New England Province » the Curia

Christmas message and greetings from the General Curia [subtitled]

Toma — Sun, 22 Dec 2013 14:05:17 +0000

In the Christmas video message from the General Curia of the Congregation of the Mission Fr. Gregory Gay, Superior General says: “We’d like to share with you our understanding of what Christmas means in different languages and from different cultures.” Watch and listen to short reflections from various members of the Curia [English subtitles throughout]:

Read the transcript of the message:

[Most Rev. Gregory Gay CM, Superior General] Welcome all to the Curia of the Congregation of the Mission. We’d like to share with you our understanding of what Christmas means in different languages and from different cultures. In these days I listen to a song Reggae Rap by a group called “Calle 13″ (13th Street). The song is about street children. And one of the verses that struck me deeply was when the singer said I am nothing, without life, but breathing. For us the message of Christmas is that God comes to us and he says to us, we are more than something, we are who we are, we are his children, and we do breathe, we breathe with that love and share one with another and we are alive, alive with his grace. That’s the message of Christmas. And we hope that we as Vincentian Family can share one with another and especially with our Lords and Masters.

[Rev. Giuseppe Turati CM, Secretary General] Also this year, Christmas message finds us in the time of deep social, political, crisis; international political instability when economic turn down continues in Europe, when many stay without jobs, unemployed, without certain future. Indeed, we have reasons to believe in desparation and to be pessimistic. However, the Christmas message brings us joy naad hope again. The people walking in the shadow of death have seen a great light; on those living in the land of darkness a light has dawned. These words of the prophet Isaiah are not plain words. They are message repeated during whole Advent which we are living in now. They are the message announcing Incarnation of Jesus Christ. And that light which comes from Christ, which enlightens and warms wounded hearts, lukewarm because of many sadness of our lives. I wish all members of the Vincentin Fsmily spread around the world let you be that light for people of\our time, and especially discouraged, most oppressed by poverty, most prisoners by the darkness of despair. Let it be true in all messages that we share these days.

[Rev. Javier Alvarez CM, Vicar General] We’re already in Christmas. In the letter to Titus, Saint Paul speaks about the Incarnation in terms of grace that leads us to salvation. Us, the people. Grace and Salvation, are the terms. Grace, because it is a great gift, a grand offering which God has given to humankind. to come among us and stay with us for ever. It is a good, always fresh and always alive, and should bring joy to all at Christmas, at this Christmas fro example. And the Incarnation in the term of salvation. The Salvation which is understood and sensed as total and complete. Salvation in an eschatoligical sense, an eternal salvation, but also as a humanization. The Incaarnation is a path to humanization. As a reuslt of the Incarnation we are able to call ourselves brothers and sisters. Blessed Christmas to all the Vincentian Family.

[Rev. Thomas Lunot CM] Listening to this song “I will praise the Mercy of the Lord forever”, I recall the Letter of St. Paul to Ephesians, where he says us, that God is rich in mercy. This time of Christmas reminds us, that mercy is in the face of a child, marked by amezement and joy. The Exhortation of Pope Francis reminds us how much joy is the heart of Christian lilfe.
Also, in the same Letter to Ephesians St. Paul reminds us, that the mission of this Child consists of reconciliation, which God grants us through the cross. During this time of Christmas we ask for transferring this experience of the cross to all ipersons in distress. To whom our Founder, St. Vincent de Paul instructed us to pay special attention and stay in solidarrity wwith them. Eech one according to their abilities, in collaboation with God’s grace.

[Rev. Stanislav Zontak CM, Assistant General] Glory be to the God in the highest and peace on Earth to people of good will. God has decided to show His glory, do that He came among us. He took human nature. As foretold He lowered His divinity to our human naturę? And thus He enriched us. Every one of us has the opportunity to enter into this background. We are able to to draw from this background And to become even younger and better, We can have peace in our life, in our heart. Let us live this holidays well. Let us receive the Good News of Jesus Christ, who lives us. And became one of us, to bring us to Him. Blessed holidays to all.

