Special Post-Chapter Edition                                         St Gregory the Great -- 3 Sept., 2004

This special edition comes to you just after the conclusion of the General Chapter. I am indebted to Aengus for this relection on this significant event in the life of our Congregation.  I hope it will give Brothers (and others) some senseof the atmosphere and  environment of the Chapter.

The 19th General Chapter of the Congregation was an historic occasion for two important reasons. It was the first General Chapter held outside of Ireland and it was the first General Chapter to elect an Indian-born Superior General, Bro Jerome Ellens. In each of these "movements" our Congregation was but echoing a shift which has been reflected in the Church in recent decades where the developing countries display a confident and enthusiastic face of Church, not common in traditional Western settings. (Photo: Aengus Kavanagh)

One Sunday during Chapter, all the capitulants went to Mass in the local parish church, St Jude's, on the outskirts of Eldoret.  The large church was packed with family groups. Parish priest, Fr Peter, enthusiastically joined in the singing, the hand-clapping, the African-style sashaying, etc.  Mass started at 10.15 am and finished close to 1.15 pm!  Many Brothers came away musing that our Western church has grown weary, that our sense of the religious and the spiritual is painfully muted. Sunday worship is a very obvious priority in Kenya where road-side signs proclaim a great variety of communities and churches, all seeking to live and spread the Gospel message.
 

African style entry to the General Chapter

The first Patricians arrived in Kenya in1961 and for the next twenty-five years or so there were just the two communities with six or seven brothers in total at any one time, all of whom were Irish. This was in the Diocese of Eldoret in the Western Highlands of Kenya, about 120 Km from Lake Victoria and the Ugandan border. Just over 15 years ago, the Brothers took first steps in inviting young Kenyan men to become Patrician Brothers. Now, in the Dioceses of Eldoret, Kitale and Nairobi, there are four novices, four finally professed and eleven temporary professed Kenyan Patricians. Nine of the Brothers are trained teachers and four are trained nurses. Two members of the Indian Province are also on loan in Kenya. Six is still the number of the "Irish missioners".

Kamagut, a rural setting about 20 Km west of Eldoret, is the present novitiate. It is here that the Chapter was held. The Brothers of the African Region, and their helpers, did a marvellous job in transforming and extending the premises at Kamagut, ensuring well-appointed and comfortable facilities and amenities for the visiting Brothers.  The Chapter proceedings were held in a well-furnished, spacious, purpose-built hall, Delany Hall. 

While the Kamagut development project had the strong support of all the Brothers of the Region, the main planning and supervision devolved on Regional Superior, Felim Ryan, and Plant Manager, Tom Grogan. The strong financial support of the Irish Province was an integral part of the entire development.

Along with ex-officio members of Chapter and delegates from Ireland, India, Australia, Papua New Guinea and Kenya, there were two women from Sydney, Chapter Facilitator, Josephite Sister Jan Barnett, and secretarial assistant Val Hood.

  A feature of this Chapter was the strong representation of the Indian Province. In the Indian Province at present, counting novices, there are now almost one hundred Patricians and upward of 50 young men in stages of initial formation. In addition to three senior members of the Province, Berchmans, Alphonsus T., and Bosco, there were the "young guns", Chris, Paschal, Stan, Dominic, Prakash, Basil (& Jerome!). The Indian cohort brought a distinct flavour to the prayer life of the Chapter and certainly enlivened the social life with spontaneity and a sense of fun. (Photo: Basil leading prayer the Indian way.)

It was the first time too for Kenyan Patricians to participate in a General Chapter, Eliud Kimathi and Peter Oduor.  At some liturgies, Peter bravely engaged capitulants in traditional African dance and indigenous langauge singing!.

On the Saturday evening before Chapter, all visitors and local Patricians were guests of the Harambee community, Ned McCarthy, Leo Cheruvil and Henry Ojwang, at a most enjoyable outdoor barbecue.

The Chapter Assembly was inaugurated in a gathering ceremony on the afternoon of Sunday, 25 July where Province and Regional representatives laid symbols in the sacred space in an atmosphere of reverence and prayer. Local Patricians and novices joined with capitulants for Eucharist the same evening. The singing and dancing of Kenyan Brothers again highlighted the African approach to liturgy.
 

Chapter members and local Patricians gather for Eucharist in the Chapter Hall	Practising a new hymn composed for the Brothers by Tony Leahy OH of PNG

The first week of Chapter was a time of education, familiarisation, and renewal. Stimulus input was provided by two African guest presenters. Ugandan priest, author, and activist, Fr John Waliggo,  gave a series of talks with themes on social justice, human rights, and inculturation. Former president of  Leaders of Womensí Congregations in Africa, Sr Edel Bahati, gave input on religious life and formation for religious life.

