Chapter Week 2
May 23-27, 2005
Most of the chapter friars returned to their
houses after lunch on Friday May 20th to attend to their weekend Masses. I stayed in Oklahoma City to welcome the OCDS Provincial councillors who arrived on Saturday for their annual council meeting on Monday and Tuesday, and day at the chapter the following Wednesday. The Vision statement committee [photo] met over the weekend to formulate our province’s vision for the coming triennium. I t was decided, instead of issuing a separate document to include this vision as an introduction to our 2005 Chapter Acts.
Session 8: Monday afternoon 23-May-05
The chapter resumed at 2:30 pm. Fr. Provincial began by informing us of the elections made by the Washington chapter meeting at the conference center on the grounds of St Mary of the Lake University in Mundelein, Illinois: 1st Councillor and vicar provincial Daniel Chowning, 2nd: Bro. Edward O’Donnell, 3rd: Fr. Leonard Copeland, and 4th: Fr. Mark Joseph De Velis. Fr. Philip Thomas had been elected Provincial to succeed Jude Peters last spring.
We then continued working on the chapter Acts. We finished the last two numbers of Section III on Government, then went back to review other numbers left for further consideration. One number on min-sabbaticals was revised by Fr. Bonaventure to emphasize on-going formation as part of regular community meetings. A proposal on use of English as primary communicative language in our bi-ligual province was sent to committee.
The next section of the Acts IV. was on Economics. The provincial council will now serve as the former Financial Administration board. A student burse was added to the initial formation fund. We finished the Acts at 5:15pm and adjourned for the day.
Session 9: Tuesday morning 24-May-05
At 9:00am we began discussion of the Sexual Abuse Policy that Fr. Ralph had formulated in conjunction with the Major Religious Superiors and Praesidium. After two hours, we moved onto the Formation “Ratio” used in the formation of our novices and students. The English language proposal of the previous day was worked into this policy. The session adjourned at 11:40 am.
Session 10: Tuesday afternoon 24-May-05
This afternoon we began work on our Directives. Ralph suggested we have a mentoring program for visiting clergy. Bonaventure stressed the need of having a plan for how anyone coming from outside should be received. A mentoring program was also to be instituted for the newly ordained. After completing the directives, we moved onto provincial policies. Having one on chemical dependence and sexual abuse, we went to our policy on the Living Will. I t was deciced to let the provincial council try to re-formulate a policy that would apply to all states, as our present policy has separate wills for each state of our province. The issues of nutrition and hydration which received so much press from Terri Schiavo were discussed. The standarization of financial reporting of our houses was then discussed.
After a break we convened to consider implications of the vision statement formulated over the weekend by committee. The personnel shortage was addressed, the problem with having only two friars in both Oklahoma City and at Mt Carmel in Dallas. The Provincial said, “It’s like a house of cards. We just have to hope that no one gets sick or dies or gets their faculties taken away.” Sam Anthony ended the session with the remark, “I think it is important to focus on the identity of these houses that are all in sync with our past and our identity.”
OCDS
Session 11: Wednesday morning 25-May-05
At 9:00 am the chapter welcomed members of the OCDS Provincial Council: President Elizabeth Korves from Austin, Nancy Thompson from Cedar Rapids Iowa, Pascal Alfano from New Orleans, Amelia Wilken from Sioux City, Gerald Alford from Lafayette LA, and Anita Mendoza from Houston. Fr. Provincial addressed the members of the Council: “First, I would like to say that your council has done great work collaborating on forming guidelines for the various chapters. Your organization astounds me! You have made a tremendous contribution to the province. We are very privileged to welcome you to our province.”
Fr. John Michael introduced each member to the chapter. After the introductions he said: “We were the first province in the U.S. to get our local statutes in effect. Most of the work was done on cyberspace… In the provincial chapter our basic worry has been personnel and vocations. The problem with the secular order is that we have so many vocations we can hardly handle them.”
The floor was then turned over to Elizabeth who gave an brief introduction to our legislation and structure. “In June 2003, Carmelite Seculars received new Constitutions, which replaced the 1979 OCDS Rule of Life. These were the result of two international congresses, one in Rome in 1996 and another in Guadalajara, Mexico in 2000. While the Constitutions did not change things like the obligations of Seculars to mental prayer, the Liturgy of the Hours, daily Mass, devotion to Mary, and attendance at meetings, they do recognize the evolution of the vocation of the laity that has taken place in the Church since Vatican II. The Constitutions call upon Seculars to grow more fully in our understanding of our vocation and our place within the Order.”
Our Provincial Statutes (excluding the not yet written statute on formation guidelines) were approved by the General Definitory in December 2004. “One question not clear in the Constitu
tions is how the OCDS Provincial Council fits into the structure of the Order. According to the Constitutions, the General Superior, the Provincial Superior, and the Council of the community are the legitimate superiors of the Secular Order." (Art. 48) The bottom line is that “we work for the Provincial.”
One of our guiding principles for our role was the basic question of "what can the OCDS Provincial Council do to make the job of Provincial Delegate to the OCDS easier?" Fr. John Michael Payne and Fr. Ralph Reyes were very involved in these discussions and indicated that they very much wanted the OCDS Provincial Council to take on the duty of making visitations... “In addition, we are to assist in the formation and guidance of new OCDS study groups, help the Delegate determine when the official status of a community needs to be reduced from their canonical rights to a study group..”
“We were asked to address also, what can the friars do to help us? First, of course, is prayer. Then what we really need from the friars is their support and help during this time of transition in relation to the seculars assuming greater responsibility for themselves.” For those who serve as Assistants, “help develop leadership within the community. This happens by helping people learn how to lead, how to discern, how to serve their community, rather than simply providing a ready answer.“
A short discussion followed Elizabeth’s presentation. After a break, Fr. John Michael, the provincial delegate to OCDS, gave a short presentation on statistics: “19 canonical communities, 16 Study Groups, six groups in discernment. Forty one separate localities under our jurisdiction encompassing over 850 active members.” He then explained the process of forming an OCDS community, from 1. Group in Discernment, to 2. OCDS Study Group, to 3. Canonical community.
After a break, Nancy Thompson took the chapter floor. “As I begin to speak, I want to emphasize a phrase that was used at the 2nd national congress of the OCDS in Mexico. The phrase th
at was used over and over again by Fr. Camilo and Aloysius was 'co-responsibility with collaboration…' It is not easy to make this work, but the hearts are willing. Habits are in place, which could slow us down, but collaboration is possible.”
“As Secular Carmelites, we have a responsibility to make Carmel known… We value your identity but we value our own identity… As a church, we are a pilgrim people. We are ever rediscovering who we are... Three things came to light in the church that precipitated the most recent changes in our OCDS Legislation: a new code of Canon Law in 1983, a Synod on the laity in 1987 which produced the document Cristifidelis Laici, and a Synod on the religious life in 1996, which produced the document Vita Consecrata. In response to these redefining documents for the laity, the Secular Order sought to codify these ideas in our legislation.”
After a nice discussion, we adjourned at 11:45 to the refect
ory for lunch. There we celebrated Pascal Alfano’s 71st birthday with a cake and a thumbs up from the birthday boy. To Pascal’s left are Ernesto and Anita Mendoza from Houston. Anita serves as our provincial council’s liason to the Hispanic speaking members of the Secular Order.
Session 12: Wednesday afternoon
Most of the chapter friars returned to their
houses after lunch on Friday May 20th to attend to their weekend Masses. I stayed in Oklahoma City to welcome the OCDS Provincial councillors who arrived on Saturday for their annual council meeting on Monday and Tuesday, and day at the chapter the following Wednesday. The Vision statement committee [photo] met over the weekend to formulate our province’s vision for the coming triennium. I t was decided, instead of issuing a separate document to include this vision as an introduction to our 2005 Chapter Acts.Session 8: Monday afternoon 23-May-05
The chapter resumed at 2:30 pm. Fr. Provincial began by informing us of the elections made by the Washington chapter meeting at the conference center on the grounds of St Mary of the Lake University in Mundelein, Illinois: 1st Councillor and vicar provincial Daniel Chowning, 2nd: Bro. Edward O’Donnell, 3rd: Fr. Leonard Copeland, and 4th: Fr. Mark Joseph De Velis. Fr. Philip Thomas had been elected Provincial to succeed Jude Peters last spring.
