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The Stages of our formation
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In the initial two years, the missionary would be in the formation course. Living in community life with people from different countries and styles of life, the missionary learns to live out the charism of the community: prayer and ministry of the word.
The subsequent six years would be invested in theological studies. At the same time, the missionary would be actively involved in the apostolate.
Effectively, the formation of our spiritual and missionary life continues even after these initial years. Missionaries and the lay people attracted to the same charism gather frequently for formations, congresses, symposiums, etc.
Depending on the needs of the people and the Church, the missionaries will further their studies so as to be of the greatest and most effective service.
Missionary expansion
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... in the 1960s
Realising that the great gift of the Good News was in their hands to be given for the world, the first missionaries set out from Majorca to the first foundation in Peru.
Later, they went to Rome as well as the different cities of Spain. Rooted in faith, these pioneers not only proclaimed the Good News with their words but with their poor and simple lives.
...in the 1970s
This decade saw the explosive sending out of the missionaries to many parts of the world. In 1977, the 3 Branches gathered in Spain for a retreat and a congress about its charism with the desire to send missionaries to all the 5 continents.
Supported by Cardinal Tarancon, the Verbum Dei missionaries landed in Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, United States, Portugal, France, Germany, Ireland, England, Belgium and the Philippines.
Carrying little else but going on a lot of faith, these missionaries set up new foundations not only in these lands but in the lives of many people who were to know God?s Love in a more personal and transformative way.
...in the 1980s
The missionary expansion stretched to Australia as well and to African lands ? Guinea Equatorial, Congo (Zaire) and Cameroon.
With lives guided by the universal Gospel values of love, peace and brotherhood, no frontier - be it language, culture, colour, etc, is a barrier for proclaiming the Good News of Life and Love.
...in the 1990s
Constantly urged by the last command of Jesus, ?Go, then, to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples.? (Matthew 28:19), Verbum Dei extended to Poland, Russia, Equador, Honduras and Uruguay in 1990-92.
In the 2nd millenium, as the Church called for a New Evangelisation in Asia, home to 3/4 of the world?s population, Verbum Dei responded by sending missionaries to Taiwan and Singapore in 1997.
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