From November 6 to 13, 2023, SCJ secretaries from Africa, India and Vietnam met in Rome. These various secretaries left the meeting with a sense of satisfaction for the exchange and training they received.
For the first time, a regional meeting of SCJ secretaries from various entities was held. This first regional meeting was organized for secretaries coming from African entities, but also from the districts of Vietnam and India. A total of 8 Secretaries took part in the training sessions, held in Rome from November 6 to 13, 2023. They are Father Jean Robert Andrianiaina from Madagascar, Father Ntsikelelo Bambatha from South Africa, Father Egas M. Francisco from Mozambique, Brother José Manuel Brás Ferreira from Angola, Father Boris Igor Signé from Cameroon, Father Paul Hai Linh from Vietnam, Father Pavan Kumar from India and Father Dieudonné Munia from Congo, who was unable to make the trip, but took part in all the sessions by videoconference.
Under the coordination of the General Secretary, Father Ângelo José Adão, a number of fathers from the General Curia and from the Centre for Dehonian Studies gave presentations, following a program which had been well prepared in advance. In fact, the following themes formed the core of this regional secretaries training:
The Theological Value of Authority in the SCJ Constitutions, by Father Yudis Adifitrityassanto, from the Centre for Dehonian Studies;
The Legal Aspects of the Superior’s authority, by Father Ângelo José Adão, Secretary General;
Vows in the SCJ Constitutions, by Father Victor De Oliviera Barbosa, Coordinator of the Centre for Dehonian Studies;
Organizing a Provincial/Regional/District Council Meeting, and the Legal Aspects of Formation, by Father Pedro Iglesias, former General Secretary;
Institutional Communication, by Father Levi dos Anjos Ferreira, General Councillor;
Legal Aspects of Communities, by Father Ângelo;
Ordained Ministry and Consecrated Life, by Father Charles-Aimé Koudjou, General Councillor;
Legal Procedures, by Father Antonius Purwono, General Procurator;
Protection of Minors in the Church, by Father Stephen Huffstetter, General Vicar.
Under the moderation of Father Herimanto Vincentius Sri, General Councillor, a time for exchanging experiences as secretaries took place on Wednesday evening, in a fraternal atmosphere.
The final meeting was with the Superior General, who, together with the General Postulator, Father Ramon Dominguez Fraile, presented the cases of our deceased confreres whose canonization processes are currently being investigated by the Holy See. They invited the Secretaries to speak about them in their respective entities.
In conclusion, the secretaries expressed their great satisfaction and gratitude for this meeting, which had enabled them not only to learn, but also to get to know each other better, and to meet the confreres of the International College in Rome. This meeting has certainly contributed to the strengthening of our Dehonian communion.
