19th Meeting of the Executive Committee of the Association

“Laity of the Chevalier Family in Europe”

14^th and 15^th November 2009

Present:

Louis Joly (France), Ana San Martin (Spain), Mimi van Poppel (Netherlands), Jozefa Meys (Belgium), Rita Cleuren (Belgium).

Excused:

Sue Kimberley (England), Marie-Blanche Cordonier(Switzerland), Elisabeth Hartmann (Germany).

P.S. Father Nick Harnan (Cor Novum) and the representative of the 3 Generalates only take part in the Common Statutory Meeting which always takes place in the spring.

Saturday 14^th November 2009

1. Welcome and prayer

As usual everybody says in his/her own language his/her commitment with all members of the Chevalier Family and ask for His support during this meeting.

2. Approval of the minutes of the meeting in April 2009

The minutes that are placed on the site are approved.

3. Evaluation of the International Meeting in Santo Domingo (15-24/08)

3.1. Finances

· Thanks to Father Andres Dumas for sending the financial report of the costs made on the spot.

· In order to get a complete financial report we still expect concrete figures of the contributions of the participants and the costs of stay at the Centre; Rita will ask father Dumas

3.2. A thank you to the sponsors

· When the financial report is complete, Rita will send a letter of thanks to the sponsors as soon as possible

· Be aware that the contents of the letter of thanks answers to the intentional purpose of the donations

3.3. Provincial and Continental representatives

· Some countries have already passed on their provincial representatives

· In the mean time we have the feeling that people are doing their best to select a representative on a provincial level

· Slowly but steadily we will, in future, be able to select a continental representative

3.4. Keeping in touch worldwide

· Louis says that since the Santo Domingo meeting the first list (drafted in 1995) with the representatives per country is no longer in use.

· The information that Rita is sending now is being sent to:

The participants of Santo Domingo

The provincials of the 3 congregations

The religious that support the lays in their provinces

· There is a danger now that laity and religious, who were not in Santo Domingo, will no longer receive news of the lay movement

· Rita will pass on the names of those who were proposed as “responsible ones” in S D to Louis and add these to the first list

· When laity can’t be responsible yet, the contacts will run through the named religious

· This will be explained in the first coming contact letter

· From Nov. 2009 onwards Rita will send a short message each month in order to be “outwardly” connected internationally

· For a short moment the use of “face book” was mentioned; Louis will, by way of trial, react personally to one of the received requests.

3.5. E-GROUP

· In the last contact letter the existence of “e-group” was mentioned, plus the explanation of how to use and try it

· Apparently there are indistinctnesses in the explanation; we got reactions as thus

· During the meeting the beginning of enlisting in “e-group” was tried out without any problems

· At the moment there are only 12 persons member of this “e-group”

· Even though enlisting seems to be a bit problematic, it is decided to use this form of contact anyway, especially for instance to pass on reports of activities

· Everyone writes in his/her own language

· When one of the enlisted 12 persons sends a message through “e-group” to, for instance, all members on the used address list, that mail can be read by everybody; however, only the enlisted “e-group” people can react

4. PREPARATION FOR THE MEETING WITH THE 3 GENERALATES ON 15-12-09 THEME: “FORMATION WITHIN THE LAY MOVEMENT”

From the 3 Generalates we received a document: “A common vision of formation for the Chevalier Family”.

They asked in the last contact letter to the lay movements to react to this document and to mention how they see formation for lay people within the Chevalier Family.

Some reactions were already there, with thanks received.

The contents of the sent visions will be discussed on a deeper level later on, after a concrete course of formation will be drafted.

After ample discussion the following points will be presented to the meeting of Dec. 15^th 2009 with the 3 Generalates and the representatives of the international lay committee:

A. That the religious accept that lay people can set up formation for lay people; we need more “formation instructors” urgently

B. Develop a formation for lay people, to be given by both religious and laity

C. Study the possibility to add a lay person to the Cor Novum team

D. For those countries that do not have anything yet, the 2-year program, drafted by the Miribel group (is on the site) is very suitable; a deepening of the 2-year program needs to be worked on

E. Send a monthly letter (cf. booklet with 9 themes on OLSH), which can be used as a guidance during lay meetings (cf. the former letter drafted by father P. Bonnemort msc for the French/Swiss laity)

SUNDAY 15^th NOV. 2009

5. PREPARATION FOR THE GENERAL MEETING ON 10 and 11 APRIL 2010

· It would be good if all members of the council of the association were to be present at the common statutory meeting in 2010; Rita will contact Sue Kimberley (Ireland/England) and Frank Vandegehuchte (Slovakia);

· Another suggestion is to invite a second person per country; thus “brainstorming” about the items on the agenda can be done in a larger group and expand the European lay committee in the future;

· Travelling expenses can be repaid by the committee as far as possible;

· Suggestions for the 2010 meeting:

Official statutory part

Time for formation by for instance Nick Harnan or a representative of the 3 Generalates

Further discussion about formation that took place with the 3 Generalates on Dec. 15^th 2009 and further discussion regarding developing formation packages for the laity

A possible organisation of another European meeting in 2013

6. SHARING WITH THE DIFFERENT EUROPEAN GROUPS

6.1 NETHERLANDS

The way of the heart: Mimi gives information about the further course of the 3-year project, started by MSC and FDNSC, with Fons Meijers and Jacqueline van Marion as inspirationists. On Oct. 3d 2009 a meeting day had been organised with all groups involved: Chevalier associates (lays), hosts/hostesses of the Sittard Basilica, co-workers and volunteers of the Missionary Service Centre and co-workers of the MSC and FDNSC convents.

A weekend of silence for the steering group of the Chevalier associates on Aug.28^th -29^th in Tilburg, where everyone was able to come to him/herself and to meet one another in a different way.

On Nov. 7^th 2009 there was an afternoon of dialogue with the religious who live in the rest-home Notre Dame at Tilburg and the volunteers, personnel and Chevalier associates in order to get to know each other better.

Unfortunately the Arnhem group will cease to exist: they will meet for the last time on Dec.11^th.

6.2. SPAIN

Father José Maria Alvarez is the spiritual leader of the lay associates.

Every Monday the Madrid group meets for reflection with guidance from F.José Maria.

Every Thursday evening there is a meeting reflecting on the gospel of the coming Sunday.

Every three months there is a reflection day.

In the beginning of December a three-day-retreat will be held in Valladolid.

As NGO we support projects in e.g. Argentina by organising markets in the parish regularly; as the successor of Adelina Morales Bello, Ana Belasko is now responsible for the NGO.

The Madrid group supports a parish priest who takes care of the homeless, of a young couple in need, etc.

One can feel the social crisis: a lot of people are in need of help and support.

One cannot but notice that the group gets older; it is very difficult to find younger members.

6.3. FRANCE/SWITZERLAND

In France there is only one fraternity with 7 members

In Switzerland: 2 fraternities

Thanks to the visit of father Gérard Blattmann, provincial, the ties between religious and laity has been restored

We had a weekend with Louise Belval’s (near Lyon); P. Bonnemort msc was with us these days

The booklet about Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, drafted by the Generalates with reference to the celebration of her name-giving by father Chevalier 150 years ago, is being made use of with gratitude

Therefore a celebration has been planned on Dec. 8^th in the parish of Mas Rillier (of the large statue of OLSH) near Miribel

On June 26/27 a weekend will be organised in Issoudun for everybody, lay and religious, who are connected to the two congregations; this will be considered a new start

6.4. BELGIUM

From 3-5 July we had a retreat weekend in Malle with father Hans Kwakman (Cor Novum); theme was: how can spirituality of the heart be a remedy against the violence in our society and in the families, especially with youngsters

On the Sunday Luc Vlieghe was chosen unanimously as the new national representative

On Aug. 29 we had our first Chevalier family day in the rest-home of FDNSC in Rumst, which was very good

On Sept. 27 we had our annual meeting-day for all members of the Chevalier family and their family members where we celebrated our 20^th anniversary as a lay movement

The second weekend of Oct. was for the singles; the theme was the 3d chapter of Anselm Grün’s book: “Letting go of everything because he doesn’t let go of me”, about celibacy, sexuality and chastity

In the beginning of Nov. young families and their children came together in Rotselaar; the theme was: “Doesn’t God call anymore?”

A new initiative: every fourth Friday of the month older lay members and the sisters meet for the afternoon in their convent in Deurne (near Antwerp)

In Bierbeek (near Louvain) Rita Goethals welcomes lay members in OPEN HEART every first Friday of the month: a coming home with possibility for

reflection, discussion, rest, Eucharist)

7. FINANCIAL SITUATION

Thank you Louis Joly for all your work as the treasurer of the European and international committee.

The financial support that Louis and Nadette Joly intended to donate to the international meeting in Santo Domingo will intermediary be used for the purchase of a new laptop for the international and European lay committee.

We should notice, however, that the future financial situation doesn’t look too promising.

When we do not find new sponsors there will not be no means left within now and two years time and this is just on the European level.

How do we acquire new funds; how do we set up funds in order to be able to continue working on both European as international level?

This question will be put to the Generalates during the meeting in December in Rome in the hope that, with their experience, we will manage to set up a fund for our movement.

8. CONNECTED BEYOND BORDERS

We need to find a solution to work out how to send, worldwide, the information that Rita receives.

In the mean time the means of communication via “e-group” will be tried out.

9. SUNDRIES

9.1. COR NOVUM: www.cornovum.com

For a short while now Cor Novum has a blog!

Have a look at it: worthwhile.

9.2. General Assembly : 10-11 April 2010 – Lyon