News

6/9/2025

6/9/2025

PGC - Highlight of the days n.6 - Saturday, June 7 and Sunday, June 8, 2025

We take a breath of fresh air, under the breath of the Spirit!

This Saturday morning, the work continues with the final presentations by the general treasurer. He presents the consolidated accounts for the entire congregation. This is a major undertaking, which highlights the main sources of expense and income for each province and ultimately for the entire congregation. In order to balance our budgets, it is necessary to use part of our financial investments, but fortunately at a rate that remains very reasonable and preserves the capital. We also provided an update on our medium-term real estate plan (PMT). In view of the ever-increasing demand for construction, especially in our southern provinces, this involves planning and selecting projects that can be supported by interprovincial solidarity according to our means. The new PMT for 2026-2027-2028 will be defined at the next PGC in December. Finally, we discussed the Solidarity Campaign for 2026, a direct solidarity initiative from our communities, our parishes, our lay people... for a project between €20,000 and €30,000, for which we cannot find external funding. The formal choice will be made at the end of the PGC.

The rest of the day was devoted to one-on-one meetings, a very important part of the PGC, where the provincials meet in pairs, allowing each provincial to exchange with the Superior General or one of his assistants. This is where interprovincial solidarity in terms of human resources comes into play, with brothers transferred for varying lengths of time from one province to another, either for studies, an internship, or a pastoral mission. Many other issues are also discussed during these fruitful exchanges...

Sunday, on the other hand, is traditionally devoted to relaxation, outings, and discovering the local area.

So, on this cool Sunday morning (7°C), yes, it's the end of autumn in the southern hemisphere! We went to the National Shrine of Nuestra Señora de Luján, 68 km from the center of Buenos Aires. It is a place of pilgrimage dating back to the 16th century, following a miracle of the Virgin Mary. The current basilica was built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and more than 6 million pilgrims visit it every year. We arrived during the celebration of Pentecost with the basilica almost full (see photos at the link at the bottom of the page).

But the discovery did not stop there! The brothers had surprised us by organizing a visit to a great benefactor of our Shrine in Lourdes. A patriarch surrounded by his six children, ten grandchildren, uncles, and aunts... for a day of family gathering around a large Argentine barbecue, after celebrating the Eucharist of Pentecost together in the beautiful private chapel of the large familyproperty! The company founded by this father, now supported by his grown children, specializes in ceramic tiles. To fulfill a promise he made to Our Lady of Lourdes in his youth, he recently renovated all the tiles in the upper church of our Shrine of Lourdes and the beautiful Chapel of the Holy Family free of charge. The PGC's welcome at this family celebration was a unique experience, demonstrating both the generosity of this family and the quality of the fraternal and pastoral relationships of our brothers.