Towards“NewWineinNew Wineskins”
2003GeneralChapter WorkingDocument
Delegates to the 2023 General Chapter
Pream
ble
We, the Franciscan Brothers of Mountbellew, recognizing a historical moment in our history on the occasion of the 32nd General Chapter, desire to review, renew, and re-plan our life and mission.
1. TheSpiritofMountbellew
Inspired by the Gospel message and the needs of their time, our founding Brothers were moved to begin a community of religious brothers that responded in ministry to the socio-economic-religious realities in the West of Ireland, in the early decades of the 19th Century. Our legacy is drawn from two sources: our historical association with the Order of Friars Minor, and the life and ministry of the Brothers in the early communities.
Astrongsenseoffraternity,centeredonprayer,work,andthecommonlife, embodiedthelifeoftheearlybrothers.Farmingprovidedtheirsustenanceaswell astheresourcesfortheirministries.Questingprovidedsupportfortheiroutreachto thepoorwhilealsosupportingtheirotherministries.Catecheticalinstructionand basiceducationinthe3Rsofreading,writingandarithmetic,alongwithtechnical andagriculturaltrainingcharacterizedtheirministry.
Copythislink:youtu.be/dAu22IDu19otoyourbrowsertoviewthevideo“The MonksoftheWest.”Thevideoisanexcellentoverviewof200magnificentyears ofservicetothePeopleofGodbytheFranciscanBrothersofMountbellew.
2. IntegrationoftheSpiritofMountbellewinourCurrentMissionand Ministry
WearegratefultoourfoundingBrothers,thatafter200yearsofservicetotheIrish Church,thespiritandlegacyofMountbellewcontinuestoliveandgrowinthe AfricanRegion.Weappreciateandhonourthatspiritandlegacy.
Inappreciatingthatlegacy,wemustnotlosesightofthestrongtraditionin“tradeskills”suchascarpentry,cooking,farming,kitchen-gardening,andmechanics, practicedbythebrothersovertheyears. Inacceptingbrotherstothecongregation, thosewithtalentsandaptitudesinthoseareaswouldbeidentifiedandnurtured,as suchtalentswilleventuallyprovideessentialservicestoministriesand communities.
Similarly,ourtraditionalcharismofeducatingthechildrenofthepoorinprimary schoolsistobeencouraged.
3. OurCharismaticIdentity
Welivethegospelwayoflife,followingtheFranciscanspiritualityoffraternity, simplicity,hospitality,closenesstothemarginalized,andcareforcreation,aslived bytheearlycommunitiesoftheFranciscanBrothers.Wearedefinedbyourcore valuessuchasfraternity, stewardship,simplicity, hospitality,justiceandpromoting humandignity.Wecareforthe earthandpromotepeacebuilding withinthegeographical communitiesinwhichweserve. Wealsofollowourpatrimonyof continuingwithagricultureand ruraldevelopmentforthe promotionofsustainable livelihoods.Inallmatters,we exerciseacreativefidelitytoour legacy.
Weunderstandthatourcharism isinourhearts,whichweexpress everymomentoftheday.We desiretoreachouttoservein love,whilewelivetheFranciscan spiritualityofcontemplationand penance.Wesharewiththe communityourmaterialand spiritualgiftsfortheserviceof themarginalized.“Weneedtoenactfraternalresponsesforthoseingreatestneed”. Weneedtoidentifyparticularneedsintheareasinwhichwework.Weempower peoplebynotworkingforthembutworkingwiththeminthecareofthe environment,promotingsustainablelivelihoodsanddealingwithnotonlymaterial povertybutpovertyofthemind.
4. Fraternity
AsmembersoftheFranciscanThirdOrder,weintegratelife,prayerandministry inthecommunity.Thecorevaluesthatguidethelifeandworkofthebrothersare fraternity,simplicity,hospitality,stewardship,justiceandsacrednessofall.
TheLifeofCharityinFraternity
Opennessandsharinginourcommunitiesenhancethequalityofcommunitylife, especiallythroughcommonprayers,mealsandcelebrations.Weallseektobelong andfeelathomeinourcommunities.
