Rome, November 13, 2001

Dear Missionaries in the Argentine Region,

The Canonical Visitation to your region took place during the centenary anniversary of our Institute’s birth. The common celebration of these two events enriched both our reflections on community and the commemoration of our founding. Everywhere we visited – our communities, our parishes – we emphasized the following elements:

- We feel an instinctive need to return to our roots, to our past to rediscover our identity, our original inspiration and vision for our present.

- As Blessed Allamano often remarked anniversaries are an occasion for examining our life and apostolate in the light of the ideals of our foundation. Nowadays we talk about “re-founding” our institutions: this does not mean creating something new or different but rather reviving our charism with that strength and dynamism it possessed in the beginning, the one our founder demanded of his first followers.

- Both the Centennial of the Institute and the Canonical Visitation are providential occasions for considering the future. We ask ourselves: which future for our Institute? What will happen to us in the coming years? What are the principal challenges we will face? Can we meet these challenges? Consolata missionaries are deeply engaged in our troubled present: what traits must they possess to be creative in the second century of our existence?

Our celebrations culminated in the regional assembly of October 3^rd. There was a solemn celebration of the Eucharist presided by the Apostolic Nuncio along with five bishops, many priests, religious and lay missionaries and friends. We were moved by the affection shown us and the appreciation of our fifty years of missionary work in Argentina. 

One of the more important results of these celebrations is a renewed impulse to present our Institute, our Founder, our charism, spirituality and vocation to the Christian community. We are convinced that this is not short-changing the local Church but enriching it with a gift of the Spirit. The Church is in sore need of lay people who reflect the spirit and apostolic zeal of Blessed Allamano, along with his broad, ecumenical view of the world.

 In concluding this brief introduction we do not wish to forget to thank all those who facilitated our journey. Above all, we thank you our dear confrères who have shared with us so much of your life and apostolic work. To those who shared even their spiritual journey and interior life with us – all we can say is it was an edifying experience! We thank Father Roberto Lorenzatti, the Regional Superior, who traveled 7,000 kilometers with us and gave us the opportunity to visit all our communities. He was an inexhaustible source of information. We would also like to thank the Regional Council for the two meetings it arranged (at the beginning and end of the Visitation). It is up to the Council to find ways of implementing the goals and guidelines set out during the Visitation.

1. Six Years of Intense Work

The previous Canonical Visitation (1995) prescribed two goals for the Argentina Region: the renewal of our personnel and the re-thinking of our missionary presences. The 1999 General Chapter concentrated on the mission ad gentes of the Institute. It established precise goals and encouraged far-sighted and courageous decisions. 

Our first encounter with the Region quickly revealed that the recommendations of the previous Canonical Visitation and the guidelines of the Tenth General Chapter (XCG) had an effect. We think the most significant developments were in the following areas:

- reception of and formation at the continental novitiate carried out with dedication and commitment in spite of a shortage of personnel;

- commitment to long-term and sometimes difficult discernment with a view to re-thinking our presence in this country;

- a program of re-structuring that adheres to the Institute’s guidelines and is sensitive to the Regional community;

- a warm welcome to new personnel in the Region, in particular our African confrères and helping them adjust to Regional life;

- a sincere effort to create numerically sufficient communities with at least three members;

- courage in facing the problem of vocations – especially through the creation of a special team dedicated to this purpose in a parish;

- the much discussed problem of our two colleges has been faced head on in an effort to reach a long-term solution;

- the administration of financial resources to support the Region has reached an apparently satisfactory solution – thanks to the cooperation of all and the self-denial of some.

2. Regional Re-Structuring

This has taken place primarily in the last two years – although preparation for re-structuring has been lengthy and difficult. The history of the Consolata Missionaries in Argentina tells us a great deal about this lengthy process. During our first years there was a great deal of personnel movement as we sought work assignments that would correspond to the Institute’s charism and our members’ yearning for missionary commitment. After not too long we settled into work in some dioceses that lasted close to fifty uninterrupted years. 

In the early nineties we began to feel the need to overhaul our general personnel strategy. Various proposals were made, guidelines and plans were put forward. Finally the Tenth General Chapter triggered movement in this direction. Today the Region has two central geographical areas of commitment.

