Interview with the Superior General, Fr. Gregory Gay El Superior General de la Congregación de la Misión, que concluye su mandato en pocos días más, concedió una entrevista al P. Luis Chávez para Radio Vicentina y vicentinos.cl: Audio de RadioVicentina We are with F. Gregory Gay, General Superior of the Congregation of the Mission. We are at the General Assembly; the 42nd. General Assembly and Father Gregory ends his term as General Superior with this Assembly, so we want to make this special interview for Radio Vicentina and also for the Province of Chile website. Thank you very much for agreeing to this short interview. I’m glad, Father Lucho, for the opportunity to do this interview for Radio Vicentina and also for the website of the Province of Chile. It's a pleasure being able to share and answer as best I can the questions that you have. The first question that comes to mind is: how do you feel in the beginning of this Assembly -although we are already a couple of days in- and also a few days from ending your term? Well, at the beginning of the Assembly there is always some anxiety ... but not too much... I know that between the General Council and the Preparatory Commission and all the work done by the Technical Commission together with the team here at the University of Paul, is well organized. And when it’s well organized you feel more relaxed and can concentrate fully in what we are doing. As always the first and second day can be a bit difficult because we have to approve directories and changes sometimes can be difficult, because there are confreres who do not understand well the changes, or they haven’t prepared well for the Assembly or they have a different vision from the others as to the direction we want to give the Assembly ... then there is, I feel, at this time, a bit of tension, but thank God, we’ve passed this stage more quietly than I expected ... and now I'm getting closer to the day of the election of the new superior General, although I haven’t had much chance to think about it, because from the beginning of the GA to the day of the election, I think I've had too many interventions… I have had the opening Mass, I gave a lecture today about the whole Congregation: where we are and where are we going; then I have to give orientations refering to the election of the Superior General, Vicar General and assistants and also one more intervention that I have about a project that I want to present to the Congregation for the 400th anniversary … I still have a lot of work to do, which is good because it takes a little of my time…. and being the president of the Assembly and thus Chairman of the Central Committee, that takes time; for example now we had a meeting that started at 8:15 and ended after 1 hour and 45 minutes… But I felt good and quiet. We are moving forward, because all is well prepared and I feel that the confreres are entering (in the rhythm of the Assembly) and above all, I care about the exchange between others from different cultures and languages and there is a sense of family among us. It's nice to see that everyone is not going to end alone with his own group, but they attempt to know other realities ... that is nice … And the fact that we are in roundtables, and every day in a different table, enriches what you can share ... experience. Yes, that is a methodology that we’ve improved, because before we had roundtable discussions at the meeting of visitors in New York three years ago, but the idea is to continue with round tables, but making table changes every day, so that one goes largely knowing other people. There are some confreres who can handle one, two or three languages and we have aimed to that, to the opportunity to communicate with larger groups… Well, that's been my experience, I’ve had the chance to practice my French again, I have been able to share with more people ... I have become very fond of the visitor of Vietnam, for example, who also speaks French … Another question, what is your assessment of your management? Which is the most negative experience you’ve had in recent years and which was the most positive? The most negative ... well I do not know if it was that negative ... was the frustration that one feels wanting to moving the congregation to a wider vision of what we are: an international Congregation and a missionary Congregation, as I’ve mentioned clearly today ... and as I’ve mentioned, maybe there is another negative factor that also appeared in the dialogue: an attitude focussed on the provinces and also some individualism ... this makes it harder to see ourselves as an international Congregation… But something positive is what I’ve said before: there is an attempt to get to know others, beyond my circle, beyond my province, beyond my conference visitors, beyond my own country ... that is something very significant for me ... but (individualism) has been a frustration …And among the positive things ... well I have been encouraged, since the beginning, by the visitors in 2004 and have continued this in 2010: making myself present in the provinces with visitations, because I discovered charisma with more depth; I have a better knowledge of the Congregation of the Mission and also of the provinces from their peripheries and this experience helps me to have more elements to discern and make decisions when there are difficult moments in the Council, talking about a situation or another, from one province or another, from one confrere or other ... Then the visits have been for me, perhaps, one of the most positive things ... Well, there are other things, but you told me the most positive and most negative … In short, in what state is at this time the Congregation of the Mission? This is a question