6rd International Coordination of the LAY MSC of the Chevalier Family

 

 

Herent (Belgium), November 9 – 10, 2002

 

 

 

Present: Angeles, Barbara, Louis and Nadette, Marie-Blanche, Mimi, Odile, Rita, Sue and Suzanne.
Excused: Mélanie and Stephanie. 

Word of welcome by Rita

 

1. APPROVAL OF THE REPORT OF THE MEETING OF APRIL 13-14, 2002: Correction of page 5, n° 4 in English
Theme of the exchanges: “To be the heart of God in the World today”

 

2. SITUATION OF THE LAY MSC IN FRANCE/SWITSERLAND

 

Meeting with the Provincial Council and the Lay Council in July; the actual Lay Council’s mandat expires in September 2003;

Still existing: “MSC Lay”:

 

·        The MSC Fraternity (2 groupes in Switzerland, 2 in France)

·        The Alain de Boismenu Communion: after the closure of the Alain de Boismenu Center, 20 persons insisted on continuing: time for fraternity, for prayer, for formation. 7 of them wish to find a certain common exchange. They meet in a small hall of the parish “Our Lady of the Sacred Heart” in Miribel.

 

The Provincial MSC Council has asked Louis and Nadette JOLY to go on doing the secretarial work of the MSC Lay of the Chevalier Family on international level, in close collaboration with the MSC – FNDSC – MSC Sisters Generalats. They have asked to maintain their engagement as “MSC Lay” within the Alain de Boismenu Communion, which is accepted.

 

The MSC Provincial has asked that the steps undertaken to the blessing of the Lay MSC be forwarded to him immediately.

The mandat of Brother-Father Gilbert BONNEMORT will expire in September 2003. The MSC Provincial will choose a successor.

 

3. EXCHANGING INFORMATION ON EUROPEAN LEVEL

 

3.1. ENGLAND
Since September 2001, there has been an important change in the relationship between the MSC Religious and the Lay MSC. The Lay MSC have become very independent, while still highly appreciated by the MSC. The Lay are responsible for the functioning of the rest home that they are completely in charge of. This house used to connected to a school, but now the school has merged with another school. The MSC remain in the College which is now being rented.
In October they installed a committee with 2 MSC Religious and 2 Lay in order to develop new grounds for Lay MSC wishing to inforce the bonds with the MSC, even when the MSC leave the parish.

 

3.2. THE NETHERLANDS
In October, Belgium and the Netherlands came together in a meeting in which especially the new Arnhem group was represented.

 

3.3. BELGIUM
Two FNDSC sisters joined the group. A Lay Chapter was held this year (a report on that meeting is available). A new group was formed around Narcisse Okenge (a group of Congo and Ruanda).

 

3.4. GERMANY
The group is still growing. They are planning a meeting with the Netherlands and Belgium (for more information on the dates: cfr. Stephanie). Gerda Hegel will no longer attend the International Coordination.

 

3.5. SPAIN
No great changes. Continues the formation on the basis of the Louis EVELY book. The Lay MSC meet every Thursday for one hour of formation, one hour of prayer followed by lunch. The Madrid MSC group attends the Diocesan Synod. The number of members increased, since active in the parish.
The Valencia group will attend the European Meeting in Issoudin in 2003.

 

3.6. INTERNATIONAL
Sister Suzanne has no special news.

 

Australia still sends its News Letter with the informations on the international Coordination to Louis JOLY.

 

3.7. DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Nine adult groups, 4 groups of youngsters with about 300 persons charing the Sacred Heart Spirituality. Activities on regular basis: a monthly meeting, time for contemplation: every year (per region), a yearly General Assembly.

 

3.8. QUEBEC
The MSC Lay are working good. They participate in the Parish of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart. They have published an outlook on life.

 

4. REPORT ON THE CUSKELLY SYMPOSIUM

 

Sister Barbara looks back on the Symposium as a great success! To her, this Symposium was the first place where Religious and Lay MSC were treated as equal partners. One of the most important outcomes: the Lay had the opportunity to hold their own meeting during the Symposium.
This was the first meeting on this level for Mimi. The testimonies meant a great deal to her. They are a great help in her attempt to bear witness of His Heart in everyday life.
For Rita, this was a time to reflect upon her own life. She experienced a force to do unusual things; the Religious will not be replaced, everyone will have its own task. She shows us the reports of the different countries (cfr. Documents: Cuskelly Symposium and the ALMSC Meeting).
It is Louis’ suggestion that this information be sent to the representatives of all countries and to all of those who have participated in the Symposium.

