Breakfast
(with conversation)

Liturgy of the Word in the Main Chapel

Visit the “gallery of note cards”
outside the Main Chapel.

Gatherings in Regional Groupings

[*] The Lasallian Region of Europe and Mediterranean

Coffee and refreshments available near the refectory

Liturgy of the Eucharist in the Main Chapel

Lunch
(with conversation)

General Assembly
in Aula Magna to introduce Phase 4

EUCHARIST IN THE FOUNDER’S SANCTUARY… END OF THE 3RD PHASE

The end of the morning…  The Capitulants have come together in the main vestibule of the Casa.  Brother Alvaro, Superior General, with the biblical staff in hand (that carries the carved logo of the Chapter in the upper end), began the procession toward the sanctuary…  “The Exodus goes on…”  Once again the Capitulants “enter into the tent of the Lord”. (The photos of the chapel show a different aspect with “the canvas sides that represent the walls of the tent” that mask part of the columns.)  “The dream of Joseph continues”.

The three facilitators addressed those present in the three official languages of the Chapter.  It was a very meaningful intervention because it summed up the journey taken in the three first phases.  It was the moment to offer to the Lord all the activity undertaken from the start and give thanks to Him for all that has been happening these weeks in the Casa Generalizia.  The chant of the Alleluia rang out with a very special gusto.

AN ALTERNATIVE CHAPTER

An alternative Chapter….it is an expression which we have heard during the first weeks. The 44th General Chapter has organizational elements different from previous Chapters.

Phases 1 (Building community) and 2 (Looking at reality) and 3 (Discernment: seeing with the eyes of faith) have helped the Capitulants to identify the challenges which the Institute must face in the coming years.

All this is the fruit of the intense personal and community prayer and the close dialogue between the Capitulants. The Groups (A,B and C) have been good spaces for listening, speaking, sharing ….and sensing where the wind of the Spirit is coming from and where it is leading.

The detailed organization, the welcome, the attention to persons and groups on the part of the Brothers in the Mother House and the Support teams…and also the Regional evenings of the first week….have ensured that the atmosphere is very good.

The relationship between the Capitulants continues to be very fraternal. There is an enormous effort to overcome barriers of language and culture …and in this context the Chapter moves on to Phase 4.

OPINIONS

Jacques D’HUITEAU. France

This is the third Chapter to which I am participating. I am finding the elements that are interesting for this sort of assembly: the joyful encounter of Brothers coming from all over the world, the experience of the blend of so many cultures and the enrichment coming from our respective contributions.

At the same time, this Chapter is different: it was preceded by the International Assembly of the Lasallian Mission of Education which had opened up some stimulating perspectives and by a good work of preparation, both on the part of the commission as of the Districts.

I also believe that it is different because of the implicit objective that has been set and that is determining even the organization without the Chapter really having pronounced on the same: that it not end up formulating too many propositions of lines of action. The risk is that of confusing a Chapter with a consultative assembly. This concern is that of the French delegates, but not of them exclusively. I hope that the way the Chapter develops in the last phase and what will come out of that will show that this concern was not well founded.

Mamy Olivier RABABONE. Antananarivo

These first days of the Chapter seem to me to have been well organized. The programs during the 1st and 2nd Phases were eventful. Now I can sit down and go back over some of the Preparatory Documents of the Chapter. The sharing in work groups seems to me to be very enriching. Thanks you.