1. A Missionary Religious Congregation Inspired by St Francis Xavier: The Society of St Francis Xavier for the Foreign Missions (Societa’ Saveriana per le Missioni Estere)‏ (Pama, Italy, 1895)‏

2. The Founder Guido M. Conforti, a diocesan priest The experience of the Crucifix Read the life of St Francis Xavier Wanted to be a missionary, but for various reasons could not Resolved to found an exclusively missionary congregation Later bishop of Ravenna and then Parma “The Shepherd of two Flocks” Died 1931, beatified 1996

3. A religious congregation: - vows - community life The Society Exclusive purpose: proclamation of the Gospel to non-Christians The model for its members is St Francis Xavier

4. Letter to card. Ledochowsky (Propaganda Fide) asking for missions in Asia First 2 missionaries left for China in 1898 The First Mission in China

5. Conforti encouraged his missionaries to use the local language and customs Accepted Chinese candidates Chinese Museum and Library in Parma (for formation and pastoral purposes)‏

6. Why Conforti chose Xavier 1. In Conforti’s time, Xavier is the icon of the missionary 2. Common Experience: the “smiling” and the “loving” Crucifix 3. Xavier man of prayer and constant union with Christ 4. Asia

7. 5. Apostolic zeal (iconography)‏ 6. Strong affection for the Company and the Church 7. Passion for the people (souls)‏ 8. Radical quality of his commitment Why Conforti Chose Xavier

8. The Xaverians’ “Struggle” Today Awareness that Xavier cannot be taken as the model for missionary praxis - “anachronistic” - “embarrassing”! Necessity to rediscover his relevance for our charism at the present time

9. Profound spirituality and authentic faith as foundations for the mission (“Constant union with Christ” – LT “The first activity of the m. is prayer – C) Passion for the Kingdom and for humanity (4 vows – vow of mission is first commitment to justice…)‏ Possibly…

10. 3. Concrete love for the Family and the Church (“Strong Family Spirit”) 4. Capacity of conversion in the face of new contexts - intellectual - praxis (History of the Congregation after 1949)‏