
5 minute read
THE MID-CHAPTER REPORT


Advertisement

An abbreviated version of the opening report delivered by the Prior Provincial at the Midwest Augustinian Intermediate Chapter on October 5, 2020
Having completed over two years of Provincial administration, I am very grateful to the members of the Provincial Council for sharing and collaborating in our leadership. Fr. Richie Mercado, O.S.A., the Province Secretary, has been very helpful in applying what he is learning from his Canon Law program at the Catholic University of America. Fr. Jim Halstead, O.S.A. the Province Treasurer, has been very attentive to our financial issues and has worked closely with our financial officers, Trustees and the Advancement Council. The financial challenges we are facing due to the suspension of the 2020 Augustinian Gala this past Spring, our lack of Mission/ Parish Appeal opportunities, and the current health care costs have put a major dent in our financial status. God does not forget His own, however. We have had major donors who have been very generous to the Province.
I am grateful to all of you who offer your prayerful support and share your wisdom. I can honestly say that the worries, sleepless nights, and the fear of “what’s next” have brought me to a new
level of appreciation of my limitations and dependence on many of you in the Province.
The enjoyable times of visitation with all of our communities, the sacramental celebrations, and social events nourish me and sustain my hope that we are working together, walking together, and living together well. The depth of sincerity and mutual appreciation that I have encountered in many instances offers hope that fraternal charity remains at the heart of our religious community life.
These past two years have been very challenging for me and the Province as a whole. Facing the COVID pandemic has taken us into another direction than the one we had anticipated. We are still not sure where it will take us. This also means that we need to think creatively and step out of our comfort zones to consider where we are being led as Church, Order, and Province. This is not business as usual. I believe this is a call from the Holy Spirit to discern where we are going together in light of how the pandemic has been changing the way we live, work and celebrate.
In his book, Life After the Pandemic, Pope Francis offers reflections with two basic objectives. Cardinal Czerny summarizes them thusly: “The first suggests direction, keys, and guidelines for rebuilding a better world that might be born from this crisis of humanity. The second objective is . . . to sow hope.”
I imagine that, even in the midst of these unprecedented times of this health crisis, we all have been making progress, or attempting to address the unpredictability with hope. Through all of this, we remain fortunate that a hallmark of our Augustinian life together is being welcoming to one another. I am happy to comment that I have felt very welcomed by all of the communities of the Province and the Order. I have always believed that all of our Augustinians communities should have an open-door policy of welcoming to all. PERSONNEL:
Currently, we have 79 professed members of the Province, (including Canada and the simply professed). The ages range from 93 to 26. In the meantime, since June of 2018, we have had nine deaths, and we will be facing more as some of our older and infirm men continue to face deteriorating health conditions. Please keep them in your daily Mass intentions and prayers. COMMUNITY LIFE/SPIRITUALITY:
The most basic hallmarks of our religious life are prayer (communal and personal), the reading of the Rule, shared meals, house chapters, and recreation. Yearly retreats and days of recollection nourish us as well. This all takes different forms in each respective community and circumstances.
Our present financial circumstances and resources on the Province level can be a call and a reminder to simplify our lifestyle. Evaluating ourselves individually and within the community keeps us accountable, I believe, to live evangelical poverty according to the Rule. I attempt to live by the maxim, “less is more.” After all, I do not believe any of us are suffering from what we are lacking, but I do believe that, if we are not careful, we can fall into complacency. HEALTH CARE COVENANT TEAM
We are grateful to the Province Health Care Team—Fr. Mike O’Connor, O.S.A., Br. Jack Hibbard, O.S.A., Br. Mark Emken, O.S.A., Marge Gleason, and the Bellesini Community members—who make themselves available to the needs of our men in both assisted living and skilled care. The team continues to assess the individual health needs of our men in order to determine the level of care that each one needs. This has been fluid due to how each friar’s condition worsens or improves. The entire team has been diligent in accompanying our men in their various needs and offering them pastoral care and fraternal attention. VOCATIONS & FORMATION:
The Midwest Province Pre-Novitiate program officially began in the middle of August of this year. Fr. Rich Young, O.S.A. has generously stepped into the role of Director, and the community at St. John Sahagún Friary at Providence Catholic H.S. has grown. Vocation Director Fr. Tom McCarthy, O.S.A. is now also a resident of the community as a support for this very initial level of formation.
Our two Pre-Novitiate candidates are Donte Amis and Rajen Gomes (Canadian citizen). In my address to the Province after my election in June of 2018, I emphasized the importance of reaching out to men of color. Donte is African-American and Raj is Indian-Canadian. We must continue to be proactive to attract men of different races and ethnicities for us to reflect the demographics of the Church in the U.S.
Vocations continue to remain an essential priority in our Order and Province. Please continue to pray for and promote them. We have five men at St. Augustine Friary in theological and ministerial formation this academic year.
Since the last Provincial Chapter, three men were Simply Professed and four friars were Solemnly Professed. One friar has been ordained to the Presbyterate. I am very happy to report to you all that our professed community continue to advance in their theological and ministerial formation at CTU. All of our young friars renewed their vows during the summer months.
Last summer, Fr. Joseph Broudou, who was serving as pastor at OMGC Parish in Homer Glen, decided not to renew his Simple vows. He returned to his original diocese in Nebraska. PARISHES:
We are not without good pastoral leadership between Augustinian friars and their collaboration with lay leaders. Presently, we have six parishes that are in our pastoral care: