On November 11, 12 and 13, the XXVI General Assembly of CONFER was held under the motto “Know what has been the hope to which you have been called” (EF 1, 18).

This Assembly has been loaded with symbols that have been represented in some grains of wheat, a handful of soil and a small clay pot where attendees had to “feel land prepared for sowing, land that opens and welcomes, land that becomes the womb of life.” Also, a sack of flour has been given so that he can make his fruit and create bread. Bread of Life for those who believe, Bread for those who wait. The opening of the Assembly took place on the 11th at 4:30 pm by Monsignor Jesús Catalá, President of the CEVC and the President of the CONFER María Rosario Ríos, ODN. In a speech given to more than 240 General and Provincial Superiors, the President of CONFER expressed that “our hope is neither naive nor optimistic because it knows the suffering of our brothers and the complexity of our time.” He also encouraged attendees to act in the midst of reality from the Gospel: “we religious are not the center, but we are for this world.”

Monday afternoon was led by theologian Montse Escribano who told the attendees that "in religious life there are no firsts or seconds, only the last count." On Tuesday the 12th José María Rodr

íguez Olaizola, SJ, brought together three older religious and three young people at a table titled “The old will have dreams and the young will prophesy.” The Jesuit, sociologist and writer encouraged the attendees to “be prophets and dreamers for each other.” The afternoon was framed by talking about hope in dialogue with the peripheries with the help of José Luis Segovia, Vicar of Social Pastoral of Madrid, and about restructuring for the mission, with Jesús Díaz, OP, Vice President of the CONFER. During his speech, Jesús Díaz, OP, spoke: “Let us not be left alone with the regret of what we have lost; we must show more fidelity than regret. The Provincial Superior of the Dominicans in Spain has invited us to “never get rid of the Sacred Scripture, because we cannot talk about Religious Life without it.” Tuesday's day closed with a musical performance by the group Alma Di Voices, who transmitted sensitivity through musical poetry.

The closing of the XXVI General Assembly took place on Wednesday, November 13, where Monsignor José Rodríguez Carballo, Secretary of the CIVSCVA, offered answers to questions from the Assembly.
January 26, 2022