The annual meeting of the General Council with the Conference Coordinators took place in the General Curia in Rome from the 26th to the 30th of January 2026. The meeting began with the opening Eucharist celebrated by Fr. Cesar Torres, the Conference Coordinator of Latin America, and the Caribbean. After an inaugural address by Fr. Rogério Gomes, C.Ss.R., Superior General in which he outlined the scope of the meeting and the decisions to be taken the first two days were spent on sharing about the Mid-Sexennial Meetings and Assembly held in each of the Conferences in 2025. Each Conference Coordinator and Consultor shared their impressions on the meetings and Assemblies in the Conferences. The next couple of days were spent on studying the Vadmecum (Summary Document on the Mid-Sexennial Meetings) which was prepared as a summary of all the discussions in the Conferences regarding some of the main decisions of the XXVI General Chapter that the General Government has to implement.
After a careful study of the Vademecum the Meeting took by each decision with suggestions given by the Conference Coordinators for the General council to implement regarding the following: Decision 1, Renewal Program for Confreres after 10 years of full-time Pastoral Ministry; Decision 3: Common Formation; Decision 6: Directory for Shared Mission; Decision 13: Reflection on the Redemptorist Constitutions and Statutes in the Face of Current challenges together with the preparation for the 300th Anniversary of the Founding of the Congregation, 2032; Decisions 18 and 19: On Financial Support and Relationship with the Conference of Africa and Madagascar; and Decision 20: Revision of the Manual for Economic Administration and Management.
The Meeting also took up for discussion the Renewal of the Pastoral Guide for Superiors as well as General Indications for the next General Chapter. Another topic for discussion and voting was the new plan for Reconfiguration in the Conference of Africa and Madagascar. There was time for the Conference Coordinators to share together their concerns and offer suggestions to the General Council regarding matters relating to Inter Conference networking and relationship as well preparation for the forthcoming Fraternal visits in the Units. Bro. Larry Lujan, C.Ss.R., General Consultor, presented a report on the plans for the Brothers Meeting in view of the 300 years anniversary of the Birth of St. Gerard on the 26th April 2026 and Fr. José Inácio de Medeiros, C.Ss.R., of the Historical Institute presented a report on the work and challenges of the Historical Institute and General Archives.
During the Meeting, Fr. Rogério Gomes celebrated his 24th anniversary of Profession. Each of the day’s Eucharist was presided by one of the Conference Coordinators: Fr. Jerome Chavarria from North America, Fr. Yoakim Ndelo from Asia Oceania, Fr. Noel Sottima from Africa and Madagascar and Fr. Piotr Chyła from the Conference of Europe.
The Meeting concluded with the Online Meeting on Consecrated line for the entire Congregation held in the Meeting Room of the General Curia at which Sr. Simona Brambilla, M.C., Prefect of the Dicastery on Religious life gave the keynote address and reflection on Consecrated life: A Journey of Hope.
Fr. Joseph Ivel Mendanha, C.Ss.R.
General Consultor
