NEW!!! UPDATE!!!
SUMMARY DAY 29
Click Here
Chronicles of the Ordinary World Congress of the FMVD 2024
Day 29 - Friday September 27, 2024
THE LORD HAS BEEN GREAT WITH US
Today was the last day of the Congress. Like finishing a marathon, we were a little tired, but with joy after having spent four weeks together in prayer, dialogue, listening, discernment, hope, celebration and seeking God’s will, even across our differences.
In the morning, in our small groups we were able to listen to the fruits of the Congress in each of them. We also made a first evaluation of the Congress to see the strong points and the things to improve. The fruit is to see the great value of the method of the spiritual conversations. It is a way of listening to the Spirit and to each person in a deeper way. We would like to implement these conversations in the places where we are, with this threefold approach: synodal (we walk together without discarding anyone), narrative (we privilege storytelling over conceptual dialogues) and appreciative (we discover and appreciate the seeds of life that God has planted in the members of the Fraternity).
In the afternoon, we clarified some outstanding issues of the Directories and checked the status of several documents we had voted on. Then we celebrated the Eucharist together.
So, after our experience of the Congress, we can say like the psalmist: ‘The Lord has been great with us, and we are glad’ (Psalm 126, 3).
Thank you for all your support during the congress.
Press Team
Day 28 - Thursday September 26, 2024
NOTHING WILL BE THE SAME IN THE FRATERNITY AFTER THIS CONGRESS
The homily preached in our Eucharist today was about the passing of the Holy Spirit in this Congress. We have had many moments where we have experienced the Holy Spirit is with us and we have enjoyed it. This only reaffirms with certainty that where the Holy Spirit passes by, nothing remains as before. He makes everything new. This will be proven in our return to our communities.
During the morning we have dealt with various matters that remained from previous sessions, and in a brief manner, we tried to make concrete. It was a moment of agility and resolution advancing much in this proposed dynamism.
At the end of the morning, Father Gonzalo, bid us farewell, thanking the large group of people who wanted to live the method of spiritual conversations, this gratefully surprised him and he wanted to share with us his great joy.
We revised the summary document in the afternoon which was done on a few topics from the spiritual conversations by the eleven work tables. It was an enriching moment, very fraternal, and we could see the work done by everyone that will mark the direction to follow in the next six years.
Tomorrow is the last day of the Congress.
We are thankful for all your prayers.
Press Team
Day 27 - Wednesday September 25, 2024
WALKING IN HOPE AND COMMUNION
As with every day, we started with the Eucharist, during which we were encouraged to maintain hope. With that spirit, we began to work. After three days of intense branch assemblies, we resumed the plenary ecclesial sessions, and Father Gonzalo, our facilitator, rejoined us for this Congress.
During the morning, each branch presented the conclusions of their respective assemblies, outlining their proposals, action plans and reflections. This exchange was a moment of great richness, allowing us to perceive the life, needs, and gifts of each branch. Listening to the diversity of each branch enables us to walk in the same spirit, strengthening unity in plurality.
In the afternoon, we had an introduction to the documents that, after having been worked on throughout this six-year period, have been presented to the Congress for study and possible approval. These documents include the Rite of the Liturgy of Vows for the celibates, the Liturgy of Bonds for the missionary married couples, the Liturgy of Promises for consecrated lay missionaries, the Internal Regulations for the Protection and Processing of Data of the FMVD, the Regulations of the General Board, and several protocols related to the protection and response to the abuse of minors and vulnerable people, as well as the abuse of power or authority. The Regulations for missionary disciples, administration, and the Statutes of the ITVD were also addressed.
In the evening, we were once again visited by the Bishop of Alcalá, D. Antonio Prieto Lucena, accompanied by the episcopal delegate for consecrated life, Fr. Fermín Peiró Manzanares. They shared with us a fraternal dinner in an ecclesial spirit, where they had the opportunity to meet and converse with the members of the new restricted General Board.
Now, as we enter the final stretch of this Congress, we offer all the effort and work of these days for the entire FaMVD. As we do every day, we ask for your prayers so that in these decisive moments, we may successfully complete all the tasks entrusted to us.
Press Team
Day 26 - Tuesday September 24, 2024
AN APPRECIATIVE LOOK AT OUR LAST BRANCH ASSEMBLY
We are at the end of the journey of this VI Congress and God the Father who sustains everything with his love has allowed us to enjoy the joy and communion among us with the celebrations, birthdays and anniversaries of vows or bonds that have accompanied us throughout the days. Even the signs of tiredness are already visible, so Jesus, the human face of the Father, comes to meet us with his Word in the Eucharist with which we begin the day. ‘My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it’ (Lk 8:21). The invitation was to let ourselves be encountered, uplifted, surprised and transformed by the Word of God, who listens to our deepest desires. As we were told at the beginning of the Congress: ‘Jesus had to pass through this Congress’ and we have felt it up close, he has pleasantly surprised us in the election of our President and Branch Leaders. Listen, ‘The world is alive and we are part of it’. The world is full of suffering and is looking for God, we need to listen to the one who sustains us, to listen to the lament of the poor, the vulnerable.
