Society
Of The Divine Word

As the 150th anniversary jubilee of the SVD foundation approaches and knowing that there is a long history in the PANAM Zone, since the arrival of the first confreres around 1900, we want to remember with gratitude, in this meeting of all America that allows us to make a renewal of our vocation as SVD religious missionaries and to have a vision of the future from the road we have traveled. The invitation is for August 21 – 27, 2024 at Fatima Spirituality Center, Province of Misiones, Argentina. The theme of the meeting is: “Brothers: Faithful and Creative in a Wounded World”, where we will try to deepen in the Brothers of the PANAM Zone, the 150 years of the SVD – a historical tour on the presence of the Brothers in the area and their contribution to the mission, as well Brothers Formation.

The PANAM Zone is divided into four subzones: Subzone South, Subzone Andina, Subzone Brazil and Subzone Meso-North. Brothers representing all these subzones will reflect and share the history of their respective subzones.

During this week, we, Brothers, will deepen our reflections on some topics such as, Leadership and Synodality, Strategies for Vocational Animation, Orientations and Reflections from the 19th General Chapter, JPIC, and Lay Partners sharing about their collaboration with the SVD.

Among all these topics, the PANAM’s Brothers Assembly will have an important reflection on formation. Today, there is a need for us religious missionaries, especially Brothers, to rethink and redesign our way of formation. The Assembly will dedicate two days for this reflection on formation. On the first day, Brother Fernando Khun, CM, a theologian, will present the importance of well-planned formation and his experience in this area. On the second day, the Assistant for Formation and Brother Affairs, Douglas Simonetti, will present the formation in the following parts:

Part I – A Current Approach to the General Statistics of the Brother in the Congregation that will help to Reimagine Formation.

1. General statistics;
2. Achievement of Resolution 1.1.2 Brothers XVIII GC;
3. Brothers’ vocation and vocation promotion;
4. Change of status – From Brotherhood to Priesthood;
5. Going beyond tradition.

Part II – A General Approach to the RTFG Document, its importance, structure and formative elements for religious-missionary life.

1. Importance of the RTFG for us, SVD missionaries;
2. Structure of the RTFG and its reasons;
3. Elements of the RTFG for religious missionary formation.

We thank the Triune God for the fruits of this Assembly that will allow us a profound renewal in our missionary call.

Br. Douglas Simonetti SVD
Assistant Generalate Secretary
for Formation and Education (Brothers)