Some members of Chapter had been asked to prepare short workshops on topics that had been identified as important in pre-Chapter consultation as follows-

"Called to live the Hope and Challenge of Cultural Differences"
Jerome Ellens & Nicholas Harsas

"Social Justice & Option For The Poor"
Chris Dawes & Edward McCarthy

"History of the Breastplate & Celtic Spirituality"
David Byrne

The lectures and workshops provided rich agenda for dialogue and reflection. Facilitator, Sr Jan Barnett,  integrated the week's program with prayer and guided discussions.

An active Social Committee ensured that discussions continued into the evenings by providing a convivial atmosphere,  pre-dinner and post-dinner, in the on-site "St Kizitoís Pub"!

Generally there was a "free day" towards the end of each week. With the good organisational skills of Felim, and the generous co-operation of the local Brothers, a number of attractive outing options were available - Lake Victoria at Kisumu; Patrician community and ministry in various places:- Iten, Kitale, Kapsoya, Kabongo, Eldoret Harambee, Tambach, Moi's Bridge.

The Harambee and Kapsoya communities gracefully hosted a number of dinner gatherings for various groups of Province representatives throughout the Chapter. Local bishops, Cornelius Korir, Eldoret, and Mossie Crowley, 
Kitale, joined the Chapter for Eucharist and a meal on separate days.

In the second week of Chapter, attention turned to the Province, Regional, and General Reports.  The Reports graphically documented the ageing membership in Ireland, California and Australia and the signs of new life in 
India, Kenya and Papua New Guinea. Despite the contrasting demographics however, there was plenty of evidence of a good spirit of trust, optimism and outreach at a range of levels throughout the Congregation. The feeling was that, though our numbers are comparatively small, we are making a positive difference in many significant ways in local communities.
 

Br Andrew in his classroom at Baraka Za Ibrahim School, Kibera, Nairobi	Br David at the Kibera Clinic which serves HIV positive children

The Kenyan Region presented two dramatic instances in this context. Two Kenyan Patricians live in the very impoverished Nairobi suburb of Riruta. Bro Andrew teaches in a school in a hopelessly  disadvantaged slum at nearby Kibera. Were it not for goodwill and volunteerism there would be no "school" there and the children would have no access to education. The "school"receives no form of government or Church aid.  Andrew is the only Religious 
on staff.

Fellow community member, Bro David, a trained nurse, works at  Kenyaís first hospice for HIV positive orphans, Nyumbani. The hospice is a project of American Jesuit, Fr Angelo, and relies heavily on foreign  sponsorship and 
voluntary workers. It is estimated that there are over 300,000 Kenyan children who are HIV+ and their numbers are rising steadily. David, who conducts diagnostic tests to see if presenting children are in fact HIV+, tells the sad story that parents are often disappointed if their children do not test positive. This means that the children will not be admitted to the hospice, thereby missing out on the food and care given to hospice residents. The work of Andrew and David is  truly inspirational and is a real response to ëcrying needsí in the spirit of Daniel Delany.

Another project in the Kenyan Region is the new school at Kabongo. This well-designed, quality building is on land belonging to the Brothers and is owned and administered  by the Brothers.  In its appearance, it uplifts the local rural area and provides good quality primary education for the children of poor families. Bro Peter Oduor is the principal and fellow Patricians John Gitonga and Andrew Masese are also on staff.
 

Br Peter Odour with some of his students at Kabongo, outside Eldoret	Brs James O'Rourke and Aengus Kavanagh in  Kabongo classroom

Adjacent to the school a medical clinic is nearing completion. The clinic will be supervised by a Kenyan Patrician who is a nurse. Shortly, the lot of local Kabongo people will be improved considerably through the provision of education and healthcare where no such services existed up to now. Again, a Patrician initiative very much in the spirit of our reason for existence as a Congregation.

Back to the Chapter. After hearing and receiving of Reports, Sr. Jan, Facilitator, led an Open Space process whereby each member of Chapter was given the option of nominating a relevant issue for Chapter agenda about which he had some strong feelings. Nomination of options was very much informed by themes emerging in pre-Chapter consultation and by dominant issues in  earlier Chapter sessions. Each nominator led the discussion on each topic and, by choice, Brothers could join discussion groups for three topics. This process put the spotlight on matters of core importance and identified themes that would be at the heart of the Chapter message.

