In the footsteps of St Francis in rain and sunshine -

The human spirit is ever optimistic.

Rome was bathed in sunshine in the early morning so it was hard for most of the group to believe the weather warning of rain in Assisi. And how it rained as the coach got nearer!  It was a good day for the vendors of umbrellas, raincoats and ponchos.

However, after the first tour of the Church of St. Claire, sister rain was beginning to give way to brother sun and soon all was bright again.

 

 

 

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Some more photos

Today is free – Outing to Assisi

 

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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

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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.

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Happy Birthday!



Gemma CORBETT

 

Provincial - Britain/Ireland

 



 

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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.

 



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More about the Elections

Father, Mother GodYou taught the hearts of your faithful people
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.

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