Antoni BOCHM, OMI
Vicar General
The General House is preparing for the 2023 Orientation Session for Major Superiors in Rome from November 17th to December 2nd. This annual gathering, organized by the Central Government, welcomes newly appointed provincials, vicar provincials, and delegation superiors to a two-week program to facilitate their transition into their new ministries.
The upcoming session will be attended by 18 participants, comprising nine provincials from various regions (Colombo, Jaffna, India, Poland, Assumption, Haiti, France, Namibia, Southern Africa), five delegation superiors (Guatemala, BOLPER, Madagascar, Zambia, Ukraine), and four vicar provincials (Southern Africa, Namibia, Colombo, Poland). The program is designed to be dynamic, enriching, and practical. It is meant to introduce these new Major Superiors to the resources available to support their mission within the Congregation and their respective units.
One of the primary objectives of these Orientation Sessions is to foster a sense of fraternity and dialogue by providing a space and time for the Major Superiors to interact with one another and engage with the Central Government. They will have opportunities to dialogue not only with Father General but also with the members of the Central Government.
This year’s guest presenter is a Marist brother and former Superior General, Brother Joseph McKEE. Brother McKee has years of experience in helping religious communities build and sustain effective leadership by providing invaluable insights and tools for management.
The 37th General Chapter emphasized the importance of reading, reflecting, and engaging with the Constitutions and Rules. To facilitate this, Fr Paolo ARCHIATI, former Vicar General, will guide the participants in sessions aimed at equipping them with valuable resources available to promote active engagement with the Constitutions and Rules.
A number of sessions will also cover important administrative and legal matters, as well as best practices for finances, stewardship, mission, and formation within the Congregation. Participants will be introduced to the various General Services of the Congregation, such as the General Secretariat and Archives, Postulation, Oblate Studies, JPIC, Procurator, and Communication.
One of the session’s pivotal moments will be the celebration of the Eucharist at the tomb of Saint Peter in the Vatican, which will be followed by a guided tour of the excavations under St. Peter’s Basilica.
We extend our warmest wishes to all the Major Superiors currently traveling to participate in the 2023 Orientation Session for Major Superiors. We hope this experience will be a fruitful and profound spiritual experience that will equip them with the necessary resources to be effective leaders in their respective units for the benefit of the poor and the Congregation.
