The availability and suitability for leadership of members from their own ranks is rapidly becoming an issue of urgent concern in many orders and congregations in The Netherlands (and all-over Western Europe).
A number of communities of women religious in particular have led the way in exploring new ways of governance involving lay persons.
The inexorable ageing process and total dearth of new intake have put the Dutch Region of the Mill Hill Missionaries on a comparable path of exploring hitherto largely uncharted territory.
The arrival of the end of term of office on August 15th of the current regional, Fr. Ben Engelbertink, has given additional urgency to exploring new ways of governing of the region.
And so it is that guided by the General Superior, Fr. Michael Corcoran, and the Vicar General, Fr. Gerry Hastie, a synodal process of communal discernment of the way ahead was initiated yesterday, August 14th.
The earlier appointment of a lay manager, Paulwillem Lommerde, provides a welcome basis from which to explore future lay involvement in governance.
And to accompany and advice the 60 odd members of the Dutch Region of the Mill Hill Missionaries the General Council has found Bro. Martien van Leeuwen (84) willing to accept the interim leadership of the Region for the period of one year.
It is hoped that within this period of one year the contours of a new structure and composition of leadership will have emerged.
The new leadership team (Interim Regional Council) consists of the following persons: Toos Beentjes, Ko Klaver, Ben Stopel, Jos Boerkamp, Paulwillem Lommerde.
We wish our new leadership team clear vision, courage and energy on this mission of exploration.
Fons Eppink MHM
