The Council of the Congregation met in Rome.  All the provincial superiors, district superiors, and the general council were there.

Fr. Bob Baker, district superior of the District of Perú, gave a very interesting reflection at one of the prayer services:

Three years ago on September 15th we put two anchors on the crucifix of our oldest chapel in Chimbote.  When asked what they mean, it was the moment to share the significance that our symbol has become for us……………..         

            Our cross is holy, blest with anchors, to draw us together and find our only hope in being and becoming a community of presence and service within and for the local church.    It is the Lord’s cross at the center of our lives, to deepen our remembering of his being like us in his humanity and his being for us in his divinity…Our faith in Him is thus deeply anchored in who he is and what he is still doing for us. Our spiritual life began and continues in this sign of the cross traced with firm hand across our mind and heart as we renew daily our sense of belonging to Him.  This personal affirmation of our onging commitment to know, love and serve Him shines through the very weakness we offer as ourselves to become men consecrated by Him to intercede for others’ needs and to often speak his word for them.  As He continues to mold and transform our weakness into His strength, we share the heart and mind of this Good Shepherd, to make known his presence and concern for us all.

            We are religious of Holy Cross, who anchor our faith in the Lord with this steadfast desire and firm decision to witness for all that his kingdom is truly present and growing within us and for us, to bring us, though many, together as one.   Where we have been planted and have roots, there we can grow and be fruitful.

 Father John Korcsmar attended a meeting of I.A.F. pastors from New Orleans and organizers.  The pastors from New Orleans were very concerned about what will happen to rebuild New Orleans.  Their  primary concern is that the people from New Orleans and from those neighborhoods should be the primary voices in the discussions and planning.  However, many of those people are not in New Orleans right now.  While developers and politicians look at the various neighborhoods, decide what neighborhoods to rebuilt, and what kinds of building and development will take place and where, many of the local people are absent and unheard.