25 May 2009

The Importance of an Ecclesiology of Communion in Religious Life

Dr. Brian P. Flanagan, Assistant Professor of Christian Theology, Marymount University, Arlington, Virginia, writes on the importance of an Ecclesiology of Communion for religious life. Our religious life consultant at the chapter, Friar John Corriveau, OFM Cap, bishop of Nelson (Canada), has urged us to keep the chapter's theme situated within the broader context of ecclesiology. Professor Flanagan has researched the ecclesiology of Communion, especially that of the ecumenist and religious life specialist J. M. R. Tillard, O.P. In this article, Dr. Flanagan is pleased to offer some critical reflections on ecclesiology in light of our upcoming chapter's concern for local community life. In part, he writes: “In an essay from early in his career, Tillard writes that ‘because it is a society of brothers or sisters aiming at the perfection of charity…the concrete religious community (each foundation, each house) is a perfect cell, a model cell, within which the mystery of the Church, a communion of Life of human beings with each other and with the Father in Jesus Christ, always on the way to an intensification of this communion, is laid out with the most clarity.’ Communion is not goal to achieve, but has the potential to be both a source of strength within your life together as brothers, and a gift to the wider church of the love of God.”
You can download the full article at this link.

Reports and Proposals
Crosier General Canonical Commission
The Canonical Commission was requested by the Master General and his Council as well as by the General Chapter Planning Committee to do the following:
1. Review Provisional Norms and Authentic Interpretations of the Constitutions and General Statutes adopted by the Master General and his Council. The Canonical Commission was asked to provide a recommended course of action to the General Chapter regarding these since by law they end unless acted on by the General Chapter.
2. Recommend a course of action to the General Chapter on changes and additions to the General Statutes proposed by various bodies including the Canonical Commission itself.
3. Review propositions and directives proposed in the Instrumentum Laboris or proposed by any other body before the General Chapter.
4. Review Handbook Documents 02-002 (A Guide: Norms of the Constitutions and the General Statutes requiring or permitting norms in the Provincial Statutes) and make appropriate recommendations.

Additionally, this Canonical Commission recommends that no changes be made to the Constitutions as approved at the 2003 General Chapter and that the 2009 General Chapter approve, according to Constitutions 35.6, for the second time the Constitutions.

The report and the recommendations have been reviewed by the Master General and his Council, as well as the planning committee. The report and details of these recommendations on specific items are available online.
This report can be found at this link.

Chapter Videos

Hopeful Outcomes on YouTube
Confrere Kermit Holl, O.S.C., from the Province of Saint Odilia (USA), responds in a video interview to the question: “For you, what are hopeful outcomes to the 2009 Crosier General Chapter”. Confrere Kermit, who is also the prior of the community in Onamia, hopeful signs for the future as well as concerns for the Order. See this and other “Hopeful” videos here. [Editor’s Note: “Hopeful Outcomes to the General Chapter” Do you have a response to this? Contact us or send your video.]

Master General: What do we mean by Normative Community?
Master General Glen Lewandowski, O.S.C., addresses the issue of normative community. What do the OSC Constitutions mean when they speak of normative community?

Bulletin suggestions are welcome.

Chapter Bulletins

Capitualars 2009 General Chapter

General Chapter Periti

General Chapter Staffing