We continue with the Branch Assemblies. The female missionaries on this day focused on restructuring and new forms of missionary expansion to be a prophetic sign of the Kingdom of God. It represents an exciting challenge in the way they organise themselves within the Branch and the Fraternity and, at the same time, it opens a new opportunity to seek more effective and useful ways to live their vocation and dedication to the mission with joy and fullness.
The male branch of missionaries today addressed the theme of Geostrategy at the global level, to see important aspects for reshaping teams in order to take care of the means of fraternal life and mission. To see the parishes and their structures in order to take good care of the Verbum Dei Missionary Family. The foundations made during the six-year period were discussed and some foundations were planned.
The Missionary Couples held a panel discussion on the present and future of the Loeches Training Centre. They discussed the agreements of the talks on ecclesiality, formation, economy, self-care and other topics such as widowhood and serious illnesses. The day ended with a brainstorming session for the message of the Branch.
Your prayers help us to be guided by the Holy Spirit who opens rivers in the desert and helps us to incarnate the Charism.
Press Team
Day 25 - Monday September 23, 2024
MAY THE LIGHT OF CHRIST SHINE IN US
During the morning Eucharist celebration, we were reminded that God speaks with wisdom that is easy to understand, and we can make it real and tangible in our lives. God wants the light of Christ to shine through our actions. To achieve this, we must learn to embrace the differences of others, listen to them, and find common ground. Real change begins when we genuinely listen to each other because that is when the truth becomes light. We need to be authentic witnesses of the light of Christ by allowing our hearts to be transformed.
We resumed working in our branch Assemblies. Tomorrow will be the final day before entering the concluding stage. The Female Branch considers Patrizia Morgante’s participation as facilitator in their assembly as very positive. In the branch for the missionary married couples, the agenda of issues for dialogue in the assembly is completed, and we know that time is scarce as we near the end of this Congress. We have already started reducing break times and extending the end of the day.
In the afternoon, we were surprised by the arrival of Eduardo Ibarra, who had not been able to travel to the Congress earlier. Now, the new General Responsible for the missionary married couples is completed.
Let us ask God for abundant light to guide us in the days ahead.
We request and appreciate your ongoing prayers for us.
Press Team
Day 24 - Sunday September 22, 2024
TAKING A BREAK
With a busy schedule of work in the Congress, the break days are much welcomed. These past few days of electing our new President and General Responsibles have been kind of intense – physically, spiritually and emotionally. On break days, each one is generally free to choose the best way of relaxing and recreating.
Often we group together to make a trip, or visit a city. On various days, some have been to Toledo, others to Barcelona, or Avila, or Madrid too.
Today the missionary married couples had a fraternal celebration with a meal. They were joined by the couple studying at the Verbum Dei Theological Institute, and by Toñi and Eduardo, a missionary couple from Alcalá. The male missionaries, all twenty-two of them, went for lunch at the house of the family of Ismael Barros. The family did a wonderful job in welcoming, hosting and cooking for such a large, hungry group. The female missionaries went on different trips including to Aranjuez, a town on the River Tagus in central Spain, south of Madrid, and to visit the castle there.
It is fitting that our break day falls on a Sunday. The Church teaches us that our “physical and mental relaxation, if carried out in the Spirit … become spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God” (Lumen Gentium, n. 34). We can offer up these moments of rest and recreation in the sacrifice of the Mass.
We ask for your continued prayers also as we enter this final week of Congress. Thank you.
Press Team
Day 23 - Saturday September 21, 2024
A DAY OF FRATERNAL MEETINGS
Today, we continued our branch Assemblies with a joyful atmosphere, thanks to the presence of our newly elected President and new General Branch Leaders of the Fraternity.
The female missionaries started the morning session by creatively weaving colourful ribbons together in a dynamic and vibrant display, showing that despite their differences, they can come together to create something beautiful. Following that, the female missionaries took turns reporting on their Areas and discussed topics such as the formation course and pension.
Meanwhile, the missionary married couples talked about how their Directory aligns with the changes in the constitutions made by the Congress, and they also discussed the topic regarding formation in their branch. For the male branch, the missionaries discussed various topics on ecclesiality, the formation of the missionaries in Loeches, the realities of older missionaries, and interculturality and inter-generations.
After a tiring day of meetings, we ended with the Eucharistic celebration. During the homily, we were encouraged to be builders of communion. At the end of the mass, we expressed our commitment by each going to the altar and getting small bricks inscribed with words like “unity”, “faith”, “synodality”, etc.
Truly, may we learn from Jesus how to always work for unity. He is the one who can bring us together, and the more we are one with Him, the more we are united with one another.
Press Team
Day 22 - Friday September 20, 2024
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NEW GENERAL RESPONSIBLES
In these days we have experienced thunderstorms which plunged the center into darkness. It was beautiful to see many little candles light up the darkness. Christ is our light! And we are all called to let our little light shine.
