal, faith and love.  These elements are a guarantee that in even the most difficult and unpromising circumstances we will find success. 

At first glance the personnel of the Italian Region may not seem up to the task of working in the vineyard of modern Italian society which is rife with challenges and obstacles – even inside the Church – that look insurmountable.  When the Lord says, “Go into the vineyard …” it is not just young people he is talking to but middle-aged and elderly people as well.  We may all play different roles but we are all called into the same vineyard;  all of us must work the same field in which Providence has placed us;  all of us must contribute to the same projects the community has agreed upon. 

For some time now missionaries with diverse cultural and geographical backgrounds have been working in Italy.  Our international character is not something to be taken for granted.  It is a challenge each of us must meet and it can become a precious act of witness.  In the words of the Tenth General Chapter:  “The international character of our communities expresses and manifests the catholicity of the Church … We give witness to the fact that it is possible to live in brotherhood and overcome the barriers of race, culture and class.” (p. 35).

We would like to address a few words to the various groups of missionaries we encountered and who opened their hearts to us during the visitation.

Older missionaries:

There are a great many of you.  You have a wealth of apostolic experience in other countries and continents but now are back home for a variety of reasons.  Often you feel disoriented, foreigners in your own country;  frequently your hearts are filled with nostalgia for that foreign mission field you were forced to abandon.  Your mission, however, is not over and done with.  A missionary never retires.  There is still a very important and precious job to be done for the Kingdom and for the Institute.  There are three tasks in particular we would like to call to your attention and entrust to your care.

-  Witness:  This is of fundamental importance for the people of God and for our communities.  Through you life delivers its message.  In a society overwhelmed with too many words, your very existence, tempered by years of sacrifice for the Kingdom in the missions is eloquent beyond words.  This is especially true if your silent message is clothed in serenity, optimism and hope.  Your presence is especially encouraging to young people.  In spite of the many contradictions that fill their lives they recognize and are attracted to what is genuine and authentic.

-  Prayer:  While your physical resources may be in decline your spirit is more attuned to prayer and contemPlatìon.  During the visitation we had the good fortune to encounter so many prayerful missionaries, men who were the incarnation of what the departed Msgr. Carlo Cavallera wrote, “Quando la missione diventa contemplazione (When the Mission Becomes Contemplation).” In the economy of the Mystical Body, how very valuable are those hours spent before the Blessed Sacrament; how valuable are your  rosaries, silent contemplation and suffering offered up!

-  Pastoral ministry:  In spite of advanced age you are still eager to work in the pastoral ministry.  Hearing confessions, celebrating Mass with devotion for the people of God, welcoming people who need advice and comfort, visiting the sick – all of these things describe so many older missionaries; they give meaning to the words of the Psalmist, “… still bearing fruit in old age, still remaining fresh and green” (Ps 92,15).

Middle-aged Missionaries:

You are few in number but  you bear a significant burden of work and responsibility.  You carry on with zeal and enthusiasm, to the extent that your efforts to meet everyone’s needs can sometimes overwhelm you.  Little by little you can become the victims of stress or burn-out.  Some of you are on your second or third “new career” without having had the chance to spend time on the missions – something you have always dreamed about.  To all of you we would like to say:

-  Take care of yourselves;  find time for needed relaxation, time for prayer and reading.  Do not neglect your spiritual life – all of your missionary service could suffer as a result.

-  Cultivate your communion with others, but be especially concerned with community life, particularly if you are in charge of it.  Banish any temptation to impose your projects on the community – this can endanger communion and divide the community.  Do not micro-manage.  Trust those around you, both confreres and lay people,  and share responsibility with them.  Think of your brother as someone “who belongs to you” (Vita Consecrata, 51). Share fully in his joys, sufferings, desires and needs.

-  Pay special attention to permanent formation, your own and that of your community.  Because of your role and responsibility in the community, the words of Starting Afresh from Christ are especially addressed to you: “Thus it will be important that all consecrated persons be formed in the freedom to learn throughout life, in every age and season, in every human ambient and context, from every person and every culture open to be taught by any fragment of truth and beauty found around them” (15).

Young Missionaries:

Compared to past years there are not very many of you in the Italian Region and some of you come from other circumscriptions, notably Africa.  This is your first missionary experience and you are involved in mission and vocation promotion –  a very demanding assignment.  There are some things we would like to say to you.

-  Thank you for accepting this very difficult challenge – vocation promotion, and thank you for working in Italy.  In the words of the Tenth General Chapter, your work is a missio ad gentes and of supreme importance for the future of the Institute and the missions.  Take your work among young people to heart.  It is a  service to the missions.

