Cornwall II July 5 B 17

I would like to develop briefly a context into which we can place our present endeavour – a context for what we are about here and now.

Change and challenge are essential elements of life in all forms – whether personal, institutional, or cultural. The entire universe is subject to change. So, we can say that from the time of Blessed Edmund as a congregation we have been challenged by change. And strange as it may seem, there is no growth without actively engaging these two elements of challenge and change. That is a fundamental principle of life.

One of our greatest popes saw this clearly as he began a process to let the winds of challenge and change sweep though the windows and corridors of the Church. In his Opening Address that convened Vatican Council II, Pope John XXIII said:

"We are not on earth as museum keepers but to cultivate a flourishing garden of life and to prepare a glorious future."

A brief overview of history reveals that in all institutions while seemingly there is a static period there is always a life simmering beneath the surface. And this life inevitably breaks forth in a variety of ways and around a multiplicity of issues. Just briefly we will attempt to illustrate this process by reference to relatively recent General Chapters of our Congregation.

The General Chapter of 1947 was a wrenching and revolutionary event in our Congregational history. The issue was governance . (Smoking was merely the presenting problem.) On both sides of the issue (Or, on many sides of the issue) were good Brothers, each truly devoted to the Congregation, each seeing and interpreting the issue of governance from his own perspective. At this Chapter, then, the issue of governance was seen from different perspectives, from different viewpoints. We know the outcome of that General Chapter and those who are familiar with that segment of our history know that there was a transforming change in the 1950s and ‘60s in our lives as Brothers. I am of the conviction that if that transformation had not occurred we would not have weathered as well as we did the profound revolution which was ushered in by Vatican II.

Of note during this period of the 50s and 60s was our involvement in the inspired Jesus Magister Institute program which was attended by many of our Brothers in Rome. Brothers who graduated from this program greatly impacted the life of our Congregation. This was notably so at the 1947 General Chapter.

In presenting this cursory glance at one of the milestones in our recent history, 1947 Chapter, I know that I am not doing justice to the entire period because that would require quite a comprehensive treatment. I am endeavouring to do justice to one strand – the evidence of change and challenge, and our Congregational response.

The General Chapters of 1966 and 1968 saw a renewed impetus given to the Congregational issues of internationality and mission. This was evidenced in the international tertianship, developments in Africa, interchange among provinces, changing leadership styles and the promotion of the Cause of our Founder, Edmund. This latter endeavour mirrored the primary directive and inspiration of the Vatican Council to religious in Perfectae Caritas – to know your Founder, your history, the spirit of your community and the gift given to your Founder – your Charism. We now know that this was and is profoundly essential to the revolutionary challenge for the transformation and renewal of religious life.

Among the many Brothers who led the Congregational response to this Council directive was Linus Kelty (I am aware of the danger of singling out one person, but I can assure you, not at the expense of others). Linus, in a gentle and dignified manner gave extraordinary emphasis and leadership to the process of rediscovering our roots, our beginnings. I am of the opinion that the period of Linus’s leadership was pivotal in the on-going process of understanding what it means to be a Brother of Edmund. Central to that understanding also was the study and practice of our Congregational charism and spirituality. The Chapters of ’78 and ’84 and the Congregational Spirituality Conferences contributed greatly to our understanding of our foundational charism and God-given gifts.

The Chapter of 1978 also emphasized the role of education and especially the place of justice education in the curricula of our schools and colleges. Many schools responded to this challenge – some in extraordinary ways. I know that we have passed form the era of "documentation". Yet I would remind any who are interested in research that one of the finest and comprehensive documents on justice education was developed by the Chapter of ’78. Subsequent Chapters continued this emphasis on the value and importance of justice education. For instance, our most recent General Chapter, the 2002, in one of its primary decisions stated (and I quote form that beautiful publication, The Heart of Being Brother"): "to ensure that Christian Brothers schools are communities of learning and of faith and justice, where students, parents and staffs are educated to a practical awareness of social equality."

Just prior to the Chapter of 1984, there was a thorough and intensive review of our Constitutions. Bert Darcy and others gave generous and exhaustive effort and time to this absolutely necessary review. What was finally achieved could not have occurred without the arduous preparation that took place beforehand.

Our Constitutions, while radically different than expected, I believe are faithful to the charism, spirit and living traditions of Edmund and our Congregation. I feel that we have a good understanding and appreciation of our charism. While we have not defined spirit, I likewise feel that we know it well – we live it and experience it . It seems to me that where religious communities and the Church in general have the most difficulty is in the area of tradition. Vatican II was wise in stating: examine your living traditions – not just tradition. Anthony Bloom, the well-known spiritual writer, put it this way: "Tradition is the living voice of the past. Traditionalism is the dead voice of the present."