Today has been the election of the new General Responsibles. We give thanks for those outgoing responsibles – Antonieta of the female missionary branch, Ismael of the male missionary branch, and Poncho & Adriana of the couple missionary branch. With the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the following were elected as the new General Responsibles for the next six years:
Female Missionary Branch: Milagros Janeth Chaparro Hernández of Venezuela
Couple Missionary Branch: Eduardo Ibarra Nungaray and Esperanza Rodríguez Pinzón of Mexico
Male Missionary Branch: Sergio Rodríguez Ramírez of Mexico
An outpouring of great joy followed their election, and, during the Thanksgiving Mass of celebration, each one gave their “yes” in a spirit of service.
We pray for the new responsibles and for each one of us – that we too can be faithful to what the Lord is asking of each one of us.
Press Team
Day 21 - Thursday September 19, 2024
THE LORD HAS DONE GREAT THNGS FOR US
We started the day by continuing with the elections for the President of the Fraternity.
As you already know, our missionary sister Anne Marie Healy was elected. We lived everything in an atmosphere of thanksgiving because we considered that the will of the Holy Spirit was present in these moments that will mark the next six years.
The whole day was full of joy and jubilation.
We concluded with the Eucharist in the afternoon and our sister Anne Marie confirmed her “yes” before God and the community. We lived a great fraternal moment after two days of elections to celebrate that we have a new president.
Our departing president Rodrigo Carrizo reminded us of Psalm 126: “The Lord has done great things for us and we are filled with joy” gathering the significance of the election of this day in the Congress. He also shared two words with the president-elect, humility and service, words that have marked his whole time in government.
After the Eucharistic celebration, we had the preliminary voting by branches. These were presided by the president. Tomorrow will take place the process of election of the new responsibles for the three branches.
Let us pray for the President, that the Lord fill her with wisdom and strength for the task that has been entrusted to her in these six years which now commence.
We are thankful for all your prayers for the Congress.
Press Team
Day 20 - Wednesday September 18, 2024
COME, HOLY SPIRIT!
Today, we began the process of electing the new General Board starting with the election of the President. Aware of the importance of this moment for the entire Fraternity and the FaMVD, we began the day with a fraternal pilgrimage to the grotto of the Mother of Mercy, praying the rosary together, and preparing ourselves with the Mother for the election.
The day initiated with the process of voting for the President but it wasn’t conclusive so we continued the day after. This allowed us time for prayer and reflection before we continue.
In the afternoon, we celebrated the Eucharist and continued in an atmosphere of prayer and adoration.
The Eucharist was exposed in each chapel, and we asked the Lord for guidance in choosing the person He has destined to accompany our community for the next six years. We ask all of you for your prayers, especially during this crucial moment of the Congress. Thank you!
Press Teams
Day 19 - Tuesday September 17, 2024
PREPARING OURSELVES FOR THE ELECTION OF OUR FEMALE PRESIDENT
We are now past the half way mark of the Congress. We have had important dialogues in the “Conversations, we have had discernments and voted on the Constitutions, and above all, we have felt brothers and sisters, giving the best of ourselves in light of the Spirit that is accompanying us in our Congress days. The Lord is opening our ears in community and we want to continue listening to the Holy Spirit. Concluding the review of our constitutions we started the Assembly meetings by branches.
Today was our third free day and we began the day with the Eucharistic celebration. It was a day of rest, of leisure and to prepare for the election of our female President of the Missionary Fraternity and worldwide Verbum Dei family. There were various options for the free day: one group of Congress members chose to go to Siete Aguas, it was a feeling of being at home, we ate together, we shared with the older missionaries, we visited the museum of Verbum Dei and the tomb of our Founder Jaime Bonet in the Chapel of Mary’s Yes. There we found the pleasant surprise of a detail of the missionaries of Siete Aguas: the theme motto and the symbol of the Congress, and in the ray of light of the Anunciation were the names of each Congress member. The couples also took advantage of the the trip and visited Pepe Guas and Margarita Coll the first missionary couple.
Another larger group chose to visit Toledo, and saw various places of the city. They had moments in fraternity, enjoyed the day together and got to know each other better. A smaller group visited Madrid and others simply stayed in the centre of Loeches to rest.
At the end of the day, whatever each one chose to do, we all coincided that before any major and important decision like the election of our female President, it is good to rest, clear our minds and have serenity in our hearts.
Continue to pray for us in this VI General Congress of Verbum Dei, to continue being attentive to the Holy Spirit and to continue being guided by Him.
Press Team
Day 18 - Monday September 16, 2024
A WORD FROM YOU IS ENOUGH…”
Today, we had the Eucharistic celebration in English. The readings from the mass were quite distinct. On one hand, St. Paul talked about the problem of division during the Eucharistic gatherings, the “breaking of the bread” in the Corinthian community. On the other hand, the Gospel highlighted the simple yet strong faith of the centurion, whose name we do not even know, even though his words continue to resonate in every Eucharistic celebration. Jesus is amazed, surprised and moved by such faith because this man understands that Jesus has God’s power. That is why it is enough for him that Jesus says the word because God’s power unfolds in hearts that are ready to receive it.
