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Monday, May 28 |
7:00 |
Prayer all together (Main Chapel)
Breakfast
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THE ELECTION OF BROTHER SUPERIOR (M.5.3)
| 5.3.2 |
The President intones or indicates that the “Veni Creator Spiritus”
be intoned. |
| 5.3.3 |
The Chapter Coordinator says a few words of exhortation. |
| 5.3.4 |
Prayer and reflection. |
| 5.3.5. |
The Moderator of the Chapter Assembly gives instructions he deems useful for the proper carrying out of the election. |
| 5.3.6 |
The four Scrutineers take their places at the voting table, which will be located in front of the podium. |
| 5.3.7 |
The Brother Secretary general gives the ballots for the first round of the elections to the Scrutineers for distribution. If several rounds are needed, the ballots for each round will be in different colors. The first ballot will be distributed together with the formula for the oath printed in the three official languages |
| 5.3.8 |
Only voting Capitulants will remain for the election of Brother Superior. Those responsible for video and photographs remain for a few moments to photograph the first ten Brothers putting their ballots in the ballot box and then they too leave the Hall. |
| 5.3.9 |
Before casting their vote, each language group of Capitulants will read the oath formula together, guided by one of the three Moderators. |
| 5.3.10 |
Each Capitulant will then write on the ballot the name of the Brother he believes should be elected. Then, beginning with the Scrutineers, Capitulants will, each in turn, place their ballot in the box provided. |
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ONCE VOTING IS COMPLETED
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| 5.5.1 |
Once voting is completed, the Scrutineers will empty the ballot box on the table and count the ballots. If the number of ballots is greater than that of electors, the vote is null and void. In this case, the ballot slips are destroyed without being opened and the voting process immediately begins again. |
| 5.5.2 |
If the number of ballots is not greater than that of the electors, the Scrutineers will begin counting the votes. Two Scrutineers check each ballot. They hand it to a third who reads aloud the name written on it. He then hands it to a fourth. |
| 5.5.3 |
The Secretaries record the names on at least two separate lists and add up the number of votes. When this process is completed, the two lists are compared. If there are any discrepancies, the counting begins all over again. |
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5.6 ACCEPTANCE BY THE ELECTED BROTHER
If a Brother obtains an absolute majority of votes, the Brother President of the Chapter Assembly - or the Chapter Coordinator, if the President himself is named - will not announce the election until after securing the acceptance of the elected Brother. If the latter believes he has valid reasons for declining the office, the Chapter Assembly will accept his decision. A new vote will begin.
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AFTER THE ELECTION
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| 5.7.1 |
As soon as the election is officially announced, the newly elected Brother Superior General takes over as head of the Institute and as President of the General Chapter. |
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Br. Jon Lezamiz tells the Central Community Director the results of the election.
Communications Committee reports the news via Institute website.
Procession from Aula Magna to the Chapel.
Br. George Van Grieken intones “Laudate Omnes Gentes”
All Brothers who are not Capitulants join the procession in the hall by the front door.
In the Chapel:
- Superior General prays
- Sing “Te Deum”
- Superior General prays before the relics of the Founder. – Song.
- Accolade
- “Honneur à Toi”
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10: 30 |
Break |
11:00 |
1st Sondage for the General Council
(up to 10 names) (GT 7 # 1.3.1.4.1)
Aula Magna
Ballots locked in archives until Scrutineers count; they give results to Br. Superior General.
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11:15 |
Each Region comes together to specify its needs with regard to the profile of the General Councillor for the Region.
| PARC |
B2 |
| RELAF |
B3 |
| RELAL |
C3 |
| RELEM |
Aula Magna |
| USA/Canada |
C1 |
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Aperitifs
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Lunch
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2nd Sondage.
Regions meet to establish the list of candidates for the election of the General Councillors for the Regions (GT 7 # 1.3.1.4.1).
The Brother who is currently the Regional will give the list to Br. Superior.
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Br. Leonardo Tejeiro, Procurator general, reads messages that will be sent to the Pope and the Congregation of Religious Institutes.
Br. Superior General addresses the Chapter Assembly.
Afterwards he will give the results of the two sondages. “. If he so wishes, he may propose a sondage within the Chapter and then present to the electors the names of the Brothers whom he judges fit to fulfil the task. (Rule 112b)
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Break
During the break, Brothers nominated for General Council who wish to withdraw tell the Coordinator of the Chapter.
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Br. Superior announces the names of Brothers who are candidates for the General Council.
Regions will meet to discuss the candidates and to prepare for the elections of the following day: election of the Br. Vicar general, Brothers General Councillor for the Regions and Brothers General Councillor who will be resident in Rome.
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Mass of Thanksgiving
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Dinner
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RELAF Cultural night |
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News and Articles |
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THE CHAPTER BEGINS
 This morning at 9:00 am, as the President, Coordinator and three Moderators presided in the Aula Magna, the Capitulants (dressed formally), intoned the “Veni Creator”. This is the initiation of the process that will culminate in the election of the Superior General.
 Procedural instructions will be given. The Assembly will have to decide who among the Capitulants will substitute for the three secretaries and historian of the Chapter, as this part of session takes place behind closed doors.
 The four scrutineers will position themselves next to the ballot box. The Capitulants will be given different colored ballots in the event that it is necessary to vote more than once. |
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CAPITULANTS’ OATH
 Before casting their votes, each of the three linguistic groups of Capitulants take the following oath:
“I swear before Jesus Christ, source of eternal wisdom, who I call upon as my witness, that I, Brother _________________ will vote for the Brother who I believe, before God, to be the best choice as Superior General of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools. |
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THE VOTING BEGINS
 The Assembly Hall will remain closed to the outside during the voting. Only those who are authorized to vote will be allowed to remain in the Chapter Hall. The four scrutineers will be the first to cast votes.
 According to the rules, if a Capitulant in the house is ill, he is allowed to vote from his room. If this were this to happen, one of the scrutineers will be directed to collect the vote in the company of two Capitulants. |
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ELECTED BROTHER’S ACCEPTANCE
 Once the vote has been cast, the Brother who obtains the absolute majority of valid votes will be asked if he is willing to accept this responsibility on behalf of the Institute. In the event that the Brother believes he has valid reasons for refusing this responsibility, the Assembly will accept his decision and another round of balloting will commence.
 If the elected Brother accepts the responsibility, he will be formally named as the Superior General for the next seven years. The doors of the Aula Magna will then be opened and “Laudate Omnes Gentes” will be sung.
Our Communications Department will webcast the news by internet and inform the press. Each of the Capitulants will then congratulate the Superior General and pledge their fraternal support. The Director of the Generalate community will then invite all of the Brothers and personnel to the main foyer of the Generalate to make the announcement.
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PRAYING BEFORE THE RELICS OF THE FOUNDER
 The Capitulants will process out of the Aula Magna toward the main Chapel. The Superior General is the last one to descend the main staircase. The “Te Deum” will be sung in the Chapel followed by a moment of prayer before the relics of the Founder. “Honneur à Toi” is sung at the conclusion.
The work of the Chapter will continue as each Region casts straw votes for the election of the Vicar General and General Councilors. The Procurator General will inform the Pope and the Congregation for Religious and Apostolic Life of the election results. |
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SUPERIOR GENERAL’S FIRST ADDRESS
 Around 4:00 pm, the Superior General will address the Chapter Assembly. We hope to be able to webcast this event on the internet. A Mass of Thanksgiving will be celebrated at 6:30 pm. |
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News and Articles |
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Multimedia of the Day |
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Docs of the Day |
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