CIRCULAR LETTER

SUPERIOR GENERAL FIC

THEME:

“Renewal of Our Consecrated Life and Mission in the Spirit of   Synodality”

                                                       Maastricht, September 2024

Dear Brothers, Associates, and Collaborators in the Service of God,

I am presently on leave in Ghana and would like to extend my warmest regards of peace and love. I am writing to you today with deep gratitude and joy. The 36th General Chapter, which took place in the Ghana Province from August 4th to 24th, 2024, has recently concluded. The Chapter was not merely a gathering but a prayerful and profound journey of reflection, discernment, and renewal, all guided by our theme: "Renewal of Our Consecrated Life and Mission in the Spirit of Synodality." I am eager to convey my sincere gratitude to each of you and the fundamental message of the Chapter. I aspire to the content of this letter to ignite a deeper desire to engage in continuous reflection, comprehension, prayer, and the commencement of a shared journey of renewal and transformation in our lives over the next six years.

1. Thank You 

I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation to each of you for your active involvement in the 36th General Chapter before we delve into the profound message of this letter. Not only were the Brothers physically present at the Chapter, but the prayers, benign messages, and proposals from all of you also contributed to the Chapter's strength. Your active participation was felt in every prayer offered. You played a significant role in the development of this Chapter, ensuring that our Congregation will continue to fulfil its mission with integrity and vitality. We are grateful for your spiritual and mental companionship. I express special thanks to all Chapter delegates, functionaries, and the Brothers of the Ghana Province for hosting a General Chapter event for the second time. Bravo.

2. The 36th General Chapter Message (In Brief)

As we progress from the Chapter, I offer you its powerful message—a message that encourages us to engage in a thorough understanding, ongoing study, and creative living following its fundamental values. Three critical areas of emphasis were identified during the Chapter's discussions:

a) Renewal of Our Consecrated Life

We are called to renew our Consecrated Life in the spirit of synodality. The Church (a congregation) that listens, discerns, and walks together is what synodality entails, as Pope Francis reminds us. For us Brothers, this entails the embodiment of the Gospel in our communities, establishing relationships based on trust, and cultivating environments that promote openness, dialogue, collaboration, and a universal brotherhood. Our community life, prayer, and apostolic activity must be infused with our FIC Charism and Spirituality, which must be at the heart of all we do.

I believe that this renewal is an ongoing process that necessitates us to recommit to a life of simplicity, devotion, and service. This is a call to abandon material distractions and refocus on solidarity and compassion to build a more just and compassionate world. 

b) Reinvigorating Our Mission to the Youth

The Chapter emphasized the necessity of revitalizing our mission to work with young people. We have been entrusted with the responsibility of guiding the next generation, motivating them to respond to God's call in the Church and establish a more dynamic relationship with Him. In light of the global challenges and the decline in vocations, it is imperative that we employ modern technology and embrace new avenues of evangelization to engage the youth creatively.

We must rediscover the beauty of our Brotherhood, transforming it into an attractive and joyful journey, a genuinely life-giving relationship for ourselves and our collaborators, particularly the impoverished, destitute, and young. I therefore urge all of us to contemplate our own lives and determine how we can serve as a source of hope and renewal for others in the years ahead.

c) Fostering Collaboration and Solidarity

The call to promote solidarity with our fellow human beings and nature cannot be overstated. Our mission is fundamentally rooted in our dedication to environmental protection, social justice, and the well-being of the underprivileged. We must be tenacious in our pursuit of assisting the marginalized and fostering a sustainable world. It is essential to collaborate with all individuals of benevolence and across communities to achieve these objectives.

3. The Way Forward: Unity, Recollection, and Study

Continuous reflection and action are necessary to fully appreciate the insights of the 36th General Chapter Message and the well-considered general chapter resolutions and recommendation. I respectfully request that all Provincial and Religious House Councils distribute copies of these critical documents: the Chapter Message and Resolutions/Recommendation, to each Brother and Associate. They will be the focal point of our interaction and concern in the next six years. I suggest that you establish a schedule for regular recollections, community/group study, and reflection to delve deeper into the message and offer tangible strategies for implementing and upholding the values enshrined in the content of these documents. Leadership should not be the sole entity responsible for achieving them.

I also encourage each of us to participate in the spirit of synodality, which is characterized by collective discernment, dialogue, and listening, as the foundation of our future efforts. Let the 36th General Chapter's spirit, values, and message serve as the cornerstone of our renewal, motivating us to collaborate in a spirit of unity, compassion, love, and optimism.

4. The General Council

The Chapter was tasked with the difficult but essential duty of establishing a new General Council. On behalf of the outgoing team, I would like to extend my heartfelt appreciation for your unwavering support and collaboration, which were instrumental in successfully executing our leadership mandate and responsibilities. We would have been unable to accomplish this without your assistance.

The departing team was nearly a "perfect one," in my opinion. The Congregation especially appreciates the expertise and generosity of Bros. Theodoros Suwaryanto and Valentinus Daru Setiaji, who served on the outgoing General Council. I am eager to establish a dynamic and robust team with the new GC members. We sincerely submit to your ongoing brotherly support, encouragement, and daily prayers.

5. In conclusion

Let us bear in mind that we are all co-pilgrims on this sacred path, striving to bring the Gospel to life in a world that requires love and compassion as we continue our journey. By uniting in the spirit of our Founders, we can build a future that is characterized by a steadfast dedication to God's mission, empathy, and hope.

Finally, let us allow the message of the 36th General Chapter to transform our lives and the lives of those we serve as we continue to walk in its light.

With lots of fraternal love, gratitude and prayers.

Bro. Augustine Kubdaar

(Superior General, FIC)