At the first chapter of their newly created Oceania province this month, the Christian brothers will look to deepen their spirituality and commitment to the charism of Edmund Rice as well as studying how to engage more in interfaith relations and with marginalised communities. The new, amalgamated Oceania Province of the Christian Brothers is holding its first Chapter from Sunday June 22 until Wednesday July 2 under the direction of Province Leader, Br Vince Duggan, a Christian Brothers media release says.
Forty-eight elected Brothers will be attending the Chapter which will take place at St Leo's College at the University of Queensland.
Five key directions to be discussed include engaging more deeply in matters of spirituality and interfaith relations, commitment to an authentic and evolving exploration of the charism of Edmund Rice and to a life-long formation process for brothers.
The directions also include "working more extensively with people marginalised and made vulnerable by society and supporting them further by advocating liberation and justice in all activities" as well as "recognising the urgent necessity for living sustainably and valuing the gift of creation."
Br Duggan said the new Province had made some progress on its future directions since the amalgamation of the five former provinces and regions of Oceania on October 1 last year to form the Oceania Province. The area covered by the Province now includes Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, the Philippines and the Cook Islands.
"I and the Oceania Leadership Team recognise the establishment of our new structure is a dynamic process in which the Holy Spirit is active, unsettling yet also encouraging us, to leap further into the Mystery of God," Br Duggan said.
"We also believe that we need to be inspired by the spirit of our founder, Blessed Edmund Rice and recognise that our strength lies in complete trust and in recognition that providence is our inheritance.
"However we are aware of our responsibility to facilitate the planning of our Province directions to ensure that future generations of Edmund Rice's followers in our region can also participate in this rich inheritance," Br Duggan said.
The Chapter will also acknowledge the heritage of the Brothers in education, in particular its network of schools established throughout Australia, which are now under the auspices of a new lay-led model of school governance called Edmund Rice Education Australia.
The Congregational Leader of the Christian Brothers, Br Phillip Pinto will address the Chapter as will Br Duggan. The Chapter is also expected to elect a new representative for the seven-member Oceania Leadership Team to replace Deputy Province Leader Br Peter Dowling who will join the Congregational Leadership Team based in Rome.
Oceania Province includes Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Cook Islands, Timor-Leste and the Philippines and there are approximately 440 Brothers in the region.
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