Challenges of the New Century Energize

International Meetings of Xaverian Brothers

Bringing to life their Fundamental Principles, Xaverian Brothers gathered from four continents this past summer to reflect on the life of their congregation. They reflected back to the leadership their sense of what the priorities should be for the immediate future and cited their commendations for what has been accomplished.

Retreating to the quiet and seclusion of French Lick, Indiana, they listened to one another. They were assisted by a process configured to set a tone, design and direction, to initiate and sustain dialogue, reflection and sharing that resulted in prioritized commendations and needs. Sensitive to the needs of the international composition of the group, segments were presented in English, Flemish and French. Participants needed to adjust to the experience of simultaneous translation and the need to find creative ways of explaining matters. Brotherly love was evident at the start with the warm greetings exchanged between men who had not seen each other for a time. This spirit persited throughout the meals and during the relaxed, prayerful, working and meditative moments of the conference.

Brother Matthew Burke and the leadership team received recognition and praise for their modeling of an authentic response to the calls to a contemplative stance in the world and to mission among the poor and the marginalized. The work of the Xaverian Brother Sponsored Schools, intentional groups and communities and committee structures were strongly endorsed. A source of encouragement and example of the generosity of the Brothers was the experience of the Kenya and Congo developments, reminiscent of the pioneer efforts of the Brothers in Kentucky at the start of the American chapter.

In response to immediate challenges the Brothers assembled recommended furthering the international formation house project. The scheduling of the meeting of the International Formation Committee in Louisville, Kentucky, within a week of the close of the assembly proved most timely in the light of this result. With encouragement flowing from the promise for the future embodied in the vocations surfacing in Congo and Kenya, and clinging to the hope for a renewed interest in vocations to the Brothers elsewhere, this vital formation initiative is very energizing. Calls to adopt programs to help Xaverians move toward a simple life style that reflects Jesus the poor man and to continue to call, invite, encourage and challenge the formation of intentional communities for common mission were also of the highest priority.

Moving into the future, the Brothers strive to understand more thoroughly their mission and to form more authentic and life-giving community, trusting in God and in their generous and reliable benefactors to realize God’s plans and their dreams.