We then continued working on the chapter Acts. We finished the last two numbers of Section III on Government, then went back to review other numbers left for further consideration. One number on min-sabbaticals was revised by Fr. Bonaventure to emphasize on-going formation as part of regular community meetings. A proposal on use of English as primary communicative language in our bi-ligual province was sent to committee.
The next section of the Acts IV. was on Economics. The provincial council will now serve as the former Financial Administration board. A student burse was added to the initial formation fund. We finished the Acts at 5:15pm and adjourned for the day.
Session 9: Tuesday morning 24-May-05
At 9:00am we began discussion of the Sexual Abuse Policy that Fr. Ralph had formulated in conjunction with the Major Religious Superiors and Praesidium. After two hours, we moved onto the Formation “Ratio” used in the formation of our novices and students. The English language proposal of the previous day was worked into this policy. The session adjourned at 11:40 am.Session 10: Tuesday afternoon 24-May-05
This afternoon we began work on our Directives. Ralph suggested we have a mentoring program for visiting clergy. Bonaventure stressed the need of having a plan for how anyone coming from outside should be received. A mentoring program was also to be instituted for the newly ordained. After completing the directives, we moved onto provincial policies. Having one on chemical dependence and sexual abuse, we went to our policy on the Living Will. I t was deciced to let the provincial council try to re-formulate a policy that would apply to all states, as our present policy has separate wills for each state of our province. The issues of nutrition and hydration which received so much press from Terri Schiavo were discussed. The standarization of financial reporting of our houses was then discussed.
After a break we convened to consider implications of the vision statement formulated over the weekend by committee. The personnel shortage was addressed, the problem with having only two friars in both Oklahoma City and at Mt Carmel in Dallas. The Provincial said, “It’s like a house of cards. We just have to hope that no one gets sick or dies or gets their faculties taken away.” Sam Anthony ended the session with the remark, “I think it is important to focus on the identity of these houses that are all in sync with our past and our identity.”
OCDS
Session 11: Wednesday morning 25-May-05
At 9:00 am the chapter welcomed members of the OCDS Provincial Council: President Elizabeth Korves from Austin, Nancy Thompson from Cedar Rapids Iowa, Pascal Alfano from New Orleans, Amelia Wilken from Sioux City, Gerald Alford from Lafayette LA, and Anita Mendoza from Houston. Fr. Provincial addressed the members of the Council: “First, I would like to say that your council has done great work collaborating on forming guidelines for the various chapters. Your organization astounds me! You have made a tremendous contribution to the province. We are very privileged to welcome you to our province.”
Fr. John Michael introduced each member to the chapter. After the introductions he said: “We were the first province in the U.S. to get our local statutes in effect. Most of the work was done on cyberspace… In the provincial chapter our basic worry has been personnel and vocations. The problem with the secular order is that we have so many vocations we can hardly handle them.”
The floor was then turned over to Elizabeth who gave an brief introduction to our legislation and structure. “In June 2003, Carmelite Seculars received new Constitutions, which replaced the 1979 OCDS Rule of Life. These were the result of two international congresses, one in Rome in 1996 and another in Guadalajara, Mexico in 2000. While the Constitutions did not change things like the obligations of Seculars to mental prayer, the Liturgy of the Hours, daily Mass, devotion to Mary, and attendance at meetings, they do recognize the evolution of the vocation of the laity that has taken place in the Church since Vatican II. The Constitutions call upon Seculars to grow more fully in our understanding of our vocation and our place within the Order.”
Our Provincial Statutes (excluding the not yet written statute on formation guidelines) were approved by the General Definitory in December 2004. “One question not clear in the Constitu
tions is how the OCDS Provincial Council fits into the structure of the Order. According to the Constitutions, the General Superior, the Provincial Superior, and the Council of the community are the legitimate superiors of the Secular Order." (Art. 48) The bottom line is that “we work for the Provincial.”One of our guiding principles for our role was the basic question of "what can the OCDS Provincial Council do to make the job of Provincial Delegate to the OCDS easier?" Fr. John Michael Payne and Fr. Ralph Reyes were very involved in these discussions and indicated that they very much wanted the OCDS Provincial Council to take on the duty of making visitations... “In addition, we are to assist in the formation and guidance of new OCDS study groups, help the Delegate determine when the official status of a community needs to be reduced from their canonical rights to a study group..”
