The Editor

After the Christmas holidays and at the beginning of this New Year 2013 we again send you Nuntia. We hope that, in this New Year we are beginning, God will continue journeying with us so that those who receive the Good News (the poorest) may have life and have it to the fullest. Happy New Year to everyone!

The General Curia

Brief news items from the Curia
On 2 December 2012, we had the traditional gathering with the confreres studying in Rome and living at the Leonine College and San Silvestre. During his conference the Superior General shared his experience as a participant in the Synod of Bishops. The meeting culminated with the Eucharist and dinner. On 7 December, there was a gathering with the employees of the Curia House. On December 25th, 2012, there was a lunch at the Curia House for the poor. The confreres of the house served lunch to 35 people, with the help of the Sant'Egidio Community. It was a great time of coming together and sharing with the poor. It is the first time that this was done at the Curia.

Between 28 December 2012 and 2 January 2013, we welcomed in our house 30 young people from both Italy and other countries who had come for Taizs meeting with the Pope, which took place in Rome on 31 December. On 25 January 2013 our Foundation Day was celebrated together with the confreres of the Leonine College. Some members of the Vincentian Family, as well as diocesan priests of different countries studying in Rome and living at the College, took part in the celebration.

Meeting of the Executive Committee

The Executive Committee of the Vincentian Family met at the Motherhouse of the Daughters of Charity in Paris on 12 January 2013. Taking part were: Laurence de la Brosse of the International Association of Charities (AIC); G. Gregory Gay and Eli Chaves of the Congregation of the Mission (CM); Sister Evelyne Franc and Sister Rosa Mara Mir of the Daughters of Charity (DC); and Michael Thio, Brian O'Reilly, and Juan Tirado of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul (SSVP). Also present were: Joseph Agostino, CM Coordinator of the International Commission of Vincentian Family for the Haiti Initiative; and Sister Ana Aparecida Martins and Juventino Elas Castillero Jaen, of the Vincentian Family Office, who assisted as facilitators for the logistics of the meeting. They also benefited from the translation service of the Motherhouse. The following topics were discussed at the meeting: Collaboration of the Vincentian Family and New Evangelization: the topic of reflection and prayer for 2012; some facts and challenges on the action and development of the Vincentian Family; challenges for the Year of Faith and the New Evangelization; criteria for coordination among the persons in charge of the different branches of the Vincentian Family; and the role of the advisors in the Vincentian associations. These reports were given: Project Zafn, the International Commission of Collaboration of the Vincentian Family, Commission on Systemic Change, Commission on Islam, and the celebration of the 200th anniversary of Frederick Ozanams birth, among others. As we know, the Executive Committee meets yearly to evaluate the work of the Vincentian Family and to seek the orientation necessary for the effective application of the overall projects, as well as to reflect on ways to continue so that our impact as Vincentian Family will be Good News for the poorest. Also at this meeting, the gathering of the representatives of the different branches of the Vincentian Family, which is held every other year, was scheduled. The next one will be in January 2014 in Paris.

Assembly of the Province of Colombia

Eli Chaves took part in the Provincial Assembly of the Province of Colombia, from 21-26 January 2013, in Santa Rosa de Cabal. Present were 40 confreres, representing all the communities of the province. The Assembly had as theme: A Reformist Centenary in Faith and Mission, with study and discussion on the following relevant matters: spiritual life (Year of Faith), ecosystem of community life, sense of belonging, systemic change, dialog and significant work with the poor, work with the Vincentian Family, Region of RwandaBurundi, instruments of animation and provincial participation, impact of communications on the mission, and proposals for changes to the Provincial Norms. Also, the reports of the Visitor on the province and the Treasurer on its financial situation were presented. The members of the Assembly worked intensely and the Assembly was very fruitful. It was well prepared and participative and, in an atmosphere of faith, fraternity, and seriousness, presented good input to the life and work of the confreres and communities and to the elaboration of the Provincial Plan.

Have you ever seen an earthly paradise? I have and I will tell you what I saw.
(Zeracristos Yosief).

