From April 26 to May 1, the annual meeting regarding the mission assignment was held in Rome, at the headquarters of the General Directorate of the Legionaries of Christ.

Participants included members of the General Government of the Legionaries of Christ, territorial directors, and rectors of the formation houses in Rome.

“Coming to Rome is a great grace, being able to live with the territorial directors to share the major challenges of the Legion and reflect on them,” comments Fr. Cleomar Ferronato, LC, territorial director of Brazil.

This is the procedure followed to assign religious in formation:

• From December to April, the pastoral needs of the territories are gathered. Meetings are held with the person responsible for mission assignment to understand the priorities and the evangelization plan of the territory.
• In March, the requests from the territories are finalized.
• In March and April, religious who are undertaking apostolic practices and the first period of ministry fill out a form that responds to their expectations, needs, and desires regarding their future mission. The rector discusses with each religious and reviews the form.
• In April, rectors and the delegate of the formation houses in Rome, along with the general counselor responsible for mission assignment, review the missions that are compatible with each brother’s needs.
• Finally, between April and May, the personnel assignment meeting takes place with the general director, counselors, territorial directors, and rectors of the houses in Rome. During these days, the territorial directors present a vision of their territory to understand the reasons behind the proposals. The rectors’ proposals are compared with the territory’s needs, and a mission is assigned to each religious.

The process is interactive and complex, as many factors are considered: the community superior, the environment in which the person will work, workload, the mentor (religious assigned to accompany the brother), community composition, etc. The well-being of the religious is the main concern.

“I believe that everyone was aware of the importance of assigning a destination and the desire to offer the best mission for our brothers: we seek to discern where each one can best develop the mission according to their personality, history, and needs. It is not always easy to reconcile the needs of various territories with the scarcity of personnel, but two elements encouraged me greatly: first, knowing that behind our collaboration is God’s hand, and second, witnessing once again the availability of our brothers who received the consultations with great faith,” comments Fr. Savio Zanetta, LC, rector of the religious in formation at the General Directorate.

“During these months, I have experienced with great enthusiasm and expectation this process of mission assignment as I prepare to begin my ministry. It is a moment that, in one way or another, all those in formation long for. I found in the superiors, both locally and generally, a genuine desire to discern my wishes and possibilities, as well as the needs and priorities of the Legion. I go with a spirit of learning from my brothers the art of apostolate and contributing to the mission of the Church and the Legion according to the gifts the Lord has given me. May Mary accompany me,” comments César Tobón, LC, religious in his final year of formation.

The meetings in Rome concluded with a visit to the International College of the Legionaries of Christ, where the religious in formation gathered with those residing in this house of formation.