This is the faith we have in the Congress: God is carrying out His plans for our Fraternity.
Following that, we started our work. We finished the work on the Constitutions yesterday and today, we dedicated the day to the branch assemblies. It is true that we still have to vote on some numbers of the Constitutions that we discussed in the previous days.
After the Assemblies, the members of the Congress spent a few minutes in the plenary to conduct a poll for the election of the president, as the elections for the election of the officers will start on Wednesday. Tomorrow will be a free day to prepare for this election.
We thank you all for your prayers for the Congress.
Press Team
Day 17 - Sunday September 15, 2024
WELL DONE, GOOD AND FAITHFUL ADMINISTRATOR
Life is short and times passes quickly. On our journey it is often helpful to pause, to stop for a moment, and look back. Today in our Sunday Eucharist, we looked back with gratitude on the work of the Lord in this Congress. We also remembered with prayerful thanksgiving the lives of those missionaries from the three branches who have gone ahead of us to the house of the Father – some from illness, others in the pandemic, and some in tragic circumstances. Our hope is in the name of the Lord! And as the psalmist today prays, “I shall walk before the Lord in the land of the living” (Ps. 116).
The whole day was dedicated to the theme of administration. These topics are challenging at times as there are various technical terms and legal implications. With our incarnated spirituality we are aware of the need to deal with material resources and therefore familiarize ourselves with aspects of economy and administration. Our mission needs a good administrative organization to be efficient, to help us bear the most fruit possible in our consecration and mission.
We shouldn’t forget that our charism is also a great treasure and we are also called to be faithful administrators of the Word of God! As Jaime Bonet our founder stated, “Having such a great treasure, how can we stand idly by before so many people who are desperate, depressed, chasing after gold, after what is outdated and what cannot give them any satisfaction?”
We pray that, as a community, we may accept the challenge to manage in the best possible way all the material and spiritual goods entrusted to us, and in so doing, bear more fruit in our mission of building up of the Kingdom.
With gratitude for all your prayers for the Congress.
Press Team
Day 16 - Saturday September 14, 2024
TAKE ME TO ALL PEOPLE
“Will you take me to all people, will you take my love to others?”. Today, on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, we were reminded in the guidelines, given by Regner, Verbum Dei married couple missionary from the Philippines, of the words that our Founder, Jaime Bonet, understood in dialogue with Jesus on the cross. We were invited to contemplate Jesus on the cross and listen to how He continues to call us to fall more in love with Him and follow Him in the Verbum Dei charism with greater passion and faithfulness.
We started the morning sessions with Rodrigo, who gave us orientations relating to some of the numbers that we needed to revise in the Constitutions. We then continued with the group discussions on Chapter IV of the Constitutions, Consecration and Evangelical Counsels.
We continued in the afternoon, focusing on Chapter VIII, Temporal Goods of the Missionary Fraternity. Though there were moments of intense discernment during the sessions, we managed to discern with greater clarity and move forward as a community in our search for the common good of the Fraternity.
As we continue to journey through this Congress, let us not forget that Jesus is with us in every prayer and conversation. We trust that what we do will bear fruit for all.
Press Team
Day 15 - Friday September 13, 2024
CO-BUILDERS OF COMMUNION
In our Eucharist, we remembered the life of St John Chrysostom (the “golden mouth”) and listened to the words of St Paul in the first reading: “If I preach the Gospel, this is no reason for me to boast, for an obligation has been imposed on me, and woe to me if I do not preach it!” (1 Cor 9:16). We were reminded in the guidelines of the importance to give prophetic witness in the world of today. Our founder Jaime Bonet often underlined this, especially the prophecy of a joyful living out of our consecration, and the prophetic sign of communion. And prophets cannot stay all cosy at home – they need to go out into the world of today! Only the loving encounter with Jesus in prayer can give us the strength and missionary impulse to leave our comfort zones and go out of ourselves to encounter the other.
After our prayer, we returned to the work of the Congress also much refreshed following our break day yesterday. The theme was the service of authority and how we structure our communities. Various principles were underlined such as communion and the importance of dialogue. Seeing as we have representatives from the five continents, it is interesting to see the interplay of the various cultures and nationalities. There is a fair bit of work involved in listening to each other, and then having the courage to sometimes share a different point of view. Thank God it is not something we have to do on our own – building communion is God’s work. We have the Holy Spirit to help us – let us always remember to invoke our Advocate and Consoler. Come Holy Spirit, you are the builder of communion par excellence. Continue to grant us your gifts of strength and unity in the differences so we can play an active part in building the Kingdom in the world of today!
Press Team
Day 14 - Thursday September 12, 2024
RECHARGING OUR BATTERIES
Today was our day off. The last few days have been very intense and we are already feeling the accumulation of work, although we still have two weeks ahead of us. The next three days will still be dedicated to the revision of the Constitutions.
Everyone decided how they wanted to spend the day. Many have decided to take advantage of the good weather that we are enjoying to spend the day sightseeing. Some missionaries went to visit Dara, one group of missionaries visited Madrid, another Avila and another Salamanca, etc., while some stayed in the house of Spirituality to rest.
