- svd-generalate
- / General Visitation
- / Fr. Fabian Mate Kalaluka / General Councilor
Witnessing to the Light: Reflections on My General Visitation to the ITA Province
Fabian Kalaluka Mate, SVD
A Province of Diversity and Missionary Commitment
The first impression that emerged during my visitation was the intricate cultural and religious landscape in which our confreres serve. Italy and Albania differ significantly in language, history, and Christian heritage, yet the confreres minister with dedication and openness in both contexts. In Albania, where Muslims and Orthodox Christians form the majority, our communities are actively seeking new forms of pastoral engagement. In Italy, the province continues to express its missionary identity through an international and intercultural presence that enriches community life while also presenting its own challenges.
Across the province, I witnessed a deep commitment to making the Word Incarnate known and loved. Confreres are engaged in a wide range of ministries: parish work, migrant accompaniment, hospital chaplaincy, prison ministry, and collaboration with diocesan Caritas. These efforts reveal a consistent desire to reach out to the wounded and marginalized. In Albania, the parish feeding program for the elderly and abandoned stands as a concrete sign of compassionate service. In Italy, many parishes are actively involved in Caritas initiatives that respond to the needs of the poor. Our presence continues to have a positive and transformative impact in both countries. The elderly confreres deserve special recognition. Their fidelity, wisdom, and quiet witness serve as a compass for younger members and remain a blessing to the province.
Facing Secularization and the Search for New Spirituality
One of the most significant challenges confronting the province is the pervasive secularization of society. Materialism, loss of faith, and declining trust in the Church shape the environment in which our confreres minister. Yet, paradoxically, many people are searching for a deeper, more transformative experience of God. They seek authenticity, guidance, and renewed spirituality.
In response, confreres are exploring innovative pastoral models: digital evangelization, intercultural dialogue, and inclusive, synodal approaches to ministry. These efforts reflect a growing awareness that the future of spirituality in Europe will depend on our ability to accompany people toward honest faith, meaningful community, and genuine human relationships.
Reading the Signs of the Times
The saying “blossom where you are planted” aptly describes the spirit of the confreres in the ITA Province. Their missionary presence is rooted in attentiveness to the signs of the times and in the willingness to develop pastoral strategies that resonate with contemporary realities.
Our spirituality remains the foundation of our union with Christ, our mission, and our fraternity. While confreres are committed to congregational devotions and pastoral responsibilities, there is always room for deeper integration and renewal.
Pastoral Units and New Opportunities for Mission
During the visitation, I observed the growing phenomenon of “pastoral units” in various dioceses – a structural response to the shortage of priests. Parish ministry remains a privileged space for living and sharing our spirituality and missionary charism. It also provides fertile ground for promoting our characteristic dimensions: biblical apostolate, JPIC, communication, and mission animation.
Both Italy and Albania offer opportunities to venture into specialized apostolates that align with our charism and respond to emerging pastoral needs.
Discerning the Future
The future of the SVD in the ITA Province calls for renewed purpose and strategic clarity. We must return to fundamental questions:
- Where is God leading us in this province?
- How do we respond to the needs of the local Church?
- How do we address the signs of the times with conviction and relevance?
Every confrere has a role in shaping the future. A strategic plan rooted in our SVD identity will help diversify our missionary presence and foster personal initiative and responsibility. Missionary conversion invites us to listen deeply, discern courageously, and act boldly, especially in service to the poor and marginalized.
Our presence in Vlore, part of the Apostolic Administration of Southern Albania, is particularly significant. The city’s religious landscape – predominantly Muslim, with Orthodox and Catholic minorities, as well as many non-religious individuals, offers fertile ground for inter-religious dialogue, community-building, and witness through service. This context aligns well with our characteristic dimensions and our charism as Missionaries of the Divine Word.
It is time to deepen missionary awareness by actively involving Lay Associates, collaborators, and Friends of the SVD. Their participation enriches our mission and extends our reach, especially in contexts where new forms of evangelization are needed.
Conclusion: Integrating Our SVD “DNA”
As we work toward implementing our PRM priorities and the resolutions of the XIX General Chapter, I am convinced that integrating our SVD “DNA” into every aspect of our mission will enable us to be faithful, creative, and compassionate witnesses to the Light. Our mission has meaning only when it flows from who we are – rooted in common purpose, strengthened by genuine relationships, and expressed in humble service. In a wounded world, we are called to bring Christ’s love to the concrete realities of our time.
