The following subjects were discussed by the Consulta of Regional Superiors that met in Rome October 7 - 25, 2002. These notes are intended to capture the essence of that discussion and set forth the principal guidelines that emerged.
The General Council is presenting them to the Institute as an indication of the policy it intends to follow in the next three years.

I. BASIC FORMATION

1. FORMATION PERSONNEL

The Consulta viewed with concern the excessive mobility of formation personnel during the last three years. The main causes of this phenomenon were fatigue and loss of motivation in some of those involved and the General and the Regional Governments practice of frequently changing formation personnel. Frequent transfers of personnel in this delicate area expose the formation process of our young people to the risk of fragmentation and superficiality.

Operating Guidelines
* In their discussions the General and Regional Governments envisioned a plan for assigning formation personnel that guarantees their adequate preparation and proper fit in their job.
* We would ask all missionaries assigned to basic formation to be willing to stay in this work for at least six years.
* In assigning formation personnel one must take into account not just their willingness and personal competence but their ability to work with others involved in the same work.
* For Regions on the same continent we should review the number and location of pre-novitiate formation communities in an effort to reduce the number of people involved in basic formation.

The Tenth General Chapter (XCG) required the introduction of a propaedeutic year into our formation process (p. 84). The current situation of today's youth with their human, religious, vocational and academic shortcomings requires more understanding and preparation for those who want to make the transition from vocational guidance to one of our seminaries. Superiors were presented with a text prepared and approved at the 2001 continental meetings of formation personnel. This text outlined the goals, nature and criteria for admission along with the material to be covered during the propaedeutic year. Comments about this text emerged from discussion in the Consulta.

Operating Guidelines
* The propaedeutic year should last at least one academic year.
* The age for admission to this preparatory period is normally between 18 and 25.
* A personality analysis with psychological assistance should be an integral part of the propaedeutic formation program.

3. PASTORAL WORK EXPERIENCE

The XCG asked for more specific information about this subject (p. 84). In recent years explicit requests from temporary professed to engage in this practice have been rare. Experience has revealed certain problems that make it difficult to satisfy the conditions required for this sort of experience. The Consulta reaffirmed the importance of exposing all our people in formation to consistent and meaningful missionary experience and suggested that this topic be a subject for discernment at the next General Chapter.

Operating Guideline
* The General Office for Basic Formation and Studies should publish a text on "missionary experience"; all our people in formation should be exposed to this sort of experience; the text should specify the modality of this experience (duration, place, when and where it should be included in our formation process …).

4. THEOLOGICAL SEMINARIES: NUMBER AND INTERNATIONAL NATURE

In recent years our theological seminaries have to a large extent lost their inter-continental character. The number of young people coming from some of our Regions, particularly in Europe, has decreased. Internationalism is one of the defining characteristics of our formation communities and it continues to be an integral part of our educational philosophy in spite of the acknowledged difficulties it occasions. Aware of the reduced number of temporary professed, the Consulta affirms the need for inter-cultural formation and queries the need to maintain the present number of seminaries.

Operating Guideline
* In each theological seminary greater attention must be paid to the concept of interculturalism . Projects and studies must be included in the annual academic program that promote this concept and foster mature attitudes in this area among our young people.

5. SEMINARY EXPENSES

All of our theological seminaries and novitiates are international. Expenses for studies and maintenance are high and go up every year. At present the General Government provides annual assistance to the Regions responsible for these seminaries; this assistance is included in the financial aid intended to meet the needs of the region. Some regions would like to see the General Government take complete responsibility for theological seminary expenses and distinguish clearly money for the seminaries from other aid sent to the region. While this practice might eliminate certain difficulties there is the danger that it could lead to disinterest among missionaries for the seminaries in their Region.

Operating Guidelines
* For the next three years the current practice will not be altered; subsidies for the seminaries will be included in the financial aid dispatched to the Regions.
* Each Region should see to it that theological seminaries and novitiates prepare an annual budget to be submitted to the General Administration along with the regional budget.
* In sending financial aid to meet the needs of a region, the General Government will bear in mind the expenses of theological seminaries and novitiates.
* Missionaries should think of theological seminaries and novitiates as an integral part of their Region; they should be willing to take part in supporting them with their own contributions and with donations from the Christian communities.
* We recommend that a spirit of austerity and sense of responsibility for community expenses be instilled in students.

