Short Summary of September 17th

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WEDNESDAY
Isaia Kishi (Japan) led morning prayer at the beginning of the last day of the General Synod.
The Secretary General, Ramiro Ruiz, and the Procurator General, Floriano De Fabiis, addressed the Synod relating to matters concerning their responsibilities and work.
Nicholas Postlethwaite (England), spokesperson for new Restructuring Coordinators Group, then gave a report on behalf of the new Restructuring Coordinators.
Denis Travers (Curia) invited Paul Matsumoto (Japan), Marco Pasquali (Italy), and Ramiro Ruiz (Colombia) - three Passionists who attended the Young Passionist Religious Gathering in Melbourne, Australia - to address the Synod on their experience of the meeting in Australia.
The General Synod, after a period of discussion and clarification, gave approval in principle to a number of decisions to take forward the process of Restructuring of the Congregation.
In the afternoon the assembly gathered in table groups to make suggestions for place of the next General Synod.
The General Synod members then engaged in a process of evaluation of the Cuernavaca meeting.
Finally, Father General Ottaviano D’Egidio made some final remarks and words of thanks and then closed the 13th General Synod of the Congregation.
The Closing Mass of the 2008 General Synod was celebrated by Father General Ottaviano D’Egidio in Italian.

Short Summary of September 16th

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TUESDAY
Today is Mexican Independence Day.
Antonio Maria Munduate (Colombia) celebrated Mass in Spanish to begin the day.
Father General Ottaviano D’Egidio clarified the understanding of the General Council to issues raised yesterday concerning the new areas of configuration of the Congregation.
After this clarification, the General Synod continued to dialogue within the new proposed configurations.
After morning tea the new configuration groups reported back to the Assembly. Each group was asked to give their new configuration a name, to nominate a coordinator and to suggest structures for the possible configurations.
Prior to lunch the Faciliator, Sr. Christine made presentations: “Four Stars of Organization” and “Authority and Power in Religious Congregations”.
In the afternoon the General Synod continued discussion on the Structures of Solidarity in the areas of Finance, Personnel and Formation.
The General Synod approved two proposals presented Battista Ramponi – approval of budget of the General Econome 2009-2010 and approval of renovation work in the house of St. John and Paul, Rome
Evening Prayer was led by Edwin Flor (Philippines)

Short Summary of September 15th

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MONDAY
Mass for the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows was celebrated by Jose Agustin Orbegozo (Italy) in Spanish.
At the beginning of the day the General Synod members were divided in linguistic groups.
The Facilitator, Sr. Christine Anderson, then invited the assembly to leave these linguistic groups and return to the groups from yesterday afternoon - possible groupings of new configurations of the Congregation.
These groups of possible new configurations were asked to respond to the following questions
(a) What can we do together now?
(b) What can we do in two years?
(c) What can we do long term?
At the beginning of the afternoon session the General Synod members gathered for an official photo.
The Synod then heard reports from the six groups of possible new configurations of the Congregation.
After the six reports were received there was general discussion and reflection on the proposed new configurations of the Congregation.
At the end of the day Norberto Donizetti (Brasil) led the General Synod in prayer.

Short Summary of September 14th

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SUNDAY
Mass was celebrated this morning, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, by Don Webber (USA), Provincial of Holy Cross Province.
Sr. Christine Anderson, the Facilitator of the General Synod, began the day by reviewing the work of the Synod during the last week.
The Synod then reviewed the Criteria for Restructuring from the Report of the Superior General on Restructuring.
Prior to lunch the Synod members were asked, in mixed language groups, to explore ways that the Congregation may move the work of Reconstructing forward.
In the afternoon the members talked of their hopes for the continuing process of Restructuring and at the end of the day they gathered in possible new reconfiguration areas.
At end of the day Antony Xavier Tharayil (India) led the assembly in prayer.

