Steering Group meeting 15/12/07

Brothers Communities in the United Kingdom
Report of Steering Group Meeting
at St John’s House, St Helens
15th December 2007.

Present: Bros Benedict Foy,fsc; James Hayes,FIC; and Michael Newman OH.

Gathering after Mass with the community we reflected over events in the course of the year – some of which – like the retreat at Worth were really wonderful and others like the failure of the Study Day and Gatherings to take place were very disappointing. We speculated on the reasons for these experiences. Discs of materials from Worth Retreat will be circulated over Christmas period to those who participated.

Those who participated in the Worth Abbey Retreat for Brothers from any congregation.

Benedict shared experience of NoV Day in Oscott / proposals for Institute for Religious Life based on Heythrop.

We agreed that the two key foci of our group continue to be
- Promotion of the Brothers Vocation
- Encouraging Brothers in their Vocation

Looking to the future we agreed the following:
Meeting of Provincials / Delegates for Brothers / Vocation Directors / Representatives 1st April 2008 at St Vincent’s Centre, Carlyle Place, Westminster. (Date now confirmed 17/12/07). Benedict to make arrangements and to write to all male religious orders and follow up with reminders

Agenda: Review past activities - what has happened / buffers
Share present experiences: re vocations, formation
Future planning

- Propose Conference “Future of Brotherhood as a Mode of Religious Life”.
Spring 2009 possibly in Liverpool, Leeds or Bournemouth
Anglophone but inviting Ireland, Scotland and Europe participation?
Possible speakers include someone “Marketing Religious Life”, Sean Sammon, General of OH., James Hayes, Paul Bednarcyzk,

- Organising a different type of Brothers Gathering
A Saturday / Sunday gathering in different parts of the country : residential
Arranged by member of this group / (others?) supporting each other

- We will continue to make concerted efforts to contact brothers in other Congregations / Orders

- Collaboration on Vocation Promotion – we agreed that this is essential and will investigate attendance at Catholic Youth Days / Gatherings eg Diocesan / National (Youth 2000, New Dawn) Benedict to invite ourselves to such gatherings.

- Michael will look into mobile exhibition material re Brothers Vocations

- James will look into cost and proposal for Brother Website, links and possible sponsorship. Should it be a data-base type or an active site?

- National Vocations Sunday 15th April. Some Brothers took part in Church talks this year. Hospitallers and De La Salle are committed to being involved this coming years – others ?

- For Provincials meeting – what formation is being offered for Brothers? Initial and continuing? Is formation of associates taking focus away from Brothers?

- We will collaborate in organising a weekend for potential vocations for Brothers.

- We were most grateful for the hospitality and warm welcome offered by the Brothers at St John’s House.