1. PERMANENT FORMATION

The XCG required all missionaries to take part in prolonged periods of permanent formation at least three times during their life (p. 83). The General Government has prepared programs - already in progress - that recognize the different age groups proposed by the General Chapter. Evaluation of these courses by those who have participated has always been positive. It is more difficult to determine the impact these courses have had on the lives and apostolate of individual confrères. The General Government and the Regional Superiors were urged to consider yet other forms of permanent formation.
Operating Guidelines
* Courses hitherto offered for the three distinct age groups are valid and should be continued.
* In the future the General Government might consider changes in the age groups taking part in the three courses. For example: from five to ten years after ordination or perpetual profession for the young group; from fifteen to twenty years for the middle group; the third age group could be divided into two sections: one to prepare those about to enter this group and another for those who have already arrived.
* We could propose again the possibility of an experience in the Holy Land as soon as political conditions will allow it. This is something our confrères have always very much appreciated.
* We would urge missionaries to take part in the courses offered by the Institute. When this is not possible or personal reasons prevent it, we would suggest a sabbatical period of the following sort:
- Emphasis should be on formation as opposed to academics. A sabbatical aims at renewing all aspects of the individual missionary (spiritual, human, apostolic, charismatic …).
- The formation program should be agreed upon with regional superiors and the General Government who should, if asked, help to make it happen.
- Particular attention should be paid to the study of our charism, religious life and our spirituality. If there are no formation centers that provide this sort of material the study should take place in a community of the Institute.

2. COURSE FOR MISSIONARIES IN THE MIDDLE AGE GROUP

This already enjoys a long tradition. Its usefulness and impact on the lives of those who have taken part are impressive. In 2002 this course was not given since there was not a sufficient number of participants. The General Government wonders if it should be continued or if it would be preferable to suspend it for a few years. The minimum number of required participants should be twelve.

Operational Guidelines
* We will make another attempt to hold this course in 2003. It will follow the same outlines and criteria as those courses given in the past and we will extend the age limit up to sixty.
* Regional Superiors should consult their confrères and then communicate the number of those who want to attend before the end of November. The course will be held only in the event the required number of participants is reached.
* The General Government will speak to the Consolata Sisters to see if it is possible to hold a course together. Their participation would not only help us reach the required number but would constitute a very rich contribution to the experience.

3. COURSE FOR THIRD AGE MISSIONARIES

Evaluation of the only course we have so far held was positive. The possibility of sharing one's own past and present experience in an atmosphere of freedom and respect was especially appreciated by those who took part. In spite of our limited experience we have come up with some guidelines that might be helpful for future courses.

Operating Guidelines
* We reaffirm the need for this course and we invite the General Government to continue offering it; we would ask that all our elderly confrères be included.
* This program is not so much a "course" as it is an "encounter."
* For the time being it will continue to be held in Rome. The General Government will explore the possibility of offering it to our confrères in Alpignano and on other continents as well.
* We recognize the need our older confrères have for assistance; local superiors should take an interest and offer them the chance to consult confrères or specialists; they should be provided with permanent formation that meets their needs.

4. SUPERVISION OF THE NEWLY ASSIGNED

Recent General Chapters and Inter-chapter Consulta have discussed this subject repeatedly. In their conference acts all of the Regions have outlined means and methods to meet the needs of newly assigned confrères. Special attention is paid to studying the language, being allowed to visit communities in the region, experiencing life in significant communities, taking part in their confrères annual or six-monthly meetings. All the same there is still room for improvement in this area. A recent survey carried out by the Office of Formation has discovered that missionaries on first assignment do not always feel comfortable in their communities and do not always receive personalized attention. A vocation crisis can frequently be traced back to this initial negative experience or to the loneliness encountered on one's first mission.

Operating Guidelines
* Regions should create communities that can receive and welcome missionaries on their first assignment.
* Superiors and those in charge of ongoing formation should follow these missionaries closely - they can do this through regular visits and conversations.
* Be sure to organize periodical meetings for young missionaries. They should include discussions of formation, sharing experiences, times for prayer and for recreation.
* Prepare guidelines for the Ratio Formationis that give detailed information about the formation opportunities for the newly assigned. Take advantage of all the positive projects carried out in other regions.