Short Summary of September 13th

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SATURDAY
No formal sessions of the 2008 General Synod were held today because members of the Synod undertook a pilgrimage to the Basilica of Our Lady of Gaudalupe.
Father General Ottavaino D’Egidio was Principal Celebrant of the Mass in Spanish celebrated at the Basilica at 11.00 a.m.
Afterwards the Synod members visited the "Colegio Hipano Ingés", a school of the Daughters of The Passion, in Mexico City for lunch. After lunch the Passionist Sisters presented a powerpoint on the life and work of the Sisters and a members toured the Daughters of The Passion Generalate, near the school.
After the visit to the Sisters the Synod members were taken to the Francesco Possenti Institute in Mexico City for "Noche Mexicana" – an evening of Mexican entertainment

Short Summary of September 12th

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FRIDAY
The Synod members gathered for Morning Prayer which was led by Juan Maria Rosasco (Argentina)

During the morning the General Synod were led in a process by the Facilitator, Sr. Christine Anderson, to review the work of yesterday afternoon’s groups to create Structures for Solidarity in the areas of Finance, Personnel and Formation.

In the afternoon the Synod received reports from Fr. Battista Ramponi (General Econome), Fr. Jesus Maria Aristin (JPIC) and Fr. Kevin Dance (Passionist Representative at the United Nations, New York).

At the end of the day Mass was celebrated in Spanish by Fr. Francisco Valadez, Provincial of Christ the King Province Mexico

After dinner the Synod was entertained by members of the Coro “Niños Cantores de Morelos” and Mariachis.

Short Summary of September 11th

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THURSDAY
Thursday began with Prayer led by Roberto Dal Corso (Tanzania) in Italian and Swahili.

During the morning the Synod members, led by the Facilitator, spent time exploring their understanding of the aims and objectives of the process of restructuring.
In language groups they discussed solidarity within the Congregation – formation, finance, collaboration between provinces, language, personnel.

In the afternoon the General Synod members indicated their interest in working in three Structures for Solidarity areas – Personnel, Finance and Formation.
They were divided into these groups and we given the following tasks
(a) Write a rationale/motivation about why this issue is important?
(b) What challenges does this give to the Congregation at this point in time?
(c) What risks will you need to take?
(d) What will you need to let go of as a Congregation so that this can take place?
(e) What texts from Scripture or from your Passionist documents will sustain you in trying to do this?
(f) Suggest the structure that will make all the above possible.

At the end of the Day Mass was celebrated in Italian by Piergiorgo Bartoli (Italy).

Short Summary of September 10th

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WEDNESDAY
Joachim Rego (Australia) was Principal Celebrant and Homilist at the Mass to begin the day.
In the morning the Restructuring Coordinators from around the Congregation shared their experiences of the restructuring process from their area -
PASPAC - Joachim Rego, CII - Eulogio Cordero Martinez, CPA - Michael Ogweno, CIPI - Leone Masnata, COPAL - Norberto Donizetti , IPCN - Joe Jones, NECP - Nicholas Postlethwaite.
After their presentation members of the General Synod were given the opportunity to make comments or ask questions of clarification of the Restructuring Coordinators.
The Facilitator, Sr. Christine Anderson, then presented a reflection on the templates completed in preparation by Provinces for the General Synod, after which the Synod members spent time in table discussion on the issues presented by Sr. Christine.
In the afternoon the members of the Synod were offered a period of reflection and discernment so that they might “touch the ways God is working in you during these days”. The facilitator asked members to return after a period of reflection with two issues that they would like to see the Synod address.
On their return the Synod members named and reflected on these issues in the assembly.
Evening Prayer was led by Paul Gabriel Tae-Won Pak (Korea)

Short Summary of September 9th

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TUESDAY
Father Filippo Astori (Kenya) was the Principal Celebrant and Homilist of the Synod Mass to begin the day.
At the beginning of the day Clemente Barron introduced the Facilitator of the Synod, Sr. Christine Anderson FCJ. Sr. Christine was born in Glasgow, Scotland. She is a member of the Faithful Companions of Jesus and is resident in Rome. Sr. Christine is a consultant to many international teams and has training in organizations, spirituality and role analysis. She is a recognized management consultant fluent in English, French and Italian.
During the morning Fr. General Ottaviano D’Egidio presented his Report to the XIII General Synod of the Congregation.
After a period of reflection Synod Members gathered in language groups and Sr. Christine Anderson FCJ, Facilitator of the Synod, gave the groups focus questions:
• In light of everything you have heard, and in light of Superior General’s report this morning, what are you looking for and what are you not looking for from this Synod?
• What do you want to say to one another at the beginning of the Synod?
At the end of this discussion groups were asked to report on two or three common desires and two or three common worries or fears about this XIII General Synod.
To commence the afternoon session Synod members were invited to make responses to the report of the Superior General.
The Facilitator then invited table discussion around the following areas:
• What has energized you in your Province concerning restructuring?
• What has dismayed, confused or caused you pain?
• What are the questions you yourself have about restructuring?
Evening Prayer was celebrated in the Synod Hall led by Father Michael Ogweno, C.P. (Botswana)

