CHAPTER JOURNAL FROM 8 TILL 20 AUGUST 2010

This chapter news was composed by Sr. Annette Schoon
From Dutch province

SUNDAY 8 AUGUST 2010

The day started rather misty! What will this chapter bring us? Due to the mist we could not see very far in the future. In the afternoon, in the opening Eucharist, there was a bowl with water, symbolizing the one source of the Spirit and our spirituality, from which we all live. Every chapter member was invited to put a little stone in the bowl of water, in order to bring movement into the water. Our source should not remain dead water, but living, streaming water. Moving in ever wider circles. When the turn came to Sr. Dionysia, she really throwed  her stone in the bowl, with a loud tinkling and splashing. In doing so, she was, we think, gladly throwing away from herself her period as a member of general council! We thank her very much for the four years she fulfilled her tasks and wish her all the best for the future in Indonesia.

The Eucharist was attended by a lot of sisters from Amersfoort. Beautiful! The bus with sisters of Amersfoort did not come in time, although the Ducth always say : "busje komt zo". In the evening we enjoyed a nice presentation of the participants of the chapter : the Indonesian, Malawian and Dutch delegation. And the end of the day Paulien, Thera and Lucidia played "canasta".

MONDAY, 9 AUGUST 2010

At the very start we had an explanation of the communication system in the meeting room. We noticed a strange inequality. The explanation of how to listen took more time as the one explanation how to speak! Maybe that Sr. Felisita was aware of this too when she in opening speech stressed the courage to listen to each other respectfully and did not say a word about speaking. Before all business chapter begun, Sr. Beatrix explains the meaning of the symbols on the floor (see more...).

After opening speech of Sr. Felisita, Father Norbert Halsema, SJ as the discussion leader leads the process of chapter. It was also red the wishes letters of the sisters from Malawi and Indonesia. At the first day of the chapter, we started talking in the small groups about INTERNATIONALITY and FORMATION.

TUESDAY, 10 AUGUST 2010

The day was opened by the sisters of Malawi in English. Some postcards to wish a good chapter came from the community of Agnietenhove, the Sisters from the community of Probolinggo, the sisters from Huize Yulia community – Leusden, the General Board of the Little Sisters of St. Yoseph – Heerlen and Sr. Dorothea from Lage Vuursche.

In the morning session there was a plenum about the assignment concerning Internationality and Formation. The four discussion groups report about their results of the assignment. After that everyone could ask questions to the groups for clarifying something that was asked. In the afternoon, the chapter members have assignments about community and mission that would be discussed in small groups.

WEDNESDAY, 11 AUGUST 2010

This chapter is not only moments for talking about papers, organization, management, but... it is also a moment to see, taste and experience in open eyes the world where we are at this moment. That is why the general council took in her agenda "a day for outing" in the chapter schedules.

At the first outing, the participants went to "Klompenmaker Koop" where we could see closely how the people make "wood shoes" both in tradional and modern way.  Then we continue our culture  trip to Germany to see  a big factory " Emsflowers" produces around million flowers per year. It was a good opportunity for the Malawian and Indonesian sisters to make acquaintance with the Dutch culture.

THURSDAY, 12 AUGUST 2010

Today we started the day with opening by Sr. Sylvia (The Dutch delegation). Some wishes letters were read, which came from Sr. Edith and Riet, the sisters of Bussum community,  the sisters of Lawang, Kepanjen Malang, and Sr. Agnes Marie Indaryati. The first session in the morning was a plenary session about COMMUNITY and MISSION. After reporting everyone had opportunity to ask questions to the groups. In the morning session, we got another assignment to read  the paper about Boardstructure. In the afternoon, we worked in the small groups to discuss the topics about Leadership in our Congregation, Boardstructure, Leadership in the future and Leaderhip in region Malawi.

FRIDAY, 13 AUGUST 2010,

A sister of Indonesia opened the day with a short reading taken from Julia Billiart spirituality series,  the song of “ Pesan Ibuku” and a short prayer. Then we started the plenary session to talk about 4 topics that we discussed yesterday in small groups: Leadership in our congregation, Board Structure and leadership in the future and Leadership in region Malawi. At the end of the plenary session Fr. Henk observed there is great spirituality in the leadership. The evaluation report of the general council also gives evidence of this. He said that we can be proud of ourselves, for spirituality is not only a point for leaders of the general council, but is valid for all leaders or person. This mentioned a lot, for example solidarity. The evaluation report is also a critical report. In the afternoon session, we started with the first phase of election procedure. There are 4 groups and they work first in small groups and then every group reported in plenary session. So the first week of chapter was finished.