The members of the outgoing General Board decided to celebrate with a simple meal and went to Alcalá. It was a meal full of good memories of all these past six years, recognising that it has been God who has carried forth all the work undertaken in these years, and has united us in all that we have lived, so that each one of us has been able to contribute the best of ourselves. One stage of our lives is coming to an end and a new one will begin in a few days time.
We continue to thank you for your prayers.
Press Team
Day 13 - Wednesday September 11, 2024
THE GIFT OF FRATERNITY
The celebration of the Eucharist introduced us to the topics that would be discussed today. The Eucharist, a source of communion and fraternity, focuses on the fraternal love that becomes concrete in community life and the commitment to form and equip ourselves for the mission. In the homily, Michael, a missionary from Singapore, invited us to value our fraternal unity as a gift. It is Jesus who gathers us and makes us witnesses of His love. This gift needs to be nurtured and strengthened through dialogue and listening. As Jesus says when speaking of fraternal correction: “If your brother sins, speak to him, and if he listens to you, you will have saved your brother” (Mt. 18:15). Listening and dialogue in fraternity are means of salvation.
Today’s sessions focused on voting changes to the sections of the constitutions that refer to fraternal life and the formation of members of the FMVD proposed by the Instrumentum Laboris. In the afternoon, Estrella Rodriguez presented a report on the current situation of the ITVD (The Verbum Dei Theological Institute), the challenges faced, and the evangelising potential of the Theological Institute to initiate discussions on formation. Gaby Rocha, a formation director from the Centre of Loeches, also presented a report on the current state of formation here.
The group discernments about the numbers of the constitutions referring to fraternal life and formation took place in an environment of listening, trust, and openness to the Spirit. In the general plenary session, we had to make certain clarifications and methodological adjustments, but there was nothing that our moderators and secretaries could not resolve. We realised that listening is learned by listening, and dialogue is realised by engaging in dialogue. Listening is not and never will be easy, but we deeply believe that it is how the Holy Spirit leads us to continue growing in synodality.
Very united in prayer and mission.
Press Team
Day 12 - Tuesday September 10, 2024
OUR IDENTITY IS THE FRATERNITY
We give thanks to God because in this Congress we are allowing ourselves to be led by the Holy Spirit, it is He who leads “everything.” We feel identified with Mercedes´ words, member of the Married Couples Branch in Equatorial Guinea who shared pleasant guidelines at the start of the day.
In her prayer, Mercedes in her prayer, asked Jesus the question, “what is our identity?” Jesus tells us in Matthew 23: 8, “you are brothers and sisters.” We are brothers and sisters with one mission: to announce the Good News that we are all one in Christ. For this we need to live our Spirituality, be contemplative active, drink from the fountain so that we can be what God needs us to be.
We concluded yesterday our conversations and today we began the dialogue revising the Constitutions. We focused in the morning on discerning certain numbers of the first three chapters: Identity, Mission and Spirituality and it was done in a fraternal and serious atmosphere.
In the afternoon, in a fluid manner and in a climate of listening and participation, we had plenary sessions to ponder the consensus of the work of revision made in the morning, so as to vote on the numbers that were proposed at the end of the day.
We unite ourselves with you in prayer, with the intercession of Mary and St Joseph so that they may help us be faithful to the Charism entrusted to us and be brothers and sisters since our Identity is the Fraternity.
Press Team
Day 11 - Monday September 9, 2024
IN SUMMARY…
We started the day with a Mass in English.
Today is the end of the spiritual conversation sessions. The first session began with the topic of parishes, focusing on how to harmonise the apostolic work of the parishes while also serving as an ecclesial apostolic platform for the FaMVD.
Before moving on to the next sessions, we received the summaries of all the conversations held in the groups in the past few days. The task has been to ensure that the synthesis for each topic brings together the contributions from the eleven working groups of the Congress. This requires us to make further contributions and clarifications to the existing work in order to produce a final synthesis. The large number of documents received for this analysis has made us acknowledge that there is never enough time to complete all the work to be done. We have also realised the importance of the efforts made over the past few days.
I believe today is the time to express gratitude for the method of spiritual conversations that we have embraced in the Congress. This approach has helped create an atmosphere of listening during the dialogues and encouraged an appreciative approach to the topics discussed to reach those much-needed consensuses.
We are thankful for the lay consecrated missionaries and missionary disciples who joined us in the spiritual conversations over the past few days. Today marked their final day with us.
We continue to give thanks for your prayers — we need them.
Press Team
Day 10 - Sunday September 8, 2024
BE OPEN!
We also need to be open to our “geoestrategy”, which tries to incorporate the best way to invest the talents we have in Verbum Dei, not only at the personal level, but also globally. This involves challenging decisions – sometimes to close doors and other times to open ones. The sessions finished with a reflection on the apostolic mission platforms – places where we are already working, and being open to the new horizons the Spirit is opening in the Church and the world of today where we can effectively share the richness of our charism. In all these dialogues, listening attentively to each one, it is wonderful to see the Holy Spirit working, and how we can reach a consensus. Let us continue to pray for one another so we can all be open to God’s wonderful and exciting plan for Verbum Dei and each one of us. Let’s be open!
