Spain. On February 6 the closing session of the Chapter took place. The Fr. President, Fr. Gonzalo Fernández, convokes us to the “Filial and apostolic prayer to the Heart of Mary.” Frs. Sidera and Marimon have revised and approved the Minutes of the Chapter and stated that this approval is given with the highest mark.
We finish the revision of the third part of the Chapter Document and the Conclusion. After making the appropriate clarifications, it is approved and the final revision is left to the Provincial Government. Suggestions are given to make it known to the Province.
We take a break to let Fr. Josep Vilarrubias make the photo of the Chapter members.
At our return, Fr. Provincial expresses his satisfaction and gratitude for the good functioning of the Chapter. Guided by the Holy Spirit we have found consensus and lines for the future. It is worth stressing the final Message of the Fr. President, read in Catalan. He made himself close and emphasized the dialogue on the document when we got bogged down. He has been a big brother who has made us feel the warmth of the whole Congregation. He invites us to live now the Chapter of action.
Fr. A. Gomis gives us the result of the evaluation survey of the Chapter: it got a B plus. A high outstanding goes to Fr. Josep Roca, the efficient secretary and the Missionary Sisters of the Claretian Institution. There is no need to say that the whole assembly signs it with a warm round of applause. At the end, all the Chapter members sign the Minutes and Fr. President closes the Chapter.
The Chapter Document will be a great help for the brothers in the Province in facing the new sexennium, putting ourselves at the service of the Gospel. It is a grace of God to be able to count on the presence of young Claretians from here and from Colmenar Viejo. Shinto Thomas has been a very active member of the Chapter. Helin John has been a “cornerstone” in the community of Valls, since four members of that community have participated in the Chapter.
At 12 noon, in the temple crypt, by the tomb of the Fr. Founder, with the brothers of the Province and members of the Claretian Family who came, we celebrated the closing Eucharist of the Chapter. It was presided over by Fr. Máxim Muñoz, as Provincial Superior, accompanied at the altar by Fr. Gonzalo Fernández, the new Provincial Government of the Claretians of the Province of Catalonia and the deacon Shinto. We ended by sharing all together the festive meal.
