In front of the chapter hall stands a large photograph of Br Augustine Kubdaar, our late Superior General. Br Augustine’s death is the reason the FIC Brothers are gathered here at Roncalli Retreat Centre in Salatiga, Indonesia. In total, 28 delegates from Chile, Malawi, Ghana, the Netherlands, and Indonesia, the host province, have come together for this Congregational encounter, Extraordinary Chapter 2026.

 On the morning of 8 June 2026, the Chilean delegation set the tone for this unexpected encounter with a special prayer service themed “Lord, Guide our Discernment and Strengthen our Communion”. This opening prayer was revealing: the death of our Superior General, though it marks a painful chapter, is an invitation to spiritual maturity and calls for FIC brothers to respond with faith, responsibility and hope.

Therefore, the Extraordinary Chapter of 2026 calls us to a genuine space for communal discernment, in which each delegate assumes an active, responsible, and profoundly spiritual role. Discernment involves listening, dialoguing, and respectfully exchanging ideas, but above all, it means opening ourselves to the action of the Holy Spirit.

The chapter began with a solemn Eucharistic celebration on 7 June 2026. The event was led by Rev. Fr. Ignatius Fajar Himawan, MSF, and attended by chapter delegates and FIC Brothers from our communities near Salatiga. Br Agustinus Giwal Santoso, the Provincial Superior of Indonesia, welcomed everyone. After a communal dinner, the delegates gathered in the chapter hall for the official opening speech. A minute's silence was observed in memory of our late Superior General. The opening address was delivered by Br Michael Sidharta, the Vicar of the Superior General.

He highlighted one main agenda item: the election of a Superior General. He noted: This chapter is not an ordinary chapter, as the name suggests. We do not have to deal with proposals, financial verification, a chapter message, or similar matters. After this chapter, once we have elected a Superior General, we shall continue to implement the resolutions adopted at the 2024 General Chapter in Ghana. 

The schedule for the first business day consisted of one main exercise: a recollection. It was led by Br Martinus Tukir Handoko, a former FIC Superior General. The first part of the recollection focused on a prayer service in remembrance of our late Superior General. The rest of the exercise comprised a personal reflection followed by group sharing, which brought it to a conclusion. The group discussions centred on questions that would set the tone for the next day's exercise, namely the qualities of a Superior General and a General Councillor.

As is typical of FIC Congregational gatherings, every business day concludes with a Eucharistic celebration and evening recreation, providing an opportunity for fraternal interaction. This was no different.  With this spiritual exercise, delegates are ready for the initial election process.