Today, Easter Monday, we had a rest morning after the Easter ceremonies of the past three days. We thank Father Frank Andersen MSC for leading us in the triduum, beginning with Holy Thurday Eucharist in the early evening and climaxing with the celebration of the light and the WORD at the Easter Vigil on Saturday night, followed by the celebration of the Eucharist on Easter Sunday morning.

Our work resumed at the afternoon session but before we began Vince Duggan spoke to us of the life and ministry of Brother Pat Keogh who died in Sydney, Australia this morning.

Our writers then presented the Emerging Vision of this Chapter. The vision was presented in the context of the whole Munnar experience and will now form the basis of our deliberations in the remaining days of the Chapter.

The rest of the afternoon was spent in discussing, discerning and formulating our responses to the vision that this Chapter wishes to make to the wider Congregation and the Edmund Rice Network.

The new North American leadership team was announced in the evening by Francis Hall, one of our new CLT members. The team is:

Hugh O’Neill (Leader)
Kevin Griffith (Deputy Leader)
Barry Lynch
Ray Vercruysse
Dan Casey
Mark Murphy

We congratulate these brothers as they take up the office of Leadership after their Province Chapter in July.

This Easter Tuesday at the Congregation Chapter began with a fifteen minute centering prayer focused on entering into the core of our being where we find Jesus. As our Chapter candle was lit, we were encouraged to enter into a mind frame of trust and to remain open in mind, heart, and will as we embarked on the day’s work.

The primary task of this day would be to review the emerging Chapter story as presented by the writing committee in response to the movement of the Spirit in our midst. Thus, Chapter participants entered into a three part process to assist in naming the emerging vision of Chapter 2008.

The first step of the process allowed for thirty minutes of personal reflection on the draft of the proposed Chapter document. During this time, Chapter participants focused on four questions:

- Does the document reflect our Chapter story?
- Is there anything missing from the document that needs to be named?
- Is there any language in the document that needs to be changed?
- Are there any other thoughts on the document?

Following the personal quiet time, the second step of the process gave each Chapter participant an opportunity to share the fruits of his reflection with another member of the gathered assembly.

Step three of the process was for Chapter participants to meet in plenary session to discuss the various components of the document in light of the four questions above and to offer direction and guidance to the writing committee.
Throughout the plenary session, lively discussion took place offering recommendations that would indeed guide the writers in revising the document. As the day progressed, it became more and more apparent that the emerging vision of the Chapter was coming into focus. The important task of reviewing and affirming the emerging Chapter story would continue on Wednesday.

A second focus for this day allowed Chapter participants an opportunity to reflect on the question:

- What does this Chapter need to say regarding the Congregation and the Edmund Rice Network?

Small group discussion on this topic was followed by a plenary session that offered recommendations for further consideration.

This day ended with a ritual prayer that invited us to use our senses to take in the sights, sounds, smells, etc. of the surrounding hills of Munnar. Following a few moments of quiet, the ritual concluded as all sang, “Sing to the Mountains.” It was a fitting conclusion to a day filled with the movement of the Spirit among us.

Frank Andersen began the day, heading us in a quiet, centering prayer, towards the end of which we were invited to call to mind a brother from our past who, in some way, captured what we have been about these past few weeks and, somehow, embodied the presence and spirit of Edmund Rice.

To continue the work on a HIV/AIDS policy, brothers returned to the groups of Saturday last, representing Congregation Leadership, Province and Region Leadership, Formators and Community Members. We were asked again to discuss and respond to two questions:
1) From the place where you stand, how would you respond to a candidate who has tested positive for HIV/AIDS and is seeking admission to the novitiate?
2) On behalf of the Congregation, how would you respond to a candidate who, after being tested, is found to be HIV+?

Group clarities were sought in response before brothers shared individually in seeking the group’s best thinking.

During the second session of the morning the Chapter continued its work in clarifying, owning and coming to a deeper understanding of the emerging chapter document. We also received a revised version of the Daring Disciples’ Response” document, prepared by Peter Dowling an Kevin Mullan. Jim Donovan and Paul Robertson presented their document attempting to capture yesterday’s reflections and the ERN recommendations. (The photograph shows the newly elected leadership team of the North American Province.)

Before lunch, Martin Kenneally, Congregation Leader of the Presentation Brothers, addressed the gathering. Martin expressed thanks for the grace and privilege of the past few days with us. He conveyed to us the thoughts and prayers of the Presentation Brothers and the Presentation Family. The outgoing CLT was thanked for their encouragement, support and brotherhood and Martin wished every blessing on the new CLT. The Presentation Brothers look forward to working with the new CLT, deepening bonds of brotherhood in Jesus and Edmund. Martin acknowledged with gratitude the welcome and graciousness of the Indian brothers.

In response, Martin O’Flaherty, on our behalf, thanked Martin for the full and generous presence he brought to us and for the presence of Br. Andrew Hickey earlier in the Chapter. The support of the Presentation Brothers during our times of trouble was a great source of strength. We are grateful for the mutually beneficial connection that exists between the Presentation Brothers and the Christian Brothers.

A presentation was made to Br. Martin Kenneally before the whole group gathered for the Chapter Photo.

The afternoon session began with a brief reflection from Frank Andersen on the use of the words “me”, “my” and “body” and how Jesus would have understood and used them in the culture of his time.

We then continued to work on the two documents relating to the ERN and the Daring Disciples’ Response.

The session finished with a reflection and sharing on some of our eucharistic moments from the day, followed by the singing of Salve Regina.

The newly appointed Latin American Regional Team was announced. Juan Casey continues as team leader with Pablo Keohane as deputy. Kevin Bernard completes the team.

Following the evening meal, Jack Mostyn facilitated a workshop on “Advocacy in the Public Forum Explored”.

As we arrive at Day 26, the final day of Chapter 2008, the reflection and sharing this morning focuses on personal change and group change over the past four or five weeks of immersion and chapter.

The first work of the morning was based on the modified document “Admission to Novitiate: A Congregation Policy”. Discussion focused on issues that need to be addressed before finalising the policy, particularly with reference to our Chapter work on H.I.V./A.I.D.s.

Brothers were then invited to read the latest draft of the Chapter Document, to make general comments but to leave the editing to the Steering Committee and the C.L.T. New items appearing in the document were explored in more detail.

To end the morning session, brothers returned to sharing the deep journey and challenge experienced during the emergence of the Chapter Document.

Before lunch we paused to congratulate Greg Wall and Wilfred D’Souza, who celebrate a birthday tomorrow.

In the afternoon we began by celebrating the presence of the invited brothers. We thanked them for their prayers, insight, courage, laughter and brotherhood.

Philip introduced the various documents of the Chapter, each of which was accepted unanimously before delegates signed the Chapter minutes.

The staffs of Tea County and Eastend Hotels were given a vote of thanks by Placid Henriques on behalf of the group and a presentation was made to each staff member.

During the final liturgy, led by Frank Anderson, the following groups were thanked:

Finance Committee Communications Committee

Social Committee Constitutions Committee

Secretarial Committee Planning & Steering Committee

Liturgy Coordinators Facilitators

Synthesizers Writers

Sebastian George was thanked specially for his extraordinary skill and energy in catering to every need and detail throughout the event.

Philip announced the close of the chapter which finished with a traditional Indian ritual and dance.