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The International Session in Rome, organized for brothers preparing for their perpetual vows (SIR-PPP), took place at the General House in Rome, Italy. The 2026 session began on March 12 and concluded on June 2 with a closing Mass.

THE SESSIONISTS:

Twenty-one brothers participated, including eighteen Brothers of the Sacred Heart from the following entities: Delegation of Central Africa (1), Province of Brazil (1), Province of Colombia (2), ESA Province (3), Province of Haiti (1), Province of Madagascar (8), Delegation of the Philippines (1), Province of Senegal (1), and three (3) Xaverian Brothers from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (2) and Kenya (1).

For group work, as well as for translations and documents, these brothers were divided into three language groups: English (9), French (9), and Spanish (3).

FORMATION TEAM:

The organization and facilitation of this formation were carried out by three (3) brothers: Ferdinand Agbloyoe-Kossivi Yao, Ignace Sambou, and Dominique Omedjunga, a Xaverian brother. Brother Herbert Mangove, the third general councilor, served as the SIR's liaison with the general administration.

THE PROGRAM – The conferences are the main activity. Here is the schedule week by week:

Week 1:    Presentation of the program and organization of activities (FF. Ferdinand, Ignace and Dominique);

Week 2:    Listening and communication (FF. Donald Bouchard and Narcisse Fangwa);

Week 3:    Self-knowledge; dialogue with the inner child (Father Ferdinand Kanlangayi, Salesian);

Week 4:    Ordinance of the 37th Chapter (Brothers Mark Hilton, Stéphane Sané, Carlos Almaraz, Herbert Mangove and Luc Boudreault);

Week 5:    Integration and evaluation (FF. Ferdinand, Ignace, Dominique);

Week 6:    Rule of life (Fr. Romuald Gueye);

Week 7:    Vows (Sister Charlotte Obeid, Brother Mark Hilton);

Week 8:    Knowledge of others, interculturality and norms (FF. Ferdinand, Ignace, Dominique);

Week 9:    Dynamics of fraternal life (Br. Ignacio Carmona);

Week 10:  Integration and evaluation (FF. Ferdinand, Ignace, Dominique);

Week 11:  The Charism of Foundation of the Institute (Brother Louis-André Bellemare and Mr. Devlin John)

THE ACTIVITIES:         In addition to this program of conferences, there are many other equally important activities: visits to the basilicas, churches, squares, monuments and remains of Rome, the different committee, jobs, games, presentation of the provinces, individual conferences with participants, sports activities, etc.

Here are some key points from these activities: First, the brothers enthusiastically embraced the various tasks assigned to them. The different committees (sports, liturgy, music, celebrations and leisure, etc.) also functioned well overall, even if some were less involved than others. What was particularly striking was the explosion of their talents for doing things, as well as their ability to recognize the strengths of others by identifying brothers who possessed specific qualities or skills for particular tasks. This spirit of recognizing the abilities of others allowed each brother to feel valued for what he does, knows how to do, and is. This strengthened the already strong sense of belonging among the brothers, making relationships smoother and allowing each brother to participate in activities according to his own strengths and limitations.

PRESENTATION OF THE PROVINCES:     The presentation of each province is always an opportunity to discover the activities, works, cultural and social realities, and living environments of the brothers in their own province. This presentation also highlights the inequalities in the endowment of fundraising works across countries and provinces. Despite these differences, the brothers demonstrate the same spirit of commitment to their mission, ensuring the sustainability of their work and strengthening community spirit. The presentations are always followed by a social evening with the brothers from the General House.

PILGRIMAGE TO LYON:     It is impossible to discuss SIR-PPP - 2026 without mentioning the pilgrimage to Lyon. Previous editions had chosen Assisi as the site for pilgrimage and retreat, a time when each person, individually or in a group, relives their vocational experience under the gaze of Saint Francis of Assisi and draws strength to persevere in their walk following Christ. This year, the commemoration of the bicentenary of the death of our founder, Father André Coindre, changed the situation. The pilgrimage took place in Lyon and Paradis for the Brothers of the Sacred Heart, and still in Assisi for the Xaverian Brothers. The activities and celebrations of this bicentenary were held from May 27 to 31, with activities focused on the life of André Coindre through visits to the various places in Lyon that marked his life or that he marked through his life. Prior to this, the participants also invested considerable time and effort in preparing for the pilgrimage, particularly in organizing the various Eucharistic celebrations, complete with songs and music. The thorough preparation by the brothers of the General Council and the Charism Commission, chaired by Brother Carlos Almaraz, also contributed to the success of this pilgrimage.

CLOSING MASS:     At the beginning of the closing Mass on June 2, 2026, the Superior General, Brother Mark Hilton, addressed the participants. In his message, he first clarified that perpetual profession is a lifelong commitment to the service of God's Love. He then reminded them that we have and aspire to only one hope: the person of Jesus. To be with Him, now and forever, because, like Saint John, we have seen Him, touched Him, and heard Him, because He manifests Himself in our lives through His Love. And so, our response to this love is to constantly rekindle this Love within us so that we may manifest Him to those around us.

In his homily, Brother Ignace Sambou began with the Gospel passage where Christ urged us to give to Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God the things that are God's, inviting each of us to become aware of what God invites us to renounce in order to truly cling to Christ. Especially in our communities, we must acknowledge Tiberius Caesar's oversized ego, which can foster a taste for monopolizing power in one hand. He finally made the connection between our pilgrimage to Lyon for the Bicentenary of Father André Coindre and what we bring back from this celebration, which will also accompany each participant in the process of their final commitment through perpetual vows.

The session of handing over the Certificate of end of session SIR-PPP-2026, the USB keys containing the documents of the session, the papal blessings and the cross of perpetual profession to the sessionist brothers was also a moment of joy and great communion. This mass was also an opportunity for the sessionist brothers, through Brother Alex Oketch, to express gratitude to the brothers of the general council, the brothers of the house and the SIR-PPP team for everything they did for the success of this session. The Xaverian brothers, through Brother Fabien Mutombo Kabwe, expressed their gratitude to Brother Mark Hilton and his council, for always accepting the participation of the Xaverian brothers in the SIR-PPP sessions.

Finally, Brother Ferdinand Agbloyoe-Kossivi Yao took the floor to express all the gratitude of the SIR-PPP team to Brother Mark and the other members of the General Council (Stéphane, Carlos, Herbert and Luc) for their commitment and their presence with the brothers during this session. He also expressed thanks to the other members of the community of the general house, brothers Bernardo, Giuliano, Alfredo, Raffaele, Tomas, Joseph, Albert and Camille, for their participation in the organization and the smooth running of this 2026 session. He also expressed his warm thanks to brothers Ignace and Dominique for their great team spirit, unfailing dedication and soothing fraternity: it is a great joy to work with them.

Addressing the participants, he simply summarized two invigorating ideas he had gleaned from their various contributions: that the love of God and the love of one's brothers and sisters rest on concrete foundations, notably the awareness of one's own limitations and the genuine recognition of the other. Indeed, if I, who am created in the image of God, nevertheless experience sin, I should be able to accept the fragility of the other, of the other brother or sister, who can also fall within their limitations while still bearing the image of God. Thus, it is by humbly acknowledging my own limitations that I emerge from the illusion of being "the best"; this can open my eyes and my heart to discern what the other brings: their talents, their abilities, and their unique richness. In this way, a true community is born, founded on mutual recognition, the fertile ground for authentic fraternal love.

This beautiful closing mass ended with a good meal and therefore a lovely party organized on a beautiful day!

GOING BACK HOME:     The return journey of the brothers to their various entities at the end of this session took place from June 3 to 9, 2026.