4499(II)_Training for an important ministry in the provinces

4499(II)_Training for an important ministry in the provinces

Provincial Secretary Formation in Rome

September 19, 2017

By Fr. Ditto Gueco, SDB
EAO regional secretary

RMG, 19 September 2017 -- The Meeting of Provincial Secretaries (first group in August included also Fr. Varegno - AUL and Fr. ) second group carried out in English - started last 14 September 2017 participated by 31 confreres. From the East Asia - Oceania Region, the provinces/delegations of CIN, FIN, FIS, GIA, ITM, KOR, MYM and VIE (total of 12 SDB) are participating with the 12 provincial secretaries of the South Asia Region, 2 from the provinces of Africa, 4 from the provinces of Europe and 1 from America.

The ongoing meeting until 23 September 2017, led by Fr. Stefano Vanoli, General Secretary and of Fr. Pier Fausto Frisoli, General Procurator, has been a week of listening to presentations, sharing reflections and study, doing practical workshops and enjoying the fraternal communion of everyone.

The joyful news of the release of Fr. Thomas Unzhunnalil, SDB from his 18-month captivity in Yemen has been a welcome insertion during the meeting with the participants able to meet and listen to him as he faced the Italian media in La Pisana. Listening to the self-effacing narrative of Fr. Tom himself made one realize his committed faith and trust in the Lord.

The meeting of Provincial Secretaries is also conducted within the atmosphere of the last days and eventual departure from the Generalate in La Pisana. In fact, the meeting is the last that is organized in this our cherished home for the past 47 years.

SDB General Regulations art. 159

The provincial and his council have at their service a secretary who has the role of a notary. He is present at the meetings of the council without the right to vote, unless he is one of the councillors; he records the minutes. He is in charge of the provincial archives and sees to the collecting and recording of statistics. He is appointed by the provincial after hearing the opinion of his council and remains ad nutum.