WEEKEND, 14-15 AUGUST 2010

On Saturday – Sunday, 14th and 15th August was weekend. The chapter members with full of joy  spent their free time for taking rest before starting the second week of chapter meeting. Some sisters went home, some went to town or some sisters just taking relaxing at St. Elizabeth Huize Denekamp. On Sunday, some sisters also got chance to see how the farmer get milk from the cows. It was an interesting experience for the sisters from Indonesia and Malawi.

MONDAY, 16 AUGUST 2010

After having a good weekend the participants started the meeting. Today tit was the task of Malawi to open the meeting. There was a card with best wishes that have been come from Baras community – The Philippines. Then Father Norbert Halsema gave us  an assignment for discussing in country groups concerning Finance. The papers  we had to talk were  about the Financial report of General Council period 2006 – 2010 and Financial Policy (from evaluation report of General Council). After that every group gave report on it in plenary session. At the end of the day, we celebrated Holy Mass with a special intention for the Independence Day of Indonesia

TUESDAY, 17th AUGUST 2010.

On the 17th of August, is the day of INDEPENDENCE DAY of Indonesia. Sr. Theresa Alimah invited the chapter members to sing together the Indonesian national Anthem “ INDONESIA RAYA”. Then she closed with a short prayer. In the morning we started with plenary session concerning  the Financial topic. In the afternoon the chapter members had to vote about papers of Board Structure, the future of Indonesian province and recommendation about the preparation of the general chapter of 2016. At the end of the afternoon session, Sr. Felisita Budiarti as the chairwoman of the chapter thanked Father Norbert Halsema as the discussion leader of this chapter. Due to other activity, he could not  be present at three last days of our meeting. The coming three days, Father Henk Bloem would be taken the role of discussion leader.

WEDNESDAY, 18th AUGUST 2010

We had a day free and there was a possibilityto go out with an organized trip. We went with a bus to Giethorn, a watery place in the province Overijssel in the Netherlands. The Dutch people mentioned the place "The Venice of The Netherlands". The village is known for its beauty: its bridges, waterways and punts. We made among  others aboat trip through the waters. For the Indonesian and Malawian sisters, it was a nice opportunity to get acquinted with the Dutch culture. We indeed enjoyed our dan dan trip.

THURSDAY, 19 AUGUST 2010

Sr. Truus member of the Dutch delegation, opened the day with a prayer, followed by the song " Go with us Your way". After that we had to vote about the decisions and the agreements concerning on several items we have discussed ealier and the draft committee had formulated in good manner. In the following session we continued in the phases of the election procedure, beginning from the second phase.It were not an easy sessions. but they were fruitful. At the end of all we had a very inspiring Eucharist celebration conducted by Father Henk Bloem. However the official voting was on Friday  morning. We celebrated the closing of the chapter in the evening because we would leave Denekamp after lunch. In the social evening program, we had feast meal to celebrate our  togetherness as sisters of Our Lady Amersfoort and it followed by songs, dances etc. Beautiful dances were perfomed by the Indonesian and Malawian sisters. The Ducth delegation invited a Twents (from the regionTwente where the place of Denekamp is situated) dance group. This group dancing in tradional dressed-the feast room). The group also invited us to dance together with them. At the last, the evening was closed by beautiful song made by Sr. Leonie from The Netherlands.

FRIDAY, 20th AUGUST 2010

The morning was spent by the general council team. Before the election we sang : "Come Holy Ghost Creator, Come". Unanimously we chosen:  Sr. Felisita Sri Budiarti, Sr. Mariani Made,  Sr. Theodora Suwarni and Sr. Christa Suminah. The elecion was followed by congratulation. It was emotional happening. Father Henk Bloen said: "I never seen so many tears!" 
After the lunch we all left for Amersfoort for Closing Eucharist that conducted by Father Henk Bloem. Many Ducth sisters were present at this joyful celebration to pray together for the fruitful coming period of the general council team and the congregation in The Netherlands, Indonesia, Malawi and The Phippines. How Good God is! we proclaimed the joy of God's Love together with our loving Mother Mary and Mother Julie Billiart!
PROFICIAT !!!