BANGKOK – Seven members of the Secretariat for Ministry of the Camillian Order gathered together from October 16 to 18 in Bangkok at the Camillian Pastoral Care Center (CPCC) for their first meeting since their appointments by the General Consulta of this year.

The following are the members: Fr. Wilson Enrique Gonzales Carbajal (Peru), Br. Joseph Khiyaniri (Kenya), Br. Julien Gbaguidi (Benin), Fr. Norbert Riebartsch (Germany), Fr. Gabriel Garcia (Philippines), Fr. Antonio Puca (Italy) and Fr. Aris Miranda, the General Councilor for Ministry. The members represent the six regional groups of provinces and delegations of the Order, namely, the Americas (north & south), East Africa, West Africa, Europe (except Italy), Asia-Pacific and Italy which composes one regional group because of its size and historical importance to the Order.

Though most of the members took a long haul flight just to be in this meeting, it never turn off their enthusiasm to engage in an exchange of ideas and discussions during the meeting. The main framework used in this meeting is the so-called Camillian Project, a capitular document that defines our direction and delineates recommended courses of actions until 2020. Two major issues appeared in the discussion, namely, the role, task and responsibilities of the secretariat and its members and the future programs and activities for 2016-2017.

After the meeting, the members are fully resolved to carry out their duties and responsibilities of helping the secretariat in its mission of animating and promoting the initiatives of the provinces and delegations as mandated by the Camillian project. The remaining one and half year of their term as members will be a great challenge for them.

They will start establishing contact and initiate discussions with the major superiors and those in charge of the provincial secretariat for ministry in their respective region of responsibility. On the other hand, this experience of reaching out to other provinces and delegations will strengthen our sensibility and consciousness of being a member to a family with one vision and mission of witnessing the merciful love of Christ to those who are suffering.

PHOTOGALLERY