The first official Shared Mission Assembly of the Redemptorist Conference of Europe (CRE) took place from 29 to 30 November at Colle Sant’Alfonso, near Naples. Delegations of laypeople from almost all the conference units attended the Assembly, working together according to the guidance of the Partnership in Mission Directory (2020) and the CRE Action Plan (2023).
In his opening talk, Eric Corsius, chair of the CRE Commission on Shared Mission and moderator of the Assembly, stressed that “Mission is a shared mission, or it isn’t mission at all. We need each other for the sake of mission.”
Fr Rui Santiago CSsR (formation), Anne Walsh (vocation), and Fr Cristian Bueno CSsR (shared mission as a foundational priority in the sense of Communicanda 1 of 2017) gave inspiring introductions. They stressed the importance of deep and solid formation and inspiring encounters.
Fr. Cristian Bueno introduced an intriguing metaphor for partnership in mission: that of the ecosystem, where everyone, with his or her charism, is a part of it.
The participants introduced themselves and their missionary commitment. They renewed existing contacts or made new ones, which motivated them to strengthen a European network for a shared mission.
Thanks to the speakers and the delegations for good preparation for the meeting. A special thanks to the hospitable Redemptorists and lay co-workers of Naples.
Eric Corsius
