Shaping the present and future of the LCM and the first sondeo of the candidates for the General Council

We began as we do each day with the Eucharist. Today’s liturgy was animated by Colombia. The Eucharist motivated us to break the chains, to undo what has been learned, so that we may walk towards the future of the LCM.

After breakfast we started our work session by reading the messages received through e-mail and blog. In this manner they make themselves present at the Assembly Fr. Luis Erlin, CMF (Sao Paulo Curia); our Lay Claretian brothers and sisters from Puerto Rico (Gladys); San Pedro Sula (Judith), and from Cuba (Mirtha Burgos). Following this the minutes from July 18 (completed) and from July 19 are read for approval.

The Curriculum Vitae and availability of the candidates that were introduced for the posts in the council two days back were discussed, along with the reasons and qualifications for which they were suggested. This is done both for those that are present in the Assembly and for those that are not through the people that know them. A brief coffee break and we started the second session of the morning. Again, some more messages are read, this time from Maxim Gonzalez, CMF (Provincial of Cataluna); our brothers and sisters from Puerto Rico (Angel, Betsy, and Berenice). The objective of the dynamic for our working session is to clarify what God wants for the LCM in the future. To complement the work done thus by the Assembly the contributions received through e-mail and blog in regards to the suggested questions were read. Images and explanations of the summarized work were shared and analyzed in groups of 4 persons to see if they reflect the reality of what has been said in the Assembly thus far. Finally, before lunch, we had a period of prayer to internalize and put in God’s hands all the work that has been done up to now.

In the afternoon, we continue our work session, this time, by analyzing in rotating groups how to best improve our Identity, Mission, Formation, Economy, Communication, Guides, Spirituality, and the Incorporation of New Members, in order to derive conclusions of the most relevant aspects of each one. After this the results of the sondeo of the candidates for the Council, that was done earlier, are read along with the names of the candidates for the General Secretary, as was done in the morning.

After dinner, Peru and Colombia entertain and teach us some dances and traditions from their countries.