News
CGP - Red thread n.3 and n.4 - Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 December 2023
Roma
General chapter evaluation, echoes of provincial chapters and pilgrimage in the footsteps of Fr. d'Alzon
Saturday
As regularly happens in this type of meeting, a small virus - not too bad - has infiltrated within our group... Thus, every morning we count the new brothers suffering from a cough, a slight fever, a feverish summer... Fortunately we have a doctor at home... But that does not prevent us, no matter what, from continuing our work...
The first time of Saturday morning was devoted to a “formal” evaluation of the last general chapter. We discussed the preparation of the chapter, the guests, the location... Some first questions and suggestions emerged with a view to the next chapter: How to better integrate, in the same dynamic, the preparation of the provincial chapters and the preparation of the general chapter (so as not to not juxtapose approaches, particularly in requests addressed to local communities)? Furthermore, it seems imperative to us to return to a chapter in the month of May, and not in June, without giving priority to the place over the date... Everyone appreciated the way the work of the chapter took place: the climate of prayer, the participation of all, the precious presence of the laity, the external guests, the accompaniment by Father Alberto Toutin, the good quality of the chapter journal...
However, some questions arise: How to take care of reception time, including in terms of transport? How can we ensure the good participation of all until the phase of commissions and drafting of texts? Aren’t there new technological tools to integrate into our animation? How can we better take advantage of the presence of the laity so that their time of presence does not essentially coincide with the time of listening to the reports? Should we not relaunch a specific invitation to our sisters of the Assumption family? How can we better prepare the chapter, through theological reflection, relying for example on some significant books of the moment? As for the place, among the Passionists, where the chapter was held, it seemed generally well suited (except for the refectory and the lack of a convivial place). But we also mentioned the possibility of Valpré which offers other advantages: a well-suited place, an Assumptionist place (the cost of the chapter contributing to one of our works) and above all a place making it possible to plan - around the chapter - a Pilgrimage at the source locations of the congregation. Discernment must therefore continue, without too much delay...
The second part of our work was an opportunity to discuss the salient points of the application chapters of each of our (vice)provinces. We can note: a good fraternal climate in each of our chapters; good appropriation of the acts of the general chapter; as well as a method of working and drafting provincial texts often following the outline of the general chapter: the signs of the Kingdom, the emergencies of the Kingdom, the further steps for the advent of the Kingdom. The end of the day was devoted to an initial period of exchanges, in pairs, between the members of the CGP.
Sunday
After entering Advent, at first vespers, with the blessing of the Advent crown, we celebrated this Sunday morning, as it should be, the Eucharist of the 1st Sunday of Advent. “Take care, stay awake: for you do not know when the time will be”. Then the day was devoted (for the brothers who were sufficiently fit) to a pilgrimage, in the streets of Rome, in the footsteps of Father d'Alzon … See the photos… and Sunday rest.
BB