I’ve been asked by other "journalists", as the confrere who interviewed me earlier and well ... they are logical questions and you have the opportunity to comment, after 12 years, how is the Congregation. As I said, I have hope because I see enthusiasm ... I see an attitude of opening roads, taking directions that we have not taken much so far ... for example this challenge that the ones from the North allow ones from the South to go to evangelise, just as the north have evangelized before the south ... I see this as a challenge and as something that will happen and is happening. This gives me much hope ... Some, especially those who (in their provinces) have more (members), regret that we are decreasing, but that is relative, in some places that’s true, but elsewhere are growing. When we have a more international vision, we must rejoice, because the Congregation is not dying, the Congregation is alive and well and it’s thanks to the commitments it has made in various places, thanks to the creativity, in collaboration with the Vincentian Family. A question that may be difficult to answer is regarding the choice of the next General superior... In your opinion, what should be the main strengths that the new General superior must have to face the current challenges? FG: It's hard to say, it is true, but I have to, because these days I have to give guidance to all for the election of the Superior General, Vicar General and assistants. And I will present what I see, according to the needs of today ... I can mention some things right now, because I’ve said something presenting my vision of the Congregation at this time .... (The new Superior General) definitely has to be a confrere "on the road”, ready to leave, to go where we are, to meet the confrere and with the Vincentian Family and to really be in the middle of all ... I tried in my 12 years to change the image that the superior General has, often on a pedestal ... I feel that he should be viewed as a brother among others, with the same mission, which is to evangelize the poor, aware that he is ultimately responsible for the Congregation, but always well supported, on one side by the Congregation, by the visitors, by the General Council itself and by the leaders of the Vincentian Family, which is something that is increasingly consolidating, so (their leaders ) feel increasingly free to express where we need to go as a Vincentian Family. Well, maybe you have it reserved for a homily or final speech, but what would be your will or your words to the Congregation of the Mission and the Vincentian Family? FG: I have a Mass the day of the election of the new General Superior and for the most part I think I get what you're asking me Lucho, but I'm a man full of enthusiasm and much apostolic zeal and with a desire to work in community for the mission , community in mission and along others, especially the Vincentian family. My hope is that the next General Superior and his council will be people who come from the same line of several years ago, not only of my 12 years, but also from the time of Father Maloney, the idea of working more together, a shared mission, where we can go doing what the Spirit inspired San Vicente to perform, especially now that we are celebrating 400 years (of the charism). It is amazing to think that charisma is still alive and we have the duty to move forward, as I mentioned in my homily at the start of the Assembly. Let's go ahead! During these 12 years, was there something that you aimed for and could not achieve? Yes, well I didn’t proposed it but my council proposed something based on what we heard in the general assembly of 2010, one was the desire to do something lika a project or a support center for confreres in difficulty. In some parts of the world there are centers to help priests in these situations, but ,for example, we would start with a pilot project in Latin America where there are programs, but programs where there is an abundance of people waiting to get in and we had thought that maybe ourselves could provide help to support our confreres, our missionaries, but although the idea was well accepted, it has not borne fruit because when the time came it was not supported. Another project, maybe a little smaller but I liked it... a project where universities of the Congregation, which are four: three in the United States and one in the Philippines ... and there is also a school that’s like a type of university that’s developing in India. The idea is that they begin to support closely our schools in the Congregation which is a strong apostolate with several of the provinces and our idea is that if you have started in the Vincentian charism in the colleges -hopefully yes - then they can provide continuity in our universities. There is an individual effort from DePaul University with some schools but not in the scale I wanted, this has not worked. One thing we accomplished was to unite the universities, now they have formed a conference of presidents. Just as we have conferences of visitors and conferences of provinces. This is a conference of presidents (of Universities), who meet once or twice a year to plan ways to take action together to deepen the charism in universities. This is working. Another project we left and that we hope continues to grow, is the project of ISVE, our center of Vincentian Studies. They plan to create an online program of Vincentian spirituality and history, setting a magister or an academic degree, to maintain and deepen the preparation of our Vincentian experts, be they the same confreres or members of the Vincentian Family. This has not advanced at the speed we wanted, but it's there and we hope it goes forward. And as for you, your dream for the