General Chapter Week 3: Light Filtered Through the Trees

By Br. Dennis Malloy, FSC
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The past two weeks have been a bit like drinking water from a fire hose.  The volume and pace of taking in language, trying to appreciate cultural and linguistic nuances, and earnestly working to listen for deeper meaning and connections have been a workout.  The last words of our Retreat Director, the past Superior General of the Augustinians, to “be humble in your dealings with one another” have probably served us well in this busy and occasionally, overwhelming stage of the Chapter.

The task this past week, in language groups, regional groups, and plenary sessions was to take all the reports we previously received, from the Superior General, the Councilors, Secretariats, and the Assemblies that preceded the Chapter, and begin the work of teasing out the emerging themes.  These reports are a rich source of information, inspiration, and energy, but the challenge of pulling through the thematic threads was a struggle initially as we, at times, in the minutiae of the moment, “lost sight of the forest for the trees.”

By midweek the Chapter Commission began to build in some time each morning for personal reflection which immediately seemed to lessen the anxiety of “getting it right,” allowed for renewed perspective, and helped us to recall what was essential: “the human and Christian education of young people, especially the poor.”  Though there were moments when it felt more like Babel than Pentecost, a great spirit of fraternity and unity of purpose pervaded the atmosphere in the many groups, meals, shared liturgies, and warm personal interactions among us even though words sometimes fell short.

There was not a day that went by when someone did not hold up the inspiration of the documents from the Mission Assembly, the International Assembly of Young Brothers, and the International Symposium of Young Lasallians.  These have been moments of light and orientation which have kept us mindful of how graced and blessed we all are to share this mission.

By Thursday of this past week we began in earnest the work of identifying the common themes and beginning to prioritize them.  On Friday each regional group came up with six priorities which in the course of two plenary sessions of questions, clarifications, and modifications yielded the final thematic areas for the work of the Chapter.  That done, the Brothers were happy to enjoy the warm hospitality of the Brothers at Collegio San Giuseppe near the Spanish Steps, who, in their chapel, feted us to an extraordinary concert of sacred music by alums of their schools in Rome and a grand buffet in the school courtyard.

In these Easter days, and in anticipation of Pentecost, there is the abiding conviction that, despite the challenges, the Spirit is already present among us.  It is our task to open our ears and hearts to one another, to the church, and to the world, and to begin developing the themes into actionable proposals for the adaption and renewal of the mission for the years ahead.