Asbrotherswearecalledtobothencourageandchallengeeachotherincharity.At thesametime,weembraceeachother’sgiftednessasameansofenhancingour communionandmission.
TheSpiritualLife
Whileourspirituallife isoutwardlyexpressed inworksofmercyand livinganexemplarylife, ourinteriorlifeis animatedbyour relationshipwithGod, whomweencounterin thesacraments,andour calltopersonal holiness. Keepingin mindthattheSacred Liturgyisalwaysour primaryprayer,our personalprayerlifegoes beyondformalliturgical practicesonly.Inthatlight,werecommitourselvestocreatingmoreopportunities forfaith-sharinginourcommunities.Tonourishourspirit,wearetoparticipatein retreats,daysofrecollection,contemplativeprayer,meditation,andespeciallythe celebrationoftheSacramentofReconciliation.Individualbrothersareencouraged
toidentifyaregularconfessor.Similarly,spiritualdirectionalsoneedstobebetter appreciated.
Thetemptationofsocialmediamustnotdiminishourengagementinspiritual reading. Readingingeneral,especiallyclassicalandreligiousliterature,inspiring poetry,plays,podcasts,andinformativearticles,eitherinprintoronline,identifies usaseducatedandinformedindividuals,whoseopinionshavesubstanceon theological,spiritual,philosophical,political,socialandmoralissues.
5. ConsecrationforMission
Simplicity,intheFranciscantradition,callsustoliveourvowofpovertymore radically.Ourpracticeisnottobebasedoncomparisonofhowothersliveor practice.Individualbrothersareinvitedtosharewiththecommunityanygiftsthey receive.Eachbrotherisinvitedtotakepersonalresponsibilityinthepracticeofall thevows,butthisisespeciallytrueofthevowofchastitywhichisoneofthe definingcharacteristicsofreligiouslife.
ThevowofobediencecallsustoprayerfullydiscernGod’swill,especiallyinour commitmenttoacceptingourleaders’wisdom.Brothersarecalledtobeauthentic, especiallyinlivingoutoftheirvows. Religiouslifedoesnotmakesensewithout thethreevowswhichallowreligioustohaveauniquerelationshipwithGodand ourbrothersandsisters.
6. OurMissionintheChurchandtheWorld
LedbytheSpiritasfoundin“NewWineinNewWineskins,” Laudato Si and Fratelli Tutti,andtheexampleofSt.FrancisandClare,weprioritizecareofthe earth,andtheintegrationofthefeminineinourprayer,work,andministries.
OurMissionistoempowerthemarginalizedthroughourministriesofformation, provisionofqualityeducation,providingforourlivelihoodsthroughsustainable agricultureforruraldevelopment,caringfortheearth,peacebuilding,catechetical andpastoralcare,andyouthministry.
Intheimplementationofourministries,inlinewithourcharism,weneedtobe courageousandventuretonewterritories,amongthosemostinneed,diversifying ourministries,andthusconcretizingourdesirefor“newwineinnewwineskins!” ThiscourageandcommitmentwillunleashanewsproutofenergyinAfricaandto encouragemorepeopleoffaithtojoinhandsus.
7. Formation
FollowingtheexampleofMary,whoasthemotherofJesus,modelformator,the MinisterGeneralistheprimaryformatorofthecongregation. Allbrotherscommit tothisimportantresponsibilityforaneffectiveformationprogram,bothformally andinformally.
OurAfricanRegionhasintentionallypreparedbrothersforthisveryimportant ministry,makingformationoneofthebrightlightsofourcongregation. Nonethelessweexperienceahighlevelofattritionduringphasesofformation. In thatlight,collectivewisdomisneededwhenchoosingcandidates,withmore attentiongiventotheirmotivationforenteringreligiouslife.
TheidealofourformationisstipulatedinChapterFourofourConstitutions, specificallyarticles39,40,41,42,and43.Toensurecontinuityandconsistency, theformationdirectoryneedstobefinalized,approvedandimplemented. This willprovideaconsistentdirectionintheprogramandavoidalterationsandbiases bysuccessiveformators.
