br. Anthony Walsh (Australia), br. Juan Luis Mediavilla (Syndic of the Order), br. Juan Ubaldo Lopez (President, Colombia), br. Pablo Condrac (Secretary, Argentina), br. Richard Ounsworth (England), br. Benjamin Sombel (Africa) was present virtually.
In order to continue strengthening the main purpose of the solidarity funds of the Order and to respond to what was expressed in the General Chapters in the sense of helping and encouraging the most needy areas of the Order, with financial resources destined for scholarships, projects and programs, the SMI Board met in person in Rome last May (4-6).
During the sessions were presented: the report of the year 2021 (ACG Trogir, 2013, 203), the new Statute of the Fund for Initial Formation (ACG Biên Hòa, 2019, 228); approved by the Master of the Order and his Council in November 2021 and the report of SMI to the General Chapter of Tultenango 2022.
Likewise, a dialogue was held with the Socii for Apostolic Life and Fraternal Life and Formation, in which some challenges and opportunities of the Order for the coming years were shared, so that the SMI Board can have an overview of the priorities and needs of the Order in the initial formation projects, the Order’s institutions for scholarships for complementary studies and its relationship with the newly created Network of Universities of the Order of Preachers (UNOP-RUOP), among other topics.
On the other hand, the requests sent by the Provinces of Poland, Vietnam, Nigeria and St. Augustine (Africa) were presented for consideration, evaluation and recommendation to the Master of the Order, which have been approved by the Master of the Order for an amount of €115,000, for initial formation and scholarships for complementary studies.
For more information on the Order’s solidarity funds, please visit: https://www.op.org/documents/#810-813-wpfd-7_spem-miram-information-and-application-forms-home-doc-en-5fbf8ea66d4ae
fr. Juan Ubaldo López Salamanca, OP
President SMI