- In the Buenos Aires area we have five projects – formation, Mission and Vocation Promotion (AMV), pastoral work, regional service and service to the local Church. Worth mentioning is the recent acquisition of the Consolata Parish – this is seen as a happy combination of activity between the Center for Mission Promotion and pastoral work. 

- The northern part of the country is a second center of activity. The recent opening in Jujuy will soon be accompanied by another project in the diocese of Orán once we have returned the Machagai parish to the diocese of Saenz Peña. In the near future I believe we can return to local clergy also the parish of Pirané where we have worked for fifty years. This would allow us to strengthen our presence in the north with a new community not too distant from those already existing.

Taking responsibility for the parish of Our Lady of Mercy in the poorest section of Mendoza gives us the opportunity to do meaningful missionary work in this city. Our Lady of Mercy however is distant from our other commitments in the Region; unless the Region decides to establish a center for Mission and Vocation Promotion in this diocese we will probably withdraw our personnel and send them to reinforce the two existing centers of activity once the parish has been successfully launched.

During the Visitation there was some talk of dividing the Paso del Rey community into two while still maintaining a single parish. This plan emerged during a temporary abundance of personnel and was the possible beginning of a new parish. Any move in this direction must have the Bishop’s approval – especially with regard to timing our withdrawal from the existing parish of Nuestra Señora de Pompeya.

At this point I think it is worth recalling the criteria that governed the first phase of our re-structuring and which remain valid guidelines for future changes.

- We should not close one parish simply to open another. Every change should promote some improvement in our pastoral and missionary work.

- Every IMC project must be a hub of missionary and vocation activity; this work should not be left exclusively to the Center in the Buenos Aires Consolata Parish.

- In determining where we should make new commitments – especially in the North – we should choose places that are not too distant from each other. If our projects are not too far apart, the missionaries can meet, become involved in ongoing formation and be of mutual assistance to each other.

- In discerning places and types of work we should stick to the criteria outlined in the Tenth General Chapter and the VIIth Regional Conference. Missionary ideals should never blind us to a realistic assessment of those personnel possibilities that guarantee continuity.

- The whole Regional community should be involved in every phase of discernment – even if the ultimate decision rests with the Regional Direction with the approval of the General Government.

3. “Our greatest resource is missionary personnel”

Care for our missionary personnel is the primary concern of the Regional Superior and his council (cf. VII Conf. Reg. p. 4). The success of any Region’s project comes in direct proportion to the quality of its missionary personnel. The Superior‘s concern, however, will remain ineffective if it is not met with enthusiasm and a commitment to renewal on the missionaries’side. Our recent General Chapters have strongly reaffirmed this concept. The ongoing formation projects that are being continually launched must be accompanied by the interest and commitment of our missionaries. We would like to repeat this fraternal invitation, an echo of the constant concern of our Founder: we must take formation seriously and not be parsimonious with our time and effort. We must strengthen the conviction that missionary work by itself is not enough – it must be accompanied by the example of our life. 

Let me mention certain things regarding permanent formation that came out during community meetings and private conversations.

- Prayer: I was happy to discover that every community met at least twice a day for prayer. I hope that this never becomes a simple routine but remains something important in your lives. A community that prays together finds ways of remaining united and giving witness to fraternal communion. Community prayer requires and presupposes personal prayer, reflection on the Word of God and proper attention to the centrality of the Eucharist. This will make it easier for us to be Teachers of Prayer (Cf. Novo Millennio Ineunte) in the formation of young people, in our mission work and in our ordinary apostolate.

- I would repeat a suggestion made in the previous Visitation which apparently was not acted upon. Reserve one day a week for yourselves. It should be dedicated to taking care of yourselves and the community and should involve relaxation, a community meeting and a longer period of prayer. Do not worry about taking a day away from your ordinary work; you will quickly discover that this free time improves the quality and efficacy of work in the other six days. 

- I would reaffirm the importance of two principal occasions for permanent formation decided by the Region. The first occasion is for retreat and a period of formation; the second is a shorter time organized at area level. I fully agree with the Regional Council’s decision to set aside ten days for the first of these activities. Because of the distances involved, the second, shorter time will be done in two areas – north and south. There should be sufficient time to do something worthwhile; someone should be in charge of organizing the activity and assuring continuity in each area. 

