The first international La Salette Shrine Rectors meeting was held from April 13 to 19 at La Salette Shrine, France. 13 Shrine Rectors participated this meeting besides the General council and the translators. Fr. Adilson Schio M.S Vicar General and the General council animated the meeting. Fr. Atico Fassini M.S from Brasil gave conferences on various themes concerning shrine ministry such as La Salette Shrine Ministry, the significance of shrine in La Salette congregation, the origin of shrines in the world and in the Bible, new pastoral dimensions for the shrine ministry etc. Fr. Manuel dos Reis Bonfim M.S the rector of La Salette shrine France shared his experiences of participating in the shrine rectors meeting in Rome and in France. Frs. Henryk Kuman, Paulino Nguli and Biju Chempottickal served as translators to this meeting. All the shrine rectors presented a report about their shrines, its origin and history, various pastoral activities, the importance of the shrine, challenges of the future etc. The meeting decided to write a letter to the whole congregation to address the importance of shrine ministry in the La Salette congregation. It is the first ministry entrusted to the La Salette community by the bishop of Grenoble Mgr. Philibert de Bruillard. The participants of the meeting appreciated very much the General Council for the implementation of General Chapter decision 12 of 2012 in organizing shrine rectors meeting and proposed to continue this sort of meeting once in 3 or 4 years in the future.

Biju Chempottickal