The end of this second week was devoted to the examination of Congregational leadership structures and practices. There was a realistic assessment of governance and leadership needs at Congregational level, given our numbers and circumstances. Next, there was an extended time of prayerful reflection and discussion to discern the leaders best suited for the six years ahead. The Superior General and Vicar General will again constitute a "leadership team". Chapter agreed that the team be given flexibility in regard to the exercise of the role and that the V.G. could opt to spend a significant amount of time in a ministry setting of his choice. A spirit of trust and openness characterised these discussions and reflections, paving the way for the elections to be held on the Monday. (Photo (L-R): Br Jerome Ellens and Br Peter Ryan)

There was little surprise, and genuine satisfaction, when Bro Jerome Ellens was elected as S.G. and Bro Peter Ryan as V.G.  Likewise, the election of Bro James OíRourke and Bro Edward McCarthy as  General Councillors  was seen 
as a positive outcome in constituting the 2004 - 2010 Regime.

For the remaining part of Chapter, attention turned more specifically to the articulation of the Chapter message and to the tidying-up of some juridical matters. The  Chapter documents from 1986, Choose Life, and 1992, Rejoice in Hope, along with In Love and Confidence, 1998,  had set out in considerable detail a framework for the living out of Patrician Brotherhood. These documents were affirmed as having played a significant role in the renewal of the spiritual life, the community life, and the ministry of the Brothers generally, and they retain the potential to continue such an influence. 

There was consensus however that the 2004 Chapter message should take a different form. Instead of a document which was comprehensive and specific, a decision wasmade to adopt a format which was shorter and more  invitational.

Content for this document flowed freely from the Open Space process mentioned above, which, in turn, drew heavily from dominant issues in the pre-Chapter consultations.

The main call of the 2004 Chapter will be in a small booklet entitled:-
"One in Heart and Mind" (Phil 2.2)-

It contains four key sections:-
Patrician Spirituality...at the Heart of Our Identity and Mission
Embracing Cultural Change...celebrating our increased cultural diversity
Justice and Option For The Poor
Patrician Formation For Our Time

In addition to this booklet, which will be inspirational in tone, there will be a short document giving Chapter Directions and Resolutions. Supplementary material will also be available for the use of delegates in their meetings with the Brothers to promulgate the Chapter message. This material will contain summaries of group discussions in the Open Space process. It is envisaged that the Chapter documents will be available for circulation by late September, early October.

The whole Chapter program was enriched through the integration of prayer, reflection, music and symbol led by Sr Jan and assisted by the Liturgy Committee.
 

Morning prayer in the Remembrance Garden led by  Br James O'Rourke	Brs Philip, Jerome, and Cormac - all present, future, and past SGs - planting a tree

Included in the Kamagut plant which had been creatively  developed for the Chapter was a large expanse of lawn. In this lawn area there are four attractively designed African huts  - "bandas", which were used extensively for discussion groups and social gatherings during Chapter. On the morning of the final Sunday, there was a symbolic tree-planting ceremony around the perimeter of the lawn. In turn, the delegates from each Province/Region planted a tree in a space which had their national flag as background. After a prayer/reading, each group assembled before the flag and led the singing of that country's national anthem.

In the final Chapter assembly tributes were paid to all who had made a special contribution to the running of the Chapter. Expressions of gratitude and appreciation were particularly directed to Regional Superior, Felim Ryan, and to the Brothers of the Kenyan Region for the marvellous hospitality and goodwill they had shown in hosting the Chapter. Outgoing Superior General, Philip Mulhall, was likewise thanked for his pivotal role in the planning, organisation, and conduct of Chapter. Philipís contribution to the life of the Congregation in high profile leadership roles for the past twenty four years was also gratefully acknowledged...

1980 - 1986    Principal at Holy Cross College
1986 -  1992    Provincial Australia & PNG
1992 -  1998   Vicar General
1998 -  2004    Superior General

Philip will continue as S.G. until official hand-over to the new Regime on 31 October.  Chapter wished Philip well as he steps out of the role and urged him to plan a worthwhile sabbatical for himself before re-entering active ministry.
 

19TH GENERAL CHAPTER, 25 JULY - 15 AUGUST, 2004, KAMAGUT, KENYA Back L. to R. Bros. Stan, Thanicken, Prakash, Cormac, Aengus, Peter Oduor,  Bosco, Chris, Felim, Philip, Nicholas, Eliud, David, Paschal. Front L. to R. Bros. Dominic, Basil, Berchmans, Mrs. Val Hood (Secretary),  Bros. James, Jerome, Peter Ryan, Edward, Sr. Jan Barnett (Facilitator),  Bros. Camillus, Tom Grogan (Plant Manager), Paul O'Keeffe.

At mid-day on the feast of the Assumption, 15 August, the 2004 Chapter concluded in a highly symbolic ceremony which included the anointing and commissioning of delegates to go forth carrying the spirit and message of the Chapter to the Brothers.

---