I. The 55th Assembly of the Union of Superiors General

The Union of Superiors General (USG) dedicated its 55th Assembly to the study of the following theme: "vocations to the consecrated life in the context of modern and post-modern society". The first step was an initial awareness and definition of the difficulties and opportunities for encouraging vocations in the present socio-cultural and religious context.

After treating in the previous Assembly, the original and thought-provoking theme of "re-foundation" or "re-vitalization", the next step was taken, to take the first concrete steps towards channelling our "revitalization" in a practical way. A new consecrated life demands new qualities in the same vocations; however, the "new young", inculturated in a modern and post-modern context, challenge the consecrated life to take on new style of living and of initiation to the great spiritual values.

All were agreed that we must overcome the temptation to discouragement and anguish which paralyze hope, and at the same time, we must not fall into the "temptation of facile and improvised recruitment" (VC 64d) through a superficial discernment of the candidates, or, to put it thus, of "importing vocations" from those countries where they are plenty.

The work of the Assembly can be summarized in three wide thematic areas: reading of the situation; convictions and emphasis on certain important themes; practical orientations and proposals, aimed at bringing about in a realistic way the new style of living and of "communicative visibility".