Reflections on the XX Provincial Chapter
of
St. Augustine Province
Twenty-one Augustinian Recollect
friars gathered at St. Augustine Priory
in Oxnard, California, for the 20th Provincial Chapter,
which opened on June 12, 2006
It's never easy to put into words when one
has experienced such a momentous occurrence in one's life as a friar
such as assisting at a Provincial
Chapter for the first time. There are so many events, so many
details to remember, that it seems almost an impossible task to put
them down on paper.
In writing these reflections, the first idea
that comes to mind is the fact that the Provincial Chapter was an experience
of community. It seems like that is overly obvious due to the fact that
the Chapter dealt with our community life, touching on issues affecting
both our present situation and also planning for the future. However,
it just did not deal with issues or abstract ideas, but with real people.
All of the themes which were discussed affect us as a religious community,
as individual houses in the Province, as individual friars.
The Chapter was an opportunity also to spend
time together as a community and to be able to share varied experiences
of community and ministry. It was also a time to get to know each other
and enjoy the company of those friars who live in other parts of the
country or outside the country.
The Chapter discussions were divided into
different sections or topics such as Spirituality, Vocations/Formation,
Apostolate, Finance, Government and Special Issues, which are affecting
our Province at the present time. However, the underlying question or
root theme of all of the discussions was: "What does it mean to
be an Augustinian Recollect Friar working in St. Augustine Province
at the present time?" It means first reminding ourselves of who
we are and then renewing the commitment we made on the day of our Profession
of Vows.
One part of the Chapter, which enabled us
to renew that commitment, was the daily Eucharistic Liturgy. It was
in gathering at the Lord's table where we found out who we are: men
called by God to offer our lives in service to our brothers, following
the way marked out for us by our Father, St. Augustine. It was in that
Eucharistic Mystery-Jesus taking our simple gifts of bread and wine
and transforming them into His Body and Blood-that we too were reminded
of our call to be the presence of Jesus for others, most especially
to our brothers in community. On a daily basis we were reminded through
the eloquent homilies, preached by our brothers, of the need to walk
the way of Christ: to give of oneself, to forgive one another, to bear
our brothers' burdens, and to be living witnesses of our charism in
order to prepare the way for future generations of friars. We were also
reminded of the glorious heritage we have in the saints of our Order
and also of our brothers of generations past, whose sacrifices and self-giving
have made the Province what it is today. The daily Eucharist was a moment
truly to "give thanks" to God for all that He has done and
continues to do in our community.
For me, one of the most uplifting aspects
of the Chapter, besides the liturgy, was the spirit of joyful service
on the part of the members of the Chapter and also of the Priory community.
Many friars devoted long hours in order to making sure that all necessary
preparations were taken care of and that proper and timely communication
and pictures of the events of the Chapter were shared throughout the
Order by means of the Internet. Delicious meals were cooked, and many
dishes and glasses were washed and dried. Music was carefully chosen
and practiced and much time was spent in the sacristy preparing reverent
and solemn Liturgies. Hours were spent preparing the "minutes of
the Chapter sessions" even to the point of sacrificing precious
hours of sleep. The Chapter delegates worked diligently in preparing
work to be presented at the various sessions. In a special way a word
of thanks is to be given to the postulants of the Priory, who were very
attentive to the needs of all those present, and who gave a very edifying
example of joy and enthusiasm of their vocations.
What did all of this mean for me, as I attended
a Provincial Chapter for the first time? It made me grateful for the
gift of my vocation and desirous of rededicating myself to my ministry.
It also made me aware that there is plenty of work still to be done
for our community, especially in a day and age when the numbers of men
entering our community may not be the same as twenty and thirty years
ago. It was a time to be grateful for all of the hard work and enthusiasm
of our brothers in all of our houses. In spending those long sessions
together, listening, struggling, and at times maybe not agreeing on
different issues, what was made clear to me is that if we really desire
St Augustine Province to thrive, what is needed is a serious desire
to be faithful to the charism of our community and to what the Church
is asking of us. It is also necessary to recognize that we are made
of flesh and blood and even though there might be differences of opinion,
which might at times require the need to ask for forgiveness, we all
have been given the same call to be Augustinian Recollects. We share
the same identity and have been called by God to live together trying
to make the Augustinian Recollection our own.
It is my hope and prayer that as we begin
this new triennium, we may faithfully respond to all of the graces offered
to us by the Lord and in doing so that we may be blessed with an increase
of religious and priestly vocations. May the Lord truly set our hearts
on fire with love for Him, for His people and in a special way for our
way of life as Augustinian Recollects of St. Augustine Province.
Fr. Michael J. Kenny, O.A.R.
Associate Pastor, Mary Star of the Sea
Oxnard, California
|
The daily celebration of the Eucharist was at the spiritual heart
of the Chapter. |
Capitulars assembled for the traditional
photograph
at the end of the Chapter
Click
here for more
Scenes from the Chapter
for other stories, visit our news
archive