future, what would you like to do, what work would you like to be inserted after your mandate ends. That will appear several times, you're going to read this, for example in CLAPVI, which has made me an interview and this was the last question they made me, and that will be published in the magazine and in Vincentiana. Right now I am enrolled in a program, a sabbatical, a program of renewal of spiritual life, which is a comprehensive plan, which will deepen theological, spiritual and psychological issues that have to be incorporated. I will put all my being to be able to renew myself. It’s four months in San Antonio, Texas, and it is a program created by an Oblate of Mary Immaculate. They are the ones who promote this project and my idea is that in late October -because the program goes from August to December- I hope I have heard what God wants me to do. I have many offers ... It’s definitely going to be in a place among the poor, whether in an international mission, whether in my own country where I have not worked since 1985 and where there are different places where there are poor and marginalized I would like the opportunity to serve. That is, wherever there are provinces that need missionaries, because I know that there are. Every place I visited -and have visited many places- I have always gone with the idea to see if this is the place where God wants me ... This ultimately has not worked for me, because in every place I went I would have liked to stay, because I was present at many places and I have seen many possibilities to live our Vincentian vocation as a member of the congregation of the mission. The last question is not a question really, but I ask for a message for this young province, I say young because of the age (of its members), because since 1854 we are in Chile, a message for this small province at the end of the world. I think you have realized in the different visits I have made to Chile, I feel a great affection for the confreres (of Chile), I have always experienced (there) an opening. The first time I visited, Fr. Carlos was the visitor and now Fernando is. Perhaps as it is smaller, it becomes easier to feel like family with the confreres, and one feels welcomed and feels good. I want to encourage you all, because you have good projects, good chances, you have a desire -I see- to do what is done from the reality of the community. There is an attempt to unite and renew, to support mutually in community, periodically. I think that's a very positive thing ... But you keep marking clearly that the projects that distinguish you, are from a member of the Congregation of the Mission. The last time I went I admired the presentation made by young people, in the project-accompanied by the confreres- to answer to people in emergency situations, I was very impressed because it shows a desire to go, when the need comes, to answer giving from themselves in a well-organized manner. And they do not shut themselves in ... You have a good relationship with the laity and I hope that this spirit will continue in the future. Fellows from Chile, cheer up and go! and even if you are small ... Well St. Vincent de Paul called us the Little Company and as he himself prayed, it’s no matter the amounts of confreres, what we want are good and holy missionaries. Thank you very much, we are very grateful for this interview for (Radio) Vicentina from Chile and for the C. M. present in that long and narrow strip of land. Cheers and thanks for inviting me to do this interview, Lucho, and thank you for your presence here, along with Father Fernando and we will continue to pray that everything goes well in this Assembly, for the good of the Congregation, for the sake of our Vincentian family, but above all, for our lords and masters, the poor. God bless you. .
Interview with the Superior General, Fr. Gregory Gay
El Superior General de la Congregación de la Misión, que concluye su mandato en pocos días más, concedió una entrevista al P. Luis Chávez para Radio Vicentina y vicentinos.cl:
Audio de RadioVicentina
We are with F. Gregory Gay, General Superior of the Congregation of the Mission. We are at the General Assembly; the 42nd. General Assembly and Father Gregory ends his term as General Superior with this Assembly, so we want to make this special interview for Radio Vicentina and also for the Province of Chile website. Thank you very much for agreeing to this short interview. I’m glad, Father Lucho, for the opportunity to do this interview for Radio Vicentina and also for the website of the Province of Chile. It's a pleasure being able to share and answer as best I can the questions that you have. The first question that comes to mind is: how do you feel in the beginning of this Assembly -although we are already a couple of days in- and also a few days from ending your term? Well, at the beginning of the Assembly there is always some anxiety ... but not too much... I know that between the General Council and the Preparatory Commission and all the work done by the Technical Commission together with the team here at the University of Paul, is well organized. And when it’s well organized you feel more relaxed and can concentrate fully in what we are doing. As always the first and second day can be a bit difficult because we have to approve directories and changes sometimes can be difficult, because there are confreres who do not understand well the changes, or they haven’t prepared well for the Assembly or they have a different vision from the others as to the direction we want to give the Assembly ... then there is, I feel, at this time, a bit of tension, but thank God, we’ve passed this stage more quietly than I expected ... and now I'm getting closer to the day of