Consistencyinvocationalanimationistobeestablishedaspertheformation directory.Vocationanimatorsneedlongerperiodsofappointment,notonlyfor greaterconsistencyintheprogram,butalsotoensurestabilityinthementorship
process. Expandingthephysicalfacilitiesforformationhastobeconsideredasthe numbersincrease.
Greaterinvestmentofresourceswillbenefitourprogramofpreparingand qualifyingformationpersonnel.Individualbrothersarecalledtoconsider formationministryandengageinprofessionalpreparationtothatend.More experiencedformatorscanassistintheinductionofthosepursuingthatministry.
Itisunderstoodthatabalanceandharmonybetweenformationforministryand ongoingspiritualformationofthebrothersisnecessary.Ifthereisasolidspiritual basetotheinitialformationprogramme,thenministerialformationcouldbebuilt onthatfoundation.
Inministerial/professionalformation,thereisgreatvalueindiversifyingthefield ofqualificationofthebrotherstoincludeclassroomteaching,agricultural education,catechetics,preparationofformators,andotherareasrelevanttoour currentministriesinEastAfrica.Amorejudiciousapproachintheselectionof thirdlevelcoursesofstudyforindividualbrotherswillensuretheirreadinessfor theappropriateandnecessaryministerialareas.Decisionsaremadeinthelightof theministerialneedsoftheinstitute,withconsiderationforindividualabilitiesand aptitudes.Thisstepwillcallforgreaterdiscernmentonthepartoftheleadership. And,itmustbekeptinmindthatthereareoccasions,situationsandministries wheredegreequalificationsarenotnecessary.
Atthelevelofongoingformation,localministersarethespiritualleadersinour houses,andtheytoorequireongoingformation.Atthesametime,eachbrotherhas ultimateresponsibilityforhisownformation.
8. MinistryofLeadership
ThecalltoleadershipinourInstituteisacalltoserve.WiththeGeneralCouncilin placeforthenextsixyears,weseethefollowingstructuremovingforward: The ministryofleadershipattheInstitutelevelisledbytheMinisterGeneral,whois assistedbyfourcouncillors,eachhavingaportfolio,suchasFormation,Planning andDevelopment,Finances,MinistriesandtheSpiritualLife.
Majorleadershiprolesaretobeviewedastheprimaryministryoftheindividuals whocomprisetheGeneralCouncilandarenottobedilutedinfavourofthe ongoingparticularministryofaleader.
AmongourmostcriticalneedsistheestablishmentofanOfficeofPlanningand Developmentoverseenbyofoneofthegeneralcouncillors.
10.Ministries
Ourcurrentministriesareinsustainableagricultureforruraldevelopment, education,formation,peacebuilding,carefortheearth,catecheticsand counselling.Thereisaninsufficientnumberofbrothersservinginourministries. TheidealisinChapter2ofourConstitutions,articles16,17,18&19. Brothersaretobepreparedforministryinlinewithourcurrentandanticipated ministriesandcommunityneeds.Inthatlight,theAfricaRegionistobe commendedforprovidingthirdleveleducationwithexcellentresultsamongthe brothers.However,decisionsregardingthirdlevelstudiesaretobemadeinlightof ministerialneedsandontheindividual’sabilityandaptitude.
Opennesstonewministriesisnecessarybutitiscontingentonresourcesand personnel.Forexample,evenaswerecognizetheneedtoserveinSouthSudan, considerationtoourcapacityiscritical.Likewise,wecanexploreapresencein Kampalawhereourbrother-studentswouldresidewhileattendinglocalcolleges andasahome-away-from-homeforbrotherstravelingbetweenKenyaandAdraa. WealsoseeaneedtorelocatethePostulancyHouse,awayfromitspresent locationonNakurudiocesanland,toamoresuitablelocationclosetothe Kenyan/Ugandanborder.
11.ManagementofResources
AconcreteexpressionofourFranciscansimplicityistomanageourresources responsibly.Weunderstandresourcesashuman,spiritual,social,natural,financial andphysical.Weconsiderthetopicofmanagingresourcesunderfourpointsas follows:
ResponsibleManagementofResources
a) Explicitpoliciesinresourcemanagementareneededandaretobe communicatedtothebrothers.
b) Ourcommitmenttoberesponsiblestewardsofresourcescallsusto demonstratecareforourcommunitypropertyinsuchareasascutting downonwaste,repurposingandrecycling,andpropermaintenanceof ourhousesandplacesofministry.
