THE SECOND EXTENDED GENERAL COUNCIL OF THE FRATERNITY CONCLUDES

After three days of joyful meeting under the motto ‘The Fraternity, our Place for the new Transfers’ and inspired by the quotation from the prophet Isaiah, ‘Enlarge the space of your tent, lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes. Is. 54. 2″, the II Enlarged General Council of the Fraternity ended today with the celebration of the Eucharist presided over by Father General.

During these days, we have had the opportunity to evaluate the work carried out by the General Council over the last three years and to know in detail the reality of each District Fraternity.

Some Fraternities, such as those of Slovakia and Hungary, were present for the first time at these meetings, which brought with it the joy of having news of new sisters and brothers. With the same joy we have known the first steps of the Piarist fraternities of West Africa, the United States and Puerto Rico.

Especially significant were the words of Fr. General who, on behalf of the General Congregation, reminded us of the richness that the Fraternity represents for the Order and the responsibility of those of us who have the service of accompanying it so that it grows in Piarist identity and harmony with the Order.

Yesterday we were also able to feel the encouragement of so many sisters and brothers who went online to remind us that it is at this moment, on our return to our communities of origin, that our task of communicating and transmitting what we have experienced here begins.

Today morning was the time to prioritize the proposals that the teams elaborated yesterday, having become clear the emphasis that we have to make to advance in a formation of religious and lay people that include the keys of participation, to connect the Fraternity with the Calasanz Movement and to clarify the place of the Fraternity in the Order and in each Demarcation, taking advantage of the model of Piarist presence at different levels.

In the final session, the testimonies of Elena from Betania and Fr. Javier from Brasil-Bolivia, opened a moment where everyone was able to express what we took away from the meeting.

In summary, this II Extended General Council has been an experience of communion in the Casa de Calasanz, only possible thanks to the welcome and the effort of those who live and work in it, and make us feel at home every time we come.