the election of the new superior General, although I haven’t had much chance to think about it, because from the beginning of the GA to the day of the election, I think I've had too many interventions… I have had the opening Mass, I gave a lecture today about the whole Congregation: where we are and where are we going; then I have to give orientations refering to the election of the Superior General, Vicar General and assistants and also one more intervention that I have about a project that I want to present to the Congregation for the 400th anniversary … I still have a lot of work to do, which is good because it takes a little of my time…. and being the president of the Assembly and thus Chairman of the Central Committee, that takes time; for example now we had a meeting that started at 8:15 and ended after 1 hour and 45 minutes… But I felt good and quiet. We are moving forward, because all is well prepared and I feel that the confreres are entering (in the rhythm of the Assembly) and above all, I care about the exchange between others from different cultures and languages and there is a sense of family among us. It's nice to see that everyone is not going to end alone with his own group, but they attempt to know other realities ... that is nice … And the fact that we are in roundtables, and every day in a different table, enriches what you can share ... experience. Yes, that is a methodology that we’ve improved, because before we had roundtable discussions at the meeting of visitors in New York three years ago, but the idea is to continue with round tables, but making table changes every day, so that one goes largely knowing other people. There are some confreres who can handle one, two or three languages and we have aimed to that, to the opportunity to communicate with larger groups… Well, that's been my experience, I’ve had the chance to practice my French again, I have been able to share with more people ... I have become very fond of the visitor of Vietnam, for example, who also speaks French … Another question, what is your assessment of your management? Which is the most negative experience you’ve had in recent years and which was the most positive? The most negative ... well I do not know if it was that negative ... was the frustration that one feels wanting to moving the congregation to a wider vision of what we are: an international Congregation and a missionary Congregation, as I’ve mentioned clearly today ... and as I’ve mentioned, maybe there is another negative factor that also appeared in the dialogue: an attitude focussed on the provinces and also some individualism ... this makes it harder to see ourselves as an international Congregation… But something positive is what I’ve said before: there is an attempt to get to know others, beyond my circle, beyond my province, beyond my conference visitors, beyond my own country ... that is something very significant for me ... but (individualism) has been a frustration …And among the positive things ... well I have been encouraged, since the beginning, by the visitors in 2004 and have continued this in 2010: making myself present in the provinces with visitations, because I discovered charisma with more depth; I have a better knowledge of the Congregation of the Mission and also of the provinces from their peripheries and this experience helps me to have more elements to discern and make decisions when there are difficult moments in the Council, talking about a situation or another, from one province or another, from one confrere or other ... Then the visits have been for me, perhaps, one of the most positive things ... Well, there are other things, but you told me the most positive and most negative … In short, in what state is at this time the Congregation of the Mission? This is a question I’ve been asked by other "journalists", as the confrere who interviewed me earlier and well ... they are logical questions and you have the opportunity to comment, after 12 years, how is the Congregation. As I said, I have hope because I see enthusiasm ... I see an attitude of opening roads, taking directions that we have not taken much so far ... for example this challenge that the ones from the North allow ones from the South to go to evangelise, just as the north have evangelized before the south ... I see this as a challenge and as something that will happen and is happening. This gives me much hope ... Some, especially those who (in their provinces) have more (members), regret that we are decreasing, but that is relative, in some places that’s true, but elsewhere are growing. When we have a more international vision, we must rejoice, because the Congregation is not dying, the Congregation is alive and well and it’s thanks to the commitments it has made in various places, thanks to the creativity, in collaboration with the Vincentian Family. A question that may be difficult to answer is regarding the choice of the next General superior... In your opinion, what should be the main strengths that the new General superior must have to face the current challenges? FG: It's hard to say, it is true, but I have to, because these days I have to give guidance to all for the election of the Superior General, Vicar General and assistants. And I will present what I see, according to the needs of today ... I can mention some things right now, because I’ve said something presenting my vision of the Congregation at this time .... (The new Superior General) definitely has to be a confrere "on the road”, ready to leave, to go where we are, to meet the confrere and with the Vincentian Family and to really be in the middle of all ... I tried in my 12 years to change the image that the superior General has, often on a pedestal ... I feel that he should be viewed as a brother among others, with the same mission, which is to evangelize the poor, aware that he is ultimately responsible for the Congregation, but always well supported, on one side by the Congregation, by the visitors, by the General Council itself and by the leaders of the Vincentian Family, which is something that is increasingly consolidating, so (their leaders ) feel increasingly free to express where we need to go as a Vincentian Family. Well, maybe you have it reserved for a homily or final speech, but what would be your will or your words to the Congregation of the Mission and the Vincentian Family? FG: I have a Mass the day of the election of the new General Superior and for the most part I think I get what you're asking me Lucho, but I'm a man full of enthusiasm and much apostolic zeal and with a desire to work in community for the mission , community in mission and along others, especially the Vincentian family. My hope is that the next General Superior and his council will be people who come from the same line of several years ago, not only of my 12 years, but also from the time of Father Maloney, the idea of working more together, a shared mission, where we can go doing what the Spirit inspired San Vicente to perform, especially now that we are celebrating 400 years (of the charism). It is amazing to think that charisma is still alive and we have the duty to move forward, as I mentioned in my homily at the start of the Assembly. Let's go ahead! During these 12 years, was there something that you aimed for and could not achieve? Yes, well I didn’t proposed it but my council proposed something based on what we heard in the general assembly of 2010, one was the desire to do something lika a project or a support center for confreres in difficulty. In some parts of the world there are centers to help priests in these situations, but ,for example, we would start with a pilot project in Latin America where there are programs, but programs where there is an abundance of people waiting to get in and we had thought that maybe ourselves could provide help to support our confreres, our missionaries, but although the idea was well accepted, it has not borne fruit because when the time came it was not supported. Another project, maybe a little smaller but I liked it... a project where universities of the Congregation, which are four: three in the United States and one in the Philippines ... and there is also a school that’s like a type of university that’s developing in India. The idea is that they begin to support closely our schools in the Congregation which is a strong apostolate with several of the provinces and our idea is that if you have started in the Vincentian charism in the colleges -hopefully yes - then they can provide continuity in our universities. There is an individual effort from DePaul University with some schools but not in the scale I wanted, this has not worked. One thing we accomplished was to unite the universities, now they have formed a conference of presidents. Just as we have conferences of visitors and conferences of provinces. This is a conference of presidents (of Universities), who meet once or twice a year to plan ways to take action together to deepen the charism in universities. This is working. Another project we left and that we hope continues to grow, is the project of ISVE, our center of Vincentian Studies. They plan to create an online program of Vincentian spirituality and history, setting a magister or an academic degree, to maintain and deepen the preparation of our Vincentian experts, be they the same confreres or members of the Vincentian Family. This has not advanced at the speed we wanted, but it's there and we hope it goes forward. And as for you, your dream for the future, what would you like to do, what work would you like to be inserted after your mandate ends. That will appear several times, you're going to read this, for example in CLAPVI, which has made me an interview and this was the last question they made me, and that will be published in the magazine and in Vincentiana. Right now I am enrolled in a program, a sabbatical, a program of renewal of spiritual life, which is a comprehensive plan, which will deepen theological, spiritual and psychological issues that have to be incorporated. I will put all my being to be able to renew myself. It’s four months in San Antonio, Texas, and it is a program created by an Oblate of Mary Immaculate. They are the ones who promote this project and my idea is that in late October -because the program goes from August to December- I hope I have heard what God wants me to do. I have many offers ... It’s definitely going to be in a place among the poor, whether in an international mission, whether in my own country where I have not worked since 1985 and where there are different places where there are poor and marginalized I would like the opportunity to serve. That is, wherever there are provinces that need missionaries, because I know that there are. Every place I visited -and have visited many places- I have always gone with the idea to see if this is the place where God wants me ... This ultimately has not worked for me, because in every place I went I would have liked to stay, because I was present at many places and I have seen many possibilities to live our Vincentian vocation as a member of the congregation of the mission. The last question is not a question really, but I ask for a message for this young province, I say young because of the age (of its members), because since 1854 we are in Chile, a message for this small province at the end of the world. I think you have realized in the different visits I have made to Chile, I