Report on the Provincial Chapter
September 2005 | San Antonio, Texas

The Provincial Chapter of the Marianist Province of the United States met from Sept. 23-25, 2005, at the Oblate Renewal Center in San Antonio, Texas. As has been the practice for the past two years, the fall Provincial Chapter is a reflection and discussion Chapter session, not a legislative Chapter session.

A major item of discussion was the report of the Provincial Council entitled “A Work in Progress.” (Read this document on the PORTAL at www.marianist.com/portal)

This report contains some initial reflections by the Provincial Council on the implementation of the Province Mission Statement. It will be used as a discussion document as the Council visits communities during the coming year. This dialogue with the Province will hopefully lead to the preparation of a Province Vision Statement, that is, a statement on how the Province will implement the Mission during the coming years. The Provincial Chapter discussed this document on Friday evening, Saturday afternoon and Saturday evening. The Saturday evening discussion was an open discussion with members of the Province living in the San Antonio area. The Chapter members divided into groups to listen to the reflections of their brothers in the San Antonio area.

On Sunday, the Provincial Chapter made a decision to create a committee that will look at the needs of the church and the realistic possibilities we as Marianists can do to satisfy some of these needs. This discussion was in preparation for preparing a Vision Statement that will be reflected on by the Province and by the Chapter in March 2005. A committee of the Chapter was appointed to work on a draft of this Vision Statement. The members of this committee are Bro. Joseph Kamis, Bro. Raymond Fitz, Fr. Paul Marshall, Fr. Jack McGrath and Bro. Ed Violett. This committee will take the report of the Provincial Council, the feedback of the Chapter, the feedback of our brothers, and begin to work on a draft Vision Statement that will help the Province focus its energy in implementing the Province Mission Statement.

The Chapter also reviewed some other items and gave feedback to the Provincial Council on the following:

  • A report from the Office of Peace and Justice
  • An update on work of the Province Directory and feedback to the Directory Committee about this work
  • A report on the General Chapter preparation by Fr. Jack McGrath
  • An update on the Provincial Council discernment concerning the future of Marianist parishes in the Province.

Several of these documents are on the Province PORTAL and can be reviewed there. Members of the Province are encouraged to share their feedback with members of the Provincial Council either during Provincial Council visitations or at other appropriate meetings.

A copy of the minutes of the Provincial Chapter meeting will be forwarded to each community when they are completed so that any member of the Province may respond to the work of the Chapter. Feedback to Provincial Chapter members is always appreciated. As mentioned above, feedback can be given during Provincial Council visitations. Communities are also encouraged to invite Chapter members to address the communities on these topics.