“We were asked to address also, what can the friars do to help us? First, of course, is prayer. Then what we really need from the friars is their support and help during this time of transition in relation to the seculars assuming greater responsibility for themselves.” For those who serve as Assistants, “help develop leadership within the community. This happens by helping people learn how to lead, how to discern, how to serve their community, rather than simply providing a ready answer.“
A short discussion followed Elizabeth’s presentation. After a break, Fr. John Michael, the provincial delegate to OCDS, gave a short presentation on statistics: “19 canonical communities, 16 Study Groups, six groups in discernment. Forty one separate localities under our jurisdiction encompassing over 850 active members.” He then explained the process of forming an OCDS community, from 1. Group in Discernment, to 2. OCDS Study Group, to 3. Canonical community.
After a break, Nancy Thompson took the chapter floor. “As I begin to speak, I want to emphasize a phrase that was used at the 2nd national congress of the OCDS in Mexico. The phrase th
at was used over and over again by Fr. Camilo and Aloysius was 'co-responsibility with collaboration…' It is not easy to make this work, but the hearts are willing. Habits are in place, which could slow us down, but collaboration is possible.”“As Secular Carmelites, we have a responsibility to make Carmel known… We value your identity but we value our own identity… As a church, we are a pilgrim people. We are ever rediscovering who we are... Three things came to light in the church that precipitated the most recent changes in our OCDS Legislation: a new code of Canon Law in 1983, a Synod on the laity in 1987 which produced the document Cristifidelis Laici, and a Synod on the religious life in 1996, which produced the document Vita Consecrata. In response to these redefining documents for the laity, the Secular Order sought to codify these ideas in our legislation.”
After a nice discussion, we adjourned at 11:45 to the refect
ory for lunch. There we celebrated Pascal Alfano’s 71st birthday with a cake and a thumbs up from the birthday boy. To Pascal’s left are Ernesto and Anita Mendoza from Houston. Anita serves as our provincial council’s liason to the Hispanic speaking members of the Secular Order.Session 12: Wednesday afternoon
Gerald Alford and Pascal Alfano took the floor at 2:30 pm. They presented the OCDS statutes. I. on For
mation reflects reduced role of priest assistant in new legislation. II. On Isolates requires connection to local community. III. Community Elections changed how local council is to be elected. IV. Remembrances of the Dead. V. Community is to prepare an obituary and keep a necrology. VI. Minimum age for incoming members: 18. VII. Community Size: exact number of maximum size left to discretion of each community. VIII. Apostolate: primary apostolate to share our spirituality. IX. Habit defined as large ceremonial scapular. X. Marian Devotions: we value diversity of devotions without specifying any in particular other than wearing of brown scapular. XI. Feast and Fast days: six major feasts of order plus local community patron. XII. Transfers within the province, and XIII. Transfers between provinces, and XIV. Transfers of TOCs to OCDS. XV. Canonical Establishment, XVI. Community Life includes monthly attendance at meetings, and responsibilities of local council. XVII. Prayer Life retains old tradition of 30 minutes of mental prayer each day, XVIII. Finances. After reading the entire statute, Pascal decided to summarize from then on. XIX. Plenary Council now requires each community to submit a written report prior to triennial meeting. XX. Provincial Council defines itself.
After a break, Amelia Wilken explained the formation statute the council is presently formulating. “I begin this talk from an excerpt of Fr. Michael Griffin’s book, A Commentary on the Rule of Life, on the three elements of a good formation program. Even th
ough the 1979 OCDS Rule of Life has now been supplanted by our 2003 Constitutions, these elements still hold true: something for the mind, something for the heart, and something to do.” The formation guidelines are structured on a foundational statement of identity taken from the preface of the 1979 Rule of Life and worked into a formation program by the OCDS formators of our province at Dallas workshops in 1997 & 1998. “Goals in the area of Prayer, Community, Apostolate and Study are used in each stage of formation.” Fr. Jerome developed the outline of the stages of formation, i.e., Prayer, Community, apostolate, and Study. We added a section on the Promise into the periods of formation leading to the First and Definitive Promise.
The guidelines include a list of primary sources to be used during each formation period. The Council of each community is responsible for the on-going formation for those who are Definitively Professed. The one year Aspirancy program was outlined, then the two year formation leading to First Promise, and then the formation period of three years leading to Definitive Promise.
