One mission, different vocations: a new chapter in our history begins, always at the service of God and our brothers
On 8 December 2024, the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life established the transition of the Missionary Community of Villaregia from an International Public Association of Faithful to a Public Association of the Faithful in itinere, with a view to becoming an Ecclesial Family of Consecrated Life of diocesan right.
In addition, the Dicastery approved, the new text of the Constitutions ad experimentum for 3 years. This was drawn up through a process that involved the members of the Community and it was approved at the General Assembly in July 2024. This allows the Community to experience the structuring and physiognomy of the Ecclesial Family from now on.
Three branches, one common mission
In its new configuration, the Community consists of three distinct branches, united by the same mission:
Branch of male missionaries, made up of consecrated celibates, clergy or laity.
Branch of female missionaries, made up of unmarried consecrated women.
Branch of missionary spouses, composed of married couples and widows.
Different ways of living the missionary call
Inside the Male missionaries branch and the Female missionaries branch, the call can materialize in various ways:
- Missionaries of common life, they live in community and dedicate themselves full time to the mission ad gentes, bringing the Gospel to the whole world.
- Missionaries in the world, live their consecration in their own social context, working and operating in society as signs of communion and mission.
Among the members of common life are the missionaries of mercy, who are dedicated to the evangelization of the poorest. They live next to them with a simple lifestyle.
Others choose a more intense life of prayer as missionaries and missionaries of contemplative life. They offer a service of universal intercession and testify to the primacy of the Lord through prayer.
The missionary spouses bring their testimony starting from the experience of conjugal and family love, embodying the mission in the daily life of family and social life.
Associates: a shared path
Next to the members, there are the Associates: they participate in the charism and mission of the Community, enriching it with their gifts and commitment. They find a space for personal and spiritual growth in the Community.
A missionary family
Members and Associates form the Missionary Family of Villaregia, express the richness of a single charism through the diversity of states of life and vocations. The community is united in the love of God and in the mission to bring hope and brotherhood to every corner of the earth.
The new posts
Finally, having to renew the offices of government in accordance with the provisions of the new text of the Constitutions, the Dicastery, proceeded with the following appointments:
President: Briseida Cotto Ayala
Vice President: Fr. Antonio Serrau
General Responsible of the Male Missionary Branch: Fr. Giorgio Parenzan
General Responsible of the Female Missionary Branch: Antonietta Tufano
General Responsible of the Missionary Spouses Branch: Angel Gabriel Cortes Colòn and Yolanda Aurora Abreu
General Councillors of the Male Missionary Branch: Fr. Siro Opportuni, Fr. Valerio D’Eliseo and Fr. Federico Santin
General Counsellor of the Female Missionary Branch: Margherita Coralli, Giuseppina Maria Sanna and Marcia Isabel Medeiros Lopes.
General Councillors of the Branch of the Missionary Spouses: Leonardo Zocchi and Silvia Zocchi Tamberi; Ana Paula Silveira Magalhaes Mansueto and Esenclever Mansueto; Giuseppe Arcangeli and Alessandra Favaron.
Looking ahead
The path that opens is a challenge and a grace: preparing to be an ecclesial Family of consecrated life means deepening the meaning of our vocation, continuing to work for the good of the universal Church and living the mission with radicality and joy.
With gratitude and hope, we entrust ourselves to the guidance of the Church and the power of the Spirit to continue to be a sign of communion and mission for the world.
We express gratitude to God for our journey; to the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life and the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life for the accompaniment in these years of discernment; to Dr. Teresa Rodriguez, Pontifical Assistant, for the valuable service carried out.
We thank all the friends and aggregated members for the support, prayer and affection with which they have accompanied this journey and we entrust our journey to the Virgin Mary.
