Daily News Updates: 
31 July - 6 August

ISD 2000 Daily Report 7
Monday, 31 July 2000

[English translation follows]

[Free translation]

Yesterday we had a day off. For many confreres to make use of an organized trip to the city of Bandung and its surroundings: a beautiful nature, a big city and a high culture in many ways. A nice days for all but some confreres became a little sick because all of the food. Nobody ask for the sacrament of the sick. So, don't worry.

Monday we started with a lectio divina in small groups. We become more and more acquainted with this prayerful sharing of texts of Scriptures and other ones. Of course the commemoration of Saint Ignatius of Loyola the word was given to his follower Father Tom Jacobs sj. He is Dutch but lives already more than fifty years in Indonesia. He is a scholar in Holy Scriptures and explained three texts of the Acts of the Apostles, namely: He explained that Augustine referred his idea of community life primarily to Acts 4; a very important term "koinonia" was stressed by Augustine, Father Tom said. "Koinonia" implies partnership, fellowship and sharing of the material goods. But first of all the community united to God has to give witness to the Paschal Mystery: dead and resurrection of the Lord. Three elements of "koinonia" are the consequences of that witness. After a merited break each went to his room to reflect on the presentation, to express what we already knew, what we learned and what we were missing. Unfortunately we can not give the reflections and responses. They are secretly in the hands of Father Tom, who is compiling them together, studying them and he will give his comments tomorrow.

Up to now, everybody is happy about this enriching day. Can you imagine that this would not be the case since a Jesuit leads the day on the feast of his Founder?

Lambert Graus osc
Pierre Vandormael osc

ISD 2000 Daily Report 8
Tuesday, 1 August 2000

[English translation follows]

Het weer is koel, de lucht betrokken en af en toe een lichte bui. Ongewoon voor deze omgeving.

Onze braziliaanse confraters openen de dag met gebed: "Nos somos todos viajantes ­ mas é dificil sempre andar ­ wij gaan allen op weg ­ maar het is moeizaam om gaande te blijven" Bij de voorbeden feliciteren we onze generaal, Rein werd vandaag drie jaar geleden gekozen.

De vier bijeenkomsten van vandaag zijn een uitwerking en verwerking van de inleiding van Tom Jacobs over de bijbelse inspiratie van Hand.2,42-47; 4,32-35 en 5,12-16 voor ons communiteitsleven. In de eerste sessie brengt hij terug wat gisteren in de groepen besproken is en geeft zijn commentaar en beantwoordt onze vragen in een zeer levendig over en weer. Daarna hebben we tijd hierover persoonlijk te reflecteren, en vier vragen in eerste instantie persoonlijk, en daarna in de kleien weerkgroep te beantwoorden: zijn deze teksten inspirerend voor jou persoonlijk; zijn ze feitelijk een leiddraad voor je communiteitsleven of loop je er met een bocht omheen? Hoe kunnen deze teksten een oproep zijn om ons leven te hervormen?

In de namiddag brengen de vier groepen de antwoorden in de plenaire bijeenkomst terug en worden deze weer besproken.

Met enkele korte zinnen wil ik inhoudelijk deze levendige dag samenvatten; Lukas wil met deze teksten zeggen: dit is de kerk; dit is geen beschrijving van de communiteit van religieuzen. Als zodanig zijn deze teksten gezagvol voor de hele kerk.

Augustinus zocht een bijbelse inspiratie en grondslag vanuit zijn leven in gemeenschap. Voor zijn doop leefde hij al met een groep vrienden als elkaar inspirerende mensen met elkaar; later met zijn priesters in Hippo. Toen ging hij zijn gemeenschap steeds meer bijbelse fundamenten geven en zo komt hij uit bij Hand.4.

Het blijft een duidelijk gegeven, dat een communiteit zonder geloof niet bestaat, dat is een club. Communiteit is een gave van de Geest, ofwel: communiteit heft Charisma.

Het DOEL van deze twee dagen was: hoe kunnen deze teksten uit de Handelingen een inspiratie zijn voor ons communiteitsleven? - De deelnemers hebben in hun antwoorden talloze inspiratiemogelijkheden genoemd, ook gezien en gevoeld dat ideaal en werkelijkheid vaak in spanning met elkaar verkeren.

Tenslotte hebben we Tom Jacobs hartelijk gedankt voor zijn heldere en zeer betrokken bijdragen.

