General Chapter MMVII

Daily Bulletin

 Tuesday 4 September

The members of the Chapter gathered for a Votive Mass of the Holy Spirit at 10am. The Prior General, Joseph Chalmers, presided, assisted by members of the outgoing General Council. After communion, the members processed to the Chapter hall where they sang the Veni creator Spiritus. The Chapter Secretary, Kevin Alban, took a roll call of the members present and the assembly proceeded to elect the Chapter President. The members chose Falco Thuis, the Prior General from 1971 to 1983.

 In the afternoon, the current Prior General gave a conference, which was greeted with warm and lengthy applause. Members of the General Council made brief comments to supplement their written reports, which had been distributed to the Order some months earlier. The delegates then approved the Chapter Agenda and Rules of Procedure

 Wednesday 5 September

In the morning session, Eugene Kaboré, from Burkina Faso, gave a talk on the Chapter theme: ‘In obsequio Jesu Christi – Praying and Prophetic Communities in a Changing World’. The rest of the day was spent in prayer and reflection, as well as studying the Chapter documentation.

 Thursday 6 September

John Keating, a member of the Chapter Preparatory Commission, presented an overview of the responses received from the whole Order based on community study of the chapter theme. He highlighted four main areas of convergence: the changing world and its challenges, the prophetic dimension of Carmelite life, the fundamental importance of prayer and the role of the community.

Later in the morning, Prof. Romeo Ciminello, lecturer in sociology at the Gregorian University, gave a talk on the ‘Changing World’, which was discussed by delegate in groups in the afternoon and evening.

 Friday 7 September

The morning began with a multimedia presentation on DVD of the changing face of the Order around the world. The former Master General of the Dominican Order, Timothy Radcliffe OP, gave a talk on the topic of ‘praying and prophetic communities’. In the afternoon, the delegates discussed the conference in groups.

 Saturday 8 September

Dr Donna Orsuto, lecturer in spirituality at the Gregorian University and Director of the Lay Centre at Foyer Unitas, presented two conferences on the challenges to the Order and on following Jesus Christ. In the evening, the delegates celebrated solemn vespers in honour of Our Lady’s Birthday which concluded with a procession and the singing of the Salve Regina and Flos Carmeli.

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