Implementing the Chapter



Listen to the voice of the Lord;

lend the ear of your heart.
Whoever you are, your God is calling you;
whoever you are, God is your Father.

In this morning’s prayer, the Capitulants were invited to let the Good Father encourage them.

It is 28 May 1820, the eve of the Foundation.
The first three sisters are gathered.
The Founder is with them.
He encourages them and gives them, as it were, a roadmap.

The road has been traced out, it reaches us.

Let us listen; it concerns us.

The measured reading of the Founder’s words to the three young women struck a chord with everyone. (It is to be found in the Annals, Volume 1, p. 40)

In our end is our beginning

The Chapter is nearing its end but there is a sense in which it is only beginning.

The important work of transmitting what has been experienced by the delegates during the Chapter and how the key documents and recommendations emanating from it are to be implemented in the Units are ongoing tasks.

How is it to be done?

Christine provided the Capitulants with a Process of Implementation to help them in their reflection. They dispersed into Unit groups to discuss the best way to proceed.

They were invited to share their ideas together in the Chapter room and, perhaps, gleam ideas from one another. The ways were many and varied, as could be expected in such a multicultural gathering, but all held to the same content.

For the rest, all will have to wait and see.

 

Great Expectations

Christine put two questions.

·         What do the Units expect from the General Leadership Team and one another?

·         What does the General Leadership Team expect from the Units?

The feedback was rich and diverse with needs differing in the various Units. From both the Units and the GLT there was a desire for more openness, transparency, open communication, interaction between Units themselves and with the GLT. Less dependence on the members of the GLT to provide all the animation requested. We can draw from our own resources in both vocations for animation on many of the topics and for directing retreats.

The Corporate Commitment 2014

 

This document was ready to be voted on by the Chapter in the late afternoon. After giving time for all to read it, Christine asked if the Capitulants were ready to vote on it. They answered in the affirmative and the vote was taken and the new Corporate Commitment was unanimously accepted by the Chapter.

With a sense of achievement, all left the Chapter hall at 5,40 pm to prepare for the Eucharist at 6.15.

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