Brothers, if I may express a deeply held conviction of mine, it is this – that today we are called into new life and new growth. Some of us may interpret the present times in our Congregational history as decline – going our of existence. True, it is a fact of history that the life span of most religious Congregations such as ours is about 200 years. Just about where we are now. However, I am convinced – beyond doubt – that something is profoundly different in this era, something markedly different form times past. In these times we are in a profound, revolutionary change within humanity, within civilization, within the Church, within religions life. The clear evidence is everywhere – in the sciences, in politics, in globalization – everywhere. How necessary now is the lived witness of the enduring values of dignity and destiny – and this is the privileged role of religious communities.

Brothers, I am filled with confidence about the future. It is not enough for me to point our new developments and numerical growth in Africa, India, South America and other places. These are signs but they are not deep enough. My hope and confidence lie in our knowledge and understanding of our charism – the gift given by God to Edmund, for the Church in the world. Our primary obligation to the past and to the future is to nourish and safeguard the gift – the charism, Christ appealing to us in the poor. That this has been done and is being done is clear from my reference to the Chapter milestones. Our institutions may take different forms in different eras – but the gift, the charism must endure. And endure it does. In the extended Edmund Rice Family, it is truly heartening to see so many embracing and living the charism of God to Edmund. Yes, there is life, there is a future – of that I have a deep, unshakeable conviction.

Other Founders given the same/similar gift, the difference lies in the spirit and the spirit is passed on by living traditions. In the context of charism, it is interesting to note the number of times that the word "heart" occurs in the Constitutions. I refer again to the 1984 General Chapter. In their review of the Constitution at that Chapter, a sizeable number of Brother had some difficulty, particularly was this so with references to "heart" in some of the proposed Articles. I remember one Brother saying during what seemed to be an impasse over the word, and other difficulties, that what we are about is the "transformation of hearts". The light went on. Several of the Brothers who were experiencing difficulty remarked that that was the statement which helped them realize what we are called to be in our Constitutions – living and loving as Brothers in service to others, especially to the poor and deprived of the world – truly challenging and demanding Constitutions.

The next General Chapter in 1990 seemed to me to mark another transitional experience of challenge and change, one that brought us more deeply into the question: "What does it mean to be Brother – Brother of Blessed Edmund?" The deepening of that question and the lived experience of the 90s gave rise to the Four Directions of the Chapter of 1996 – the move to the margins, internationality, our growth through fragility and the Edmund Rice Network. It has taken us much time and prayer to see these Directions more clearly and to understand them in new ways befitting the times in which we live. It was not the same "old thing" – rather it was the same "old thing" seen in a new way – a new way of seeing mission and ministry of being Brother – a new way of understanding which is deeply rooted in our historical traditions.

I believe that the General Chapter of 2002 was an extraordinary movement in response to the life-giving call of God’s Spirit. For any Brother who is hesitant about where we are going and where we are called to go, I would strongly recommend a prayerful, reflective reading of our Constitutions and the document, "The Heart of being Brother". If I may quote from "The Heart of Being Brother" – the Brothers at the Chapter of 2002 wrote:

"What had we discovered? Nothing that was not already written in our Constitutions and nothing that we had not already glimpsed individually in our best moments as Christian Brothers. Quite simply, our hearts had been re-oriented by the experience of being opened to each other. And, being opened, we found ourselves turning instinctively to identify with the pains and burdens felt in our whole earth community, Our hearts burning with this new energy, we felt a renewed fire for mission."

And so, when I personally look back over the experience of 54 years as Brother, I marvel at the working of God’s living Spirit among us. Providence has indeed been our inheritance. Our rich Edmundian tradition has been the source of our inspiration and hope. Truly "to recognize the past is to commit ourselves to the future."

Brothers, we gather once more in this place. We are here with our lived history, our strengths, our weaknesses. We are here with our hopes and fears; we are here with our convictions and opinions. We are here with the necessary ingredients for the inspiration and movement of God’s Spirit. It behoves us to truly listen. Our Constitutions remind us to "speak the truth to one another in love." Let us listen carefully and deeply. Let us not label one another as liberal, or conservative, or "off the wall" or whatever. God’s Spirit is in each one of us. Listen to our own hearts, listen to the hearts of one another. And let us remember that it is indeed difficult and sometimes painful to face the hard facts, to build together a model that would imply change – perhaps at personal cost. Letting go is indeed hard to do. Let us not fear. If we take time for reflection, if we listen to one another in trustful openness, we have nothing to fear, for we journey with Edmund in the Infinite Spirit of God who dwells among us.

All pictures used from Cornwall II were taken by Br. Thomas Collins.

Top:  Former Superior General Gabriel Mc Hugh gives an historical overview of the stages of recent Congregational history and its implications during the early days of the assembly.

Middle: Table leader Br. Bernard Samp reports back to the assembly the results of his group's discussion points.

Bottom: The opening liturgy used symbols of stones from all over the three provinces and water to signify the growing unity emerging at the assembly.