///////////PRESS RELEASES////////////
FROM SOUTH-BELGIUM LAY DOMINICAN FRATERNITIES//////////
AT THE EUROPEAN ASSEMBLY 2008////////////////
///////////IN SLOVAKIA ///////////
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////////////////////////////////////FRIDAY 30 MAY 2008/////////////////////////////////////////
The seventh European Assembly of Lay Dominican Fraternities opened this Friday 30 May in Trencianske Teplice, to the north of Bratislava (Slovakia) on the topic: “Preaching in a secular world”. It brought together some 50 delegates together with Dominican friars in charge of the laity in their province.
Morning mass was presided in English by a Slovak friar, assistant to the Master of the Order for Eastern and Central Europe, Rajmund Klepanec. TomorrowÂ’s morning mass will be presided in French.
Work started at 10 a.m. under the chairmanship of the lay Dominican heading the European Council of Lay Fraternities, Portuguese Gabriel Silva. The day was devoted to some twenty presentations from representatives of the different Dominican fraternities in Europe, mostly based on PowerPoint technology. Provinces belonged to European Union Member States but also Russia and the Ukraine.
This description of the structure and life of fraternities in Europe showed the very wide diversity of situations, though they are all united by a common Dominican spirituality. The largest provinces are not necessarily those with the most active membership and because of the weight of historic developments, a number of lay Dominican fraternities have only recently come into existence (again). In Bulgaria, for example, there is only one fraternity of seven members while most members in the Ukraine work in teaching and publishing, for internal educational purposes. The number of members in German fraternities ranges from 10 to 45, and the Swedish and Finnish representatives explained the specific challenges of countries where catholics – let alone Dominicans – are a tiny minority.
The day ended on a festive note, with each country bringing special items (food, drink, books, productions by lay Dominicans) for the others to share and enjoy. (Benedicte Jerebzoff-Van Damme)
///////////PRESS RELEASES////////////
FROM SOUTH-BELGIUM LAY DOMINICAN FRATERNITIES//////////
AT THE EUROPEAN ASSEMBLY 2008////////////////
///////////IN SLOVAKIA ///////////
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////////////////////////////////////SATURDAY 31 MAY 2008/////////////////////////////////////////
The seventh European Assembly of Lay Dominican Fraternities in Trencianske Teplice, to the north of Bratislava (Slovakia), continued its work on Saturday 31 May on the topic: “Preaching in a secular world”.
English and French being the two official languages of this Assembly, it was agreed for liturgy to be alternately in French and in English: Friday in English, Saturday in French, Sunday in English and Monday in French. This morningÂ’s mass was therefore presided in French by Fr. Eugenio Boleo, in charge of the laity in the South-Belgium province, on the theme of visitation. He laid special emphasis on the importance of knowing and understanding the culture of those we preach to and enter into dialogue with as an essential prerequisite.
Participants then listened to an in-depth presentation, very solidly grounded in theological references, by one of the European Council members, Tomas Machula, from the Czech Republic, on the theme: “Preaching in the world is the common mission of the whole community of the Church”. Tomas highlighted in particular the importance of preaching within the Church as the body of Christ.
Discussions throughout the day also focused on several proposals to amend the statutes, particularly on voting rights and finances, and to include concerns for older people into continuous formation programmes. More on this tomorrow.
The day ended with a Dominican Family evening organized by the Slovak province. (Bénédicte Jerebzoff-Van Damme)
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///////////PRESS RELEASES////////////
FROM SOUTH-BELGIUM LAY DOMINICAN FRATERNITIES//////////
AT THE EUROPEAN ASSEMBLY 2008////////////////
///////////IN SLOVAKIA ///////////
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////////////////////////////////////SUNDAY 1 JUNE 2008/////////////////////////////////////////
Sunday morning in Trencianske Teplice (north of Bratislava, Slovakia) where the seventh European Assembly of Lay Dominican Fraternities is taking place: an exceptionally moving though well-structured contribution by an Irish delegate, Anne-Marie Lee, on the many ways of active preaching by ordinary lay people, enriched with enlightening examples. After a discussion, this was followed by preparations for tomorrow’s elections for a new European Lay Dominican Council (ECLDF) and for the European delegate to the International Lay Dominican Council (ICLDF). The International Council is composed of one representative for Europe, one for Asia, one for Africa, one for America and one for Australia. The current delegate, Irish Patricia Kelly, reported on the International Council’s activities the day before. The ICLDF delegate liaises with the European Council and attends all its meetings without voting rights. Both Councils are elected for a three-year term. Elections will take place tomorrow, Monday 2 June, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Fr. David Kammler o.p., the general promoter for the Dominican laity, also made an interesting report on Saturday afternoon. After noting the huge differences in status among lay Dominicans, he underlined the importance of the laity in relation to the other Dominican branches, particularly from a numerical point of view: 3,000 nuns, 6,000 brethren, 27,000 sisters within 600 apostolic congregations and some 180,000 professed members of the Dominican laity. He wished that « all these flames of hope may burn in the same torch ». Father Kammler also presided today’s afternoon mass. We have attached his sermon to this bulletin.
The day ended with a lovely excursion to the nearby castle of Trencin, where we appreciated once again the warmth of Slovak hospitality and sense of humour. (Bénédicte Jerebzoff-Van Damme)
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