Sodalitium initiates process of revision of its Constitutions

Seeking to continue the process of Renewal of our community, during the V General Assembly that took place in the city of Aparecida (Brazil) in January 2019 it was decreed that the new elected authorities carry out a revision of the current Constitutions of the Sodalitium. Due to that, in November 2020, our Superior General, José David Correa, created a Commission to Review the Constitutions of the Sodalitium Christianae Vitae.

The Constitutions of the Sodalicio are the fundamental norms of our institution, they contain the rules on the government and the discipline of the members, their incorporation and formation, and a description of the purpose and the spirit of our community. The current Sodalitium Constitutions were approved by the Holy See on July 8, 1997.

The Commission for the Revision of Constitutions is chaired by our Vicar General Juan Carlos Boldt and is made up of our brothers Fernando Vidal, Julio Egrejas, Aldo Giachetti, Fr. Daniel Cardó and Fr. Gonzalo Len.

The Commission aims to guide and coordinate the work of revising the current text of the Constitutions, so that they can better express the charism received and be able to have an effective and lasting service to the Church. In this process we participate, in an active way, all the members of the Society.

Together with the Church

In addition, the Holy See, through the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life (CIVCSVA), has appointed in November 2020 the R.P. Gianfranco Ghirlanda S.J. as a Consultant for the process of Reviewing our Constitutions. We also have the help and guidance of our ad nutum Delegate for the Government, R.P. Fray Guillermo Rodríguez, OFM (also appointed by the CIVCSVA in 2019).

R.P. Gianfranco Ghirlanda, SJ. (left) R.P. Fray Guillermo Rodriguez, OFM. (right)

On the process of revising Constitutions

The objective of this whole process is to reach the next VI General Assembly of the Sodalitium, scheduled for the end of 2024, with a text of revision and modifications of the Constitutions so that it is approved by the assembly delegates; and subsequently, these proposals are sent to the Holy See (through the CIVCSVA) for final approval.

To this end, all members have already participated in various preparation and formation activities to prepare ourselves in the best way for the community revision of our Constitutions and to propose modifications according to what the Spirit asks of us.

Face-to-face days in Rome

The Commission for the Review of Constitutions held a face-to-face conference from October 5th to 12th in the city of Rome, Italy. These were very blessed days with spaces for prayer, listening, reflection, dialogue and joint work. They had the participation of our Pontifical Assistant, Fr. Gianfranco Ghirlanda, SJ.

On October 6, the members of the Commission held a close dialogue with Mons. José Rodríguez Carballo, O.F.M., Secretary of the CIVCSVA, who encouraged and blessed this work and stressed the importance of the revision of the Constitutions at this time in our history. He invited us to work so that our Constitutions express in a brief and clear way our charism and the means to live according to it.

Members of the Committee for the Revision of Constitutions together with the Holy See Consultant Fr. Gianfranco Ghirlanda, SJ. and Mons. José Rodríguez Carballo, OFM Secretary of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life

The members of the Commission participated in the Conference “Societies of Apostolic Life: Nature, Types and Distinctive Characteristics” offered by R.P. Leonello Leidi C.P., CIVCSVA official: greatly helping to the reflections of the day, which will be important inputs for the whole process.

Members of the Committee for the Revision of Constitutions together with the Consultant of the Holy See Fr. Gianfranco Ghirlanda and Fr. Leonello Leidi, member of the CIVCSVA

Our Vicar General, Juan Carlos Boldt, shares the experience of all in the Commission, which is “gratitude to God, in front of the blessing of participating in this service that puts us in front of the challenge of deepening the foundations of our vocation. And, in this way, to be able to guide and coordinate the process of revision of the Constitutions in which all the sodalits are called to participate. It has been a significant to experience the company of the Church. and we find in Mary a Guide and Teacher who helps us in this work of discernment ”.

Holding on to the Blessed Mother’s hand

We invite you to join us in prayer for the fruits of this whole process of revision, placing us under the protective mantle of Our Mother Mary so that our hearts may be more and more docile and cooperative to what the Holy Spirit wants to inspire in our community at this particular time of our history.