-  You must be adequately introduced to this work – especially when you are only just beginning.  This is important not just for those who come from other parts of the world but for Italians who have had their basic formation abroad.  We would ask the Regional Council to see to it that these you are placed in genuine teams of working communities and not left to your own devices. 

-  You have left the seminary but your formation is still going on.  Make regular appointments with the Regional Superior during the course of the year.  You can discuss your vocation, share your first experiences of missionary life and cultivate a sense of belonging to our  missionary family.  Each of you should have a spiritual director who will help you grow and overcome eventual difficulties.

-  Spend time with young people so you can get to know them and engage in dialogue with them, but at the same time don’t forget that you must provide the example of an alternative life-style, one that involves prayer, rest and community life.

Vocations in Italy:  Winter and Spring

The 2000 Regional Conference was very clear: vocations are the number one priority of the Italian Region.  The missionaries working in this country realize that all of their efforts are directed to this goal and in spite of enormous endeavor in the past, prospects are not promising. 

We won’t try to analyze why this is the case.  The roots of this problem are outside the control of our Institute – they affect all religious communities in Italy.  In the context of this visitation we will limit our remarks to subjects that were the principal topic of discussion and which should be shared with as many as possible of our missionaries working in Italy.

1.  Have the courage of your convictions

There is a general feeling in the Region that in spite of our many vocation projects we are somehow reluctant or hesitant to extend an outright invitation to young people to join the missionary enterprise.  This attitude may be rooted in the lack of confidence we feel in the company of young people, or  a temptation to “pass the buck,” – leave it up to someone else.  Or it may be the simple inability to engage young people in dialogue.  All the same this is the greatest service we could render to young people who are wondering about their future or seeking meaning in their lives.

According to the Regional Program every community and especially the mission-vocation-promotion communities should develop vocation projects.  These projects, “points of light”, should enjoy the support and assistance of all our missionaries and should be a point of convergence for all other  promotional activities.

Our own young people in formation can be the privileged bearers of this message.  They find it easier to mix with others of their own age.  We have studied and initiated projects that involve our own young people in formation.

2.  Vocation projects that teach us  something

In recent years there have been a wide variety of projects in the Italian Region  to make young people aware of the beauty of the missionary vocation.  Some of these projects were more effective and had greater impact.  Three types,  we believe, are of special importance and merit the consideration of our communities.  They are effective to the extent that they are carried out  together.

-  Schools of Prayer and Spiritual Direction.  Only those who have had a profound experience of the Lord can recognize and follow his call to the missions.  Retreats, days of spirituality, lectio divina – all of these things have created a taste for prayer and silence in young people.  Some of the results of these experiences are already apparent – others soon will be.

-  Commitment to justice, peace and the environment.  This is an intrinsic part of the mission.  When we invite others to join our work for peace, solidarity with the poor and dispossessed, defense of human rights, raising ecological consciousness, promoting a just and equitable distribution of wealth we strike responsive chords in young people.  This can be the beginning of a dialogue which will gradually involve other areas of Christian faith and may eventually lead to a vocation.

-  Direct contact with the missions.  This has proved decisive for many young people.  It has led them to consider  “Maybe the Lord is calling me to the missions?”  Nowadays in Italy intercontinental travel is easy and available to many.  If an individual has been adequately prepared and assisted, if arrangements have been made between the sending and receiving circumscriptions, visiting the missions can be an excellent means for making him consider a missionary vocation.

3.  A personalized process

Every Christian vocation is born and grows in the intimacy that exists between the individual and Jesus, in an authentic relationship between the Master and the disciple.  In the mystery of a vocation we can only act as mediators, a spokesman for the One who extends the invitation.  He it is who makes this gift.  Our task is to create an atmosphere and provide the means for young people to enter into dialogue with Christ.  Let me mention two ways this can be accomplished:  providing spiritual direction and welcoming young people into our communities to experience missionary life.    There are five vocation promotion centers in Italy and they have the primary responsibility for providing these services.  But any one of our communities should be a place where one can “come and see” (Jn 1, 39) if the missionaries living there feel fulfilled in their vocation and work happily for the Kingdom of God, if they can listen, provide witness and give spiritual direction.

4.  Our young people in formation.

We were pleased to note that although they are still not very numerous,  their number has increased in recent years.  The Italian Region is happy to welcome these young people, provide them with what they need for vocational discernment and prepare them for a definitive commitment to our Institute.  There are three aspects of formation we think worthy of  particular attention:

-  From the very beginning of formation we should insist on the centrality of the spiritual life, the missionary dimension of our charism and the responsibility young people must assume for their formation.

