Prot. n. 53/01

 On March 13, 2001, the General Council examined the texte base (basic text) of the First Regional Conference of the Consolata Missionary Institute in the Ivory Coast, celebrated at San Pedro, from February 12^th to 16^th, 2001, and approved it with the following observations:

1. First of all the General Council would like to express its satisfaction for the enormous and serious work the Ivory Coast missionaries put into their effort to draw up clear and precise guidelines for their life and work. They have achieved the two goals they set for themselves: to establish practical guidelines for life during the next six years that reflect the spirit of the Tenth General Chapter, and at the same time create lasting norms for the future of the Delegation.

2. Their interpretation of the situation of the Church and of the country appears complete and detailed. On this basis the present and future course of the Delegation must find and understand its own motivations. As is only logical this interoperation will require periodic revision and updating. This is what the Tenth General Chapter meant when it exhorted every jurisdiction to make a careful analysis of its own situation annually (p. 53).

3. Take special care of the Delegation community and the local communities as well. This is a winning strategy for your new-born Delegation. Care for the community finds expression in the scrupulous concern for permanent formation, in the attention paid to the person of the missionary, in the mutual support you can offer each other and in the attentive and fraternal service provided by the Delegate Superior and his council.

4. You confess rightly that you feel yourself still “in a spirit of founding” (1.5). Return frequently to that spirit, to that mystique that marked your beginnings and your mission in the Ivory Coast. We would like to remind you of certain elements:

- A new style of mission: “The Chapter is confident that this missionary Commitment, besides being 'new' in the geographic sense, could above all experience the 'new' as far as the style, methods and expressions of evangelising action of our Congregation" (IXCG, p. 71)

- Ad gentes: “We try to bring to the life of the church our specific charism ‘You are for the non-Christians’ the Bishop tells us” (Report to the XCG).

- “Consolation. Our daily presence, our proximity, the simplicity of our life have made it possible for people to approach us, to recognize their own dignity” (ibid.).

- “Interreligious dialogue. Our community lives in the midst of a large non-Christian majority … Could we perhaps initiate something?” (ibid.).

- “Love the Church of San Pedro. Take into serious consideration any proposal aimed at creating a solid foundation for this Church” (Letter of the Superior General, April 13, 1997). 

 We ask you to reflect on these things; keep those characteristics and the freshness of our IMC presence in the Ivory Coast alive - especially when you are considering a new foundation or changing your missionary work.

 We entrust each of you and your missionary work to the paternal intercession of Blessed Allamano, to whom your Delegation is dedicated.

Rome, March 15, 2001

   Fr. Piero Trabucco, Superior General

   Fr. Darci Vilarinho, Secretary General