I am speaking of a very large African country, with a rare, unique beauty and potentially one of the richest in the world: the Democratic Republic of the Congo (RDC). It is not the first time that I visited it. I was there in 1994, on the occasion of the foundation of COVIAM. At that time the nation was in Mobutu Sese Sekos hand. He was already elderly and sick and unable to govern the nation. I had the sensation of seeing a nation without leader. Eighteen years later, in spite of having a young president, I simply confirm my first impression: the entire RDC appears to be in the hands of no one. It seems that the one commanding is the first one who awakens, and not the constitution that regulates and disciplines the public life of the nation. Corruption has taken over everything. How much will you give me? spoken loudly, seems to be the principal rule of this beautiful country. But what probably surprised me more negatively is that I have the impression that the Congolese, in general, appear very passive and permissive. It seems that they do not seek anything else but to adapt to the situation. With this attitude they contribute to the structural evil. Obviously I am speaking of my particular impression. Therefore the responsibility for what I say is all mine, no one has told me. From what I see, it is my opinion.

Besides this, I must say that I loved the unique beauty of this nation. After 18 years one does not see any progress in the country. It is sad! This time, thanks to the Visitor, I made a trip on the Congo River from Bikoro to Maluku. What I covered in two days was a small distance with regard to the size of this river. The Congo River, I am calling it a river because there is no another term, but I must say that it is a sea in movement. What is more surprising is not the length and the breadth, the depth, or the quantity of water that flows, but the natural beauty that surrounds it. It is truly beautiful; it is no exaggeration to say that it is a paradise on earth. Be it upstream or downstream, one sees large craft transporting people or merchandise. Yet amid this beauty, nothing is offered to tourists. During the trip I made, I did not see any restaurant or hotel or place for them. It is a shame, because this area really would offer a space of peace, of serenity, and, at the same time, revenue for the country.

Brief news of the Vincentian Family in the Congo

The first thing I will say is that the Vincentian Family in the Congo is flourishing. It is probably one of the African nations with the most branches. Present in the Congo are nearly 17 branches of our Family. Most of them have their national offices in Kinshasa, thanks to the generosity of the CM Province of the Congo, because it has dedicated a house especially for this. It is an historical gesture that demonstrates the interest and responsibility that this province feels in relationship with other branches of the Vincentian Family. The interest and responsibility of this province are not limited to giving a building to the Vincentian Family, but it also has a Commission for the Vincentian Family, which works very well, ensuring that this other building, which is the heart of the Vincentian Family, functions properly. Challenges of the Vincentian Family in the Congo. Formation. It is one of the principal challenges of the Vincentian Family in the Congo. The Vincentian Family is conscious of this need. It must obtain formation material. In addition, the building and documents suffered extensive damage in the powerful storm that occurred in Kinshasa in November 2012.

A real story that could pass for a legend

Teresa Nyawira was only a few months old when her mother took her with her to the field where she was working. Like many African women, when working in the field, she left her asleep in the shade of a leafy tree. Suddenly her mother realized that she was no longer there. Driven to despair she searched everywhere. All at once, she saw that her daughter was in hands of an ape overhead in the tree. Her fear was greater. How would she get her daughter down? In the midst of the desperation, she ran looking for her husband. He came rapidly and, on seeing the situation, thought: If I throw something at the ape, there is a risk that it might drop the girl and she surely would die falling from that height. The girls father thought quickly and ran looking for some bananas. On returning, he placed the bananas near the tree and moved away. The ape came down from the tree with the girl, left her on the ground, took the bananas, and climbed the tree. The parents ran toward their healthy and safe daughter. Today Sister Teresa Nyawira is a Daughter of Charity. If all humanity was saved by the cross of Jesus, Sister Teresa has one more thing: bananas, thanks to which today the Daughters of Charity enjoy her presence.

Floods in Mozambique
In this month of January, there has been major flooding in the southern region of Mozambique, which so far has affected about 70 thousand people and has caused the death of 38 persons in Gaza. The increasing flow of the Limpopo River caused floods in several districts of the province of Gaza, with the floods in Chokw, Barragem, and Guij, where the Daughters of Charity and the confreres of the Vice-Province serve, being the worst. Faced with the growing threat, the authorities launched an alert and evacuation began in the city of Xai-Xai. The road between the capital, Maputo, and the rest of the country is cut off. The affected populations are suffering from a lack of food, water, and medical assistance. SOS - Floods of Mozambique! To help the persons affected by the floods, through the Daughters of Charity and the Vincentian Missionaries, one can make a contribution, personally or in community, to the account : Recipient: Provncia PC Misso Vice-Provincia Bank name: Caixa Geral de Depsitos SA Bank address: 2177 Praa Luis de Cames, Lisboa (Portugal) Account number (NIB) 0035217700016OS7743061 Account number (IBAN): PT 50003521770001657743061 BIC/SWIFT code: CGDIPTPL (with information to P. Luciano Ferreira Tel. 966792901 E-mail: luciano.c.ferreira@sapo.pt)