Vanavond kwam Falco Thuijs, die twee dagen met darmklachten in het ziekenhuis was, weer blij naar Pratista terug.

[Free translation]

The weather is cool, cloudy and once in a while it is raining. Unusual for this country in this season. Our confreres of Brazil open this day with a prayer: "We are on our way but it is difficult to continue going". In the common prayers we congratulated our Master General: three years ago he was elected.

The four meetings today are an elaboration of the introduction of Tom Jacob, SJ, about the biblical inspiration of Acts 2, 42-47; 4, 32-35; 5, 12-16 (the so-called summaries) for our community life. In the first session he gave his comments on our group sharing of the previous day, responding in a vital way to our questions.

Then we received four questions for personal reflection, which was shared in small groups later:

1. Are these texts inspiring for you?
2. Are they guiding your community life?
3. Are you neglecting the challenges of these texts?
4. Are these texts challenging us to reform our life?

In the afternoon the responses to those questions were brought together in a plenary meeting. I want to summarize this vital day in some statements:

The goal of these two days was: how can these texts of Acts be inspirational for our community life?

The participants mentioned many possibilities of inspiration. However, they expressed their experiences and feelings about the tension between ideals and reality.

Finally, we extended our deep gratitude to Tom Jacobs for his clear, vital, and engaging contribution.

This evening our facilitator, Falco Thuis, o. carm., left the hospital after a bout of intestinal illness. He is happy to be with us again. We are happy too!

ISD 2000 Daily Report 9
Wednesday, 2 August 2000

[English translation follows]

Nosso encontro aqui em Bandun, está sendo na verdade, um enconto animado e muito inspirador. Estamos sentido cada vez mais como é importante e a necessidade, para nós Cruzios, o cultivo da Vida Comunitária.

Hoje, 02/08 fomos introduzidos com dois certeiros temas, o primeiro desenvolvido por Paulo van Geest, leigo de Amsterdam. Sua reflexão girou em torno da amizade na vida e na comunidade de Santo Agostinho, sua abordagem explicitou os seguintes pontos:

O segundo tema, os princípios inspiradores para a vida em comunidade na Regra de Santo Agostinho, desenvolvido pelo nosso confrade Pierre-Paul vem confirmar e aprofundar as abordagens expostas na primeira seção. Este tema nos convida a vivência comunitária de coração e de alma. Tal vivência comuintária proposta na Regra de Santo agostinho supõe: partilha integral e um constante desejo de buscar Deus a partir do nosso interior e da nossa união em Cristo. Assim, esta vida comunitária deve ser o caminho, por exelência, para Deus, que nos chama a participar do seu amor a partir dos irmãos que nos cercam.

[Free translation]

Our meeting here in Bandung is a very lively and inspiring gathering. We feel more and more that it is important and necessity, for we Crosiers or the culture of community life. Today, 2 August we were introduced to two central subjects, the first one developed for Paul van Geest, a layman from the Netherlands. His reflection revolved around friendship in the life and the Augustinian community. He explored and explained the following points:

Next was the topic "The inspiring principles for community life in the Rule of Saint Augustine", which was developed by our confrere Pierre-Paul Walraet. He confirmed and deepened the ideas presented in the previous subject (Paul van Geest). In this topic Pierre-Paul addressed the community of heart and soul. Such a communal experience proposed in the Rule of Saint Augustine assumes complete sharing, a constant desire to search for God from our interior being, and of our union in Christ. Thus, this communitarian life must be the path, par excellence, by which God calls us to participate in his love through the brothers who surround us.

ISD 2000 Daily Report 10
Thursday, 3 August 2000

[English translation follows]

