Wednesday, July 11: This morning Father Cornelius Yaremak OSBM enlightened the Chapter Body with a history of Basilian monasticism. He explained that though St. Basil gave the foundation for all monasticism, he did not found a specific monastery in the sense that others did. All of the early monks saw him as their founder. Desiring to follow Christ more perfectly, for his initial community he chose the path of “family life” in purity, in which the community of brothers (sisters) would consist of a small group in which persons could know and understand each other, and could easily help and sympathize with each other. Basilians have always worked in areas where the Church had a need. Therefore, as an International Order, our task still remains the promotion of unity between diverse cultures, and of those Christians who are divided among themselves.



Father Cornelius noted that our authentic witness of who we are is more valuable than what we do. If we put our interior lives in order, and if we found innovations and creativity in evangelizing for the daring witness of our own vocations, we will have fulfilled an invaluable service to the Kingdom of God and Christ’s Church.



The morning continued with the presentation of several more Province reports. Once again the Sisters were impressed, despite distance and cultural differences, with their many similarities, as they listened to the reports being translated from languages which are unfamiliar to them



In the afternoon delegates met in small international groups comprised of Sisters from different countries. Together they shared and reflected on their impressions of what they had heard, and thus they acknowledged different perceptions and opinions. This process continued in the total assembly, and so began the work of looking to the future.

- - -