-  Even though their formation is in its early stages they should be gradually involved in meaningful pastoral experiences that correspond to our vocation.  Their presence among young people can be a strong influence on other possible vocations.

-  Something that must be borne in mind from the very beginning of formation is the sharing of possessions and the austerity a missionary vocation involves.  During their early formation they should be involved in work that may benefit the community financially.

In this context we would like to express our pleasure for the Regional Council’s  willingness to accept juridically the Roman Theological Seminary into the Italian Region.

5.  Consolata Lay Missionaries

The Lord also invites lay people to work in the missions and the last General Chapter called upon the entire Institute to open its doors and help lay people fulfill their missionary calling according to the charism of Blessed Allamano.  The recently completed statutes will promote a unified approach in all the Regions – but will safeguard the independence lay people rightly enjoy in fulfilling their missionary vocation.

The Visitors ask all the missionaries in Italy to surrender whatever  reluctance  they may feel and make themselves available to all those who approach us.  We must assist and guide those who ask our help to fulfill their missionary vocation.

In the past the Region has launched projects to promote lay missionaries.  The General Chapter is now asking us to create a unified approach for the whole Institute.  This should not jeopardize the specificity of past experiences but rather complement them and assure a future for lay people who want to do missionary work with us in the spirit of Blessed Allamano.

Mission promotion in Italy

The last General Chapter was very clear on the role and importance of mission promotion in Europe.  Its statements shed light on the current situation in Italy and suggest useful guidelines.  Here are a few passages:  “The Chapter believes that the circumscriptions of Europe and North America must continue to consider  mission and vocation promotion their principal task.  The same need for promotion exists on other continents;  well aware of the  Institute’s personnel limitations we ask these circumscriptions to reformulate their mission and vocation promotion program to meet this need.  In the interests of training personnel for this area of endeavor we suggest the circumscriptions establish priorities such as promoting theological reflection, communication media, youth work, cooperation and solidarity” (p. 95).

We would like to mention certain points that attracted particular attention during the visitation.

1.  Missio ad Gentes in Italy

In compliance with Chapter guidelines concerning our missio ad gentes in Europe, the Italian Region – after considerable reflection – has decided to assume responsibility for pastoral work in the parish of Platì in Calabria.  The people who live here – especially the young people – are surrounded by widespread crime.  Pastoral work in Platì is a genuine  missio ad gentes.  Our missionaries offer valuable pastoral service and work for the re-evangelization of a local church lacking priests.  We offer hospitality to young people in formation,  those involved in vocation discernment or anyone eager to do meaningful work.

We have been in this parish for only two years;  it is too early to draw any conclusions.  We could list some general directives that emerged during the visitation and which might prove useful in the future.

-  Concern for the mission/vocation promotion needs of the Region’s communities must keep pace with pastoral work and evangelization;

-  Simple pastoral presence is not enough.  Our work must bear the “missionary hallmark,” that is – it must reflect a carefully planned pastoral program that takes into account both the complicated local situation and the evangelical character of our charism;

-  There is an urgent need for consolation and reconciliation.  Experience gained in this sort of work in other circumscriptions might help us lay out an appropriate  plan of work in Platì.

-  It is important to acquaint local people with other meaningful ecclesial and pastoral experiences.  Lay people and youth from outside might contribute much to overcoming the closed and suspicious mentality brought about by widespread criminality.

-  Frequent communication with other Italian communities can preclude the danger of this experience being isolated.  It could play an important role in the Region’s mission promotion.

2.  We should sow the seeds of the mission with confidence and enthusiasm

An overall look at mission promotion has confirmed our conviction that we must exploit to the maximum Italy’s potential.  We need only recall the rich mission experience of so many of our confreres, the impact our two missionary periodicals have on the Italian public, the widespread distribution and high quality of mission books produced by Editrice EMI,  our continually updated youth oriented website, the museum, library and bookshop in Turin.

We must cultivate the countless support groups and volunteers with links to our missions in Africa and America that operate in the Region’s territory.  If proper attention and guidance are given to these groups they can become unequalled promoters of the missions in local churches. 

In the past our minor seminaries trained a large number of young men who may not have persevered in the Institute but who remain sensitive to the values of the missions and Christian commitment.  They could be valuable co-workers in our efforts to spread missionary values in parishes, the workplace, schools and families.

