Day 5

This was the first chapter of our province to which every solemnly professed member was invited to participate. Left to right in back: Bernard O’Neill, Raphael Kitz, Bonaventure Sauer, John Michael Payne, Jesus Sancho & Jenaro de la Cruz. Front: Joseph Le, Marion Bui, Sam Morello, Ralph Reyes, Henry Bordeaux, Jerome Early, Luís Gerardo Belmonte, Gregory Ross, Stephen Sanchez, James Curiel, Luís Joaquin Castañeda & John Magdalene Suenram.

On Friday the chapter reviewed our provincial policies. We first treated our new “Safe Environment Policy” which replaced our 2005 policy on “Sexual Misconduct.” The new policy was formulated by Fr. Ralph with the help of Presidium. It is meant to ensure that our province is a safe place where minors and adults with special needs may be protected from sexual abuse.

After an introductory section containing a definition of terms, the policy is divided into six sections: I. Code of Conduct, II. Screening and Formation Programs, III. 29 Standards for Prevention, IV. Review Boards, V. Pastoral Care Plan, and VI. A Form to be signed. We next approved the policy on Alcoholism and Chemical Dependency, then amended the Standardization of Financial Reporting with the recommendation that Quick Books replace Quicken, using the same stated categories as implemented in 2005. We differed the Living Will to later pointing out that Medical Power of Attorney is needed in order to implement the will. Fr. Luis Gerardo Belmonte [right], our delegate to the next general chapter.

Fr. Provincial then asked us to think about some goals to achieve this triennium, and concrete plans for achieving them. Areas of concern: vocation promotion and development projects including senior friendly houses of residence. Having finished the business of this first week of the chapter, we adjourned until Monday. In the evening, Fr. Provincial announced that his new delegate to the Secular Order was Fr. Bonaventure Sauer.