2017-09-08
COLOMBIA
A New La Valla
The day of the opening of the General Chapter was celebrated as a great thanksgiving: in the morning, the liturgy of the word and, in the evening, the Eucharistic liturgy.
At 9 o'clock in the morning, the capitulants and the guests gathered in front of the chapel of the House of Encounters La Salle to begin the XXII General Chapter of the Marist Brothers. Around a floral set with the chapter logo, the participants, gathered according to the six regions of the Institute, prepared for entry into the Chapter Hall.
At the entrance, the 79 capitulants and the 16 invited were received by the children of the School of the Company of Maria "“La Enseñanza". Each child gave a rose to one of the participants and accompanied him inside the Chapter Hall. The participants placed the rose at the foot of the image of Our Lady of Fourvière and then a Colombian folk dance welcomed all the participants. The welcome was also made by Brother César Rojas, Provincial of Norandina, Marist Province that includes the countries of Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela, and welcomes the representatives of the Institute during these six weeks (read here his words).
Brother Emili Turú, Superior General, then took the floor for his opening address. He recalled, first of all, the various messages that the Institute has received these days, especially those of Cardinal João Braz de Aviz, prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, and H. Robert Schieler, superior general of the Brothers of La Salle.
With the reading of the Gospel, made by Brother Seán Sammon, former Superior General of the Institute, concluded this first session.
Second session
Upon returning to the Chapter Hall, Brother Joe McKee presented the Provisional Table, which is responsible for facilitating the work of the General Chapter until the Facilitating Commission is elected, which will accompany the development of the rest of the Chapter.
Brother Darren Burge then introduced the subject of fraternities. The capitulants were divided into 16 fraternities, according to linguistic and regional criteria. They will be a privileged space to create communion and deepen trust. They will not be a place of debate or work, but of sharing in a contemplative spirit. After that brief presentation, the fraternities had their first meeting.