The annual Assembly of the Conference of Major Superiors of Men (CMSM) was held August 1-4, 2017, in Scottsdale, Arizona. Minister General Fr. Brian F. Terry, SA, serves as President of the Conference and spoke at the Assembly, encouraging both their personal walk in religious life, but also their fraternal commitment to the mission of the Church. The Assembly is meant to strengthen the leadership of male Religious, which ultimately strengthens the unity of Spirit throughout the world.
Fr. Brian spoke about the benefit of the leaders gathering together to edify and support each other, and then allowing their peace to transform others in our diverse, yet universal, Church. Calling our central mission as a Church a “coessential charismatic dimension of faith”, Fr. Brian reminded attendees of the ever-changing landscape of a universal Church. A Church whose people are constantly growing while the Holy Spirit moves in them and in Her, yet She remains unmoved in doctrine, heart, and mission. His words pointed to the fact that even in the diversity of thousands of missions, we all still serve as part of one mission: spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The Assembly held many workshops on living in brotherhood, charisms of the Holy Spirit, and living discipleship. The membership of the Assembly also voted and approved a resolution on nonviolence, entitled “Gospel Nonviolence: The Way of the Church.” The resolution states: “The Conference of Major Superiors of Men (CMSM) resolves to use both our individual charisms and experience as religious leaders to 1) significantly build up nonviolent practices and a culture of nonviolence; and 2) to invite Pope Francis to offer an encyclical on nonviolence, which would include a shift to a just peace approach for transforming conflict.”