 

5. REPORTS ON THE 2 MEETINGS OF THE LAY MSC WITH THE 3 GENERALS IN ISSOUDUN DURING THE CUSKELLY SYMPOSIUM.

 

1st meeting: informative
In the 2nd meeting,

he terms of the “International Coordination” cannot be changed by the current members. We take notice of that. Only the next International Assembly will be able to do the necessary modifications.
Louis explains that the current team of the International Coordination only consists of European members because of financial reasons and transport problems. This has been decided in Issoudun ’99. The International Coordination is always glad to welcome people from other countries. (for example Claire Personnette from the USA and Norma Salgado from Brasil have already attended the meeting). The goal of the International Coordination remains to be defined and revised during the next international meeting.
The information will have to be distributed among the Lay Representatives and all the provincials through a first Information Bulletin. We will not have all information translated; the documents will be distributed in the original language.

 

6. EUROPEAN MEETING

 

6.1. Reading of the temporary programme (Barbara).

 

6.2. Budget of the session (Sue)

·        Preparation of the budget (cfr. Comparative tabel Issoudun 99)

·        Writing a letter to the Provincial Councils as the international coordination in which is explained that this is the first time for European Lay to attend this meeting and to ask for a financial support.

·        Each country will try to detect and to help countries in need and if not possible, these countries will have to ask support to the coordination.

·        Fixed prices (3 levels according to the financial means of each member):

o      € 225 low price

o      € 250 middle price

o      € 275 high price

 

6.3.: Possible speakers
Father Mark McDonald
Father Joannés Rozier
Father André Tostain
Sister Gérardine
Mimi, Sue and Rita.

 

We will ask for voluntary translators: Barbara will contact Roland Doulchin and Mimi will contact two other persons. Father Aloma (Spain) contacted by Rita is willing to come and translate.

 

6.4. Registrations
Entries must be received before March 1st. Each country is asked to send an approximative number of participants (current estimation: 60/80 persons).
The countries represented in the International Coordination will receive their invitations through their representatives.
In the other countries, however, the invitations will be passed on through the provincials. As to the registration forms, take the Issoudun 99 brochure and make the necessary changes. In French, English and Spanish.
Remarks that must occur: theme and programme. Louis and Nadette will send us a proof to be corrected before the end of the year.
We will reserve Issoudun for the preparatory weekend on March 1 – 2 (7 persons). Cor Novum has already been informed.

 

6.5.: Hymn book
We take the Hymn book of Issoudun 99 and leave out all hymns not referring to Europe.

 

6.6.: Liturgy
Every country will be responsible for its own liturgy. Simon Duverney will be invited to animate the songs.

 

6.7. Speeches
The subjects of the speeches need to defined in order to allow the speakers to write them down in advance and to have them translated. Will be discussed during a weekend in March.

 

7. FORMATION

 

Meeting with Cor Novum, the 3 Generalats and the Lay (cfr. Report by Rita). The Generalats have decided to have 4 points integrated in the formation of the MSC Religious:

·        How to guide a goup of Lay

·        How to start up a group of Lay

·        How to pass on the MSC Spirituality onto the Lay

·        Prayer

 

The Internet site has become crucial in spreading the formation and avoiding high costs. We want to repeat that a member of Cor Novum can always be invited to give a formation during the meetings in each country.

 

The themes should be discussed at the European Meeting in 2003.

 

8. INTERNET SITE

 

The new address of the Coordination and the new function of Louis and Nadette should be put on the Internet site.
The site should be modified and the link with the Rome site should be re-established. (cfr. Father Dossman).

 

9. FINANCES

 

cfr. Documents of Louis for the year 2002.

 

The MSC Province and the Belgian groups pay for the costs of our meeting in Herent. (in the accounts these costs will first occur as expenses and later as gifts).
Legal aspects of a European coordination:

·        Must be discussed at the next European meeting

·        Provide an association in accordance with the law of the country in which the association is set up. This will allow a certain autonomy of the Coordination;

o      Spiritual Center: Issoudun

o      Legal Center: ???

 

During the European meeting in August, we will have to elect a European Office. The Coordination will provide the legal grounds before August. Louis will make a draft and send it to every member so that the text can be discussed during the next preparatory meeting in March in Issoudun.
It is crucial that our legal identity differ from the Religious identity. At this time, Sister Suzanne is counsellor to the three generalats.

 

10. VARIOUS

 

This meeting is our last meeting together with Sister Barbara. She is about to return to the U.S.A. We express her our warmest thanks for her presence and her enthousiastic collaboration. Who will take her place for COR NOVUM?
The European Coordination to be installed during the European meeting in Issoudun in August 2003 will have to take up the task of the International Coordination until the next International Meeting.

 

 

NEXT MEETING OF THE INTERNATIONAL COORDINATION

 

 March 1-2, 2003

 

ISSOUDUN