The Fourth General Assembly is Underway

Sunday evening, Fr. Nestor Fils-Aimé, CSV, Superior General, formally opened the Fourth General Assembly of the Viatorian Community at Valpré, just outside Lyon, France.

Fr. Fils-Aimé offers an opening address.

“Our community is like a majestic tree with deep roots, whose sap rises to nourish the two essential branches: that of the religious and that of the associates, sharing the same charism through our fraternal life, our spirituality, and our mission,” Fr. Fils-Aimé said. “It is in this rich duality that our strength lies.”

The General Assembly will contemplate the question, “How can we be a fraternal, synodal, missionary community today?” (Refer back to our feature previewing the assembly.) This process began with the introduction of each delegation. Provincial and regional superiors introduced their groups of associates and religious to the full assembly, and each shared their hopes for the week.

Fr. Mark Francis, CSV, Provincial Superior, introduced our US delegation. “I hope we can identify where the Spirit has already been and trust where it is leading us to go,” Fr. John Eustice, CSV, said to the assembly.

Many of our delegates sat together for the first ride on the motor coach.

“I hope to find joy in change,” Associate Rosy Hartz added, alongside Fr. Dan Lydon, CSV, and Associate Dan Masterton.

For the Foundation of Colombia, Fr. Gustavo Lopez, CSV, who coordinates association there, introduced himself and passed the mic to fellow delegate Associate Luz Stella Serrano. Fellow Colombian Fr. Fredy Contreras, CSV, is also participating by virtue of his office as General Councilor and Treasurer on the General Council.

Sunday was the first full day of assembly and began with a guided tour of Lyon. The group started at St. Nizier Church, the city parish where the Venerable Louis Querbes went as a child and the church where he served as a young priest. The tour took the group past the door and archway of the church where he was baptized, now part of an art museum.

The group had lunch near Notre-Dame de Fourvière, now a grand church built after Querbes’ life, still attached to what was formerly a smaller church – one where he often prayed and where he consecrated Viatorians to Mary. That smaller church is now a chapel of Notre-Dame of Fourvière, and the group celebrated a communal prayer service there.

A look at St. Nizier, including the well-known Our Lady of Grace statue and the location of the church well into the city center.

Each day will include special talks, conversations in the spirit among groups of six or seven delegates, Eucharist, and shared meals. The delegates and their witness in French, Spanish, and English are translated over headsets by faithful interpreters, including Fr. Pedro Herrera, CSV, of Colombia, and last-minute substitute Fr. John Peeters, CSV, a longtime veteran of international meetings who stepped in after a scheduled interpreter had to withdraw.

The delegation will continue sharing photos and videos on Instagram @ViatorianUSA throughout the week and will follow up with more stories from our General Assembly in the days to come. We welcome your prayers for this assembly and its shared work.

(Click each photo to enlarge to full size.)