Several months before the General Chapter, a liturgy committee began to plan music and prayer services for the Oblate gathering. Father Alfredo FERETTI (Italy) coordinated the work, along with scholastic Brothers Shivantha WAAS (Colombo), Thabang Nkadimeng (Northern Prov. South Africa) and Javier MONTERO (Spain). They put together a book of songs in several languages and a morning prayer to be used by the capitulars at the beginning of the first plenary session of each day.

The agenda for the capitulars on the second day included meetings in regional groups, in order to finalize the reports to be presented to the Chapter over the next few days and to study the other regional reports.

In the afternoon plenary session, the capitulars first practiced voting with the electronic voting system. Then they elected the Steering Committee and the Finance Committee. The Steering Committee, whose president is the Superior General, meets daily to plan the program and the sequence of Chapter business. The Finance Committee makes recommendations to the Chapter regarding financial issues and studies in depth all of the reports from the General Treasurer.

Elected to the Steering Committee were Fathers Miguel FRITZ (Paraguay), Bernard KERADEC (France), Luc TARDIF (Canada), Stuart BATE (Natal) and Clement WAIDYASEKARA (Colombo).

The newly elected Finance Committee is composed of Fathers Vicente LOPEZ (Mexico), Alberto GNEMMI (Italy), Christopher PULCHNY (Canada), David ULLRICH (China) and Prosper NDJOLI (Congo). The General Treasurer, Fr. Rufus WHITLEY, serves as a resource person to the Finance Committee.

Each week, a capitular representing the different regions will deliver a brief reflection on the Chapter’s theme of conversion. The first reflection was presented by Fr. Emile MOTHEAPHALA (Lesotho). Fr. Emile pointed out that the gift of conversion is a gift of God, given when and in the manner that God chooses. The initiative is God’s: it is not a result of our efforts and it is not merited by us. It comes as a surprise and as a treasure that we find. During the Chapter, we must determine the best way that we might receive this gift. The gift is there; we only need to tap into it. We connect with the divine life within us through our life of prayer and contemplation.

For Mass on the second day, the Chapter welcomed our Oblate Cardinal, Francis GEORGE, Archbishop of Chicago, USA, as the principal concelebrant. He was in Rome on other business and was happy to spend a couple nights at Casa LaSalle with his brother Oblates. He met with the whole group in the Chapter Hall before the Eucharist, to share some personal thoughts. He mentioned three things in particular from his Oblate formation and experience that continue to influence his ministry as bishop: conversion to Christ crucified, as lived within the Oblate charism. He stated that his early formation in the French school of prayer sustains him even today with its focus on the Word Incarnate. Secondly, he carries in his heart an Oblate’s love for the poor. And thirdly, his years as Vicar General taught him to love the Church in the universality of its mission.