General Chapter Diary – Initial Sharing
On the menu for the Chapter today, Monday, was a first look at the overarching themes of Mission & Identity, Governance & Leadership , Formation, Care of Members & Associates, and Finance & Stewardship.
The various table groups shared their thoughts and sketched proposals in an (almost) day-long plenary session.
Each theme will be given ample space for further development and discussion in the coming days.
Notable in the sharing was the common thread running through the multiple reflections on these themes. It could be summarised as ‘positive energy, passion for mission and a faith-filled trust in the future combined with a healthy dose of realism’.
Gallery of delegates:
As the main author of “Safeguarding” in the Philippines, I am in full support of having this area as one of the “overarching theme”. Our protocols have been written not for the sake oh having one per mission area or region. It is one of the moral fibers of our existence as MHM. Our society has enough experiences on this issue to learn, ponder, and think about. This issue of safeguarding is better be “built in” in all other overarching themes. One of the ways to keep our society holistically healthy! When you (delegates) are talking about inequality, you may have to revisit your identified “overarching theme”.
In considering welfare of the members, include members who are out of ministry for a long time and who have followed all the guidelines, some are doing work for the Society. There ought to be a limited time for suspension and then readmitted to ministry. Compassion and forgiveness are basic qualities and virtues for following The Way of Jesus. This has often been lacking in our dealing with members who, for ever reason, are out of ministry. The Lord did carry the lost sheep on his shoulders back to the flock
John Nevi. Irish Region
I sincerely hope that Fr John Nevin doesn’t consider it all right for members to sexually abuse children and then be re-admitted to ministry. Pope Francis addressed the superiors in Rome when he said:” If priests and religious are involved in the sexual abuse of children, it is clear that the devil is at work. And if they don’t understand this fact, then they are part of the problem of child sexual abuse and not part of the solution”. I hope the Chapter and the membership will prove to be part of the solution going forward so that our children may have life to the fullest.
Denis C Hartnett, Irish Region.
I agree with Denis that Safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults should be an important arae of discussion and decision making for the Chapter.
General Chapter Diary-Initial Sharing, it is stated that the overarching themes of ‘Mission &Identity, Governance &Leadership, Formation, Care of Members &Associates, and Finance &Stewardship’, each of these themes will be given ample space for further development and discussion. I am very disappointed that ‘Safeguarding’ is not considered ‘an overarching theme’, safeguarding children should be at the heart of mission as they are the most vulnerable in our society. I hope that the passion for mission will encompass safeguarding not as an add or a box ticking exercise on but as a something that is woven into the fibres of our mission identity and charism as Mill Hill Missionaries. Let us learn from our history. Denis C Hartnett, Irish Region.
Just to correct my comment above: General Chapter Diary-Initial Sharing, it is stated that the overarching themes of ‘Mission &Identity, Governance &Leadership, Formation, Care of Members &Associates, and Future 7Stewardship’, each of these themes will be given ample space for further development and discussion. I am very disappointed that ‘Safeguarding’ is not considered an ‘overarching theme’, safeguarding children should be at the heart of mission as they are the most vulnerable in our society. I hope that the passion for mission will encompass safeguarding not as an add on or a box ticking exercise but as something that is woven into the fibres of our mission identity and charism as Mill Hill Missionaries. Let us learn from our history. Denis C Hartnett, Irish Region.