EnsuringGreaterTransparencyandAccountability
a) Greatertransparencyandaccountabilityinresourcemanagementwill giveallbrothersasenseofbelongingandco-responsibility. Realizing thatthestartingpointofaccountabilityiscommitment,weseekmutual trustandindividualintegrity.
b) Inbudgeting,weneedtoberealisticinourprojections,alwaysstriving forabalancedoutcome.Inourcommunities,weaimtolivewithinour means,generatingagrowingpercentageoflocallygrownfood.. Understandably,housesofformationwillnotbeself-sustaining,but stewardshipisstillapriority.Salariesofemployedbrothersarepartof householdincomeandforcommunityuse.
c) Wehavepoliciesonresourcemanagement,whicharetobefully implemented,withparticularattentiontorequirementsformandatory signatoriestobankaccounts,auditingandthesubmissionoftimely financialreports.Eachcommunityistomaintainanassetregisterofall capitalgoods.
AugmentingResourcesintheAfricaRegionforSustainability
a) Increasingourmembershipwillbringongoingsustainabilityinhuman resources.Atthesametime,wearetoinvestinhumancapitalby qualifyingpeopleaccordingtotheiraptitudes,andministerialneedasa meansofimprovingthequalityofourservice.
b) Ourbenefactorsandpartnersinministryaretobecherishedasvitalto thesuccessofourprojects. Therefore,goodformalandinformal communication,timelyacknowledgement,expressionsofgratitude,and mostimportantly,properaccountability,ensurestheircontinuing participationinourmissionandministries.
c) Self-relianceisagoalofeachcommunity,butthisrequireseachbrother tobecompensatedfortheirwork.Therewillalwaysbeinstances, whetherforministryorhealthconditions,wheresuchcompensationis notpossible,andthosebrotherswillbesupportedasneeded.
d) Creativityandstrategicthinkingarenecessarytosupportfundraisingfor ministry,buttoomuchrelianceonoutsidefundingcanbeproblematic. Therefore,wewillconsiderprojectsforincomegenerationifsuch projectsareconsistentwithourcharismandmissionpriorities.
e) Developingneededministries,ownedandmanagedbythebrothers, ratherthanmanagingministriesonbehalfofotherentities,willcreate leadershipopportunitiesforthebrotherswhilealsodevelopingmuch neededleadershipskillamongthem.
f) Involvingbrothersmorefullyongovernanceandmanagementboards andcommitteeswillensurequalityofministryinlinewithour charismaticidentity.Buildingcapacityandcapabilityforbrothersin thoseareaswillgeneratevaluableleadershipopportunitiesandempower thebrothers.
Closing
OpeningourselvestotheguidanceoftheHolySpiritandcourageously embracingthetheme,“NewWindinNewWineskins,”theGeneralChapterof 2023didindeedmarkawatershedmomentfortheFranciscanBrothersof Mountbellew. TheChapter,asexpected,engagedinreviewing,renewing,andreplanningourlifeandmission. ElectingourfirstAfrican-bornMinisterGeneral wasmomentous,markingthefulltransitionoftheinstitutetoMolo,Kenya. But, maybemoresignificantwastheplacingoftheSpiritofMountbellewatthecoreof allwedo. Rootedinastrongsenseoffraternityandcenteredonprayer,work,and thecommonlife,theChaptertookabackwardglancetotwo-hundredyearsof livedexperienceasapreludetomovingforward. Therichnessofthatexperience shonealightonwhatmustbemaintained,asourcoreidentity,inallpresentand futureministries. OurbicentenaryprovideduswithaKairosmoment,aspecial timetoexaminewhoandwhatweareasindividuals,communities,andasan institute. Thenewlyemergedperspectivewasenergizingateverylevel. Weare
readytogoforward,withoutfear,toembraceouressenceandethosmorefullyas theFranciscanBrothersofMountbellew.