1. DISTRIBUTION OF PERSONNEL

The XCG provides clear guidelines on the distribution of personnel in the Regions and in the activities of the Institute (pp. 85-86). Up to now the General Government has been unable to put these guidelines into practice as they are written even though the number of our members on active duty is obviously decreasing. We note the continuing disparity between available personnel and the activities and works entrusted to the Institute.

Operating Guidelines
* The General Government must face this problem of personnel distribution courageously and bear in mind the priorities defined by the Chapter; the General Government must call upon the regional councils to show good will, take stock of these priorities and avoid doing everything in their power to maintain the status quo.
* Every Region must face the problem of personnel scarcity and carry out a prompt downsizing of engagements - especially those recommended by the regional conferences.
* Distribution of personnel in line with Chapter directives will be easier to achieve if every missionary displays a willingness to perform whatever service is asked of him. This attitude is the heart of that practical spirit of obedience our Founder considered "the fundamental virtue of our missionary institute" (Constitutions, 36).

2. "AVVICENDAMENTO"

For thirty years the Institute has practiced a rotation of assignments but recent developments are making this practice problematic and difficult to carry out: our personnel is aging; there are few young people to meet Region requests for replacements - especially in the areas of basic formation and mission/vocation promotion; the need to provide foreign experience to all our missionaries; the need for young personnel in our new foundations; reluctance to accept a second assignment outside one's own region. The XCG reaffirmed the importance of rotation when it decreed that a missionary must be ready to accept assignment in a different work area after he has spent nine years in a single Region (p. 27).

Operating Guidelines
* Take advantage of the missionary's willingness to accept a transfer after nine years work in the same country. This should be done with a certain flexibility on the basis of the Region's needs.
* Every missionary should accept a transfer promptly - even if it is effected before nine years have gone by or is the second or third such transfer.
* Avvicendamento is easier when each Region has a clear plan for its own personnel that covers departures and special service needs.
* The General Government should avoid as far as possible terminating a confrère's missionary service before the appointed time.

3. PREPARATION FOR THE FIRST ASSIGNMENT

There is an increase in the number of cases where a missionary has received his first assignment but allows too much time to pass between finishing his studies and embarking on his mission. These periods of inactivity are harmful to the missionary and make it difficult for the Region to make adequate arrangements based on available personnel to include the new confrère and give him work.

Operating Guidelines
* We reaffirm a previous directive of the General Government concerning newly assigned missionaries: they have three months from the end of basic formation to get to their new Region and begin studying the language.
* Regional superiors should assist young confrères during this period, seeing to it that ordination and perpetual profession celebrations as well as the necessary work to get a visa is completed within the allotted time.
* In the case of deacons who need some months of practical experience before priestly ordination, regional superiors should be informed by the General Government the very moment the deacons have received an assignment.

4. DISCRETION IN PROVIDING INFORMATION

Some regional superiors have expressed the desire for more information about a missionary especially on his first assignment. This sort of information can help the regional council determine assignments and tasks; it can be of assistance in providing the newly assigned missionary with a more personalized program of permanent formation. Discretion, however, must be safeguarded and circulating formation reports is to be especially avoided.

Operating Guidelines
* Regional superiors can ask seminary formation personnel to provide information about confrères - especially those on their first assignment. In these cases only information that is be helpful in guiding a missionary in his work should be sent.
* The continental councilor may be the most appropriate person to provide information about confrères who are being assigned to one region or another.

5. AD EXTRA

True to the charism of our Founder and the century-long history of the Institute, the Consulta wishes to reaffirm with special emphasis the ad extra - that is leaving one's own country and church. This is the normal way to carry out a mission in the style of the Consolata Missionaries.

Operating Guidelines
* It is important to make the ad extra available to the largest number of missionaries, above all at the time of their first assignment. Leaving one's own culture and country is an integral part of the IMC missionary charism.
* Superiors should take care to avoid an increase in the number of "unmovable" persons (those who will not accept avvicendamento or are unable to leave their Region of origin).
* Every missionary must cultivate a willingness to carry out his mission wherever religious obedience may send him.
* Being close to and caring for sick relatives should be considered an exceptional reason for not leaving one's home country.