- Monthly Retreats: occur regularly in Buenos Aires – each community takes a turn. Keep up this activity – don’t let it fall into disuse. The other, more remote communities should find some way of holding monthly retreats – either two communities together, or doing something with the diocesan clergy.

­- We noted that there is still some resistance to weekly community meetings. Discussion at the dinner table – or the fact that there are few in the community, are not valid reasons for omitting these meetings. We must establish a weekly rhythm that will be effective and give results. These are special moments for dialogue and reflection, for studying and discussing themes suggested by the Institute, for planning and reviewing our activity with regularity. 

- The Argentina Region has a large number of young missionaries. A formation program has already been initiated for them. It should be further improved and strengthened. The Regional Superior should direct and coordinate this program. This is clearly demanded by our documents; it helps young people fit into the Region better and feel their needs and formation are being taken care of. 

4. Pastoral Activity and Missionary Promotion

Although we listened attentively to reports of your work and evangelization projects we didn’t really spend much time on pastoral activity. The task of offering concrete suggestions in this area belongs to the diocesan bishop and not to the religious superior. Nonetheless there are certain unavoidable matters I would like to talk about that concern us directly as Consolata missionaries. 

Up to now we may have been too quick to delegate to others responsibility for pastoral formation and serious reflection on evangelization. But this is not how things were in the beginning: the Murang’a Conferences indicate clearly our need to reflect on these things and make a contribution as Consolata missionaries. Allamano saw our apostolate as “enlightened.” What are the criteria we must follow and the choices we must make for our apostolic work to be “enlightened”? 

Recent developments in the theology of charism warn us against “delegating.” Respect for the missionary charism in our pastoral work is a specific duty and responsibility for us. We feel a need in the Institute – and not just on the regional level – to reflect on our specific contribution to evangelization. There should be no doubt that when we return a parish or a project to the diocese it represents a community which is missionary, dynamic, Marian, concerned for the poor, and deeply spiritual.

Another suggestion we would make study the parish apostolate on a regional level. Devise criteria and directives that will create common guidelines for parish work. Unfortunately, we too often transfer personnel and create changes of style and work the faithful find unsettling. What we have said regarding parishes is equally if not more appropriate for youth work in our two colleges.

With regard to missionary promotion – I would simply support and reaffirm the Region’s commitment to reinforcing the Center for Mission and Vocation Promotion.

Argentina is one of the countries in the Americas with a high rate of vocations to the priesthood. This leads us to believe that in the future the IMC in Argentina will be less involved with supplying replacements for local clergy and more concerned with mission promotion for the whole Church.

Creating a Mission and Vocation Promotion team in the heart of the federal capital and involving it in the work of the Consolata Parish looks like something worth trying, particularly since it is intended to reinvigorate vocation and mission promotion in the whole Region. Some are concerned that missionaries may become gradually more involved in parish work – to the detriment of their mission and vocation work. This danger can be avoided if there is a concentration on team spirit, if goals are clear and agreed upon, and if regularly scheduled meetings for planning and reviewing are not neglected. Certainly there is room for a clearer definition of the balance between local obligations and openness and availability to the whole Region.

Would it be possible to establish a second community of the same sort? Other missionary congregations coming to Argentina are following this model of a Mission and Vocation center. We who have been in the country for over fifty years may miss the boat by failing to respond as missionaries to the needs of this Church. Emphasis on this new Missionary and Vocation Promotion Center should not blind us to something we have stated in the past: the Center belongs to everyone and everyone, to the extent his responsibilities allow, is responsible for its success. We look forward to creating communities that are genuine “Mission and Vocation Centers” – where missionaries along with lay people and religious sensitive to the missions can work together. For this reason each of our parish communities must encourage and promote in every possible way the growth and development of missionary and vocational groups.

Finally I would like to underline the significance of Father Jairo Calderón’s work in the PPOOMM (Pontificie Opere Missionarie) and the role of the magazine Misiones Consolata. This is a first class service to the Church in Argentina that should be continued, shared and supported by all the Missionaries in the Region.

5. Vocations: Promotion and Formation

The young people of this country are numerous, lively and enthusiastic. They are without a doubt the greatest gift the Lord has entrusted to our pastoral care. They are the future of society and the Church and we will have to answer to God if we do not care for them lovingly and enlist them in the work of the Kingdom.