We urge you or your lay associates to become involved in schools;  we could acquaint young people with the values of an international, inter-cultural community and the importance of knowing and understanding other peoples.  This is something that is being re-evaluated and which is finding a welcome in many parts of the Region.   Through school work we can establish initial contacts with young people that can lead to further involvement outside of school. 

The more traditional methods of mission promotion should not be neglected:  mission days, mission weeks, distribution of missionary periodicals, creation of prayer groups for vocations.  Other more modern methods should be pursued as well: television and radio promotion, mission study weeks, etc.

Finally we must think about mission/vocation promotion work on a continental level.  Given its resources and personnel, the  Italian Region can play an important role in general European mission promotion.

3.  Justice and peace concerns

The General Chapter reminds us, “with a critical, evangelical consciousness we must become a voice for those who for whatever reason are excluded.  We must speak for the outcast.  This criterion for missionary activity is clearly set forth in so many documents from the Latin American hierarchy and in Ecclesia in Africa … as well.  To proclaim the true God of Life revealed in Jesus Christ implies a struggle against all idols and oppression, even if this involves conflict and confrontation” (p. 57).

It may well be true that this social concerns are not the sum total of the mission – but they are  most certainly an important part!  Both the Church and society on all continents are becoming increasingly sensitive to these ideas and they expect us to be equally sensitive, balanced, courageous and prudent.  As missionaries we are more exposed than others in the Church to flagrant examples of injustice and the contradictions of unbridled globalization.  In this area too we must be able to raise the consciousness of others with all the means at our disposal.  We must be willing to interact with Church bodies and be careful to avoid factionalism or divisiveness.  Everyone should welcome and collaborate with the various promotion campaigns that concern our mission work. 

We have worked among immigrants for many decades now and this work has assumed special characteristics on the local level.   It is an area of endeavor that should appeal to us as missionaries.  This type of apostolate should conform closely to the directives of the local church.

The visitation has shown us that in spite of occasional difficulties and the need for further clarification, the Regional community is truly cultivating this spirit – so warmly recommended by the Church.

The courage to prune

By “pruning” we mean reorganizing or reducing our missionary commitments.  Our point of departure is what was said in the Chapter:  “In its Regional Conference each circumscription should draw up a program for downsizing and reassigning personnel in line with the directives of the Chapter. This program would include a review of current activities and a list of commitments to be abandoned along with detailed plan of times and methods for terminating these commitments.  Any new commitments should include a clear contract with the local ordinary and fall within the guidelines laid out by the chapter.  New responsibilities should not exceed the circumscription’s resources – the difficulties missionaries may have with change (for old age or other reasons) should be taken into consideration” (p. 55).  The Regional Conference echoes these words, “The Conference realizes that certain centers in Italy must be closed;  it leaves it up to the Regional Government to carry out this directive” (12).

The Italian Region has not yet begun to do this.  On the contrary it has assumed new responsibilities without downsizing  previous commitments.  The unfortunate consequences of this turn of events are already becoming apparent - the Regional Government is unable to provide the necessary staff. 

At this point we must ask the Regional Government to act courageously and begin “pruning” (downsizing).  This is the only way our communities can return to calm and meaningful work.  We would suggest that a plan  for downsizing be drawn up as soon as possible.  It should respond to the request the General Chapter made to the Regional Conference:  “determine which works are to be abandoned and provide a timetable and modus agendi for doing this.”  To accomplish this there must be discernment and consultation with all the communities of the Region.

Working through a broad and complicated situation

A visitation final report cannot hope to encompass all the situations found in a circumscription as vast and complicated as the Italian Region.  We will focus on those that came up repeatedly in private conversations or community meetings.

1.  Care for the aged and infirm

This subject heads the list – primarily because we want to express our sincere gratitude to the Region for its generous and selfless assistance to elderly and sick missionaries – whether they come from this circumscription or others.  Our gratitude extends to all those who work in this area with zeal and dedication.

The infirmary in Turin plays a valuable role as a reception center for missionaries needing care and a place for coordinating  medical assistance, hospital care and short term hospitality.  The structures in place seem adequate for the services being provided.  We would remind the circumscriptions sending missionaries here for help to forward relevant information to the infirmary.  This should be done promptly or as soon as possible.  Too often infirmary personnel face emergency cases and are unable to do what is necessary for lack of information about the patient.  The Koelliker Hospital has provided valuable assistance to many of our sick confreres – especially in emergency cases or outpatient care.

Work will begin shortly on the new “Blessed Allamano House” in Alpignano.  It will replace the present building which has been sold to the Commune for use by the city.  This new building provides more comfortable accommodation for our aged and infirm confreres and satisfies the requirements of present-day building codes.  The new house is somewhat larger than the previous one;  we hope to offer hospitality to those of our benefactors who have asked for it.

