1. The Centenary

As we said in the introduction to this report, our jubilee celebrations followed the suggestions of the XCG. We wanted this jubilee to be a special time of life-renewal marked by a return to the origin of our charism and the spirit of the Founder. We saw the jubilee as an occasion for effective mission promotion among the people of God and renewed vocation efforts among young people. There have been a multiplicity of projects throughout the regions but primarily in the two regions most greatly involved: Italy and Kenya.
There has been a variety of publications which we have already mentioned in this report. At this time a film about our Blessed Founder is being made in Italian - we hope it will be translated and made available to all the regions.
We cannot omit mention of the translation of the remains of our co-founder, Canon Giacomo Camisassa, to the Chapel-Sanctuary of Blessed Allamano in Turin. This project, along with the historical tableau in the Motherhouse has done much to revitalize awareness of our history and our origins. Equally significant was the construction of a new chapel at the place where the first four Consolata Missionaries celebrated the first Mass in the land of the Kikuyu on June 29, 1902.

2. Subjects for Discussion

We made some slight modification to the Program for the General Government 1999-2005 list of subjects for consideration during this six-year period. We will begin in 2003 with the Chapter's recommended subject: reflection on the use of property. This will be followed by an entire year dedicated to Our Lady, the Consolata, the inspiration for our charism of consolation. We will then begin discussion and reflection on preparations for the next General Chapter.
We would like to say something about the two-year theme suggested by the XCG: "Dispensers of the mysteries of salvation." A study meeting held in Rome in September 2000 launched the study of this theme. The material put together on that occasion was published and included in the series Collana Studi e Saggi. The subject was presented in three sections: the first was introductory, a brief overview of the history of salvation in different Churches on various continents; the second section studied the subject from a theological perspective; the final section described the spiritual attitudes required of those who would be "dispensers of the mysteries of salvation." Although this subject is of fundamental importance for missionaries its complexity made it difficult to understand. With the help of experts and theologians several regions were successful in their efforts to enter into the subject of salvation. The green supplements distributed by Da Casa Madre as an aid for monthly retreats were especially appreciated.
We believe that the next two themes, "Poverty, frugality and the missions" and "Our Lady, the Consolata, inspiration for our charism of consolation" are easier subjects and will engage the attention of more missionaries.

3. Formation during the various periods of a missionary's life

Past formation efforts attempting to address different age groups separately ran the risk of "ghettoizing" our missionaries by age and damaging the family spirit. This is no longer the case. We believe that the efforts of the XCG in this regard were seen as positive by everyone. The projects addressed to young missionaries as well as those designed for older men are being well received. Lack of a sufficient number of participants has caused the course prepared for missionaries between youth and old age to be temporarily suspended. Probably there are not many who have not already taken these renewal courses. We have tried to fill this gap by encouraging individual projects - whose effectiveness unfortunately is not easy to evaluate.
Courses on an Institute level are only one possible response to the need for renewal. Personal and daily commitment on the part of each missionary, periodic dialogue between the missionary and his superior, spiritual direction, regional projects, prompt response to the needs of individuals - all of these are valid and basic means to renewal.