36^TH GENERAL CHAPTER REPORT ON DAY 19 - 22^ND AUGUST, 2024

The three week long General Chapter of the Brothers of the Immaculate Concept of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Brothers FIC) which started on 4^Th August, 2024 today had its 19^th day of deliberations. This report aims at updating Brothers, Associate members and all those interested in the daily general news of this Chapter in the life of the Brothers FIC.

On this day, Mother Church celebrated the Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Queen of Heaven and Mother of our Lord Jesus who is King and Prince of Peace. This is an important event for Brothers FIC also, because our founders entrusted the protection of our Congregation to the Blessed Virgin Mary. She is thus, the Patroness of our Congregation,. On this day also, the General Chapter fulfilled one of its cardinal duties in line with article 119 of our Constitutions – the election of a New General Council. 

As people of faith, relying on the grace of God and the intervention of the Holy Spirit for the General Chapter outcome, the final process of electing the new General Council (GC) was preceded by a quiet time for sober reflection in the afternoon of 21^st August, 2024. This preceding reflection was further reinforced in the usual morning prayers service today, led by Malawi delegation. The theme (“Embracing servant leadership in our consecrated life and mission in the spirit of synodality”), scripture readings and reflections were tailored to put chapter delegates in the right spirit for the impending election exercise. 

We reconvened at 9.00am after breakfast for election of new GC members. At this point, another prayer service was conducted by the Chapter liturgy committee under the theme “Election in the spirit of synodality”. Key features of this prayerful moment were, solemn invocation of the Holy Spirit, lighting of the chapter candle, ushering into the chapter hall: the statue of Mother Mary and pictures of our founders. These were placed next to the Logo of the Congregation in the centre of the Chapter hall. A variety of suitable songs including our congregational song were sung alongside reading of selected articles from our constitutions before and during the election of each GC member. 

To set the ball rolling, the sitting General Superior, Br. Augustine Kubdaar, in welcoming chapter delegates to the start of the election took time and read articles 127 - 137 of our Constitutions. This was necessary to ensure that, all delegates were on the “same page” in knowledge and understanding of the procedures and rules concerning the election. Armed with this preparation, Chapter delegates recessed for another quiet personal prayer/reflection. Reconvening at 10:30am for the election proper, the first Chapter fruits emerged with four Brothers legitimately elected as members of the new General Council. They are:

1. Br. Augustine Kubdaar, FIC   -           Superior General
2. Br. Michael Sidharta, FIC      -           Vicar
3. Br. Raphael Besigrinee, FIC  -           General Councilor
4. Br. Augustinus Marjito, FIC   -           General Councilor

This election outcome was a joyful moment for all after a protracted period of polling. All chapter delegates and functionaries took turns to congratulate the newly elected General Councillors. Later, during lunch the celebration was crowned with some drinks and pupping of Champagne among others. 

The afternoon and last session of the day was used to fine tune and straw vote on some amended proposals that still needed the attention of the House. First review of the drafted Chapter message was also done. We closed the day with the usual Eucharistic celebration presided over by Fr. Bernardus Blolong, SVD and assisted by Fr. Dominic Apee, M. Afr. The Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary was commemorated during this mass. 

So far so good! In a period of almost three weeks of intensive fruitful deliberations in the spirit of synodality, all matters of critical importance for the renewal and progress of our Congregation have received the needed attention. This in no doubt will at the end of the day, find concrete expression when the second collection of General Chapter fruits (Chapter Message and Resolutions) are finalized and passed in the few days ahead.  

We remain thankful to God for his graces that has brought us this far.

By Br. Seregeous Dery, FIC