Remembering the Deceased of the Province

Today’s chapter meetings began with the Office of Readings for the dead as we remembered our deceased brothers of the Order. The Eucharist was celebrated by the Fr. Gerard Cosgayon who inspired us all with anecdotes from his memoirs of our deceased friars. His homily was really touching as he made us think of those friars who have shared with us this journey of following in the footsteps of St. Augustine. We remembered them in prayer as Holy Mother Church suggests praying for the dead, that although they might have lived a good lives and in friendship with God, they still might need the comfort of our prayers.

After Mass we went to the refectory for breakfast which as all the past mornings was gooood!! Then, we were off to the meeting room for our first morning session.

Fr. Michael read the minutes from Saturday as most of us took off to our parishes for the weekend masses. There were no messages read in the first morning session.

Fr. General then asked the capitulars to go their respective commissions to work on their final drafts of their proposals. The capitulars returned to the general meeting after a while to present their final presentations, but before that happened Fr. Oldfield read a message received by Fr. Charles Huse from Fr. Marciano Santarves of St. Nicholas Province informing the capitulars that his community was praying for the success of the Chapter.

After Midday prayer we went to lunch and then to a little break, which some used to gather their strength back for the next sessionsJ. The capitulars got back together for the first afternoon session at 2:30pm. Work and work and work was what they did in the voting of the proposals until the time for evening prayer.

Dinner after prayers was super delicious, the variety of it all and best of all the love with which the members of our guild and fraternities prepared them for the community was awe-inspiring.

The last session held after dinner saw the capitulars move within sight of the finish line, as all the hard work they did this last few days is paying off. Good Job!!