feel a great affection for the confreres (of Chile), I have always experienced (there) an opening. The first time I visited, Fr. Carlos was the visitor and now Fernando is. Perhaps as it is smaller, it becomes easier to feel like family with the confreres, and one feels welcomed and feels good. I want to encourage you all, because you have good projects, good chances, you have a desire -I see- to do what is done from the reality of the community. There is an attempt to unite and renew, to support mutually in community, periodically. I think that's a very positive thing ... But you keep marking clearly that the projects that distinguish you, are from a member of the Congregation of the Mission. The last time I went I admired the presentation made by young people, in the project-accompanied by the confreres- to answer to people in emergency situations, I was very impressed because it shows a desire to go, when the need comes, to answer giving from themselves in a well-organized manner. And they do not shut themselves in ... You have a good relationship with the laity and I hope that this spirit will continue in the future. Fellows from Chile, cheer up and go! and even if you are small ... Well St. Vincent de Paul called us the Little Company and as he himself prayed, it’s no matter the amounts of confreres, what we want are good and holy missionaries. Thank you very much, we are very grateful for this interview for (Radio) Vicentina from Chile and for the C. M. present in that long and narrow strip of land. Cheers and thanks for inviting me to do this interview, Lucho, and thank you for your presence here, along with Father Fernando and we will continue to pray that everything goes well in this Assembly, for the good of the Congregation, for the sake of our Vincentian family, but above all, for our lords and masters, the poor. God bless you. .
We are with F. Gregory Gay, General Superior of the Congregation of the Mission. We are at the General Assembly; the 42nd. General Assembly and Father Gregory ends his term as General Superior with this Assembly, so we want to make this special interview for Radio Vicentina and also for the Province of Chile website. Thank you very much for agreeing to this short interview.
I’m glad, Father Lucho, for the opportunity to do this interview for Radio Vicentina and also for the website of the Province of Chile. It's a pleasure being able to share and answer as best I can the questions that you have.
The first question that comes to mind is: how do you feel in the beginning of this Assembly -although we are already a couple of days in- and also a few days from ending your term?
Well, at the beginning of the Assembly there is always some anxiety ... but not too much... I know that between the General Council and the Preparatory Commission and all the work done by the Technical Commission together with the team here at the University of Paul, is well organized. And when it’s well organized you feel more relaxed and can concentrate fully in what we are doing. As always the first and second day can be a bit difficult because we have to approve directories and changes sometimes can be difficult, because there are confreres who do not understand well the changes, or they haven’t prepared well for the Assembly or they have a different vision from the others as to the direction we want to give the Assembly ... then there is, I feel, at this time, a bit of tension, but thank God, we’ve passed this stage more quietly than I expected ... and now I'm getting closer to the day of the election of the new superior General, although I haven’t had much chance to think about it, because from the beginning of the GA to the day of the election, I think I've had too many interventions… I have had the opening Mass, I gave a lecture today about the whole Congregation: where we are and where are we going; then I have to give orientations refering to the election of the Superior General, Vicar General and assistants and also one more intervention that I have about a project that I want to present to the Congregation for the 400th anniversary … I still have a lot of work to do, which is good because it takes a little of my time…. and being the president of the Assembly and thus Chairman of the Central Committee, that takes time; for example now we had a meeting that started at 8:15 and ended after 1 hour and 45 minutes… But I felt good and quiet. We are moving forward, because all is well prepared and I feel that the confreres are entering (in the rhythm of the Assembly) and above all, I care about the exchange between others from different cultures and languages and there is a sense of family among us. It's nice to see that everyone is not going to end alone with his own group, but they attempt to know other realities ... that is nice …
And the fact that we are in roundtables, and every day in a different table, enriches what you can share ... experience.
Yes, that is a methodology that we’ve improved, because before we had roundtable discussions at the meeting of visitors in New York three years ago, but the idea is to continue with round tables, but making table changes every day, so that one goes largely knowing other people. There are some confreres who can handle one, two or three languages and we have aimed to that, to the opportunity to communicate with larger groups…
Well, that's been my experience, I’ve had the chance to practice my French again, I have been able to share with more people ... I have become very fond of the visitor of Vietnam, for example, who also speaks French … Another question, what is your assessment of your management? Which is the most negative experience you’ve had in recent years and which was the most positive?