We also need to be open to our “geoestrategy”, which tries to incorporate the best way to invest the talents we have in Verbum Dei, not only at the personal level, but also globally. This involves challenging decisions – sometimes to close doors and other times to open ones. The sessions finished with a reflection on the apostolic mission platforms – places where we are already working, and being open to the new horizons the Spirit is opening in the Church and the world of today where we can effectively share the richness of our charism.
In all these dialogues, listening attentively to each one, it is wonderful to see the Holy Spirit working, and how we can reach a consensus.
Let us continue to pray for one another so we can all be open to God’s wonderful and exciting plan for Verbum Dei and each one of us. Let’s be open!
Press Team
Day 9 - Saturday September 7, 2024
THE PREVENTION OF ABUSES
After our free day yesterday, we continued our Spiritual Conversations with a focus on the prevention of abuse and its protocols. During the morning’s Eucharistic celebration, we, as a Verbum Dei Missionary Fraternity, were encouraged not only to dialogue but also to pray for the victims of abuse. We began the mass with a prolonged silence as we placed all these painful situations in the merciful hands of God.
At the beginning of the morning session, we received a briefing on the work of the team: Advocacy for the Prevention of Abuse (APA). The APA assists in establishing a culture of prevention of abuse, be it cases of abuse of authority, or conscience, or sexual abuse, and provides formations on these issues. We were given questions to guide our Spiritual Conversations in our morning sessions in which we discussed the Protocols and the Manual for the Prevention of Abuses.
In the afternoon, we had an informative panel discussion about the cases that have occurred in the Fraternity, with the President and the General Responsibles of each branch. It was a much-needed space and time to listen, express and ask questions in a sincere and fraternal environment. We then continued on with our final Spiritual Conversation of the day, in which we centered on how to nurture relationships and create a healthy fraternal atmosphere.
Let us continue our journey as a community, trusting that God, whose love is infinitely merciful, always offers us the possibility to change and make progress towards good.
Press Team
Day 8 - Friday September 6, 2024
ON THE SEVETH DAY, GOD RESTED
Today was a break day from all the dialogues, discussions and decisions. It was a day for resting, recreation, and recovering strength. “By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done” (Gen 2:2-3).
There were various options on offer, and each was free to choose how best to spend their day. Some stayed for a championship of ping-pong, and many of the participants acknowledged that they had not picked up a table tennis bat since childhood. There were also board games -some needing concentration, some quite strategic, and some quite noisy with laughter. The bingo was also well attended – not just because of the prizes on offer. These were nice fraternal moments, to enjoy together and also to get to know one another a bit more!
Others made a mini-pilgrimage to Siete Aguas, to see the community there, and pray at the tomb of Jaime Bonet, our founder. For sure he is praying for us and interceding for us as Verbum Dei worldwide, and particularly for the Congress.
At the end of the day, whatever each one chose to do, in unison we agree that after a week of work, it is good to rest, recharge and recuperate energy for the days ahead. Please keep us all in your prayers as we do you.
Press Team
Day 7 - Thursday September 5, 2024
CONTINUATION OF SPIRITUAL CONVERSATIONS
At the start of the day father Gonzalo gave some useful clarifications in the steps for the dialogues, within the method of the conversations. We are all starting to feel that we are starting to get into the rhythm of this new method.
In our first conversations of the day, we took up again the topics of sustainable economy – a great challenge in our community in seeking means to support ourselves and our missionary activity – and ecclesial governments.
In the second session of the morning and the two afternoon sessions, the topics were different, but no less passionate, since we talked about different questions about the consecration of the celibates, and the contemplative life in our mission. It was an enriching dialogue, important and necessary, that really filled our hearts with joy, to realise that we all have the desire to live our consecration.
We concluded the day, and enjoyed Mass celebrated by the bishop of Alcala, Mons. Antonio Prieto Lucena, where we experienced being very accompanied by the Church to which we belong to. He shared with us how he has asked the diocese to pray for us for a good outcome for our Congress.
He also thanked us for our invitation and asked us as congress members to faithfully listen to Christ, during the Congress and that the decisions made be what God wants for the Fraternity. He encouraged us not to be afraid, trust the Lord, and “to put out into deep water” in our missionary life since we are going in the name of Christ.
We thank you for your prayers for a good outcome to this congress.
The press team
Day 6 - Wednesday September 4, 2024
WALKING TOGETHER IN SYNODALITY
The day began with the Eucharist, offering special thanks for this historic Congress, the first where members of the Missionary Family (FaMVD) have a voice, though without a vote. The FaMVD representatives include Rui Leal (LMC from Portugal), Zsuzsi Sóti (LMC from Hungary), Rita Aguilar (DM from Costa Rica), and Adriana Viveros (DM from Mexico). They will participate in the discussions and discernments over the next five days.
