LEADERSHIP OF THE CONGREGATION

At the end of our discussions about leadership in our congregation, I would like to make a short observation. You mentioned in your discussion a lot of points of the congregation. You were very positive about leadership in the past period. This applies in the first place to all you, being members of councils or being leaders in the province, region or community. You all can be proud of the positive evaluation of the leadership in their period.

But maybe it is allowed to say a special word to the four sisters of the general council: Srs. Felisita, Dionysia, Beatrix and Theodora. In your discussion and in the report you said that you have seen and experienced that they were really a team. They acted as a team, in collegiality, with an open ear for the province and regional councils and for all the sisters (“they were obedient”) – they looked always for a way of dialogue! We discussed about the statement in one of four papers: “the spirituality flows from above and spreads to the members”. We discussed we did not like a word “above”. But aside from this discussion, we surely can say that the general council not only has the task to pass on the statutes and the money. Maybe their most important responsibility is to pass on, hand on the inspiration, the spirituality of the congregation. And if, like you said, you have seen this happening in the leadership of this general council, they merit the thanks of us all.

There is another point I like to mention: the evaluation report 2006 – 2010. You judged it a very good report: honest and critical. That it is a good report is seen on the fact that most of the recommendations are positive received were fully agreed too. That means: it is very good report. It was much and hard work for the four of your sisters. It was not always easy. Also for the team applies: “shake before use”. But they did, and they did very well.

And therefore I like to say a word of thanks!

Father Henk Bloem.