Today is the last day of Phase II of the Chapter. Our partners conclude their work with the Chapter, and return to their respective apostolates. During this last assembly for the partners, there were several presentations and addresses. The first were by Elena and Mariella Trucchi, who presented a gift book, Tribute of Charles Gounod to John Baptist de La Salle (published by the Blutime Cultural Association of Collegio San Giuseppe). The book was written by this mother(Maria)-daughter(Elena) team.

Elena spoke to the Chapter Members about Gounod's three compositions in honor of John Baptist de La Salle. Two of the works, a Te Deum preserved in the National Library in Paris, and the Quatrième Messe Solennelle Chorale were performed for the first time, under the direction of Gounod himself, in the Rheims Cathedral on June 24, 1888, on the occasion of the Founder's Beatification. The third piece, Beatus qui intelligit super egenum et pauperem, from Psalm 40, were composed by him for the inauguration of a monument erected to La Salle in Rouen on June 2, 1875. All three works are now in the Institute Archives.

Maria Trucchi then addressed the assembly about her involvement in the project. Maria is an affiliated member of the Institute and spoke about the similarities and differences between Gounod and the Founder. Both men had attended the Seminary of Saint Suplice.

Next, the partner consultants presented a message to the members of the Chapter. They thanked the Brothers for having invited them to participate in the Chapter, and spoke about the sense of privilege that they felt having engaged in such a democratic process. They also spoke of two obstacles they confronted in presenting their message. One dealt with the difficulty of delivering a message in a multicultural context, and the other the challenge to deliver a message that is "powerful and uncompromising while respecting the distinctive identity of Brothers and Partners."

They assured the Brothers of their continuing support and commitment to the Lasallian mission and the work of the Chapter. They also offered several challenges for the future involvement of partners in gatherings such as Chapters that would involve not just voice but vote; not simply input, but involvement in decision making processes. They further challenged the delegates to look at different models for General Chapters that would increase the involvement of partners at an earlier stage of the planning process.

A question period followed and the partners were asked to clarify several points. There was an interesting set of responses from the partners when asked what their spouses, families and friends thought about their involvement with the Brothers, especially considering the amount of time they invest in the Lasallian mission. Many spoke of the support that they felt from friends, family and colleagues as they continue to invest themselves in the mission of education. They also spoke of the difficulties that go along with their commitment, recognizing the stress it places on their relationships with family and friends. One partner said during this time in Rome that he had "celebrated in silence his second wedding anniversary", and told us that his wife is expecting a baby which could well be delivered before he returns home. I was deeply moved to hear the many stories of our partners and their deep commitment to Lasallian "service of the poor through education".

As a symbol of their continuing support, the partners presented a candle to the Chapter. The candle bears the logo of the 43rd General Chapter and will be lighted during the General Assemblies as a reminder of their continuing prayers and support. It will burn as a reminder that, in spirit, they will continue to be with the delegates during the final weeks of the Chapter.

Following this presentation by the delegates, Br. John Johnston, Superior General, delivered some concluding remarks to the Lasallian partners. He thanked them for the contributions that they had made to the 43rd General Chapter. He spoke of the charism of St. John Baptist de La Salle, and about the "almost 800,000 young people that God is currently confiding to our care." He said, "Lasallians constitute a world wide communion of persons committed to generating communion."

At the conclusion of his remarks, Br. John invited each partner to come forward and he presented them with a medal which he hoped would remind them of the experience of these two weeks spent as members of the Chapter. On one side of the medal is the image of St. De La Salle, on the other the image of the Generalate.

So we bid farewell to the partner consultants of the Chapter. God bless you as you continue your vocation of the Christian and human education of the young, especially the poor.