Starting today, we have Father Gonzalo as our facilitator. He introduced us to the synodal spirituality and narrative approach, emphasising innovative and generative listening. The discussions, which are held in groups using this method and spiritual conversation, have enabled everyone to participate in an atmosphere of respect, acceptance, and attentiveness. At the same time, it challenges us to stay within the given time.
Today’s discussions have been rich and thought-provoking, focusing on topics of significant importance:
Ecclesial Family of Consecrated Life: Identity of the branch and ecclesiality. Communion between the branches and the different states of life. Consecrated life, married couples, priesthood and the role of consecrated women in the FMVD and in the Church.
Ecclesial Governance: Evaluation of our model, considering alternative models, agile and efficient structures that do not multiply structures or cause multitasking.
Sustainable and stable economy.
With an open spirit, we continue to be guided by the Spirit and the desire to build consensus that helps us live as a Family of faith, bearing witness to love, solidarity, and mission in today’s world.
Press Team
Day 5 - Tuesday September 3, 2024
CONTINUING WITH THE REPORTS OF GOVERNANCE
Today we moved on to the second day of work sessions of the Congress Calendar, where the respective General Responsibles of each Branch presented their governance report. We began the day with the Eucharist in Spanish and the Homily, centered on Lk 4:31-37, introduced us to the contemplation of a Jesus who preaches with authority because he has coherence of life – what he says he does. The invitation was to live authority as service and with humility.
Then, in a fraternal atmosphere of work at the tables, with members of the three branches, we listened to the report of María Antonieta Vargas López, the Responsible of the Missionary Sisters who presented the road traveled in these six years of governance, lived with Providence, Patience and Open Doors to the Spirit and to the brothers and sisters. We then shared a space for clarifying questions in relation to the report presented.
Then, Ismael Joaquín Barros Peña, the Responsible of the male Missionaries presented the progress made during his six-year term, highlighting the advances in the area of synodality, the experience of service with joy, with the confidence that it is the Lord who carries out the work.
In the afternoon, it was the turn of Alfonso Martínez Luna y Adriana Guadalupe Ochoa Reynoso, the Responsibles of the Missionary Couples Branch, who shared with us their experience of government in the branch, lived as an exercise of humility, where all the couples of the Fraternity were co-responsible, integrating family and work duties with missionary availability.
To close the day, we had separate Branch Assemblies, where comments, clarifications and questions were made on the report presented by the General Responsible of each branch. We thank the Holy Spirit who is accompanying us as a sweet guest in the Congress and we continue to count on your prayers in this search for the will of God for the next six years of Verbum Dei.
Press Team
Day 4 - Monday September 2, 2024
MANAGEMENT REPORT
After the weekend retreat, today we officially started the sessions scheduled on the calendar approved by the Congress.
The day started with a Mass and reflective prayer guidelines in English. After that, we, the congress members, were split into working groups. In these groups, we had discussions about the day’s presentations, focusing on listening to each other while the group secretaries recorded our contributions.
On this day, the President gave an overview of his six-year term. There was a noticeable atmosphere of humility and simplicity, in which he highlighted the extraordinary challenges posed by the pandemic.
Later on, the General Administrator presented the financial management with complete transparency, sharing the economic situation the Fraternity faced during this period of governance.
In the afternoon, it was the General Secretary’s turn. He focused on the progress made in the structure of the general archive, which is considered “our memory” as an institution, along with all his work during this period.
We also enjoyed a presentation by the Head of Communications of Verbum Dei, during which she presented all the challenges of the digital world. The person in charge of the Foundation Patrimony shared what has been accomplished over the past few years.
In the final session, the President and the General Administrator answered all the questions posed by the various working groups of the congress members.
We appreciate your prayers for this Congress to be fruitful.
Press Team
Day 3 - Sunday September 1, 2024
WALKING IN HOPE
On Day 3 of the Congress we continued our weekend of spiritual exercises with Fr Elias. The morning focus was on the mission as a source of spiritual life. We should remember that the Lord is the centre of the mission, not us. He chooses us to be with Him, and to be sent into the world of today (cf. Mk 3:13). But how to better integrate this being with Jesus (our prayer/silence/reflection) and the sending (mission/activities/work)? Fr Elias underlined that the secret is to put God’s will at the centre, just as Jesus did – “I have come not to do My own will, but to do the will of Him who sent Me” (Jn 6:38). The desire to do God’s will – to search for it and make the necessary sacrifices to carry it out – this is what will integrate us. Not losing sight of God’s will also help us find Him in the people, events and in the cities where we are!
The final meditation focused on walking in hope. Fr Elias reminded us that hope is “a virtue which looks at the future, is lived in the present, and is rooted in a lived past”. We were asked to examine what we are hoping for, as a constant temptation is to walk like the disciples of Emmaus, who were sad and downcast – “we were hoping …” (Lk 24:21). We need to learn to put our hope not in “horses and chariots” – the numbers and human successes – but in God Himself! Only in this way can we interpret God’s signs in the reality around us and be prophets of hope for the world of today!
Following the Sunday Eucharist, we closed the retreat with an ecclesial dynamic. The retreat experience reminds us all that it is good for us to pray before we make important decisions – just like Jesus did!
