Annual Conference in Venezuela

The annual Conference of the MSC Venezuelan Region was held in Jabón, in the foothills of the Andes Mountains, from 5th to the 9th January 2009. All eleven professed MSC attended the gathering which was presided over by Fr Joe Ruddy, the Regional Superior.

Also in attendance, representing the Irish Provincial and Council were Frs. Joe McGee MSC and Carl Tranter MSC who were in Venezuela for three weeks of visitation to the Region.

Annual Conference in Venezuela

The annual Conference of the MSC Venezuelan Region was held in Jabón, in the foothills of the Andes Mountains, from 5th to the 9th January 2009. All eleven professed MSC attended the gathering which was presided over by Fr Joe Ruddy, the Regional Superior. Also in attendance, representing the Irish Provincial and Council were Frs. Joe McGee MSC and Carl Tranter MSC who were in Venezuela for three weeks of visitation to the Region.

MSC and laity at the Conference

The first part of the Conference was introduced by a half-day of reflection on Our Lady of the Sacred Heart led by Bro Yonys Mendoza MSC, (third year theology student). This was followed by presentations on two areas of great importance for the Region; Vocations Promotion and Formation.

The first part of the Conference in session

Fr Vicente Buitrago MSC, who has been Vocations Director for the past two years, gave a detailed presentation on the new year-long process of vocations accompaniment which culminates in a month-long residential postulancy prior to entry into the Pre-Novitiate. The first fruits of this new accompaniment process are the intake of three new pre-novices last September. He also shared ideas for new promotional material and strategies for making contact with potential vocations.

The current pre-novices. Back row L-R: Efrain, Omar and Luis. Front Row L-R: Edwin and Deiby

Fr Tom O’Brien MSC (Director of the Pre-Novitiate) and Fr Vincent Screene MSC (Director of the Theology Students) then outlined the formation policy and process. There are currently four students studying Philosophy and two theologians. Hopefully two students will begin the Novitiate in the Dominican Republic this coming summer.

The students and Fr Vicente provide entertainment during one of the evenings

The other matter of major importance to be discussed at the Conference was a process of planning for the future of the mission. As agreed at the Provincial Conference in Waterford (Ireland) last March a Consultative Body has been established to steer this process of consultation over the coming six months.

After a couple of days of working alone the MSC were joined on Wednesday 7th January by the pre-novices and some 15 laity, some of whom are Lay members of the Chevalier family while others are partners in MSC ministries. This second part of the Conference was introduced by Joana Vignola a lay woman from Maracaibo who gave a presentation on “Continental Mission” the theme of the recent Latin American Bishops’ Conference Pastoral Letter from Aparecida, Brazil. This was followed by a review of the activities of the Lay Chevalier Family over the last year, especially their recent conference in the Dominican Republic. Finally each of the MSC ministries and communities gave a brief report the events of the last twelve months.

The Conference concluded with a final Eucharist presided by Fr Joe Ruddy MSC at which Bro Yonys Mendoza MSC received the ministry of Acolyte.

Bro Yonys Mendoza receives the ministry of Acolyte from Fr Joe Ruddy MSC

The Conference was again a wonderful week of sharing, praying, celebrating and planning. The mission in Venezuela is a challenging one with ever new horizons opening up. But it is also one with great energy and vibrancy. Over the last 40 years the Irish Province of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart has established a great missionary presence in the country. Now with three Venezuelan MSC priests and six students in formation the focus begins to look to the future and planning the next generation of Venezuelan MSC presence and mission.