REPORT ON DAY NINE OF THE 2024 FIC GENERAL CHAPTER (By: Bro. Diego I.)

The ninth day of the 2024 General Chapter of the Brothers FIC on the 12th of August 2024 was another fruitful day. It began with an inspiring prayer service on the theme: "Where your Treasure is, there your heart will be also". The prayer service was organized and led by the Chilean delegation. The prayer invited us to reflect on the texts of our Constitutions in relation to the three pillars of our consecrated life, how to integrate them, and to discover areas of renewal in the spirit of synodality. The prayer ended with the Spanish song “Santa María del Camino.” This song invited us to accomplish our common mission together with hope, and with the intercession of our Blessed Mother and Patroness.

Before the first session began the chairman of the chapter announced that Rev. Fr Andrew Anumu Quaye-Foli, the former moderator of the chapter was taken to the airport in order to be transported to Accra and be treated properly of his pain. 

The sessions of this day were dedicated to voting on proposals 6,7, 8 and 9 of the General Chapter, presented by the General Council. Proposals 6 and 8 were approved while 7 and 9 were submitted to ad hoc committees for review. During the afternoon session, the election process of the General Council began. In a first step, provincial groups discussed the kind of General Council and the requirements or qualities of its members, needed to form a team. In the second step, mixed groups shared the findings of the provincial groups and arrived at their conclusions. These were summarised in a paper for presentation in plenary. 

The day closed with a Eucharistic celebration. It was an exciting day, having analysed a number of  proposals and enumerating some qualities of the new General Council. We rely on God’s inspiration during this chapter and hope we shall be blessed with a new General Council needed for the next 6 years.