EurHope26 - DAY 2: A Church that Listens, Accompanies and Inspires

[FR]  [IT]

ROME, Italy - The second day of the EurHope26 assembly of Montfort Missionaries focused on the theme of building a Church that listens, accompanies, and inspires in an increasingly complex and changing world. Through prayer, reflection, and the sharing of missionary experiences, participants explored key pastoral challenges facing the Church in Europe today.

The day began with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist presided over by Fr. Richard MAGARARU, SMM. In his homily, he reflected on Christ’s call for His disciples to be "the salt of the earth and the light of the world."

“In our time, many people have lost the meaning and purpose of their lives because of disappointments, difficulties, and suffering,” Fr. Richard said. “For this reason, Jesus entrusts us with a beautiful mission: to bring the flavour of the Gospel to the world and to carry His light into places marked by sadness, violence, loneliness, and indifference.” He encouraged the confreres to remain faithful witnesses of hope, emphasizing that their missionary presence continues to bring light and meaning to those searching for God amid contemporary challenges.

After the breakfast, the day's sessions were moderated by Fr. Marco PASINATO, SMM, who guided participants through a series of presentations addressing some of the most pressing issues facing the Montfortian mission in Europe.

The first experience-sharing was delivered by Fr. Jean-Noël EKENLEY, SMM, on the theme of Fraternal Life in Community and Interculturality. He invited participants to reflect on how authentic fraternity can be nurtured within increasingly intercultural communities where linguistic, cultural, and spiritual differences are part of everyday life. His presentation highlighted the importance of dialogue, mutual respect, openness, and shared mission as essential elements for building strong and vibrant intercultural communities.

Fr. Aimé Kamanda, SMM presented on “Evangelization in a Secularized Context” focusing on effective missionary strategies in bearing witness to the Gospel in a secularized context. Drawing on both the Church teaching and his personal experience as a Congolese missionary serving in Belgium, Fr. Aimé argued that the Church must adopt new missionary attitudes rooted in authenticity, dialogue, and proximity if it hopes to communicate the Gospel effectively in contemporary Europe.

Addressing the growing importance of digital communication, Fr. Jailos Augustine Mpina, SMM, reflected on the role of social media and digital networks in the Montfortian mission. He explored how social media can foster communion, participation, and missionary outreach while remaining faithful to the congregation’s charism. Drawing on recommendations from the Synod on Synodality's Study Group on the Church's mission in the digital environment, he encouraged confreres to embrace digital platforms creatively and prophetically. Fr. Jailos also recommended the study of Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, particularly its reflections on safeguarding human dignity in the age of artificial intelligence, highlighting the opportunities and challenges presented by emerging technologies.

Joining the assembly via Zoom from Indonesia, Fr. Arnold SUHARDI, SMM, presented a reflection on Montfortian Spirituality and the Association Mary Queen of All Hearts as a Proposal for Young People in Secularized Europe. Building on Fr. Bill CONSIDINE SMM’s observation that identity remains one of the Company's greatest challenges, Fr. Arnold emphasized that the task today is not merely to preserve Montfortian spirituality but to make it understandable, accessible, and attractive to younger generations. His presentation explored how devotion to Jesus through Mary and participation in the Association Mary Queen of All Hearts can contribute to the Church’s evangelizing mission while offering young people a meaningful spiritual path in contemporary society.

Fr. Eric MANIRAKIZA, SMM, focused on Pastoral Care for Vocations, sharing the experience of the Vice-Province of France in promoting religious and missionary vocations. He stressed that vocation ministry must be a priority for every Montfortian community and encouraged confreres to engage young people by speaking their language, entering their world, and presenting an authentic witness of religious life.

“Today, to sow seeds in young people, we must learn their language, meet them in their world, and help them discover the world of God,” he said. “The joy we radiate and the witness of a simple and sincere life rooted in faith greatly attract young people.”

Speaking on the theme of “Sustainability in Montfortian Communities,” Fr. Nepolean James Raj SMM argued that the future of the congregation depends not only on its missionary vision but also on its ability to survive and thrive as viable communities. He described sustainability as a multidimensional challenge encompassing human, economic, and ecological concerns. The sharing also highlighted growing economic concerns. Rising costs for healthcare, housing maintenance, and staff salaries are placing increasing pressure on European entities. At the same time, many communities are experiencing reduced income and limited pension support for aging confreres.

The presentations delivered during EurHope26 Day 2 reveal a common conviction among the Montfort Missionaries in Europe: the future of the congregation will depend on its ability to respond creatively and courageously to rapidly changing realities. Whether addressing the sustainability of communities, the Montfort spirituality and the Association Mary Queen of All Hearts, the promotion of vocations, or evangelization in an increasingly secularized society, mission in the digital environment, the presenters  highlighted the same essential challenge—remaining faithful to the Montfortian charism while adapting to new social, cultural, and pastoral contexts.