It is up to us now
Friday 27 September began with some words from Emili Turú. Of the different aspects treated, some were more significant. He began with an allusion to the icon of the profile of the Virgin in the courtyard of St Joseph. A suggestive presence, in a certain form discrete and transparent, as it was all the time in this Conference. He indicated that there are signs that the dawn is being born, as has been seen during these days: the search for the best and most prophetic for the brothers, the Provinces, the Institute, the quality of fraternal sharing, the intercultural internationality, an “inexplicable hope”.
He continued with the image of the Hermitage, which for Br François was “the great reliquary of the Founder” and where “everything speaks to us of Fr Champagnat”. He recalled Marcellin’s dream as related by Br Jean-Baptiste in the introduction to the “Good Superior”. He expressed that today it means that the renovated house of the Hermitage comes to be seen as an act of faith in the future. And he held up as example Br François who spent so many years close to Fr Champagnat and on the death of the Founder wrote a letter to all the Brothers indicating that “it is up to us now”. If anything has to change in the Institute, Emili said, it has to start with me.
He then mentioned the message of Pope Francis to the Carmelites, to apply to ourselves the importance of the contemplative dimension it is necessary to live, cultivate and transmit. In conclusion, he expressed we return to the calls of the 21st General Chapter, but by a different road, with a new look.
Afterwards, there was a time for going through the house again, sharing, on three different levels, what spirituality, fraternity and mission mean for leadership: making a pilgrimage to the rock, the cemetery of the first Brothers and around the reliquary of St Marcellin in the chapel.
In the afternoon, there was an evaluation of the General Conference.
The Eucharist was a moving moment of conclusion, with the benches arranged so as to include the reliquary of Saint Marcellin and the tomb of Br François.
Promise at Fourvière
On Saturday 28 September, the members of the General Conference were at the Seminary of Lyon, where Br Ernesto Sánchez spoke to them about the significance of the yes pronounced in the old church of Fourvière. This was followed by a reading of the promise made by the group of new priests, including St Marcellin, in 1816, before the image of Our Lady of Fourvière.
They went on to personal reflection and then work by regions to define the promise each region would make at the offertory of the Mass. There was time to visit the church before the celebration of the Eucharist at midday. There the promises were made, first by regions, then by the general administration and the Marist Fathers, in the person of the celebrant, Fr Edmund Duffy. The celebration ended with the singing of the Salve. Afterwards, there was free time to visit the city.
On the return to the Hermitage, before the festive supper, Br Emili thanked all for having collaborated in the General Conference, giving each a reproduction of the image of the pregnant Mary, on the road to the Visitation, made by Br Santamarta. Br Joe took the opportunity to thank Br Emili for all the commitment he brought to his leadership, above all for transmitting to all the spirit and love for the Marist vocation. In this way, the General Conference came to a close.