Ongoing formation on Mission – Calendar, themes and studies

ONGOING FORMATION PROGRAMME
from January 2026 to June 2027

Dear Circumscription Superiors
and Mission Secretaries.

Pax et Bonum in Jesus Christ,
The XIX General Chapter committed to dedicating a year to reflecting on the Institute's mission (CA 2022, 25.1). The document Guide to the Implementation of the XIX General Chapter entrusted the General Secretariat for the Mission (GSM) with the task of preparing and supporting a program of ongoing formation for the Institute on this topic, to be carried out in 2026 and the first half of 2027 (Guide, p. 15).

The programme of ongoing formation

The GSM has developed a program, taking into account the message of the General Council's letter on Mission (Going Beyond, 1^st May 2025), and proposes a process that engages the entire Institute, from the personal to the circumscription level, placing community sharing at the centre, according to the following criteria:

• space for personal reflection;
• community sharing and discernment, through the method of ‘conversation in the spirit’;
• reflection at the provincial level;
• sharing at the Institute level.

The program is divided into five cycles that explore five key themes, highlighted in the General Council's letter on the Mission. Each three-month cycle includes:

• an introductory and orientation webinar, in five languages (English, Spanish, French, Italian, and Portuguese), from 3:00 PM to 4:15 PM (Rome time); recordings will be made available on a YouTube channel for those unable to attend live;
• three thematic insights, generally presented by authors from different continents and backgrounds, to stimulate reflection and sharing;
• a community-level spiritual conversation (during a community retreat day), guided by worksheets prepared by the SGM, which will then be summarised in a written report to be sent to the Provincial Secretary of the Mission;
• a reflection by the Provincial Secretariat of the Mission on the work carried out by the communities;
• uploading of all the material produced to a dedicated platform for sharing at the Institute level.

Invitation to participate

We have before us a significant opportunity for growth through this period dedicated to reflection on the Comboni mission, which can become a genuine moment of grace at the personal, community, provincial, and institute levels. Much, however, will depend on the confreres' willingness to journey together along this path.

For this reason, the role of circumscription superiors and mission secretaries will be crucial in animating, motivating, and accompanying the process at the provincial level.

We therefore ask for your collaboration in supporting this journey of reflection and remain at your disposal for any contribution you deem useful and appropriate from the GSM, which stands ready to collaborate with the circumscriptions.

Calendar, themes and studies

Fr. Fernando González Galarza
(on behalf of the General Secretariat for the Mission)
Rome, 16^th December 2025