A new heart for a new world

The Commission for the Revision of the Constitutions met in Rome from 8 to 12 November. Under the  responsibility of the Brs Superior General and  Vicar General, it consists of seven brothers coming from different provinces of the Institute : John Hazelman (New Zealand), Deivis Fischer (Rio Grande do Sul), Diogène Musine (PACE), Patrick McNamara (USA), Juan Ignacio Fuentes (Cruz del Sur), António Leal (Compostela) and Nicholas Fernando (South Asia).

In one of its recommendations, the XXI General Chapter asked the General Council for the creation of a commission to carry out the revision of the Constitutions. The chapter assembly was very clear that a thorough revision of the text of the Constitutions, with a significant  participation of the brothers, could be a valuable aid towards the revitalisation of our vocation and conversion of heart, conditions for the new world in which we are called to live. The first objective of this working group was to gain a clear understanding of the chapter mandate. A common vision, not simply in thought but of heart, was the result of a path we were able to construct little by little, sometimes in a slower, discreet, almost groping manner, at other times moving quickly ahead with evident results. For this, listening to one another was fundamental, expressing one’s own idea or even abandoning it to take in another’s, the fraternal celebration of the bread and the word.

It was also important to listen to other voices which helped us to harmonise and research this path – in broad outlines and calendar – with the other processes in course in the Institute. All form part of the path we wish to travel together with Mary to new lands.