End of the First Week of General Chapter
Rome, Saturday, September 1. The General Chapter’s first week of work concluded at the end of this morning. On the schedule for today was the Minister General’s presentation on, “The task and open questions regarding the role of the General Councilor.”
The General Councilors make up the Council that assists the General Minister in the administration of the Order. In his talk Br. Mauro explained the task of the Councilor, recalling what is provided in the Constitutions, the Ordinances of the General Chapters, and the Statutes of the General Curia. He also touched on various aspects of the service that the Councilors are called to do both with regard to the General Minister and to the various circumscriptions of the Order. He also spoke on the question of the number of Councilors and how, in his estimation, the two African Conferences would have need of a General Councilor each. On this last and on many other topics regarding the General Council, there was an open discussion in which many voices from all over the world were heard.
At noon the Chapter session concluded. Work will begin again on Monday, when the election of the new General Minister is scheduled.
This sixth day of General Chapter also happened to be the birthday of Br. Mauro Jöhri, the outgoing General Minister. In celebration, Br. Mauro presided at the morning Mass and there was also a festive lunch in his honor. The capitulars offered their best wishes and even gave Br. Mauro some gifts. Ad multos annos!
Photo gallery:
• Presentation of the role of the General Councilor
Video: Eucharist with Card. João Braz de Aviz 2018.08.31