Nous avons commencé le jour du 3 August, 2000 par les Laudes présidées par Kasereka Pataya Charles, confrère du Congo. A 8.30 jusqu'a 9.45, il ya eu the plenary assembly. Dans laquelle s'est passé the presenting group responds questions for clarification, expounds other related topics, in interaction with participants. Confrere Pierre-Paul, osc et Monsieur Paul avaient répondu aux questions posées par les différents groupes. Le Maitre Général a été le modérateur. Après il y eu the selection textes Rule Augustine dans la deuxième assemblée de 10.15. Et la réflexion personnelle sur les chapitre I, IV et VIII de la Règle de Saint Augustin a suivie jusqu'a 11.30. A 11.45 il y a eu une très belle Eucharistie célébrée par Confrère James Hentges. L'après midi de 15.30 jusqu'a 16.15, nous avons fait la mise en commun de la réflexion personnelle en petits groupes. De 17.15 jusqu'a 18.00, il y a eu présentation de la mise en commun dans l'assemblée. De 18.00 jusqu'a 18.30, le Confrère Glen, osc a présente en resumé the community as Mysterion en disant que "Dieu est communauté, une unité des personnes" en mentionnant la Trinite. Par conséquent la communauté entre dans le mystère trinitaire parce que l'amour est aux tréfonds de la Sainte Trinité comme dans la communauté religieuse. Nous avons cloture la journée avec les Vêpres présidées par Confrére Sylvestre, osc.

[Free translation]

We began the day of 3 August 2000 by Lauds presided by confrere Kasereka Pataya Charles of Congo. From 8:30 until 9:45, there was a plenary assembly in which the presenting group (Pierre-Paul and Paul van Geest) responded to questions of clarification, expounded other related topics brought forth from the small groups, and generally interacted with the participants. The Master General was the moderator of this session. After that (in the second session) we were given a text selected from the Rule of Augustine. This text, from Chapters I, IV and VIII of the Rule of Augustine, was then used for personal reflection by us. At 11:45, there was a very beautiful Eucharist celebrated by confrere James Hentges. In the afternoon, at 15:30, we brought our personal reflection to our small groups for further discussion and reflection. At 17:15 until 18:00, we gathered together in our large group and heard the reports of these small groups. Then for the next half-hour, from 18:00 until 18:30, confrere Glen Lewandowski presented in résumé his paper "Community as Mysterion". He spoke of the Trinity and how it expresses in the Augustinian idea "God as community, a unity of persons". Consequently the community enters into the mystery of Trinity because love is at the very foundation of the Trinity as it is at the foundation of the religious community. Further, Glen addressed the idea of community as sacrament.

We have closed the day with Vespers presided by confrére Sylvestre, osc.

Kagheni Sylvestre, osc

ISD 2000 Daily Report 11
Friday, 4 August 2000

Today is the beginning of two days reflection on Constitutions with regard to community life. We began this beautiful day by having Lectio Divina on selected texts from Constitution 22. 1-3. These texts speak about our most immediate apostolate which happens in community life. Our first ministry should happen within community and among our own confreres. After having this spiritual meal, we were still in need of having bodily meal and we got in breakfast.

In the first session, Bert Graus gave a profound presentation with title "Communio in Community in Our Constitutions. This paper is the result of his study and his discussion and elaboration with Yan Sunyata. Here we, the participants, got the understanding of community in view of Constitutions. In detail, Bert gave this scheme: Foreoword (1.Personalism, 2. Historicity); I. General Characteristics of the Constitutions; II. Some Important Issue about Community Life (1. Communio and vowed life, 2. Communio and collegiality, 3. Communio in subsidiarity); III. Some Questions; and IV. Selected Texts. The presentation was followed by some questions for clarification as usual. After small break, we participant had 75 minutes of "productive solitude" for personal reflection on Constitutions 9.1 ­10.1 with regard to two questions offered by Bert:

Eucharist was being held in Graha ILSKI (the main building of the Liturgical Center where also we hold the regular session of our study days). Rudy Rumlus presided at the mass. After the Gospel, Virgil asked us to say "NO" in our own languages while he took role as Jeremiah and Jesus dramatizing what Jeremiah and Jesus said to their people. For an example, Virgil said "Love each other!", we altogether answered "No way; niet; nee; não; non ; tidak; henteu" After that, Rumlus gave small sermon to encourage us in order to have effort to bring home and share a new insight and break-through on community to their confreres as they got here in ISD. Unfortunately, after having presided mass, Rumlus was visited by his "intimate friend", malaria not Maria. He was brought to the hospital to see a doctor. We hope that he will recover soon [Since this was written, Rudy has returned and is doing well; it appears that his intimate friend was not even malaria but rather a bit of the wrong food].