6. INTERNATIONAL AND INTERCULURAL

The increasingly international character of our communities and the concomitant cultural pluralism of our missionaries present numerous challenges to the Institute. This phenomenon is especially noteworthy among our younger confrères. Intercultural pluralism is an intrinsic element of our missionary vocation - we have all been called to go out of our own culture and enter into another. This reality - both old and new - requires special attention, accurate study and enlightened formation.

Operating Guidelines
* We must pay great attention from basic formation onwards in training ourselves to be international and intercultural. Just having missionaries from different backgrounds living together is not enough to teach the difficult art of sharing life in a rich and fruitful communion. The Ratio Formationis must bear this in mind and devise appropriate means for growth in this area.
* All missionaries must make an effort to understand the values of other cultures and through careful ascetic practice they must learn to appreciate and respect a person who is not "one of us." Missionaries must enter into the culture of the country to which they are sent, they must accept other cultural forms with a critical spirit; they must learn to interpret all cultural expressions in the light of the Gospel.
* Meetings for the "inculturation of the charism" initiated during the previous six years must begin again. Participation should not be limited to confrères belonging to a given cultural area but extended to all who work in the same Region. Exposure to a multiplicity of cultural phenomena will enrich everyone and will eliminate sterile unilateralism.

In line with the Constitutions (80) the Tenth General Chapter sees mission/vocation promotion along with formation for the ministry (p. 45) as the most specific and characteristic service the Institute provides for churches.
The Region reports presented during the Consulta gave signs of new life in this area. They also reveal a certain sluggishness in most of the Regions that consider this activity as something secondary or peripheral.
To inject greater dynamism into MVP and provide greater stability to those involved in this work, the members of the Consulta (divided by continent) have devised certain guidelines and methods.

Operative Guidelines
AFRICA
* All missionaries should be informed of the results of last July's MVP meeting in Nairobi especially with regard to the areas singled out by the promoters: parishes, young people, communication media, people with ecclesial responsibilities.
* To foster IMC-MVP projects in Africa, assistance should be provided to all promoters in their efforts to adapt the MVP continental program to the needs of each Region.
* Increased personnel and funds should be assigned to this work to promote greater stability and more effective organization.
* The chapter gave a mandate to the General Government that they "prepare five missionaries for MVP during their six-year term" (p. 45): all the Regions must cooperate in achieving this important goal.

AMERICA
* More personnel should be assigned to MVP.
* Aim at a more equitable distribution of MVP personnel in the institute.
* Every community and place where we work should gradually become the scene of mission and vocation promotion; this can be effected by sharing our mission with young people and by the joyful witness of our own vocation.
* Place greater emphasis on youth work in our parishes.

ASIA (Korea)
* Create groups for teenagers and young people in our MVP center.
* Devote more attention to our MVP website.
* The two groups - Friends of the Consolata and Allamano - should gradually be led to become genuine Consolata Lay Missionaries.
* As soon as our number allows it we should participate in Diocesan Missionary Centers.
* We should provide MVP programs in all our parishes.

EUROPE
* Strive for better coordination among the European regions.
* Exploit and use as a framework the more meaningful experiences of MVP: centers for spirituality, ad gentes options, Justice and Peace.
* Take into serious consideration the possibility of a new foundation in Europe dedicated to MVP - for example, Belarus.
* Pay more attention to guiding and supporting the Consolata Lay Missionaries.
* Pay special attention to training promoters - particularly in the area of spiritual and vocation guidance.

1. STYLE AND METHOD

During the 1980's the General Office for Pastoral Work twice presented a text to our confrères entitled: Ratio Evangelizationis. It seems to have had little impact. In evaluating the status of evangelization the XCG noted a certain reluctance among our missionaries to reflect on their style and method of evangelization. There were difficulties responding to new challenges, resistance to new initiatives, a tendency to fall into a rut. The General Mission Secretariat has recently sent out a program to help missionaries engaged in evangelization to study this subject. Up to now, the response has been encouraging.
Operating Guidelines
* It would be worthwhile to review our style and method of evangelization with the Ratio Evangelizationis (supplemented by later contributions) in hand.
* Meetings for the study of evangelization and the apostolate should continue in all Regions; with special attention to the method and style of our work, the values it represents, and how it fits into the pastoral plan of the local church.
* We urge missionaries to strive for unity on the Institute level in their method for carrying out pastoral plans; they should also strive to preserve and develop that specificity which is our characteristic. We must learn to stop and think about our method of evangelization and review it in the light of Church and Institute documents.
* During basic formation our students' pastoral activities should be closely supervised with times allotted for reflection and review.
* Evangelization/pastoral projects should be planned and reviewed together. From his initial formation a missionary must learn to work in a spirit of communion.

