Day 13 General Chapter – Monday 16 July 2018

We were very saddened to hear of the death of Bro. Paul De Cocq from Belgium this morning. During the opening prayer he was specially commemorated, and we thanked the Lord for his life as a Brother of Charity.

Today it became a full day in plenum.

This morning the chapter commission reported on its activities during the past week. Bro. Hippolyte Manirakiza as secretary gave a very systematic overview of the different motions that were formulated as a proposal from the reports of the different linguistic groups. Everyone was amazed by the thoroughness and completeness of the proposed motions. After the review, there was ample opportunity to formulate questions and comments that will allow the commission to work out a final version. Tomorrow one will go through this version in the different linguistic groups and see what needs to be added from what the various provincial chapters previously formulated.

In the afternoon, Bro. Adrian Hartotanojo gave the report from the commission which looked at a possible revision of the constitutions. For five years there has been systematic work with the provincial superiors, assisted by a number of experts, to update the constitutions. Here too, the chapter had the opportunity to formulate questions and provide additional comments.

The last session reported on the work of the European province, which also formulated a proposal to amend the constitutions. This report was brought by Bro. Luc Van Dyck. Due to the late application of this proposal it could no longer be integrated into the proposal that was elaborated in the commission and it is up to the chapter to see what can be done with this proposal.

Tomorrow, we will spend the whole day in the different linguistic groups and possibly gather together per province, in the hope that on Wednesday we can formulate additions and remarks to come to a final message that will contain the guidelines with whom we will work in the congregation in the coming six years.