Province of Spain – Let ‘s catch up! 1st meeting of MGA

 On Saturday 27 November the meeting of the Shared Mission Associates of the Province of Spain was held in Barcelona and La Aguilera (Aranda). The Madrid associates had to postpone the meeting to 18 December because of a heavy snowstorm.

It was the first meeting in person since the beginning of the pandemic and although some were unable to attend for various circumstances, for those of us who were able to attend, it was a joy to see friendly faces again without the barrier of the computer screen.

At the meeting we discussed the following topics:

• The Charter of the AMG

The pandemic prevented the presentation of this document that is so important for all of us, the result of the work of the International Partnership Commission and the Central Administration. Its presentation served as an excuse for us to tell the story of the road travelled to reach this document that guides, regulates and unifies our associative movement in all the Provinces.

• Status of the cause for the beatification of our Martyr Brothers, victims of the faith during the Spanish Civil War

Since receiving the Nihil Obstat from the Congregation for the Causes of Saints to begin the diocesan phase on March 8, 2005 and until its closure on June 16 2007, there have been several circumstances that have delayed the process more than expected.

At the meeting these difficulties were explained and we were informed of the appointment by our Superior General, Br. John Kallarackal, of the new Postulator, Mr. Nicola Gori. He is a layman and journalist of L’Osservatore Romano and, among other well-known causes, he has handled that of the young Italian Carlo Acutis, the teenager who died in Italy on 12 October 2006 and who became known for his passion to bring the Word of God through the Internet. Our Superior General has also appointed Brothers Camille Lucas and Angel Llana as Vice-postulators outside Rome.

• Faustino Besa, Provincial, informed us of the celebration of the 18th Council of the Institute, from 4 to 20 October, which took place for the first time in the history of the Congregation by videoconference. In the pursuit of the objectives derived from the decisions of the 32nd General Chapter –which took place in April 2018– the Brother Provincial highlighted the progress in the Gabrielite Shared Mission, between Laity and Brothers, from the educational action in the school.

The Gabrielite Shared Mission is making its way in all the Provinces not only because of the need, but also because of attentive listening to the Spirit of the Lord, who calls us to collaborate in diversity from the same baptismal consecration. We continue to make our way in this marvelous mission that we carry out together, Brothers and lay people, because TOGETHER WE ARE MORE!

Shared Mission Formation Team