PRESENTATION
Dear Confreres,
We celebrated our 19 th General Chapter with the theme: “Your Light Must Shine Before Others” (Mt 5:16): Faithful and Creative Disciples in a Wounded World at the Ad Gentes Center, Nemi, from June 16 to July 14, 2024. With the presence of 120 Chapter members, lay observers, SSpS Sisters, and a number of confreres who were at the service of the Chapter, we confirmed our ability to live interculturally and witness the fraternity. The 19 th General Chapter fulfilled its task of reviewing, evaluating, and proposing new priorities for the Society. In addition, the reflections and choices made by the members of the Chapter were articulated as commitments in the final Statement of the General Chapter.
The interactions, discussions and celebrations during the four weeks of the Chapter was a testament to our unity and collaboration. It deepened the theme of the Chapter with the Working Paper, which was the consolidation of the reflections of the Provinces, Regions, and Missions (PRM), as well as the specific contribution of our formation houses and SVD lay partners in the mission.
This booklet presents the final Statement of the 19 th General Chapter. This Statement is the result of work in basic groups and sub-groups according to the areas of interest of the Chapter members, analyses of the reality of our four Zones, and the consensus of the Plenary Assembly.
Be Part of the Wounds Today
During the Chapter, we dealt with the various wounds present in the world; we didn’t just list their pain, but rather we felt included among all those affected by social and cultural injustices, economic and political systems that cause inequality and discrimination, the environmental crisis and its harmful consequences for life, and those suffering from a lack of meaning and hope.
While we stand in solidarity with those wounded, we must also confront the reality that we can inflict wounds on others. The pain and brokenness within the Church and our society urgently call us to embark on a journey of renewal and conversion. We believe this is the path along which the Holy Spirit guides us in our religious and missionary endeavors. Despite the many wounds in the world, the Church, and our Society, we are called to press forward with the power of Christ to bring healing and restoration.
Our Identity
The 19 th General Chapter deepens our identity as people called and sent by Jesus. Therefore, rooted in the Divine Word, we find in this identity the meaning of our existence, the direction and strength of our mission, and the personal fulfillment and joy of making Him known and present among all people in various cultures. The Chapter’s Statement is an invitation and a commitment to shine the Light of Christ through our life and mission. We are called to be missionaries of hope.
Becoming Faithful and Creative Disciples
To become faithful disciples, we need to deepen our Trinitarian and missionary spirituality and pay special attention to our formation process, from vocation promotion to ongoing formation. Being a faithful disciple is a gift and task. It is a joyful and responsible vocation. Healing the wounds and bringing light to the world, portraying the Light of Christ express the commitment of a faithful disciple. As Divine Word Missionaries, we are specially called at this time in history to be creative disciples. This exhorts us to be active, vigilant, innovative, hardworking, searching for new answers, finding new paths, and so forth.
We engage in mission with a paradigm of prophetic dialogue. This should guide, motivate, and become part of our missionary life. The engagement in mission is marked by our four characteristic dimensions: Biblical Apostolate, Mission Animation, JPIC, and Communication. Creative discipleship takes into account our Society’s focus and the paths that we have adopted in the previous chapters.
Our Responsibility
The commitments outlined in this Statement are not mere formalities; they are the fruit of careful study, reflection, and approval by the Capitu
lars. Now, each PRM shares the responsibility to ensure that these commitments become ingrained in the lives of every member, guiding us to faithfully live them out in a tangible way, according to our circumstances.
In addition to the Statement, the Capitulars passed several resolutions and recommendations. They have made many constitutional amendments which need our attention. We are responsible for bringing these to life within our respective fields of responsibility. We all must collaborate to implement them with diligence and integrity.
It is also significant that this final Statement of the 19 th General Chapter comes at the momentous occasion of the 150 th Anniversary of the Foundation of our Society. This milestone reminds us of our rich history and the enduring legacy of our missions. Each community and district engaged in the Chapter’s preparatory process is now entrusted with implementing these commitments, further enriching our history with our present actions. By living out these commitments, we become faithful witnesses to the Light, embodying the mission of being “missionaries from everywhere, sent for everyone.”
The General Chapter took place within the broader context of the synodal process being promoted by the Holy Father for the whole Church. As a religious community, the methodologies of reflection and discernment should be second nature and deeply embedded in our lives. Strengthening our practice of walking together, leaving no one outside the circle, will reinforce our missionary priorities and choices.
Let us invoke the Holy Spirit, the “Father of our Society,” to deepen our understanding of our religious-missionary vocation. May He empower us to remain faithful to the Lord, the Eternal Word of the Father, and inspire us to be creative in our missionary responses to the challenges of our time. May Mary, who bore witness to the Light of her Son, guide us on the path of fidelity so that our Light may shine brightly before others.
Fraternally in the Divine Word,
Fr. Anselmo Ricardo Ribeiro,
SVD Superior General
Rome: September 3, 2024