Short Summary of September 8th

PICTURES OF THE DAY
RETREAT DAY FOR THE PASSIONIST GENERAL SYNOD
MONDAY
Morning Prayer for the Feast of the Birth of Mary was led by Fr. Denis Travers in English.

Father Don Senior C.P., from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, (USA) led the Synod members in a retreat day.

During the course of the day he gave three presentations to the assembly
(1) Transformed by Mission -
“Restructuring as being beckoned to an unknown future for the sake of our mission”
(2) Restructuring and the Journey of Christian Life
“The church is on a journey … (it) is not an archaeological museum but is alive, tireless and life-giving; it makes its way forward in unexpected ways” Pope John XIII
(3) Paul, our Brother: Biblical Wisdom for Passionist Apostles
“I think we Passionists who are also struggling with profound change …. can well turn to the example of Paul as an example and inspiration for the work ahead.”

At 5.30 p.m. Fr. Don Senior was Celebrant and Homilist of the Synod Mass.

Short Summary of September 7th

PICTURES OF THE DAY
SUNDAY
The participants of the General Synod gathered for an Opening Session which began with a short informal welcome by the Superior General, Fr. Ottaviano D’Egido.
Fr. Francisco Valadez, Provincial of Christ the King Province, Mexico, then welcomed all participants to the Synod on behalf of all the Passionists of Mexico. “We offer you our hearts and our complete availability”, said Fr. Francisco.
A vote of approval was obtained from the assembly for the General Synod Secretariate, Moderator, Communications Committee, Liturgical Commission, the Central Co-Ordinating Committee and the daily schedule and order of progress for the Synod.
Fr. Gabriel Cingolani, the Secretary of the Synod, then gave instructions concerning the workings of the Secretariate during the meeting.
At midday Father Jose Luis Garcia, Local Superior of the Passionist Community at Cuernavaca, led Mass attended by members of the Synod and many of the local friends and collaborators of the Passionists.
The afternoon session began with an official welcome to the city of Cuernavaca by Father Alfonso Iberri, who is acting as Guestmaster during the meeting.
Father General, Ottaviano D’Egidio, then led a Blessing Prayer to begin the Synod.
Finally, a presentation was made to the General Synod by Father Octavio Mondragon C.P., entitled “Restructuring: A prophecy, A Necessity – “The need to let suffering speak with eloquence is root of all truth”.

Short Summary of September 6th

PICTURES OF THE DAY
SATURDAY
The first formal day at the Passionist Retreat House in Cuernavaca (Mexico) was an ongoing formation day for Major Superiors of the Congregation, which took place in accordance with Recommendation Number 4 of the 2006 Passionist General Chapter.

At 7.00 a.m. Father Luigi Vaninetti (General Consultor) led the celebration of the Eucharist in Italian.

During the morning Father Stephen Rossetti, President of St. Luke’s Institute, Silver Springs, Maryland (USA) made a presentation to the assembly entitled “Re-Finding Hope in an Athestic Age”. For the remainder of the morning the Major Superiors spent time in small group discussion, followed by a question time to the presenter.
In the afternoon the Major Superiors reflected on their leadership as Provincials and Regional Vicars. Two new Provincials – Father Salvatore Enzo del Brocco (DOL) and Father Joachim Rego (SPIR) – shared with the assembly their experiences and reflections on becoming a leader – offering some personal insights and reflections as they begin the ministry of Provincial. After which two former Provincials – Father Michael Higgins (CRUC) and Father Luis Alberto Cano (FAM) - reflected on their experience of Province leadership. The afternoon provided periods of reflection and language group discussion by the Major Superiors.

The ongoing formation day concluded at 6.00 p.m. with Evening Prayer in the assembly and concluding remarks by Father Rossetti.