News

6/3/2025

6/3/2025

PGC - Highlight of the day n.1 - Monday, June 2, 2025

Welcome to the Andean Province!

For this fourth PGC (Plenary General Council) of the current term, we are all, or almost all, gathered in Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina.

We are continuing the good tradition of alternating PGCs between Rome and one of the Provinces of the congregation. This is the first PGC to be held in the Andean Province, but the second in South America following the PGC in Brazil in June 2016.

We had almost managed to overcome the visa and passport problems, but in the end two brother were unable to attend and could only participate partially online: Fr. Lucien, Provincial of Madagascar, and Fr. Thierry, Assistant General.

The six other (vice)provincials, as well as the six other members of the General Curia, are present. We are delighted to welcome two new members to this body: Fr. Benard ODHIAMBO YALA, Vice-Provincial of East Africa, and Fr. Bolivar PALUKU LUKENZANO, Provincial of the Andean Province.

Yesterday, Sunday, June 1, some of the members of the PGC were able to discover some aspects of the beautiful city of Buenos Aires. First, the parish of “Our Lady of Mercy,” founded by the Assumptionists in 1914. Today it is run by the diocese and remains adjacent to one of our two schools in Buenos Aires, the San Roman Institute, which is well known in the city (The current archbishop is a former student of the Institute). Then we were able to discover, in the heart of the city center, the Cathedral of Buenos Aires (where Pope Francis was archbishop), very close to the presidential palace and the famous Plaza de Mayo, where mothers came during the dictatorship to demand the return of their missing sons.

On Monday, the meeting began with the Superior General's report, the presentation of the new provincials, and news from the provinces of Brazil and Europe. An initial group work session allowed us to discuss some of the issues raised in the Superior General's report. Entitled “A clear-eyed view of realities in the face of the power of hope,” the report was structured in eight points: The internal organization of the OGC-PGC and the requests of the General Chapter; Canonical visits and appointments of Provincials; The General Secretariat for Formation and Postulation; The Assumption Family; External Relations; The Due Pini Community; The Lay-Religious Alliance; An Augustinian Pope.

The brothers of the community of the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes welcomed us warmly. The tone and pace were set for the next 10 days...