Closing Remarks

Let us express our gratitude to everyone who has worked to make this Seminar possible. We thank the SEDOS Team, our President, Sister Mary Barron, OLA, and our Vice President, Father Alain Mayama, CSSp, our Executive Director, Father John Paul Herman, SVD; and our Treasurer, Sister Maria Jerly, SSpS. We also thank the secretaries, Sister Celine, JMJ and Sister Christina, JMJ. We thank our interpreters for the excellent work. We thank our technician, Gian Luca. We thank the facilitators of this day, Father Edgardo, CMF, and Sister Nirmala, FMM. All of you, all of us, have walked together in the realization of this project.

In these nearly two years at SEDOS, I would say we are a family that has walked together and built a friendship in the service of the mission. For this reason, my heart feels a little tight.

Today is the last Seminar at which Sister Mary Barron will serve as President. She has been leading SEDOS for three years as Vice President and three years as President. We thank her for her valuable service and her contribution to the smooth running of SEDOS, always serving with love, zeal, and commitment. I ask you to give her a round of applause. I hope she will continue working with us as other SEDOS members continue to do.

Secondly, let us ask ourselves: what do we take home after this day of reflection on the Church's Missionary Activity in honour of the 60th Anniversary of Ad Gentes?

SEDOS was established in response to the Second Vatican Council. Therefore, we have a very great responsibility in our hands: the responsibility of carrying forward the Spirit brought by the council. The context we live in today is different from that of sixty years ago, but the Gospel Message remains the same.

Ad Gentes, n. 26 states that “It is very necessary for the future missionary to devote himself to missiological studies: that is, to know the teachings and norms of the Church concerning missionary activity, to know along what roads the heralds of the Gospel have run in the course of the centuries, and also what is the present condition of the missions, and what methods are considered more effective at the present time.” May we continue walking together on God’s mission with courage, boldness, and openness to new things. May the Lord help us to continue rendering a Service of Documentation and Research on Global Mission.

Lastly, I have to make two very important announcements: The Annual General Assembly that will be held on 11 November 2025, here, in this place, at 9:00 am. Among the many things to be done on this day will be the presentation of the Budget 2026 and the election of the new members to the SEDOS Board. We are asking you to suggest new nominees, so far there are only two nominees. We are asking for more candidates, particularly a Sister to replace Sr. Anna Damas, who is finishing her second term.

Secondly, we will have our Christmas Party on 12 December at the SVD Generalate from 5.00-7.00 pm. Please, join us on this day of joy and thanksgiving.

Spring Seminar Tuesday, March 10, 2026, at UISG.

Residential Seminar May 4-8, 2026, at the Centro Ad Gentes, Nemi.

Autumn Seminar Thursday, October 22, 2026, at UISG.