From Monday the 2^nd of January the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart in Venezuela met for their Regional Conference in the Betania Retreat House in the foothills of the Andes. They were joined by Joe McGee, the Provincial of the Irish Province, and his Vice Provincial Alan Whelan. This meeting of professed members of the Region happens annually with the goal of developing community among the MSC brothers and their lay associates.

During this time they will reflect on the will of God regarding their life in Venezuela, their various ministries and the state of the Region. They will also look that their commitments in light of the norms established in the Irish Province, the resources available and thier upcoming plans for development. Based on these they will undertake a number of resolutions to develop a framework for the future.

On Wednesday the 4^th they will be joined by a representative group from the lay Chevalier family, lay collaborators and the MSC prenovices. They will take part in the Conference until it ends on this coming Friday.