ECLDF Newsletter 10/2016
EUROPEAN COUNCIL OF LAY DOMINICAN FRATERNITIES – Newsletter 1/2012
ECLDF meeting in Chieri, Italy
European Council of Lay Dominican Fraternities met on its 2nd meeting from 19th – 22nd April 2012, in Italy, at the Chieri convent. As on 8th April 2012, for personal reasons, Jacinta O’Donnell resigned from the European Council, in accordance with paragraph 1.A.7 of the Statutes; her place has been taken by Eva Zúdorová. Eva will hold a Communication Officer role. Members of Council agreed on way of working while using modern communication means. (Skype, Twitter, Facebook)
Visit of Lay Dominicans in Ukraine
ECLDF discussed a request from Ukraine. The Ukrainian laity would appreciate very much a visit from the western members of the ECLDF. The Council agreed that Leny Beemer and Eva Zúdorová will visit Ukrainian brothers and sisters from 3rd – 6th August 2012.
Cooperation with IDYM
During Friday afternoon (20th April) ECLDF met sr. Ginevra, international secretary of IDYM (International Dominican Youth Movement) who came from Rome to present the situation of the Movement, and the reality of the young generation, today. Sr. Ginevra outlined the situation in four Flashes:
First « Flash » : History of the Movement
IDYM has been established in 80’s as a respond to a requirement of organizing young people inspired by Dominican Spirituality. In 90’s IDYM was developed in Italy, Ireland, Spain, France, USA, Portugal etc. A great development happened in Latin America. Today, we are witnessing a crisis of IDYM in Ireland, due to confusion between the roles of friars, sisters and lay people. In Italy the Movement continues, but not officially as a part of IDYM, rather as groups of young people gathered by Dominican sisters or friars.
Second « Flash » : Vocational set-up of the Movement
In some countries are members of the Movement interested in a vocational Dominican formation, e.g. in Nigeria, in others not. Some young people feel more Dominican than the friars, e.g. in Ecuador. The situation depends on the culture of each country. For example, in Naples, Italy, young people enter to IDYM at 12 years, after The First Communion, in the USA, they start during University studies.
In Europe, the formation confronts today a specific situation: 25 years old young people are not ready to decide about theirs life; some of them are not ready even in 45. They stay “young” for a very long time. These people don’t find serenity. They feel themselves Dominican already, and see no reason why they should be a part of the Lay Dominicans.
1st International IDYM meeting was held in Fatima, Portugal in 1999. As delegates discussed a progressive formation should be offered to young people from 25 years and after.
Only few young people think about entering to the Lay Dominicans, they are afraid of Rules.
Third « Flash » : Relations between IDYM and the Fraternities
In Franciscan Order, members of Youth Movement are members of Franciscan laity. In Order of Preachers Youth members are belonging to the same, single Order, but the International Lay structure has to be related with the local level. In Congo young group is guided by a Lay Dominican. In Guadeloupe young brothers and sisters work with the Youth groups. In Europe laity is not really in contact with young people. The young people want to be preachers in their professional life, they are concerned with problems of ethics at their work. At the recent meeting of the Dominican Family in Paris, in January 2012, the young people expressed, that they don´t want to be an object of pastoral work of Laity. They want projects to work on, similarly as in their professional life. They are searching for something <>, they ask for example Dominican sisters to create for them a link between their life and Church. Lay Dominicans must go out from their Fraternities towards young people, and not ask young people to come. Sr. Ginevra sees two solutions for improving this situation:
1 – to have an appointed friar – a Promotor for the young at the Curia
2 – or that IDYM opens itself to all the realities
In both cases, the young paradoxically ask for the participation of sisters and friars, for ”dynamism”.
Fourth « Flash » : International meeting of IDYM in Bogota, Columbia, from 7th – 17th July 2013
Next international meeting will be accompanied with a « mission project » in the poorest part of Bogota. At this stage, the title is simply « Will you be there? »
The agenda is following:
7 – 9 July – arrival of participants, organization, integration and pilgrimage
10 – 12 July – formation and preparation for the preaching mission
13 – 14 July – mission in the « favellas »
15 July – evaluation of experiences
16 – 17 – IDYM delegates Assembly in Rio de Janeiro
The main theme is « Why this poverty ? » (history of Colombia, mafia, cocaine, etc .) The young friars at Bogota University are preparing the programme: « Young people deserve it! »
The council and sr. Ginevra mutually agreed about closer cooperation between Laity and IDYM.
meeting with Chieri’lay Dominicans
On Friday evening met the Council members of local Lay Dominican fraternities. The fraternities in Chieri have a long history. Oldest historical records from 19th century was presented during the meeting. Chieri’s Lay Dominicans informed about their life and problems. They were also interested in work of ECLDF and a life of Lay Dominicans from each council member country.
Improvement proposal for LAICATUSPRAEDICANS
On Saturday morning ECLDF discussed a proposal of a Laicatuspraedicans’ webmaster Karin Bornhijm from Netherlands. The Laicatuspraedicans, is the site where Lay Dominicans from Europe can share testimonies of their lives. Karin placed several proposals in order to offer a more attractive and more useful tool for Lay Dominicans.
Formation
ECLDF then discussed a Formation project. As Leny Beemer, the Formation Officer informed, the first challenge was a language problem, but in accordance with responses from a Resonance Group, provinces were ready to translate materials into local languages. The basic formation principles have to be more explicit. The idea is to offer guidelines for each Province and each one will adapt them into the local reality. What can be offered is a kind of « recommendations ». The next steps of the Formation Group are to write basic principles and ask each province for a reaction. Based on these reactions a framework can be done. Reflections on the subjects are to be in three languages of the Order. As Council agreed a Formation Link will enabled on the ECLDF website. At next ECLDF meeting in November 2012, the Formation group will present its progress.
finances and fund raising
Financial issues were also reviewed and ECLDF encourages provinces and vicariates to pay their annual contributions. This money are not only financing the Council’s meetings, but also help to organize the next European Assembly. As Jose Antonio Munoz Mata, the ECLDF treasurer, informed, there are two sources for fund raising: the contributions and the donations. ECLDF will place a donation request to RENOVABIS in Germany for « sponsoring » the next Assembly in Bologna in 2014. ECLDF encourages Provinces to generate donations at local level by organizing sales, concerts, etc.
Next meeting of ecldf
The next meeting of the European Council of Lay Dominican Fraternities will be held in Estavayer-le-lac, Switzerland, from 8th to 11th November 2012. On the meeting will be discussed apart of others, the Bologna Assembly preparation.
thanks to eva kameniarova
The Chieri meeting finally listened to the words of gratitude of Eva Kameniarova, who will finish her ICLDF mandate on 1st July 2012 and we thank her very much for her actions, her spirituality, her contributions to our discussions.
Excellent Chieri Friars
ECLDF thanks to the Chieri Convent friars for a great support, fraternal love, praying community and extraordinary hospitality. Thank you dear brothers, we love your Convent!
Eva Zudorova
ECLDF Communication Officer
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