17th meeting of the Executive Committee of the
Association
« Laity of the Chevalier Family in Europe»
September 20-21 2008 LYON
Participants :
Rita Cleuren (Belgium), Marie-Blanche Cordonier (Switzerland), Elisabeth Hartmann (Germany), Louis Joly (France), Sœur Stephani Orlowski (Germany), Ana San Martin (Spain), Mimi van Poppel (The Netherlands)
Excused : Nick Harnan
(Cor Novum), Sue Kimberley (England),
1.
INTERNATIONAL MEETING OF SANTO DOMINGO: PROGRAMME
On Saturday morning, a few members took the time to adapt the programme proposal for Santo Domingo
2.
APPROVAL OF THE REPORT OF FEBRUARY 16-17 2008 :
The report on the internet is adopted unanimously.
3.
INTERNATIONAL MEETING OF SANTO DOMINGO: PARTICIPANTS
Louis will send a list of participants to Rita and Father André. This list will contain: names, addresses, telephone numbers, email addresses, dates of arrival that have already been confirmed, and languages.
Departure dates will be confirmed on the spot.
4.
FINANCES:
Cf. statements of account: presented by Louis.
The account of the International Committee will go into the red after the Santo Domingo meeting and after all the financial aid given to the participants! So far, the capital was made up of the balance of the 98 Issoudun meeting and the “Alain de Boismenu” funds.
Questions which we should
ask ourselves and questions to be asked in Santo Domingo.
· When there will be no money left, how shall we finance our meetings in the future?
· How will the International Coordinating Team be able to continue its activities? On which terms and what will be its goal?
· Do we continue with the European Coordinating Team only?
It would be good for each group to become financially independent from the Religious. Still, how would they finance the International Coordinating team?
The financial support to the Santo Domingo Meeting has not been calculated yet; we are still waiting for some replies. There are some difficulties with money transfers…
5.
BUDGET FOR SANTO DOMINGO:
Receipts: 3 sources
·
Contribution of the 3 Generalats:
3 x 3.000 dollars or 9.000 US dollars
And money obtained by Father Mark
- Adveniat in principle 6'800 dollars, but not confirmed yet
- Church in need: no financial aid
-
In Australia, 5'000 dollars
These financial contributions will enable us to lower the price per participant
(working costs)
· Aid Fund: Belgium – the Netherlands – Spain…
· The participants’ receipts.
The money from the Generalats and the subsidies will have to be transferred directly to Santo-Domingo. These money amounts must appear in their accounts.
Participants are asked to pay on the spot, if possible.
For Europe, Rita will contact Father Mark MacDonald to ask whether the payments will be transferred directly to Rome (ask for the bank account number!) or whether they will be transferred via the Association?
How to divide the financial support?
For the moment, we are facing the questions that we have received up till now. The financial questions asked on the spot, will be answered according to the funds still available. In no way will Rita have to engage personally nor financially!!!!
6.
NEWS FROM THE 3 GENERALATS :
·
MSC Sisters: Sister Bonaventura is no
longer a member of the MSC Sisters Council. A replacement for Sister
Bonaventure has not been arranged yet.
·
Sister Barbara who will attend
the Santo Domingo Meeting, is still a member of the Council.
· No news from the other Generalats.
7.
SHARE THE LIVES OF OUR GROUPS:
·
The Netherlands: There are 2 persons in
their group (one MSC and one female Pastor) who help them become more independent
from the Professed. Two weekends are organised for the Lay to discuss their
aspirations and become autonomous. The Lay represent approximately 30 people.
· Germany: 2 very different groups that have no contact with each other ! Each year, they participate in a common meeting with Belgium and the Netherlands.
o The Duisburg Group: activities are planned by an organization Committee. Sister Martina and Sister Stephani are both responsible for the “Spirituality”. The ecumenical group that only consists of women gradually opens up…Still, the goal is to seek a spirituality and a community to help them in their daily lives … in their cities and in the world.
o The Hilltrup Group: has a strong link with the community of the « Mother-home » (Head office). Both men and women live a severe religious life! Contemplative dances are at the origin of this group!
· France – Switzerland:
o Switzerland: the group continues its monthly meetings and discussions of the review of the Annals. 2 weekends are organised every year (June and December). No renewal.
o France : the Miribel group forms a fraternity attached to the MSC Fraternity of Switzerland (7 people). The members also come together to discuss the “Annals”.
Engagement on the spot:
- with Louise Bonneval
-
in the Mas Rillier prayer
group, worship time in the parish…every Friday afternoon followed by Mass
(Eucharistie)
-
Louis et Nadette have become
members of the Evangelisation Team of the Ain Diocese, for a period of 5 years.
They were asked as former Members of the Alain du Boismenu Center and try to
transmit the MSC spirituality.
· Spain :
o Two meetings a week:
- Monday: the Father elaborates the proposed theme in the light of the Spirituality of the Heart. This arouses the interest of more people (28-30 people).
- Thursday : 1 hour of meditation.
o Three meetings a year of 1 day retreat in a Madrid parish
o Once a year: retreat of 3 days in Valladolid in the MSC House
o One close group (3 men); average age: 50
o NGO that supports a school in Buenos Aires (Argentina) (clothing sale – monthly contribution of each member)
· Belgium :
o Moved from Herent to Bierbeek near Louvain.
o Same activities every year:
- Twice a month : so-called « silent days » in Bierbeek
- 1 “silent week” in August in Malle
- 1 week with the “young families” in Malle
- 2 week-ends with young families in Rotselaar
- Monthly meetings of the 6 small Lay groups
- 4 meetings a year with the Lay Council
- 2 week-ends for those who do not live in “community”
- 1 engagement week-end in December in Malle
- 1 “relax day” with all the small groups in Bierbeek, in the month of August
- 1 day together with the whole Chevalier Family in Asse in the month of September.
- Our commission “Justice and Peace” organised a day in Antwerp and a prayer night for the asylum seekers in Brussels.
o Special activities in 2008
- Organisation of the meeting with The Netherlands and Germany (Whitsun)
- Reception of foreign youngsters at the European meeting of Taizé in Brussels (end 2008 – beginning of 2009
o Mimi et Rita attended the Lay meeting in Birmingham (England), beginning of the month of July
o Mimi and Rita went to Issoudun in the beginning of August to tell about their lives as Laity during a session of Religious
8.
FORMATION AND INTERNET SITE
· For the Santo Domingo meeting:
Together with « Cor Novum », we can see how this site can evolve. Hence, it would be good to talk to Nick and the International Coordinating Team.
The Site was created in 2000 and needs an update. Since 2000, technology has advanced and the Alain de Boismenu Center has been closed.
9.
OTHERS
Louis reminds us of the fact that the Center where the Santo Domingo meeting will take place was built by MSC Father Emilio Tardiff. Father André Dumas has the beatification papers in hand! This is very important for Louis and Nadette who both found their faith after an evangelisation evening with Father Tardiff in Lyon in 1981. This led to their various engagements with the MSC and the Alain de Boismenu Center.
NEXT MEETING
April 17-18-19 2009