The question now before us, like a tidal wave around us, is not a matter of people nor a question of political forms, but a social problem; ... it is the struggle of those who have nothing and those who have too much
Frederic Ozanam

Meeting of the Confreres of CEVIM on the Transmission of the Faith

Colegio Alberoni, Piacenza, Italy, 16-19 January 2013.
CEVIM organized a meeting of confreres from the Provinces of Europe and the Orient at the Alberoni College. The reflection topic for this meeting was: The Transmission of the Faith. This topic was chosen in conformity with the Year of Faith in progress. During the confreres reflections and exchange they delved more deeply into the European environment regarding the announcement of the Faith. Europe seems to be lost and with little historical memory. It behaves as if someone has cut its inheritance. It is a silent apostasy, which leaves it without identity. In this situation the Church has the mission to transmit to this society the values that are its own: truth, faith, hope, charity. The anthropological and ecclesiological aspects of the announcement of the faith are addressed from the perspective of the new evangelization, as also are our services in the Vincentian tradition: formation of the clergy, popular missions, interreligious dialog, ecumenical dialog, and the charitable dimension of our charism that, renewed and reinvigorated, can be well inserted in the new evangelization as our specific contribution.

Some 30 confreres and seminarians from the various provinces of Europe and the Orient participated in the meeting.

Nominationes / Confirmationes
TYPAMM Emmanuel GETAHUN Fanta Shikune KRISTEN Henry Miguel MACAS FERNNDEZ Luis Fernando NJOKU UKACHUKWU Sixtus CARMONA MORALES David DELPLACE Elie COLOMBI Giovanni Luigi MOREIRA RIBEIRO Jos 10/12/2012 13/12/2012 13/12/2012 14/12/2012 04/01/2013 09/01/2013 10/01/2013 10/01/2013 10/01/2013 Director of the DC, Cameroon Visitor of Ethiopia Visitor of Venezuela Visitor of Chile Visitor of Nigeria Visitor of Zaragoza Visitor of Paris Vice-Director of the DC, Albania-Kosovo Director of the DC, Recife

Ordinationes
PETER Rajeev DAO HUY Jean Baptiste Hoang NGUYEN THANH Antoine Tuong PHAM HUU Michel Trung PHAM THANH Joseph Tinh PHAN DAI Dominico Savio Phuoc TRAN THANH Pierre Dung D'COSTA Abner Albano Agnelo GOLI Madusudhan Rao (Mathew) KUMAR Aruno NAVARRETE CACERES Arnaldo Andrs SAKALABATHULA Sitharamulu (Jayaraj) SETTI Vinaya Sagar Babu NARSITTI SELVARAJ Francis Joseph Kumar AROCKIASAMY Paul Raj MATHIAS Pravees DAS Shyamal Kumar MALIYAKAL Stephen BENAVIDES RAMOS Franco Antonio Sac Sac Sac Sac Sac Sac Sac Sac Sac Sac Sac Sac Sac Sac Sac Sac Sac Sac Sac InM Vtn Vtn Vtn Vtn Vtn Vtn InM InM InS Chi InM InM InM InM InM InS InM Aeq 22/11/2012 24/11/2012 24/11/2012 24/11/2012 24/11/2012 24/11/2012 24/11/2012 06/12/2012 12/12/2012 12/12/2012 12/12/2012 12/12/2012 12/12/2012 27/12/2012 30/12/2012 03/01/2013 05/01/2013 05/01/2013 25/01/2013

Necrologium
Nomen BRANTA Jos Guido PETEK Janez SEDANO SIERRA Manuel MANIEZ Abel RAIJMAEKERS Albert COLLET Michel Jean LUNA PIEROS Hernando CARAMS PATO Jos DOS REIS SEVIVAS Joo KUBICA Jan Stanisaw JANUSZ Krzysztof Cond. Sac Sac Sac Sac Sac Sac Sac Sac Sac Sac Sac Dies ob. 05/11/2012 21/11/2012 02/12/2012 03/12/2012 05/12/2012 25/12/2012 14/01/2013 16/01/2013 18/01/2013 18/01/2013 22/01/2013 Prov. Flu Sln Mat Par Hol Par Col Sal Lus Pol Pol Aet. 93 92 78 87 77 89 86 89 76 62 26 Voc. 74 71 62 56 57 71 69 72 60 44 32

Requiescant in pace