GREETING THE ASSEMBLY

- Father Marcello Zago, omi

We are happy to come together for our Autumn session. On behalf of Fr. Maccise, President of the USG, who is at present attending the Synod for America, I wish to welcome you all. A special welcome to the Superiors General who have been elected recently and to those who have been elected for a second term of office. As you are aware, there was a certain doubt as to whether this Autumn session would be held, and that for two reasons: the Synod now being held in Rome and the enormous amount of work being imposed on the USG Secretariat as a result of the Congress for young Religious.

The USG Council, however, considered that it was important that this six-monthly meeting be held, precisely to discuss the Congress for young Religious while the memory of it is still fresh. In fact it was an important event, and moreover it was unique of its sort, not only for the young Religious who took part in it but for the whole of consecrated life, both male and female, and therefore for the Superiors General too. This Congress reflects the feelings of the new generation of Religious, their expectations, their joy in being called to the consecrated life.

The Assembly therefore wishes to take account of this Congress and it also aims to set us on the path towards the future together with the young people themselves, in order to accept the challenges they provide, their suggestions and their hopes.

For these days we have chosen a new dynamic which will give us some echoes of the Congress, but which will allow us to have an abundant dialogue with those who took part in the Congress itself, beginning with the young people themselves and then plenty of opportunity for exchange of ideas among ourselves as Superiors General. That exchange among ourselves is planned to be in constellations and groups. In that way we shall try to find guidelines for future planning.

There was also another motive for calling this Assembly. We must also have elections for the USG executive during the coming three-year period. That will take place on Saturday morning in the general Assembly. However, while we are having the sessions on young people and on their Congress, we can also prepare the election of our President, vice-president, council and members of the 16 and 18. Tomorrow evening, Thursday, it is intended to have group meetings to facilitate a first sounding of opinion on the following day.

I conclude by wishing everybody a good meeting and a convivial four days together. Thank you for having come!