REPORT  Wednesday, August 7, 2024

By Bro. Eustachius Robert Eko, FIC

Embracing Unity in Faith: Reflections and Advances of the Day

The sky remained overcast for much of the day, making the temperature more pleasant than usual. We began the day with a morning prayer, led by the Indonesian delegation. This prayer was inspired by the passage from the Gospel of Matthew 15:21-28, titled "Faithful Canaanite Woman." In our personal reflection, we focused on two profound questions: 1) What faith do we have that unites us (brothers) from different provinces? 2) What divine goodness do we expect to  happen in this General Chapter?

As usual, the first session of the day began with a short prayer and the lighting of a candle, a ceremony carried out by the Indonesian delegation. This symbolic act spiritually prepared us for the work ahead. Next, the moderator presented a detailed report on the results of the Agenda Committee meeting. This review addressed the evaluation of the previous day and presented a series of constructive suggestions designed to optimize the development and smooth running of the upcoming sessions.

Today, we continued our response to the General Council's report for the period 2018-2024. During this session, we dedicated our time to a thorough analysis of Chapters II, III, and IV of the report. Each of our provinces and the Religious House of the Netherlands shared valuable observations on three crucial aspects: Picture of the Congregation, The Functioning of the General Council 2018-2024 and The implementation of the General Chapter 2018 resolutions.This thorough analysis enables us to reflect on our progress and strengthen our commitment to the future of our congregation.

An enriching question and answer dialogue was held between each province and the Religious House of the Netherlands with the General Council. During this exchange, each province had the opportunity to provide detailed explanation in response to questions raised by other provinces. Throughout this conversation, we were able to deeply perceive and understand the concerns, joys, successes, and hopes that animate the life of our congregation. We deeply appreciate the effort and dedication of the General Council, as well as the work of each province and the Religious House of the Netherlands, with all its dynamics and commitment.

We concluded the day with an evening Mass presided over by Father Bernardus Blolong, SVD, and assisted by Father Dominic Apee, M.Afr. In his inspiring homily, Father Bernardus encouraged us to meditate on a profound question that we encountered in our morning prayer: “What faith do we have that unites us, the brothers from different provinces?” In closing his message, he invited us to follow the example of the Canaanite woman, highlighting her unwavering faith and perseverance in her constant search for Jesus.