Society of the Catholic Apostolate.
18th. general assembly.
press commission.
Rome, 19th. September 1998.

NEWS FROM THE ASSEMBLY



Dear brothers in Christ and in St. Vincent Pallotti:

With these lines we want to begin communication with all our brothers of the Society of the Catholic Apostolate in order to keep you informed of the proceedings of the General Assembly, and of the sharing that we are engaged in.

From the beginning of the week the participants were arriving in Rome and going on to the Salesianum, a large spirituality centre, where, for the third time, the sons of Don Bosco permit us to have our General Assembly. However, we regret the absence of Fr. Pablo Bocca, who should have been an interpreter, and Fr. Josef Schmelz, who was coming to tell us of the experiences of the SAC in North America and the communities in Canada. Fr. Pablo Bocca had an operation last Monday 7th. and Fr. Schmelz will have an operation next Tuesday, September 29th.

The Salesianum, which is situated in the country near the ring road that circles the city of Rome, allows us to fulfil our intense daily schedule in an area that is conducive to community living and that stimulates tranquility and serenity of spirit.

The Assembly opened at nine o'clock on Wednesday 16th. with a concelebrated mass in which the Rector General, Fr. Seamus Freeman presided and delivered the homily.

Later, in the 'Aula Magna', after Fr Freeman's official opening address, we proceeded to the approval of the working agenda, and of the 'methodus', for the Assembly, and of the nomination of the moderators, Fr. Dionisio Francisco Costa (SM) and Fr. Piotr Krakowiak (PN), and of the secretary Fr. Julio Endi Akamine (SP) and his assistants, Fr. Joy Palachuvatil (IN) and Fr. Janusz Luczack (PN)

In the afternoon we met in the language groups to nominate members for the different roles within the Assembly. In our group the following were nominated:

In the afternoon, in a plenary session the presidency of the Assembly was formed, its members are: Fr. Freeman, Rector General, Fr. John Fitzpatrick (IR), Fr. Clarindo Redin (SM), Fr.Karl Heinen (LM), Fr. Gaetano Ianni (IT) and Fr.Henry Hoser (FR).

Before the evening meal we met in the church for evening prayer.

On the morning of Thursday 17th. Fr Gilberto Marconi, a professor of scripture at the Gregorian University and at the Urbanianum, gave us a profound biblical and theological reflection on Chapter 12 v. 2, from the letter to the Hebrews, "...looking to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith." that makes explicit the motto of the assembly, "Faithful to the Future". We discussed our impressions and reflections in the language groups after the conference.

During lunch we received the news of the death in Vallendar of Fr. Franz Courth, SAC.

At the beginning of the afternoon session, Fr. Karl Heinen spoke of the life of Fr. Courth and told us that he suffered a brain haemorrhage in September 1997 which greatly limited and curtailed his teaching and scientific study. "Now", Fr. Heinen said, "he has been called to eternity. With his death the teaching community of that house has lost a brother who always contributed with the clarity of his thinking and his intense work in the interest of the Society. He was the author of several theological works on the Holy Trinity and in Mariology. He was a renowned professor of dogmatic theology and it was during his term as Rector that the major seminary became an officially recognized faculty. He was also a great friend to our Indian brothers as we can appreciate from his visits to India and his dedication to fund raising to help this province. In the midst of our sorrow we trust that Fr. Courth is seeing the fullness of the divine light that he sought all through his life."

In a plenary session in the afternoon, the language groups presented their reflections on Fr, Marconi's conference, in replying he extended and deepened his insights even further.

Fr. Bernard Carman presented to the Assembly the working document for the final message of the Assembly, we then met in the groups and discussed this topic and presented our opinions in a plenary session.

During the afternoon we received more bad news, Fr. Julio Akamine's father had suffered a brain haemorrhage in San Pablo, following on the news of the seriousness of his condition, Fr. Julio, the secretary of the Assembly left immediately for Brazil.

On Friday 18th. Fr. Freeman delivered the Rector General's report on the government of the Society during the last six years. The language groups reflected on the report.

At the beginning of a plenary session, Fr. Jose Elias Fadul (SP) informed us of the death of Fr. Julio's father.

Following on from this Fr. Freeman responded to the expressions of appreciation and to the observations and questions arising from his report.

Today, Saturday, we began with a concelebrated mass of all the members as will be our practice on all Saturdays, during the remainder of the week mass will be celebrated in the different language groups.

The Bursar General, Fr. Gerald Dwyer delivered his report. He then responded to some questions.

In the afternoon Fr. Herbert Alphonso, S.J. addressed the Assembly on "Orientations for a process of spiritual discernment", he applied the principles to the process of electing a new Rector General and Council.

Tomorrow, Sunday, will be a free day.

We will communicate with you again and thus share the next steps of our task, meanwhile we count on the support of your interest and prayers. We know that in the union of our Society, your prayers together with those of Mary, Queen of Apostles will be offered for Fr. Courth and for Fr. Akamine's father. We also bear in mind our brothers, Pablo Bocca and Josef Schmelz, who cannot be here with us. May the light of the Holy Spirit illuminate our task for the good of our communities in accordance with the will of God.