The Executive Council for the Missions and Evangelization (CEME), involved in the development of the Ratio Evangelizationis of the Order (REO), met at the General Curia on March 21 and 22.
We put some questions to the members of CEME: Br Francisco Gómez Vargas and Br Dennis Tayo, respectively General Secretary and Animator for the Missions and Evangelization, Br Johannes Freyer and Br José Rodriguez.
What was the objective of this meeting?
Br Johannes: We are continuing the work on Mandate n. 20 of the last General Chapter, that is, to develop the text of the Ratio Evangelizationis of the Order. We’ve already had other meetings that focused on the first part of the REO, the most inspirational part, based on the Franciscan sources, on the documents of the Church and of the Order. We are now preparing for the meeting which will take place in Turkey, in Istanbul [from May 26 to June 2], with representatives of the Conferences and which will deal with the second part of the document, the more “practical” part, which takes into consideration the concrete substance of cultures, local situations, how to be evangelizers and missionaries in different areas of the world.
Has the General Definitory already approved the structure of the Ratio Evangelizationis of the Order (REO)?
Br Francisco: Yes, we are working on that structure in a synodal way, listening to all the friars. It is a process which will lead to a document that is easy to consult, inspirational, while, at the same time, giving practical indications, speaking in the language of today in the various areas of the world.
Where is the Lord sending us to evangelize today?
Br Jose: I believe that everything starts from us, we must start with ourselves. As members of the Order, we are called to go out, towards the abandoned, the poor, the needy, wherever we find ourselves. Obviously we have a special focus on the poor, but in the world today we have various °poverties°, I live on the border between the USA and Mexico and there are thousands of people in need, but we must also address young people, in schools and universities. In the Western world we often live in a post-Christian culture, it has happened that some North American missionaries sent to different parts of the world have returned to the United States to evangelize. We must evangelize wherever we are and always together with people.
Br Francisco: Evangelization starts from the charismatic identity, sometimes it is evangelized only through the ministry that is covered or the vestments that we wear, while instead, wherever we are in the world, we must always remember the value of our Franciscan charism.
Br Dennis: We must respond to the realities of today's world. Today we bring our charism with us as a gift to the reality around us. And the “New Forms” of evangelization respond precisely to the different realities in which we live, this is the contribution of us Franciscans to the local Churches and to the universal Church.
How does St Francis speak to us today about living the Gospel?
Br Francisco: Listening to your heart and listening to today's reality. We cannot bring Jesus' proposal if we do not know and listen to the world in which we live. There are many lay people who work and do good without being incardinated in the Church, we must not wait for them to approach us, but we must be the ones to approach them. There are many people who do good, who live a Christian humanity in a secularized world. We must listen, we must use the heart, not just reason, in relationships with others, as Jesus did. There are many lay people who work and do good without being incardinated in the Church, we must not wait for them to approach us, but we must be the ones to approach them. There are many people who do good, who live a Christian humanity in a secularized world. We must listen, we must use the heart, not just reason, in relationships with others, as Jesus did.
Download the REO Structure approved by the General Definitory (Italian)
