31/05/2014
30/05/2014
Our New Leadership Team
Geni dos Santos CAMARGO,
Bernadette TAURINYA (Vicar for the Contemplatives)
Marian MURCIA (General Bursar),
Ana Maria ALCALDE ( General Leader )
Kumudinie DASSANAYAKE (Assistant General),
Eithne
HUGHES
and
Micheline KENDA
_______________
All gathered around
the Eucharistic table at 9 am to prepare for the work of the day which began at 11 am.
The team was elected
in the afternoon of 29 May. Geni dos Santos, who was not at the Chapter, had to be
contacted to obtain her acceptance of this new service to the Institute, which
she has given.
Ana Maria first spoke to the Chapter about the first meeting of the new
Council
As we know, the
General Busar is nominated by the General Leadership Team. In accordance with a
decision taken at the 2008 General Chapter to have her nominated at the same
time as the other Councillors, the new Council met to consider who they wished
to nominate for this task.
Their choice was
Marian Murcia, who will begin a second mandate in that role.
The first task this
morning was to elect the Assistant General.
Ana Maria read art.
66.1 of the Constitutions that sets out her role. All the members of the
Chapter vote but the Assistant General is chosen from the Apostolic Councillors.
Christine facilitated the election.
She again stressed
the importance of this role. Should the General Leader die, or resign or
otherwise be unable to carry on, the Assistant General takes over. We have had
the experience of this happening and are aware of the seriousness of such an
event.
Kumudini Dasanyake
was elected Assistant General.
29/05/2014
Building the General Leadership Team
If your
whole body was just one eye, how would you hear anything? If it was just one
ear, how would you smell anything? Instead of that, God put all the separate
parts into the body on purpose. If all the parts were the same, how could it be
a body? As it is, the parts are many, but the body is one. (1
Cor. 12, 17 – 20)
It may seem a long process but it is demanding to build a team.
The best teams
do not have people with similar skills.
They combine
the diverse talents, backgrounds and God-given gifts from a pool of diverse
individuals, such as are in the Chapter, who understand their role and who can
appreciate that of others.
______________________________________________
28/05/2014
More about the Elections
Father, Mother God
by sending them the light of your Holy Spirit.
In that Spirit give us right judgement
and the joy of (her) comfort and guidance.
No one could have doubted the presence of the Spirit in the chapel this
morning as the Capitulants gathered for the Eucharist with Fr. Louis Lougen, Superior General of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate presiding.
As is our custom, he also presided at the election of the General Leader
which followed immediately after the Eucharist.
Christine opened the proceedings.
In a final word about
discernment, she said it is a choice between good things, not between good and
bad, nor between a good and a less good. In the election we are looking for
someone who will take the mission forward.
There was a last opportunity given for anyone who wished to speak to do
so. There was no one and they went forward in peace.
10 am
All stood to sing the Veni Creator.
Then Margaret, as President of the Chapter, read art. 62 of the
Constitutions concerning the election of the Superior General.
The election was conducted as set out therein.
We know the result.
Asked if she accepted, Ana Maria replied: “Trusting in God and my sisters, I accept”, to deafening applause and congratulations from all in the assembly, each one in her own way.
11.30 am
After a break to
absorb the emotions of the moment, the Capitulants assembled again, this time
with Ana Maria as President of the Chapter.
It was a time for spontaneous expressions of gratitude.
Ana Maria’s first words were of thanks
to the old Council without whose hard work the Chapter would not have arrived
at this stage. A special word of thanks was reserved for Margaret for all she
had done and shared for such a long time. They would continue to count on her.
Mentioning each one by name, she thanked Marie Carmen, Colleen,
Kumudini, Micheline, Marian and Bernadette. All received a bouquet in appreciation.
Margaret spoke of how grateful she
was now, saying it was “a grace and gift to serve the Family”. She remains with
a sense of connectedness with all and will never forget anyone. She also
thanked the two teams she had worked with during her two mandates.
Marie Carmen Vilardell who, as you may know
, had not been able to attend the Chapter because of her health, also spoke: “This
a privileged opportunity to speak to all the Units of the Institute and through the Institute,
to all the Family, to thank you for your union and your prayers in my situation
of which you all know. But, above all, I have
to give thanks for all
have lived that has been so rich because life, with its lights and shadows, is worth living.
And I will continue to live together with you
as we go forward
in the circumstances in which we are now.”
Christine took the opportunity to thank
everyone for the way they had lived the Election Process.
Election of the Vicar for the Contemplatives
This was done by the
sisters of the Vicariate present at the Chapter
The Contemplative
sisters had already drawn up a list of nominations for the Vicar and the election
followed the same process as for the Superior General. The result is now known
to all.
Bernadette accepted
to do this service and was also enthusiastically greeted by the Capitulants.
Afternoon Session
Process for Election of Councillors
In some respects, it
is similar to that for the General Leader. The criteria for persons are the
same but the main criterion is to create a team that can help Ana Maria to
carry forward the Mission. This will require different gifts, skills,
experience. It is important to take into account where and the extent to which
a language predominates and how this impacts on Formation needs. But it is not an overriding constraint.
So, discernment is
ongoing throughout the election process and the team is built up gradually.
The Capitulants spent
some time in mixed groups working out possible scenarios, even creating teams
of five Councillors if they thought fit.
There was conversation around this and a list of nominations left with
them for prayerful consideration until tomorrow.
________________________________________
We have a new General Leader and Vicar for the Contemplatives
Wednesday, 28 May 2014
Ana Maria ALCALDE
General Leader
Bernadette TAURINYA
Vicar for the Contemplatives
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)