Keeping Alive the Institute?s Heritage
The Institute’s Patrimony Commission held its annual meeting in the General House during the week of 5th – 9th June. This week had been chosen for the meeting so that the members could be present at the Bicentenary Celebrations being held on 6th June.
In addition to the customary reports on the activities of the Commission’s members, the Commission’s first session was taken up with finalising preparations for the launching of the 3-volume History of the Institute, a ceremony which took place prior to the Bicentenary Mass. The two authors of the History – Brothers AndréLanfrey (Volumes 1 and 2) and Michael Green (Volume 3) – are members of the Commission. Another member of the Commission, Brother Antonio Estaún, was the editor of the three Volumes. All three gave presentations of their work to a large audience at the launching ceremony.
Brother Colin Chalmers, the General Archivist, gave a report to the Commission on the reorganisation project currently taking place in the General Archives. One aspect of the reorganisation is the digitalisation of the Institute’s historical documents. The digitalised documents will be put onto the Archivum computer programme. Being able to see original documents on computer screens will be of great assistance to researchers into the Institute’s spiritual patrimony.
As the current Commission is coming towards the end of its life, with only one more meeting to take place, much of the week was taken up with discussions on how members would like to see the Commission develop. Now part of the “Brothers Today” Secretariat, the Patrimony Commission could be of great help in the Institute’s formation programmes for both Brothers and laity. The Director and Sub-Director of the Secretariat, Brothers Tony Leon and Hipólito Pérez, attended most of the Commission’s sessions and contributed to the discussions.