2. MISSIONARI LIFE IN TIMES OF CONFLICT

In many countries where we work violence and war are unfortunately first-hand experiences for our personnel. How can we preserve a positive attitude in such circumstances? What kind of support or formation can we offer to missionaries who live in these situations?

Operating Guidelines
* The "ideal" option for a missionary caught up in the middle of armed conflict is to remain in the midst of his people and to share their perils and dangers. In these situations, however, we must avoid putting missionary lives at needless risk.
* Through community discernment we must consider realistically exactly what "remaining in the midst of his people" entails. Faced with serious threats a missionary is free to remain or to depart. If he chooses to stay this must be done in agreement with the community.
* The region involved ought to set up an ad hoc committee to assist the regional superior and his council in meeting whatever problems arise.
* The regional superior should be in close contact with his confrères offering understanding, spiritual support and if necessary appropriate psychological assistance.

1. CANONICAL VISITATIONS

Since the XCG the Vice-Superior General as well as the Superior General have conducted canonical visitations usually accompanied by the continental councilor. Visitations are conducted in the traditional fashion: an initial meeting with the Regional Government to pinpoint problems; visits to each community and conversations with each missionary; the visitation closes with a regional or area assembly at which the visitors describe their conclusions which are later included in a final letter. The General Government is asking the Consulta for their opinion on the efficacy of this sort of visitation and whatever suggestions they might like to offer.

Operating Guidelines
* The traditional method of conducting a visitation is still the preferred one.
* Visitations conducted by the Vice-Superior General have been received favorably.
* The greatest possible importance should be attached to remote and proximate preparation for the visitation.
* At least once in a six-year term, Regions that have not had a visitation conducted by the Superior General should find an occasion - possibly in connection with some special event - for missionaries to meet personally with the Superior General.

2. IMC PUBLICATIONS

The General Government is responsible for four publications: Da Casa Madre, The IMC Bulletin, Documentazione IMC and Giuseppe Allamano - dalla Consolata al mondo. It is fairly costly to print, translate and mail these publications. The Consulta thinks it might be advantageous to make the transition from printed material to electronic communication - the latter would cost less and be quicker.

3. NEW FOUNDATIONS FOR MISSION AND VOCATION PROMOTION

The Chapter gave clear directives on the subject of new foundations. The Consulta recognized the fact that in recent years there have been no new foundations in the Institute dedicated primarily to mission/vocation promotion. The Consulta would be in favor of such an undertaking.

Operating Guidelines
* An eventual new foundation would not be devoted exclusively to recruiting vocations but could promote the missionary work in the local church.
* The continental councilor will supervise the study and the research on the continental level in close contact with Regional Superiors.
* Before the next General Chapter regional superiors should study this subject in their own Regions; they should sound out the opinion of their confrères.

4. CONTINENTAL COUNCILOR

The Consulta evaluated the three-year experiment of the continental councilor and believes it is gradually acquiring relevance on the continent and Region level. The Consulta discussed his basic function.

Operative Guidelines
* The continental councilor is not one more authority imposed over others rather he provides a service for the General Government and the Regional Superiors.
* He should promote projects that have an impact on the grassroots in all areas of a given Region or continent. He should maintain close contact with regional secretariats.
* In his regional visits he should promote the importance of continental collaboration on behalf of the Regions.
* Close attention to formation centers may be the responsibility of councilor in charge of that area - still the continental councilor should not neglect our people in formation during his visits. He should get to know them, engage them in dialogue and report back to the councilor in charge of formation about his visits.

5. COMMITMENTS EXCEEDING OUR PERSONNEL POSSIBILITIES

Given the progressive decrease in our personnel the Consulta recognizes the fact that our commitments exceed our resources. Since new challenges seem to require ever more qualified personnel we wonder what our future prospects are? What solutions can we find to this problem?