Press Team
Day 2 - Saturday August 31, 2024
DISCERNMENT: WHAT DOES GOD WANT FROM US?
“In this continuous work of discernment and renewal, particular importance is given to ‘Chapters, whether particular or general, at which institutes are called to elect superiors according to the norms set out in their Constitutions and to discern, in the light of the Spirit, the best ways to preserve and adapt their charism and their spiritual patrimony to changing historical and cultural situations’” (Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Society of Apostolic Life, New Wine in New Wineskins, 48, quoting John Paul II, Post-synodal Apostolic Exhortation Vita Consecrata, 42.)
Day 2 of the Congress began with a 2-day Spiritual Exercise led by Fr. Elias Royón, a Jesuit priest who served as the Episcopal Vicar for the Consecrated Life of the Archdiocese of Madrid. He reminded us that the time of the Congress is a gift of the Holy Spirit, a time for discernment, renewal, decision-making, and action. Therefore, we need to prepare ourselves to allow the Holy Spirit to open our hearts and rid us of our disordered affections so that He can inspire and enlighten us to achieve true discernment that fosters communion. Fr. Elias centred our morning meditation on the passage of Luke 19: 1-10, guiding us through the meaning, obstacles and attitudes of discernment.
In the afternoon, Fr. Elias spoke about two fundamental points: the attitudes of searching and listening. During this Congress, we need to seek what God wants for us and our Fraternity at this concrete moment. This is because what God desires is for everyone, thus fostering communion, while what we desire is solely for ourselves, causing division. In the search for God’s will, true listening to others respectfully and without prejudices is essential because each person is an instrument through which God speaks.
We concluded the first day of the Spiritual Exercise with the Eucharistic celebration. We pray that we approach this Congress with open hearts, allowing ourselves to be guided by the Spirit and nurturing a renewed longing for God and His will.
Press Team
Day 1 - Friday August 30, 2024
We open ourselves to the Spirit to let ourselves be guided by Him
With the celebration of the votive Mass of the Holy Spirit, we begin our VI General Congress of the FMVD by humbly asking for your assistance to live during this time our motto of the Congress: “Communion, consecration and participation in the Mission”, because as no. 2 of the Regulations of the Congress says: “The Congress is a privileged moment for the entire Fraternity, represented by the congress participants, to open itself in a special way to the Spirit, so that it may guide and direct its growth and development, in fidelity to the founding charism and to the signs of the times. The Congress will take place in an atmosphere of faith and prayer, of fraternity and missionary communion.”
On this first day of the Congress, in an atmosphere of fraternal meetings between the congress persons from the five continents, the constitutive session of the Congress was held in which the Presidency of the Congress was formed and the Regulations of the Congress were also approved with some improvements, since it will be the “guide book” that will accompany us during the coming days to achieve the desired fruits.
Although a little tired from the trips, coming from the various activities of our communities, and varying degrees of jetlag, we were also able to approve the Calendar as well as some matters concerning the dynamics of the Congress
In the midst of this atmosphere of reunions, the Spirit is preparing us to do its work among us during these four weeks of Congress. We count on your prayers!
Press Team
WINNING LOGO PRESENTATION OF THE VI ORDINARY FMVD CONGRESS
WINNING LOGO OF THE VI ORDINARY FMVD CONGRESS.
María Eugenia LLoris Aguado, DV missionary, who carries out her mission in the Amazon, explains the meaning of the logo:
“It represents the Trinity and ecclesiality.
The vessels communicate, like the Trinity.
The different vessels are us. Among them, a totuma (cuia) that represents the original cultures of each of us. Cuias that are extracted from nature, and that are split in half, emptied, and devoured to store liquids. They serve us in the Amazon to drink, eat, bathe… Thus our lives, at the service of life according to our nature.
They all carry wine and water. Reminding us of consecration, the mixture of the human and divine in us and in surrender.
Wine, water, which remind us of so many symbols of our faith.
Below, the fire of the spirit, of charisma, keeping the heat of love lit, in communication. Cuias, vessels distributed, delivered emptied into the world, open to new spaces”.
"Communion, Consecration and Participation in the Mission"
August 30 to September 27, 2024
Loeches, Madrid, Spain
Prayer to prepare for the VI VDMF Ordinary General Congress
Father,
you who create and
sustain all things with your love,
we ask you to make us artisans
of communion, so that as we
journey towards the Congress
we may know how to welcome
the diversity that characterises
us as the Verbum Dei
Missionary Family.
Jesus, human face of God,
consecrate
us to your Word so
that the Congress may be
prepared and carried out in
profound fidelity to your voice,
listening to each one of us and
to the signs of the times.
Holy Spirit,
you who open rivers
in the desert, guide us in this
time of discernment and
decision, so that we may live,
embody and offer our charism
ever more fully, so that all the
baptised may
participate in the
mission
of Jesus entrusted to
the Church.
Accompany us,
Mary, with your
loving motherly presence and
intercession, so that this
Congress may be a channel of
hope in which God transforms
us and makes all things new.
Amén.
More information coming soon