[Rev. Eli Chaves CM, Assistant General] Hello, everyone! Here we are together to invite all of you to prepare ourselves well for Christmas. Looking at the crib, the picture of the shepherds comes to mind. Luke tells us that, informed by the angels, the shepherds ran to Bethlehem and met Joseph, Mary and the Child. The Good News announced by Jesus is welcomed, in first place, by those who are poor. The shepherds represent those who are poor and despised because they couldn’t fulfill the Law of Moses. They are discriminated against and Jesus comes for them. Like the shepherds, let’s run to Bethlehem to welcome the Good News of Jesus; Good News of liberation and of a new life of inclusion, justice and peace. Let’s go the meet Jesus and renew our commitment to love and serve Him working for a world of inclusion in justice, love and peace. Happy Christmas to you all!

In the picture: (sitting, L to R) Fr. Javier Alvarez, Fr. John Maher, Fr. Zeracristos Yosief, Fr. Gregory Gay, Fr. Giuseppe Turati, Fr. Matthew Kallammakal, Fr. Thomas Lunot. (Standing L to R) Fr. Joseph Geders, Fr. Shijo Kanjirathamkunnel, Fr. Augustinus Heru, Fr. Giuseppe Carulli, Bro. Leopold Myamba, Fr. Stanislav Zontak, Fr. Juventinio Castillero, Fr. Eli Chaves

Father Stanislav Zonták visits New England Province

Tom — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 19:55:00 +0000

Father Stanislav Zonták C.M., Assistant General, has come to New England Province with unofficial visit today. He will stay in St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish, Brooklyn, NY for the weekend and lead a session of ongoing formation on Vincentian character of the parish ministry for the Confreres of our Province at Depaul Provincial Residence, Manchester, CT during the week.

Srdečne vitajte v našej Provincii Knâze Stanislave! Veríme, že sa vám bude páčiť váš pobyt v našej komunite.

Father Stanislav Zonták C.M., S.T.D., was born on September 25, 1961 in Brezovička, Slovakia. Received to the Congregation of the Mission on September 27, 1982; ordained priest on June 15, 1986. He was a vicar in Prievidza since 1986; next since 1988 pastor in Horná Ždaňa and since 1990 a vicar in Košice-Šaca, and since 1997 he was a vicar in Bijacovce. All these locations are in Slovakia. Meanwhile he completed his doctoral studies in Rome and graduated as Doctor of Thelogy (S.T.D.). He was a missionary in Slovakia and Ukraine and additionally a superior of the house, provincial councilor, formator of both the Internal Seminary and the Major Seminary in Slovak. 2002 – 2008 Fr. Zonták was Provincial of Slovakia (Visitor). 2008 – 2009 Director of Daughters of Charity (Province of Slovakia). Next he went to Democratic Republic of Congo, Africa as missionary after being appointed Visitor of the Vincentian Province of Congo. In July 2010, during the General Assembly in Paris he was elected one of five Assistants of the Superior General of the Congregation of the Mission, on location in General Curia in Rome, Italy with Europe and formation as his major concerns. Earlier this month Fr. Stanislav took part in the Provincial Assembly of the CM Province of Poland in Krakow.

Father Stanislav arrived in the early afternoon today, February 23, and is staying with the Confreres in St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish, Brooklyn, NY. While in Greenpoint, he will learn about the life and pastoral activities of the parish and a sight-seeing tour of NYC is planned as well as he will participate in some community celebrations. Fr. Kopystynski, Provincial of New England assists him during his stay in our Province.

Next week Fr. Zonták will move to DePaul Residence in Manchester, CT to conduct the day of retreat for the Confreres of New England. On his way he will visit St. Stanislaus B&M Parish in New Haven, CT. The theme of the formation session is “vincentian character of parish ministry” which will be a time of refection and discussion on the recently released circular letter of the Superior General.
On Tuesday, February 28, Assistant General will meet with all Pastors and Superiors of the communities in the Province. On Wednesday, February 29, all New England Confreres will take part in the day of retreat.

