Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Fides Service) - The 10th general assembly of the Fraternity of the Missionaries of St Charles Borromeo opened on March 29 in Ariccia (Rome) and will close on Sunday 3 April. The assembly coincides with the 20th anniversary of the institution of the Fraternity 1985-2005. Present for the meeting, the founder and general superior Mgr. Massimo Camisasca and delegates from Europe, America, Africa and Asia where many missionaries are present. On Saturday 2 April the assembly will elect the superior general, vicar general and other posts.
The Fraternity of St Charles is present in Italy; in Portugal in three parishes around Lisbon; in Spain in the populous Fuenlabrada district of Madrid; Germany at Emmendingen, near Friburg; in Austria in Vienna, parish work and university pastoral. Recently the Fraternity opened a house in Prague Czech Republic and is preparing to open a house in Budapest, Hungary. Since 1990 St Charles missionaries have worked in Siberia, and more recently they opened a house in Moscow.
In Africa the Fraternity is present in the parish of Kahawa Sukari, Nairobi, Kenya with a social programme for the greatest needs: unemployment among young people, AIDS and micro-credit programmes to help single mothers. Recently the Fraternity opened a house in Taipei, Taiwan. In North America there are three houses: one in Canada, in Montreal and two in the United States at Attleboro near Boston and in Washington.
The presence of the Fraternity in South America has increased. In 2003 a seminary was opened in Mexico City for students from all over Latin America who will then continue their studies in Rome. In Chile one missionary is in charge of university pastoral in Concepcion. In Asuncion, Paraguay, priests of the Fraternity work in a parish which is an important reference point for the city. In Argentina they opened a house in La Plata in 2002.
(AP) (30/3/2005 Agenzia Fides; Righe: 30; Parole: 395)
