Meeting of the Three General Councils

Rome, Italy - On the 26th of March 2015, the three General Councils of the Montfortian Family met at the General House of the Company of Mary. By nature this annual meeting is aimed at sharing about the running events in each Congregation and reflecting upon common concerns. Fr. Santino welcomed the three councils and shared about the present journey of the Company of Mary. He and the Councillors spoke on issues like next General Chapter 1-20 May 2017 in Rome; CGE in Loreto in October 2015;  the International Commission of Formation and the formation of the laity; General Policy on the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults, functioning of the International centre at St. Laurent, and concerns regarding aging entities.

Brother John Kallarickal, the Superior General informed the gathering about the participation of the General Council in the recent Provincial Chapters of several provinces; the establishment of the Secretariat and Sub-Secretariats of the Justice and Peace Commission, Education; about the 16th  Council of the Institute in St. Laurent this year and the 17th Council of the Institute in January 2017. Other topics on formation, education, missio ad gentes, laity, economy were shared by the Council and the bursar.

Sr. Louise Madore the Supeior General of the Daughters of Wisdom, gave the news of Sr. Carmen Belèn, the general assistant from Colombia who has undergone a delicate surgery in Colombia. She also spoke about the updating of the directory of formation, administrative directory, the Council of the Congregation in Saint Laurent sur Sèvre in October 2015 The Council members continued the sharing on issues of formation, development, pastoral of the vocations, Justice and Peace, finances.

Of particular importance is the sharing about the Tercentenary of the death of St. Louis de Montfort towards which a long preparation is in course.

The grand opening will take place on the 24th May 2015 at Saint Laurent sur Sèvre, with Eucharistic celebration to be presided over by Mgr. Castet, Bishop of Luçon in the Basilica of St. Louis de Montfort. A theological colloquium is planned in Angers in August 2016 with participants of the three congregations and friends. A special website is also prepared to this effect by a qualified team. There is still another project of bringing out a new edition of True Devotion to Mary for the occasion. These are the activities at the common level. It was also felt by the administrative Councils that our spirituality must be shared with other people and enlarge the circle of the Montfortian charismatic family. For the next World Youth Day in Poland, the three Congregations are willing to take initiatives to motivate the youth to participate in it and the house of Brothers in Czestochowa is an added convenience in this regard.

The gathering concluded with a lunch and a Marian Prayer.