Canadian Provincial Chapter Meeting Convenes
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June 3, 2022The Province of Canada held its first Chapter session in almost three years. Numerous senior confreres did not join us for obvious reasons while a few others chose not to come for health or other reasons – and a few cancelled planned flights due to positive covid tests.
Three confreres actually tested positive at the Chapter and had to isolate for half the Chapter and some days afterwards. Masks were worn in public and in sessions while other precautions, such as working and eating in a ‘bubble,’ were taken. Blessedly, nobody else was infected at the Chapter which concluded with a very upbeat and positive atmosphere.
Fr. Jack Kingsbury joined us as the facilitator. He worked with our Moderators (Mario Doyle & Ray Douziech) to produce an excellent program which limited what we might do so that we would not become frustrated or overwhelmed by the documents presented and debated, like provincial statutes.
The result, accompanied by a careful and respectful process guided by Jack, was an updated and amended “Memorandum of Agreement” outlining the commitments of the three former provinces to the unified Province of Canada. This document will be sent to all the confreres once it has been polished and the French/ English versions are clearly compatible.
What was really refreshing about the Chapter was the opportunity for all the confreres to mingle and spend time with one another, even with masks on. I would also add that there was a general feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction with the results, despite a few rough edges that will be taken into account for the next Chapter. The next gathering is scheduled for January 16-20, 2023 at Queen of Apostles, Mississauga.
I finish with a kudos to Lilian Fournier and Anne Walsh who put hours in as recording secretaries.
