Dearly beloved,

During the meeting of the Provincial Superiors last November in Rome the international Meeting of the Dehonian Family was convoked for 9-13 October 2000 in Rome.

The above-mentioned Meeting should be preceded by Preparatory assemblies of the various groups of Dehonian laity at the national level and, wherever possible, at the continental level, on the following topics: "A portrait of the Dehonian laity " and "Relations among the various components (scj, consecrated men and women and the laity) of the Dehonian family". These preparatory assemblies should be held by September 1999.

Therefore we would like to address all those with responsibility for the Dehonian laity (both those that have formed into groups and isolated individuals) in every nation, that they should organize together and celebrate their own joint Assembly in which they will discuss the proposed themes and elect their own delegates to the international gathering in the year 2000.

In order to facilitate discussion on the theme, the preparatory commission has prepared a "reflection guide" for your use.

Participants in the international Meeting in 2000 will include SCJ religious, representatives of the Dehonian lay groups and representatives of the various institutes of consecrated men or women that have a Dehonian inspiration.

The number of the representatives of the Dehonian laity should be significant in comparison with the other groups and be proportionate to the variety of groups found in each nation. Taking into consideration this criteria, the preparatory commission will assign the numbers of representatives and this will be communicated to you in due time.

The international Meeting in 2000 will be held at "Villa Aurelia", via Leone XIII 459, Rome. Travel expenses are to be paid by the respective groups that are being represented. Further information will be provided concerning the cost of lodging in Rome.

Plans are to include a presentation of the individual participants during the Meeting in 2000. Delegates should send their "Biographical sketch" in advance of the meeting. As for the information on the individual Dehonian groups, we ask you to please complete the "Informational outline" that you are now receiving. As for the presentation during the Assembly, the lay Delegate will present the "current situation of the Dehonian laity in his or her own country and its evolution towards the future".

Please send your responses to the Reflection Guide and the informational outline on the individual groups to, p. H. Wardjito (wardjito@scj.org) here in Rome by the end of November 1999.

It is the task of the Preparatory Commission to prepare the "working document" for the 2000 Meeting, and it is our hope to be able to send the material to all the participants several months before the Meeting.

Enclosed with this letter you will find:

1. The Dehonian Family in the Project "We the Congregation in the service of the Mission: 1997-2003".

2. The presentation on the Dehonian Family which was given during the meeting of the Provincial and Regional Superiors.

3. The Reflection Guide for the preparatory Assembly of the Dehonian laity.

4. Informational outline for the various groups.

We wish you all the best in your work and greet you cordially in the Lord