Third General Assembly of the Union of Catholic Apostolate

The Third Ordinary General Assembly of the Union of Catholic Apostolate was held from 14-17 January 2012 at St. Vincent Pallotti Centre of Spirituality, Grottaferrata, Rome. There were 36 participants at the Assembly consisting of 27 voting members, experts, observers, translators, secretaries and moderators. As a central theme, the Assembly focussed on the challenge of the 'New Evangelization' and the Pallottine response to it. This is a theme that needs to be reflected upon and concretely realised all over the Pallottine world in the coming years. One of the main events of the Assembly was the election of the members of the new General Coordination Council. The 13 members, including the 3 ex-officio Superiors General, represent all the realities of the Union as far as possible.
The protection of minors and of vulnerable adults was another theme given serious consideration during the Assembly. The vitality and dynamism of the Union will depend much on creative leadership with a universal vision and a profound love for our Founder and his charism. There should also be the willingness to work systematically on concrete and life-giving expressions of the charismatic vision of our Founder in different cultural and ecclesial situations. With this perspective, the Assembly also approved four proposals for further reflection and implementation: the 'New Evangelisation' and the Pallottine charism as a response to it, the participation of all members of the Union as equal partners in concrete missionary activities, renew and spread the celebration of the solemnity of the Epiphany, in forms suitable to our times, according to the inspiration of St. Vincent Pallotti, and the coordination of communities of lay men and women, consecrated and not. The whole Assembly was, for all the participants, an experience of Cenacle and of true family.