egc

From: SPIRITAN NEWSFLASH EGC N° 01 25 June 2001

This is our sixth Enlarged General Council (the first three EGCs were held in Europe - Rome, Germany and Portugal - and the following two in Africa -Tanzania and Senegal).

Most of the delegates have arrived safely, but for some after delays and missing baggage which is yet to arrive. However, the hospitality of our confreres in the province and of those in Duquesne University in particular ensured that the delays, missing baggage and even tiredness did not overcome the spirit of friendship and a sense of family.

One of the main topics on the EGC agenda is Formation. And so it is fitting that the place selected should have been the University of Duquesne in the Province of USA/E whose motto is Spiritus est qui vivicat (it is the Spirit which giveth life). The University was founded in 1887 with an enrollment of 40 students. Today this university has more than 9,400 students and it is not only one of the leading major private catholic universities in the United States but also has an international reputation.

"It is the Spirit who gives life". It is in this desire and faith that the delegates to the ECG have come together. And during the coming two weeks they will be attentive to the Spirit so that we may be more aware of what the future hold for us as a Spiritan family and where He is leading us.

For those who arrived a day or two earlier a family spirit has been experienced and expressed both in our celebrations of the Eucharist and in our liturgy of the hours - praying for those confreres they represent, for those working in particularly difficult situations of war, with the refugees, etc.

The EGC was officially declared open by Fr Pierre Schouver, the Superior General, on 24th June at 20:00hrs.

In his opening speech the Superior General first thanked all those taking part in the EGC meeting (the delegates representing different circumscriptions, students, lay associates and functionaries) for setting other commitments aside to attend the meeting.

He pointed out that this meeting like all the major meetings of the Congregation is a celebration of a mystery of our Congregation. It draws its value at the level of faith. It is Jesus who summons us: whenever we gather in his name he is in our midst ("where two or three are gathered in my name I am in their midst&ldots;"). Again Jesus tells us "Come and have a rest&ldots;." In our meetings we come to have a rest in Him, that is, to experience his abiding peace and confidence.

Duquesne University was chosen not simply because of practical considerations but primarily because we know that it is a place of inspiration due to its quality education over many years and we believe that we shall receive inspiration in this place. Having drawn from the richness and sources of Europe, Africa and Brazil, the Superior General added, it is only proper that this time it should be the turn of North America.

As we are inspired by our Confreres in North America and Duquesne University we know that they will, in turn, benefit from the participants at this meeting. There is reciprocity: "we have gathered from different circumscriptions and hopefully this will bring some blessings to our North American confreres".

The Superior General concluded his opening speech with an important remark: "as we gather in the Lord's peace we should not be too far from our missions and especially from those confreres who are working in particularly difficult situations. After this remark he declared the EGC meeting officially opened.