Our Father Provincial then opened the floor for discussion after thanking the council for all their work. Fr. John Michael called attention to OCDS Constitutions article 38. “When we read it, we said that the friars need to know that this is in our legislation so that they can invite us. It will be arranged that that the representatives of the OCDS will be present when apostolic service of the Order is planned in a geographical area. They expect to be invited when apostolic service is being considered and planned.” Fr. Gregory mentioned the goal of the chapter to promote vocations. “Maybe you could help us by making materials available wherever you are carrying on your local community apostolates. Your presence makes the order visible to people at large.” Bonaventure mentioned areas of expertise which the friars lack: “public relations computer technology, building contractors and architects. In all of these areas of need, seculars could be of help.” Elizabeth said, “We are making history by being here and it brings us great honor. Thank you for inviting us.” We then gathered for a photograph taken by Fr. Marion of the chapter with the OCDS Councillors, after which we adjourned to celebrate Mass.
mation reflects reduced role of priest assistant in new legislation. II. On Isolates requires connection to local community. III. Community Elections changed how local council is to be elected. IV. Remembrances of the Dead. V. Community is to prepare an obituary and keep a necrology. VI. Minimum age for incoming members: 18. VII. Community Size: exact number of maximum size left to discretion of each community. VIII. Apostolate: primary apostolate to share our spirituality. IX. Habit defined as large ceremonial scapular. X. Marian Devotions: we value diversity of devotions without specifying any in particular other than wearing of brown scapular. XI. Feast and Fast days: six major feasts of order plus local community patron. XII. Transfers within the province, and XIII. Transfers between provinces, and XIV. Transfers of TOCs to OCDS. XV. Canonical Establishment, XVI. Community Life includes monthly attendance at meetings, and responsibilities of local council. XVII. Prayer Life retains old tradition of 30 minutes of mental prayer each day, XVIII. Finances. After reading the entire statute, Pascal decided to summarize from then on. XIX. Plenary Council now requires each community to submit a written report prior to triennial meeting. XX. Provincial Council defines itself.After a break, Amelia Wilken explained the formation statute the council is presently formulating. “I begin this talk from an excerpt of Fr. Michael Griffin’s book, A Commentary on the Rule of Life, on the three elements of a good formation program. Even th
ough the 1979 OCDS Rule of Life has now been supplanted by our 2003 Constitutions, these elements still hold true: something for the mind, something for the heart, and something to do.” The formation guidelines are structured on a foundational statement of identity taken from the preface of the 1979 Rule of Life and worked into a formation program by the OCDS formators of our province at Dallas workshops in 1997 & 1998. “Goals in the area of Prayer, Community, Apostolate and Study are used in each stage of formation.” Fr. Jerome developed the outline of the stages of formation, i.e., Prayer, Community, apostolate, and Study. We added a section on the Promise into the periods of formation leading to the First and Definitive Promise.The guidelines include a list of primary sources to be used during each formation period. The Council of each community is responsible for the on-going formation for those who are Definitively Professed. The one year Aspirancy program was outlined, then the two year formation leading to First Promise, and then the formation period of three years leading to Definitive Promise.
Our Father Provincial then opened the floor for discussion after thanking the council for all their work. Fr. John Michael called attention to OCDS Constitutions article 38. “When we read it, we said that the friars need to know that this is in our legislation so that they can invite us. It will be arranged that that the representatives of the OCDS will be present when apostolic service of the Order is planned in a geographical area. They expect to be invited when apostolic service is being considered and planned.” Fr. Gregory mentioned the goal of the chapter to promote vocations. “Maybe you could help us by making materials available wherever you are carrying on your local community apostolates. Your presence makes the order visible to people at large.” Bonaventure mentioned areas of expertise which the friars lack: “public relations computer technology, building contractors and architects. In all of these areas of need, seculars could be of help.” Elizabeth said, “We are making history by being here and it brings us great honor. Thank you for inviting us.” We then gathered for a photograph taken by Fr. Marion of the chapter with the OCDS Councillors, after which we adjourned to celebrate Mass.
Group photo left to right: Stephen, Sam, Ralph, Bonaventure, Gerald, Pascal, Anita, Gregory, Amelia, John Michael, Elizabeth, Nancy, (Jenaro), John Magdalene, Raphael, Marion & Henry.
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