The most negative ... well I do not know if it was that negative ... was the frustration that one feels wanting to moving the congregation to a wider vision of what we are: an international Congregation and a missionary Congregation, as I’ve mentioned clearly today ... and as I’ve mentioned, maybe there is another negative factor that also appeared in the dialogue: an attitude focussed on the provinces and also some individualism ... this makes it harder to see ourselves as an international Congregation… But something positive is what I’ve said before: there is an attempt to get to know others, beyond my circle, beyond my province, beyond my conference visitors, beyond my own country ... that is something very significant for me ... but (individualism) has been a frustration …And among the positive things ... well I have been encouraged, since the beginning, by the visitors in 2004 and have continued this in 2010: making myself present in the provinces with visitations, because I discovered charisma with more depth; I have a better knowledge of the Congregation of the Mission and also of the provinces from their peripheries and this experience helps me to have more elements to discern and make decisions when there are difficult moments in the Council, talking about a situation or another, from one province or another, from one confrere or other ... Then the visits have been for me, perhaps, one of the most positive things ... Well, there are other things, but you told me the most positive and most negative …
In short, in what state is at this time the Congregation of the Mission?
This is a question I’ve been asked by other "journalists", as the confrere who interviewed me earlier and well ... they are logical questions and you have the opportunity to comment, after 12 years, how is the Congregation. As I said, I have hope because I see enthusiasm ... I see an attitude of opening roads, taking directions that we have not taken much so far ... for example this challenge that the ones from the North allow ones from the South to go to evangelise, just as the north have evangelized before the south ... I see this as a challenge and as something that will happen and is happening. This gives me much hope ... Some, especially those who (in their provinces) have more (members), regret that we are decreasing, but that is relative, in some places that’s true, but elsewhere are growing. When we have a more international vision, we must rejoice, because the Congregation is not dying, the Congregation is alive and well and it’s thanks to the commitments it has made in various places, thanks to the creativity, in collaboration with the Vincentian Family.
A question that may be difficult to answer is regarding the choice of the next General superior... In your opinion, what should be the main strengths that the new General superior must have to face the current challenges?
FG: It's hard to say, it is true, but I have to, because these days I have to give guidance to all for the election of the Superior General, Vicar General and assistants. And I will present what I see, according to the needs of today ... I can mention some things right now, because I’ve said something presenting my vision of the Congregation at this time .... (The new Superior General) definitely has to be a confrere "on the road”, ready to leave, to go where we are, to meet the confrere and with the Vincentian Family and to really be in the middle of all ... I tried in my 12 years to change the image that the superior General has, often on a pedestal ... I feel that he should be viewed as a brother among others, with the same mission, which is to evangelize the poor, aware that he is ultimately responsible for the Congregation, but always well supported, on one side by the Congregation, by the visitors, by the General Council itself and by the leaders of the Vincentian Family, which is something that is increasingly consolidating, so (their leaders ) feel increasingly free to express where we need to go as a Vincentian Family.
Well, maybe you have it reserved for a homily or final speech, but what would be your will or your words to the Congregation of the Mission and the Vincentian Family?
FG: I have a Mass the day of the election of the new General Superior and for the most part I think I get what you're asking me Lucho, but I'm a man full of enthusiasm and much apostolic zeal and with a desire to work in community for the mission , community in mission and along others, especially the Vincentian family. My hope is that the next General Superior and his council will be people who come from the same line of several years ago, not only of my 12 years, but also from the time of Father Maloney, the idea of working more together, a shared mission, where we can go doing what the Spirit inspired San Vicente to perform, especially now that we are celebrating 400 years (of the charism). It is amazing to think that charisma is still alive and we have the duty to move forward, as I mentioned in my homily at the start of the Assembly. Let's go ahead!
During these 12 years, was there something that you aimed for and could not achieve?