Operating Guidelines
* The downsizing which the Regions decided upon in the regional conferences should move forward.
* Trying to do too many things should be avoided, it only causes stress and frustration. If need be cut down on our commitments and establish priorities in our community and regional planning sessions.
* Social work should never take priority over the work of evangelization.
* Agreements with dioceses should be precise in determining the term and nature of our services. This norm is absolute pre-condition of any discussion of new foundations.

1. OFFICE FOR HOSPITAL COORDINATION

This office was established in 1998 and had its statutes approved in 1999 by the General Government. It has been operating for three years. Its activities were suspended at the end of 2001 since it was impossible to accomplish the goals for which it was established. The difficulties our three hospitals - Gambo, Ikonda and Neisu - have finding sufficient funds and guaranteeing the constant assistance of qualified medical personnel remain unchanged.

Operating Guidelines
* In some Regions there is a regional office for missionary cooperation to raise funds for missionary work. In the future our hospitals ought to establish direct contact with these regional offices. Once projects and requests for aid have been approved by regional and ecclesiastical authorities they should be forwarded to these regional offices.
* The possibility of recourse to international agencies for cooperation and financial aid should not be ignored. Competent lay personnel should be employed to prepare requests for grants.
* Consolata Lay Missionaries may be effective in guaranteeing medical personnel for IMC hospitals.

2. DIOCESAN PRIESTS WORKING IN THE MISSIONS

In recent decades diocesan priests aggregated to our Institute have offered valid service in the missions. In some regions requests of this nature seem to be increasing.

Operating Guidelines
* The norms on this subject issued by the General Government in the document "Aggregation of Priests and Lay Missionaries to the Institute" remain in force.
* Volunteers should be provided with adequate language, spiritual and missionary preparation that includes prolonged residence in one of our communities.
* We must exercise prudence and caution in accepting diocesan priests into the Institute - especially when they belong to the clergy of a young missionary church. Admission into the novitiate must be preceded by at least one year of postulancy in our community. Candidates must have the explicit permission of their ordinary.

3. XI GENERAL CHAPTER

"The General Government having previously consulted the Institute will prepare an agenda with items of a general nature" (Constitutions 113). The Inter-chapter Consulta is an opportune occasion to conduct a preliminary consultation for the next General Chapter. Among the many suggestions that emerged we will list here those that seemed most significant and had the widest support.

Operating Guidelines
* Location: São Paulo in Brazil was the most popular suggestion followed by Rome and Fatima.
* Date and duration: April and May 2005. The duration should be between four and five weeks.
* Subjects for discussion: method and style of a Consolata Missionary's evangelization; inculturation; mission/vocation promotion; formation.
* Preparation: a working text - instrumentum laboris - should be published well in advance so that most of our members can take an active part in discussions of the chosen theme. Besides the theme elaborated in the working text, the Chapter will dedicate time to other pressing questions in the Institute's life. We could distribute a questionnaire to determine what subjects our members would like to see included in the Chapter's discussions.
* Method: Instead of the traditional week-long retreat at the beginning, we could have days of recollection scattered throughout the Chapter in preparation for the Chapter's more important events. Together with the Consolata Sisters, the General Government is studying the possibility of a joint session for the two Chapters: we could discuss subjects of common interest that had been previously studied and prepared.
* Facilitators and secretaries: the presence of one or two outside facilitators (non-members of the Chapter) would be helpful - they should be members of the Institute however. They could assist the moderators in conducting the Chapter. It would also be helpful if the two secretaries too were not members of the Chapter.

4. POSTULATION

This Consulta meeting provided an opportunity to study the meaning and purpose of the General Office of Postulation. We recognize the intense work that has gone on in the past - especially with relation to the beatification of our Father Founder. We discussed other possible activities for promoting the Institute in which this office might engage.

Operating Guidelines
* Study the question - should Il Tesoriere continue as a supplement in the periodical Missioni Consolata or should it return to being an independent publication. Its contents should be enlarged and if possible it should appear more frequently. The Institute's other publications should use Il Tesoriere as a source of material and prepare translations.
* The Postulator should promote projects that foster devotion to the Father Founder in the Institute. He can do this through publications, appropriate aids for celebrations - novenas, triduums - and by conducting retreats and days of recollection.
* The Postulation should study the possibility of publishing more material on the Founder - especially material of a popular or devotional nature. His life can become a school of holiness and missionary zeal for the people of God.
* Try to work with the Consolata Sisters in this area.