Vincentian Priests and Brothers

On Thursday, July 15, 2010 Fr. Jan Socha CM died in Poland. He was almost 77, Vincentian for 60 years,  priest for 52 years.  For many years he ministered among Polish community and immigrants in France (Polish Catholic Mission).  He was pastor at Les Gautherets,  Saint-Vallier, East-Central France. He was buried in the community tomb at Rakowicki Cemetery in Krakow on Monday, July 19, 2010.  Earlier,  funeral service was held at 11:00 a.m.  in the Seminary Church at Stradom, Krakow.

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Tags: France, Immigration, Misjonarze, necrology, Obituary, Vincentians

The sad news came to us from Province of New England. On July 20, 2010 died Father Ronald A. WIKTOR CM, M.Div. He was born on December 26, 1935. Entered the Congregation of  Mission in Jne 1957 in then Vice-Province of Poland in the USA (present Province of New England). Ordained priest on June 1, 1963. He was the long time teacher and last Principal, Rector and Superior of St. John Kanty Prep, Erie, PA, a prestigous high school and preparatory college founded in 1911 and staffed by Polish Vincentians. The school was closed in 1980.

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Tags: announcements, C.M., funeral, New England, Obituary, USA

Wednesday, July 14 was National Holiday in France. For General Assembly participants this day was marked by Vincentian Family festivity. In the morning representatives of the JMV and SSVP gave their speeches. In the afternoon, at 5:00 PM special Eucharist celebration was held in the chapel of St. Vincent de Paul at Maison Mere. It was presided by Father Jean-Yves Leboeuf (Visitor of Toulouse) and many members of the the Vincentian Family attended. At the end of the Mass there was a surprise. The letter from Pope Benedict XVI to Vicentian Family was read. Here is the text of this very special message from His Holiness:

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Tags: 350 Anniversary, assembly, C.M., CM Paris 10, events, letters, Maison Mere, Superior General, Superioress General, Vincentian Family

“To do or not to do” is one of the hihlighted themes in the homily  which  Superior General,  Fr. Gregory Gay CM gave during the Eucharist closing the 41st General Assembly. The other developed theme is derrived from the text above the silver coffin holding the body of St. Vincent de Paul - “Pertransit Beneficiendo” (“He went about doing good”). The Eucharist according to the liturgical text of Mass of Saint Vincent de Paul began at noon in the chapel with relics of  St. Vincent de Paul at Maison Mere.  Fr. Gregory Gay CM, the Superior General presided and all Assistants General concelebrated. Here is the full text of the homily, which one can recognize as Superior’s General exposé for another six years of his mission as the leader of Vincentians Family and Congregation of the Mission:

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Tags: assembly, C.M., CM Paris 10, events, homily, liturgy, Maison Mere, Superior General

The Eucharist sang at noon of the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Friday, July 16, 2010, in front of the body of  St. Vincent de Paul lead the 41st General Assembly of the Congregation of the Mission to the end. Chaired by Superior General, Fr. Gregory Gay CM and concelebrated by all Assistants General. Fr. Eli Dos Santos arrived in Paris yesterday.  Liturgy was enriched with beautiful music creating fraternal and joyful atmosphere of prayer.  Whatch the video presenting the closing Mass. You may listen to Fr. Greg’s closing homily (starting at 2′22″).

Tags: assembly, C.M., CM Paris 10, events, history, liturgy, Maison Mere, Superior General, video, Vimeo

Traditionally at the end of the General Assembly all participants take a group picture. Today it was shot on the stairs in the gardens of Daughters of Charity Motherhouse at 140 Rue du Bac, Paris, France.

Tags: assembly, C.M., CM Paris 10, CMGlobal, Maison Mere

Website of Office for Foreign Missions of Province of Poland has released new section dedicated to missionary education. It’s titled «MISYJNE ABC» (Missionary ABC) and it is a sort of thesaurus containing terms, names, expressions and themes regarding missionary apostolate. At the beginning, number of available entries is not big, but the Office’s editors assure they are preparing more in near future. However, out international readers might find it a little inconvenient, that the thesaurus is available in Polish only at this time but it will be attractive enough for them to use it. The editors believe, one day this project will turn to be a rich resource of information about foreign missions and missionary ministries.

Click and try our the new «MISSIONARY ABC».

Tags: announcements, education, Foreign Mission Office, Poland

No doubts, week two of the Geneal Assembly was considered as the most important by many people. On one hand there was time to continue the deliberation on revision of Statutes,  discussion at round table and in Conferences of Visitors. On the other hand delegates turned to ballots electing new Superior General and the Assistants. All this in very tropical temperature, uncommon even for Paris in July.  We invite you for 219 seconds long time travel through events of second week of the Assembly.

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Tags: assembly, C.M., CM Paris 10, events, Maison Mere, Superior General, video, Vimeo

When the election of the Vicar General was completed before noon on July 9, the Chronicler of the Assembly, Fr. Celestino Fernández asked new elected Vicar General, Fr. Javier Álvarez a couple of questions. Personally, they two are very good friends from the Province of Madrid. Read the answers given by new Vicar General:

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Tags: assembly, C.M., CM Paris 10, D.C., Maison Mere

Few hours after re-election (July 8, 2010)  the Chronicler of the General Assembly, Fr. Celestino Fernández interviewed Fr. Gregory Gay, Superior General. We all know him, but that day was a special opportunity to ask Fr. Greg about his feelings, reflections, hopes and expectations for another six years of his Generalate. As always he he spoke from the deep of his heart, simply and directly. His well known smile accompanied him. This is what he said, surprisingly in moments:

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Tags: assembly, C.M., CM Paris 10, Gregory Gay, Superior General

Right after Fr. Corpus Delgado CM, the Secretary of the Assembly read out the Decree of Election in fluent Latin, new re-elected Superior General, Fr. Gregory Gay CM spoke ad hoc from deep of his heart:
“As they counted the votes, the last scrutinio. and so, they asked me how I felt. And actually, I had lots of thoughts running to my head, one is it, certainly feels different than when I was elected in 2004. Then I didn’t know what I was getting myself into.

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Tags: assembly, C.M., CM Paris 10, events, Maison Mere, Superior General, YouTube

There are fourteen Confreres from Province of Poland working in missions Ad gentes nowadays - six in Madagascar, two in China and Taiwan, two in Kazakhstan, one in D.R. Congo, one in Papua New Guinea, one in Honduras and one in Puerto Rico. Many years ago parents and families of Confreres missionaries started to reunite once a year to meet each other, meet some of the priests on their holiday, to share and to pray together. This year’s meeting took place at Jasna Gora, Czestochowa in the Marian Sanctuary of Queen of Poland between July 2 and 4.

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Tags: events, Foreign Mission Office, Poland, Vincentian Family