2.  Broader collaboration

Declining personnel and the numerous commitments the Region has accepted should lead a more courageous and determined effort to seek lay assistance (salaried or volunteer).  In the not too distant past the community managed to handle all its needs – from domestic chores to mission promotion.  We have now opened the doors of our communities to lay people and asked their help.  This has been a boon to our overall productivity – even in those areas that seemed peculiarly ours as missionaries.  We have turned a page and are beginning to record some very beautiful experiences.  We must continue in this direction with humility, perseverance and that ecclesial spirit the documents of the Church so warmly recommend.

For decades now, the Region has availed itself of the services of our own Consolata sisters – especially in the houses of formation.  Their work is now limited to the retirement  community in Alpignano.  At the same time we are discovering new ways to work together, especially in the area of mission promotion.  The time has come to offer them our fraternal support – this is something recent General Chapters have asked to do.

3.  Solidarity

The generosity of our benefactors and the stewardship of our Italian confreres not only assure that the Region is self-supporting, but permit generous assistance to the missions – a sure sign of fraternity and solidarity.

The whole Institute has made a commitment to study the letter, “Poverty, Finances and the Missions.”  In the spirit of this letter and of dialogue with other Regions, we would ask the missionaries of the Italian Region to increase their contributions to mission projects.  We would further urge them to seek the support of Cooperazione Missionaria Onlus (Onlus Missionary Cooperative).  Particular attention should be paid to the many mission support groups that are found in this Region.  Bearing in mind the needs of missionary formation, an effort should be made to improve coordination between the Region and the local community. 

The relative economic prosperity our communities enjoy should not give rise to carelessness in the practice of religious poverty and the witness of frugality our missionary vocation imposes upon us.  We welcome suggestions for sharing  possessions within the Region or with other circumscriptions as well as suggestions regarding new life-styles.

We would make special mention of the Ufficio Eredità (Inheritance Office).  Through work with our benefactors and testamentary bequests it has provided our General Administration with assured support for our mission projects.  All the missionaries of the Region should willingly collaborate with the office’s personnel, favoring friendly contacts with the benefactors and showing gratitude to all those whose assistance makes it possible for the Institute to carry out its mission.

4.  Parishes and public churches

During the visitation we gained first-hand knowledge of the ambitious and complicated pastoral enterprise involving our work in five parishes and five public churches. 

We must bear in mind the directives of the 1987 General Chapter concerning parishes in Europe and North America.  Subsequent Chapters have made no change in these rulings – they are still valid.  The text reads:  “Because of our specific vocation the Chapter believes that we ought not take on or keep parishes as a means to promote vocations or the missions, nor should we commit personnel that cannot be used elsewhere” (9).

The report of the Regional Council prepared for this canonical visitation was the subject of discussion and community meetings.  It reveals doubts and discomfort vis-à-vis our broad commitment to parish work.  With few exceptions our parishes are not directly involved in mission or vocation promotion, as the region would like.  In our agreements with diocesan authorities  and in our efforts at restructuring the Region we must bear in mind the Institute’s norms and move towards a gradual downsizing of these commitments.

The Region’s public churches are another matter.  They give missionaries an opportunity to engage in pastoral work and can easily become effective centers for mission and vocation promotion.  Missionaries assigned to these churches work closely with their communities and are well aware of the local superior’s responsibilities.

Conclusion

In conclusion we ask your indulgence for the scant mention this report may have made of so many works and projects with which we came in contact.  To cover everything in this one report would have been an overwhelming task.

We would like to thank all of you for the welcome you extended and the many things you shared with us.  It is a sure sign that  family spirit is alive and that you are eager to share in the life of the Institute and of the Region.

The presence of the Regional Superior, Father Franco Gioda, who was with us throughout the visitation was stimulating and helpful.  We thank him for this with all our heart.  We would also like to thank the Regional Council with whom we met twice.  They were more than generous with information and suggestions.  Thanks too to the Consolata Sisters whose communities we visited throughout the country.  Their prayers and good will were always with us. 

From the Motherhouse, our Blessed Founder continues to act as a beacon, a teacher and a guide to all his missionaries.  May he bless you and be with you in your work.

We greet you fraternally in Mary, the Consolata.

Father Piero Trabucco, IMC

(Father General)

Father Antonio Bellagamba, IMC

(Vice-Superior General)

Father Jean A. Benedetti, IMC

(Continental Councilor)