At the end of this visitation I think it is appropriate to state once again with renewed conviction that youth work is a priority in the Argentina Region. More than ever missionaries and communities must act with decision and commitment vis-à-vis this responsibility. Young people seek and question, they nurse ideals and have big dreams – they must be respected and listened to. May we not disappoint them by our indifference or disinterest.

Because they are no longer young, some missionaries may think it inappropriate to engage in this sort of work. I think this is a mistake. It may well be that one’s approach changes with age but whenever we are willing to listen and be available to people, whenever we are ready to speak of God, the Gospel, and the ideals of our vocation – then and there we are carrying out the vocation apostolate, the apostolate of youth.

We discovered a multitude of missionary, vocation and youth groups in your parishes. Formation in these groups should not be delegated to others; young people and the sick are those in greatest need of our presence. I am grateful to all our confrères involved in youth work as leaders or guides – they offer unparalleled service to the Institute and to the Church. I would urge everyone, young and old, to become involved in this specific pastoral work whenever they are approached. 

By hosting the continental novitiate the Argentina Region offers a precious service to the whole South American Continent. Together with the Regional Superiors of South America we are making an effort to enlarge and make the formation team more international; we would like to see this community become a place where confrères from throughout the Region come together – much as they do at the Regional House. This is my fraternal appeal to you: come and visit our young people periodically; let them know that they are close to your heart and that they are the most precious part of our Regional community. They need to feel that they are part of a family – not just part of one community. Your presence in their midst contributes as much to their formation as their daily lessons and prayers.

Everything we have said about the novitiate is just as important for the philosophy community. There too we hope to enlarge the formation team, and we would urge everyone to visit frequently and take a fraternal and active interest in formation.

6. IMC Missionary Laity

In line with the Chapter discussions, the VIIth Regional Conference turned its attention to this phenomenon that is evolving throughout our Institute. It is still ill-defined and in its early stages, for this reason there are many questions about its exact nature. You have recently decided to postpone any discussion about IMC Lay Missionaries. Moreover the fact that you are involved in new parish communities has prompted you to suspend this project for the time being so that you could give your full attention to forming local Christian communities. 

Our visitation to your communities afforded us the opportunity to see lay people vividly involved in a variety of situations and leads us to believe that you will face the subject of IMC Lay Missionaries courageously. The following factors favor this project.

- The IMC Lay Missionary project is our Institute’s response to lay people who seek to do more in their dedication to the Kingdom and work in close collaboration with Consolata Missionaries. We cannot disappoint those who are eager to become more involved in the Church’s mission.

- In the not too distant past the Argentina Region had satisfactory experiences of working with lay people on the parish level and in missionary youth groups (Cf. Jumico). The creation of IMC Lay Missionaries is not really so foreign an event in the history of our missionary experience in Argentina. 

- The ultimate reason for establishing IMC Lay Missionaries is to share Allamano’s spirituality and missionary dynamism with lay people. The evolution of this project will follow different timetables in different regions. We would suggest a timetable that corresponds to the Region’s previous experience and present situation.

- The General Council in collaboration with representatives of the various Regions is coordinating the study of new statutes for IMC Lay Missionaries. We ask that you take part in this project and contribute the wealth of your past experience; by working with the other Regions you may find answers to your questions and doubts.

7. A Consoling Presence in the Country

In their periodic meetings and assemblies the Bishops of Argentina have described the situation in this country. These documents are a clear, courageous and firm denunciation of the many evils that afflict this great country. Let me quote some of these statements.

“There are many Argentineans who ask themselves ‘What is happening?’ We share this concern and ask ourselves: what are the causes of this general despondency and disillusion? Undoubtedly we are going through a very critical phase.” (November 11, 2000).

“In one way or another everyone is aware of the consequences of the crisis:  there is social exclusion and a growing gap between the rich and the poor; there is insecurity, corruption, family and societal violence, serious shortcomings in education and public health, the negative aspects of globalization and the tyranny of the market […] But our crisis is not just a question of statistics, it is above all a human problem.” (ibid.)

“Political service is one of the most noble services rendered to man and society; it is becoming sterile, an unbridled struggle for personal and sectional power and riches; it is perverted when special economic and financial interests use politics for their gain.” (May 12, 2001).

“The length and intensity of our government’s crisis of values and its echo in our institutions jeopardizes the very identity and integrity of the nation.” (ibid.)