Yes, well I didn’t proposed it but my council proposed something based on what we heard in the general assembly of 2010, one was the desire to do something lika a project or a support center for confreres in difficulty. In some parts of the world there are centers to help priests in these situations, but ,for example, we would start with a pilot project in Latin America where there are programs, but programs where there is an abundance of people waiting to get in and we had thought that maybe ourselves could provide help to support our confreres, our missionaries, but although the idea was well accepted, it has not borne fruit because when the time came it was not supported.
Another project, maybe a little smaller but I liked it... a project where universities of the Congregation, which are four: three in the United States and one in the Philippines ... and there is also a school that’s like a type of university that’s developing in India. The idea is that they begin to support closely our schools in the Congregation which is a strong apostolate with several of the provinces and our idea is that if you have started in the Vincentian charism in the colleges -hopefully yes - then they can provide continuity in our universities. There is an individual effort from DePaul University with some schools but not in the scale I wanted, this has not worked. One thing we accomplished was to unite the universities, now they have formed a conference of presidents. Just as we have conferences of visitors and conferences of provinces. This is a conference of presidents (of Universities), who meet once or twice a year to plan ways to take action together to deepen the charism in universities. This is working. Another project we left and that we hope continues to grow, is the project of ISVE, our center of Vincentian Studies. They plan to create an online program of Vincentian spirituality and history, setting a magister or an academic degree, to maintain and deepen the preparation of our Vincentian experts, be they the same confreres or members of the Vincentian Family. This has not advanced at the speed we wanted, but it's there and we hope it goes forward.
And as for you, your dream for the future, what would you like to do, what work would you like to be inserted after your mandate ends.
That will appear several times, you're going to read this, for example in CLAPVI, which has made me an interview and this was the last question they made me, and that will be published in the magazine and in Vincentiana. Right now I am enrolled in a program, a sabbatical, a program of renewal of spiritual life, which is a comprehensive plan, which will deepen theological, spiritual and psychological issues that have to be incorporated. I will put all my being to be able to renew myself. It’s four months in San Antonio, Texas, and it is a program created by an Oblate of Mary Immaculate. They are the ones who promote this project and my idea is that in late October -because the program goes from August to December- I hope I have heard what God wants me to do. I have many offers ... It’s definitely going to be in a place among the poor, whether in an international mission, whether in my own country where I have not worked since 1985 and where there are different places where there are poor and marginalized I would like the opportunity to serve. That is, wherever there are provinces that need missionaries, because I know that there are. Every place I visited -and have visited many places- I have always gone with the idea to see if this is the place where God wants me ... This ultimately has not worked for me, because in every place I went I would have liked to stay, because I was present at many places and I have seen many possibilities to live our Vincentian vocation as a member of the congregation of the mission.
The last question is not a question really, but I ask for a message for this young province, I say young because of the age (of its members), because since 1854 we are in Chile, a message for this small province at the end of the world.
I think you have realized in the different visits I have made to Chile, I feel a great affection for the confreres (of Chile), I have always experienced (there) an opening. The first time I visited, Fr. Carlos was the visitor and now Fernando is. Perhaps as it is smaller, it becomes easier to feel like family with the confreres, and one feels welcomed and feels good. I want to encourage you all, because you have good projects, good chances, you have a desire -I see- to do what is done from the reality of the community. There is an attempt to unite and renew, to support mutually in community, periodically. I think that's a very positive thing ... But you keep marking clearly that the projects that distinguish you, are from a member of the Congregation of the Mission. The last time I went I admired the presentation made by young people, in the project-accompanied by the confreres- to answer to people in emergency situations, I was very impressed because it shows a desire to go, when the need comes, to answer giving from themselves in a well-organized manner. And they do not shut themselves in ... You have a good relationship with the laity and I hope that this spirit will continue in the future. Fellows from Chile, cheer up and go! and even if you are small ... Well St. Vincent de Paul called us the Little Company and as he himself prayed, it’s no matter the amounts of confreres, what we want are good and holy missionaries.
Thank you very much, we are very grateful for this interview for (Radio) Vicentina from Chile and for the C. M. present in that long and narrow strip of land.
Cheers and thanks for inviting me to do this interview, Lucho, and thank you for your presence here, along with Father Fernando and we will continue to pray that everything goes well in this Assembly, for the good of the Congregation, for the sake of our Vincentian family, but above all, for our lords and masters, the poor. God bless you. .