General Chapter Biên Hoà 2019 – 22 July

Sharing of Brother Saulius Rumšas, O.P.

Brother Saulius Rumšas, O.P. from priory of Vilnius, Lithuania.

Lithuania is part of the Dominican Province of France, that is why I am in the General Elective Chapter as Definitor of the Province of France.

Today, July 22nd, the Chapter continued its work.

In the morning, we celebrated Mass on the feast of Saint Mary Magdalene and congratulated the Province of Toulouse, whose patron saint is Mary Magdalene.

Then, in the plenary, we looked again at the most urgent challenges in Dominican life and mission. Even if we address diverse and varied issues, we are all related not only to the way we work, but also to the way we are.

To meet today’s challenges, we must constantly return to the fundamental value of our life and mission, which is nothing more than the proclamation of the Gospel. In particular, we asked ourselves about the meaning of communion in our convents, provinces, the Order and the challenges of solidarity. Work continued in the commissions to further explore the issues and propose valid solutions.

Today’s work is still accompanied by a very warm memory of the meeting of the capitulars with the Dominican family yesterday. It was really impressive to see hundreds of sisters and lay people and to feel the common participation of the Dominican family in the proclamation of Jesus. It was also very important to see this Vietnamese Church very alive and young. The welcome we receive here is of very high quality. The brothers in Vietnam are doing everything possible to ensure that nothing is missing from the work of the capitulars.

Fraternal exchanges allow us to get to know the country that also warmly welcomes the representatives of the Dominican Order from all over the world.

Sharing of Brother Florentino Bolo, O.P.

I am Florentino Bolo. I am a friar of the Province of the Philippines. I am the General Promoter of the Priestly Fraternities of St. Dominic. This group is relatively not very known. It is undergoing the phase of rediscovery by the Dominican Family. I am happy to be here on invitation of Fr. Bruno Cadore to speak on behalf of the Diocesan priests who are members of the Order.

Regarding the celebration of the Dominican Family yesterday, I was very much impressed with the way the sisters and other members of the Family came up with an informative presentation depicting the beginnings of the Order of Preachers. More than just the beginnings, the way the Dominican Family here in Vietnam has weathered the challenges, and I was particularly struck by how they had survived the persecution of the Church. It is very inspiring that they have illustrated themselves through the figure of the bamboo, and how the bamboo has weathered challenges.

There is the biggest number of Lay Fraternities of St. Dominic here in Vietnam. That alone is an inspiration for us.

As regards its implications on the members of the Priestly Fraternities of St. Dominic, I am happy to say that in the history of the Order, there were three (3) diocesan priests who were members of the Order, who gave testimony of their lives through their martyrdom.

I am happy that we were received well here in Vietnam, with how we are discovering more about the Order. I am hopeful for the future of the Order especially here in Vietnam.