Faced with this general crisis the bishops are not ready to admit defeat; they appeal to all sections of the country to work together to create a better future for the nation: “Everyone, absolutely everyone – each in the mission to which God has called him – is invited to work together in the present circumstances.” (November 11, 2001). A special invitation is extended to pastors – they must work hard to renew the social fabric of the country on a basis of traditional Christian values – justice, solidarity, trustworthiness and magnanimity.

As Consolata Missionaries our charism of consolation imposes a special obligation on us – to console is part of our missionary vocation. In the light of episcopal directives and the documents of our Institute I would like to point out certain elements that should be especially present in our pastoral work, missionary promotion and formation.

- Our words and action should not give rise to pessimism or a loss of confidence; rather they should be signs of hope and optimism.

- We should teach the faithful the social doctrines of the Church and the pastoral messages of the bishops; we should form people in those Christian values which are the basis of all just and proper progress.

- We should commit ourselves to using the Manual of Justice and Peace in our teaching – especially in the formation of young people.

- We should support the work of the Regional Justice and Peace Commission in making individuals and communities sensitive to these concerns. We should work to make the Christian community and the local Church aware of peace and justice concerns.

- Given the general economic hard times we should scrupulously avoid wasting or spending senselessly that money Providence puts at our disposal.

- We should make an effort to be close to the poor and to all those who suffer most from the present crisis. We must support Caritas solidarity projects in our Christian communities. This will foster solidarity among the People of God.

- Prayer converts and changes hearts more than any other strategy. Using the prayer the Bishops recommend, let us pray and get others to pray for the country.

8. Administration of Resources

The General Administrator‘s recent visit to your region and the Regional Administrator’s report reveal a relatively calm financial situation. This achievement has its roots in the past. It is not simply the result of the care and conscientious work of current and past administrators, but the fruit of effort on the part of everyone to avoid useless expense and raise funds for our missionary work. All the same there is a widespread feeling in the Region that the country’s precarious economy could have immediate effects on our own financial situation.

Let me highlight some elements I found in the economic report that might lead to a better use of our resources for the good of the mission.

- There should be an effort to increase our sense of responsibility and spirit of sharing. The goals we have already achieved demonstrate the Region’s growing mutual trust and interest in common commitments; money is spent and aid requested more even-handedly.

- There should be inventories of property belonging to the parish and property belonging to the IMC house. Property does not belong to individual IMC missionaries – individuals administer it on behalf of the Region or the diocese. On the Parish level the faithful should be encouraged to share responsibility for maintaining the parish and supporting its staff. 

- Awareness of the Region’s economic situation will undoubtedly contribute to a growth in this spirit. For this reason, the Regional Administrator should make a financial report to everyone at least once a year. It would be a good thing if the regional community was consulted before incurring any sizable expense.

- In light of the country’s critical situation each missionary must administer carefully and scrupulously those goods Providence entrusts to him for the missions.

- Everyone charged with the responsibility of administration should have the chance for adequate preparation. An effort should be made to provide this preparation.

- The Regional Administrator should visit local communities from time to time and help our confrères with their administration and book-keeping.

- It would also be a good thing – and not just for economic reasons – if each of our parishes raised funds annually for our houses of formation.

Conclusion

We are finishing this letter on the day that we commemorate all the deceased members of our Institute. It is good to feel ourselves united to those who have preceded us into the Peace of the Lord. It is also useful to recall these older brothers of ours in the various Regions of the Institute who have written beautiful pages of missionary history with their lives. In this area Argentina is especially blessed; it has treasures that must be preserved and perpetuated for the sake of our younger members. Let us keep in touch with those who have gone before us – let us seek their intercession! Finally I would like to repeat those three statements of recognition expressed in the final assembly of our visitation:

- thanks to those Argentinean confrères who carry out their mission with dedication and devotion in other Regions of the Institute;

- thanks to those elderly confrères who are no longer directly involved in our work but who make enormous contributions to its success through their prayers;

- thanks to the Regions of Africa who have given Argentina the gift of young and enthusiastic missionaries.

May Our Mother, the Consolata, and Blessed Allamano bless and accompany you on your mission.

Fraternally,

Father Piero Trabucco, IMC
(Father General)

Father Aquiléo Fiorentini, IMC

(Continental Councilor)