SECOND DAY OF THE CHAPTER

Proceedings of the Day 2

• The second day of the chapter began with the meditation animated by Fr. Shantham and the Holy Eucharist presided over by Rev. Fr. Kulandai Samy, SdC, the Vicar Provincial who invited the members to pray for the repose of the souls of Fr. Stephen Fernando and Fr. Lucas who were the instrumentals in sowing the seed of Guanellian vocations in India. In his preaching he highlighted the determined journey of Jesus towards Jerusalem and made an appeal to the members to be courageous to learn to grow in spite of the few struggles that we face, to be witnesses to the love of God and to be imitators of our Founder in holiness of self and the world. At the end of the Holy Mass Rev. Fr. A. Soosai Rathinam SdC, our General Councilor shared some of his fond memories with Fr. Stephen and expressed his heartfelt condolences to Rev.Fr. Ronald on behalf of the whole congregation and the chapter fathers.

• Fr. Mahesh Benson the moderator for the day began the official hours at 3:00 pm with the prayer and a hymn to the Holy Spirit was sung by the members. Then Fr. Provincial addressed the forum about the demise of Fr. Stephen Fernando, remembering also Fr. Lucas, Fr. John Duraisamy, Archbishop Antony Anandarayar who ordained most of our confreres and Fr. S.J. Antony Samy who helped for our beginnings here in India. 

• Then Fr. M. Periyanayagam, the secretary presented the recap of the previous day which was approved with few additions and clarifications.

• Then Rev. Fr. Umberto Brugnoni the Superior General was invited by the moderator to address the chapter fathers and he began saying that he was happy about the presence of Rev. Fr. Rathinam, representing the general council. He then gave his personal wish and blessing to all the chapter fathers. He said that our Charism is not outdated but need of the time and it will be the same in the future too. But the happy future and the prosperity of our Charism also depends on the way how we live it today personally and in the community and pass it on to the future generation. Finally he wished all the chapter fathers a strong experience of communion and a new prophetic creative charismatic renewal. 

• Thereafter Fr. Provincial Superior was invited by the moderator to guide and orient the session towards the group discussion on the proposed themes of the day: Vocation Promotion, Fraternal Life, Formation and Consecrated Life to be done in four groups: one for the confreres overseas in online and the other three for those offline.

• Fr. Provincial Superior then explained the works of the groups and committees: which has the duty to select the moderator and a secretary in order to formulate the motions and proposals and submit to the chapter secretaries to consolidate them; has to discuss the issues present making use of the documents prepared by the pre-chapter commission and on the report of the Provincial superior and the Treasurer.

• After the group works and discussions the reports were presented by the secretaries of the group along with few proposals. The members also intervened, shared, clarified and added their opinions as and when needed in regard to the four major themes concerning the day. 

• At the end Fr. Provincial Superior clarified about the proceedings of the day and thanked the group members. He made a request to be concise in their presentation of the group works and recommended to come out at least with few motions and proposals for the better editing and voting on the final day for the approval. He recommended and proposed for the study of the three manuals presented and suggested for the modification and rearrangements if needed. After thanking all for the wonderful participation concluded the day with an intercessory prayer to Mother Mary by reciting the Hail Mary.   

- Secretaries