Superior General presents recents Curia appointments

Tom — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 20:33:03 +0000

On November 9, 2010 Superior General, Fr. Gregory Gay CM has issued a Circular Letter providing background on recent nominations of Curia officials: Econome General – Rev. Joseph Geders CM, Secretary General – Giuseppe Turati CM and Procurator General – Rev. Alberto Vernaschi CM. Below we present these Confreres to you according to the Circular:

First two of them will assume the offices in late January of 2011. The latter one is already in office because Rev. Giuseppe Guerra CM, previous Procurator General and Postulator General was elected the Visitor of Province of Naples and no longer could continue his service. Presently the office of Postulator General was handed to Rev. Luigi Mezzadri CM from Province of Rome.

» CIRCULAR LETTER OF THE SUPERIOR GENERAL «

Father Joseph GEDERS CM, the new Econome General of the Congregation of the Mission comes from the Western Province of the United States. He was born on August 3, 1956 he entered the Congregation of the Mission on April 14, 1974 in Perryville, Missouri and incorporated on April 15, 1978. Ordained a Priest of the Mission on September 27, 1984 in St. Louis Missouri.

He was Dean of Formation at St. Louis Preparatory Seminary after having chaired the Theology Department there. In addition to a Master of Divinity with a specialization in Liturgical Studies Father has completed programs in Management, Finance and Legal Issues.
He served as Provincial and Regional Treasurer of the Midwest Province, He was Director of the Center for Development in Ministry, administering education programs in ongoing formation for ministers and Director of the Development of Evangelization, Catechesis and Worship, both in the Archdiocese of Chicago. Currently, since 2006, he is pastor of Our Lady of the Mountains, a parish of 800 families in Jackson, Wyoming, and of Holy Family Parish in Afton, Wyoming with 150 families.

Father Giuseppe TURATI CM, the new Secretary General of the Congregation of the Mission is the member of Province of Turin. He was born in Como, Italy on December 7, 1955, and entered the Congregation of the Mission September 9, 1974. Ordained a priest on April 12, 1980. Father has degrees in Theology and Sociology and has used his education as a teacher of Moral Theology, Sociology and Methods of Social Work and Professional Ethics. Besides his native Italian, Father Turati also speaks French, Spanish, English and German.

He has been a Spiritual Advisor to a therapeutic community for drug addicts in Milan and eventually became its director, then President of the Association of this facility which included two other units of service. For many years he has worked with Vincentian Volunteers, serving as the regional assistant for the Region of Lombardy, while also coordinating the Center of Vincentian Culture of Lombardy and serving as spiritual counsellor for the Youth Sector of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. Father Turati is also the webmaster for the Italian page of the Vincentian Family website (famvin.org/it) . Father has had two terms, in 1990 and again in 2009 as Provincial Councillor and has served as Secretary of CEVIM.

Father Alberto VERNASCHI CM, the new Procurator General of the Congregation of the Mission and of the Daughters of Charity at the Holy See is member of the Province of Rome. He was born on January 7, 1939 at Rustigazzo di Lugagnano Val d’Arda (Piacenza). He entered the Congregation of the Mission on September 7, 1957, completed his studies in philosophy and theology at Collegio Alberoni in Piacenza and was ordained a priest in Piacenza March 19, 1963. He studied Canon Law at the Gregorian Pontifical University from October 1963 to June 1966 and earned a Licentiate in Canon Law (JCL), 1965, and doctorate in Canon Law (JCD), 1967.

His ministries at the service of the Congregation of the Mission include teaching Canon Law at Collegio Alberoni, Visitor of the Province of Rome, regional assistant of the Vincentian Volunteers of Tuscany, director of the Daughters of Charity of the Province of Siena and of Rome, and superior of houses in Piacenza, Florence and Siena. Currently Father is superior of the Leoniano in Rome and Provincial Econome.
Other ministries include serving as Episcopal Vicar for consecrated life of the Diocese of Piacenza and as Pontifical Commissioner for the monastic family “Fraternità of Gesù” of the Monastery of Vallechiara di Lanuvio (Rome) 2008.
On his request Father Alberto will remain a member of the Province of Rome and continue residing at the Leoniano.

Artykuł jest dostępny po polsku w serwisie FAMVIN.ORG – POLSKA