The General Council met for their latest meeting from Feb. 17-20 in Arlington Heights, and it was a productive one. All the members of the Council attended as did translators John Peeters, Camille Legare and Claude Chouinard.
“The meeting went very well,” said Fr. Robert M. Egan, CSV, Superior General, “and provided members of the General Council the opportunity to address a number of issues as part of an agenda that included more than 20 items.”
Some of the items discussed included:
- A review of recent Provincial Council minutes
- A review and discussion of the State of the Province Reports recently submitted by the Provinces of Spain, Chicago and Canada. “The discussion of the reports was very positive and helped to describe the life of the Viatorian Community in each of these Provinces,” Fr. Egan said.
- Father Egan and Father Claudio Rios, General Councilor, will conduct a Pastoral Visit to the Province of Spain from March 2-12.
- The General Council affirmed the grants given to some of the Foundations to assist with Novitiate and initial formation costs. These funds are provided by the General Direction from funds given by all the Provinces for this specific purpose.
- On March 27, Fr. Egan and Fr. Robert Jean, General Councilor, will meet with Archbishop Protase Rugambwa, Secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. The purpose of the visit is to pursue the investigation of a possible new foundation for the Congregation in conformity with Question 35 of the 2018 General Chapter.
- The General Council also received the formal decree from the Vatican announcing Pope Francis’ declaration of Father Querbes as Venerable. Fr. Egan will be sharing the decree with Provincials in the days ahead along with an invitation to the Provinces to plan a celebration of this significant event in the journey of the Cause of Fr. Querbes.
- The Council also discussed a proposal from Fr. Rios on vocation ministry, in response to Questions 20-21 of the 2018 General Chapter.
The next meeting of the General Chapter will take place March 30 – April 2 at the Christian Brothers’ Generalate in Rome.