Before we got small group sharing as the follow-up of the personal reflection, we gathered in Piazza ILSKI and taken some pictures in ISD's T-shirt. There are five colors: Yellow, blue, green, red, and orange as a sign of our colorful community life. Something funny happened, our confreres took the T-shirt according to our size. The bigger one took size 2L supposing it is lager than L. Some confreres wore the shirt uncomfortably. After few hours, some realized that the 2L is smaller than L. Someone said that in Indonesia 2L might be "little-little" instead of "double Large". So some of us had a "transaction". Some participants changed their T-shirt each other in order to get the appropriate size.

After being taken picture, we, the participants came to small group sharing in which we shared our experience on local community, especially on local chapter/gathering. Here we were also talking about additional question for clarification to Bert and naming the highlight, interesting ideas, and insights from Bert presentation. Then, the reporter from each group had a task to make an understandable report for First Session tomorrow in Plenary Assembly, while other participants have free time.

We closed our activities this day by having evening praying presided by Glen. A special event happened. There was a ritual of anointing. Glen passed all of us and anointed us with oil remembering our baptism. Thank to Glen for the blessing.

Anton Subianto osc

ISD 2000 Daily Report 12
Saturday, 5 August 2000

At 07.00 this morning, we gathered for our daily Morning Prayer in the worship space of the Liturgical Institute ILSKI. It's a very nice and bright place. Via the many windows, the rising sun offers us its early morning light and life. Confrere Virgil Petermeier, from the Proprovince Wahyu Salib (Papua Indonesia) led us in prayer. "Like a deer longs for living water, so our hearts long for you, o Lord". The community in prayer chanted this refrain of Psalm 42-43, while Virgil poured out streaming water. We could see and hear it. During the same moment of prayer, the end of the Sermon on the Mount of Jesus was read: the house, build on the rock. "Every one who listens to these words of mine and acts on them ' (Mt. 7, 24) In a symbolic way ­ using a small bowl (We) and a big bowl (God's Word) filled with water ­ Virgil showed us how in different ways we can immerse ourselves in the living water of God's Word. After this symbolic gesture, in few words we could tell what this act was about for us.

After prayer and breakfast, all gathered in the large meeting for the first plenary session (08.30 ­ 09.45). We continued with the second day of the workshop on Constitutions, studying this important resource of our Order, regarding Crosier community life. Jim Hentges was moderator. In the first session, Lambert Graus, assisted by Rein Vaanhold, responded to questions that were raised from his introduction, given to the assembly the day before. In that introduction, Bert had stressed the great influence on the Constitutions of personalism (emphasizing the unique value of each individual). Questions raised upon relationship between personalism and individualism. Can personalism lead to individualism? A second cluster of questions was about the relationship of the local community and the province. Every local community is a unique group of unique confreres with a unique way of living out Crosier charism. In this sense, each of the communities can be enrichment for the province at large. When there is a concrete request for it, local communities are to offer its qualities and strengths for the well being, and for the continuous growing in deepening the values of Crosier religious life within the province (and the Order).

Constitutions 23.2 was a topic for serene discussion. Some of our confreres --because of a particular need or because they thus can be given the apostolic work best suited to their special talents--live and work outside the community. It was said that it would be beneficial if such particular situations should be based upon a clear mission from out the community to which these confreres belong and upon an ongoing dialogue. The group paid attention to what our Constitutions say about the Priory and its characteristics, as an important normative way of local community living in our Order, already for centuries. The importance of a Priory is clear in our Constitutions. But up to today it has not always been clear in the heart and mind of the Order's leadership (policy) and membership.

A question raised whether the Generalate should advice provincial priors, local superiors and formation teams to help them develop a vision regarding the highest values that are to be interiorized in the life of all senior and young confreres as a guaranty for qualified Crosier life. Another enlightening remark was about a good understanding of what our daily liturgy is about. How are we as Crosiers ­individually and as community- involved in liturgy and sacraments? How are we deepened in our charism of Crosier community life by the celebration of the liturgy?

During the second plenary session (10.15 ­ 11.30), Constitutions 9.0 ­ 10.1 (Local Superior and Community Chapter) were starting point for sharing and discussion. Mike Van Sloun was moderator. First came the reports from the small groups, who reflected on these Constitutions' numbers the day before. Throughout the discussion, it became clear that many things regarding the community chapter are not clear. What's the real purpose of this particular Chapter? Is a Provincial Chapter more important than a Community Chapter? What to say about a Rectory and a Community Chapter? Can novices and temporary professed members participate in a Community Chapter? Can faith sharing be an integral part of a Community Chapter? Are their other ways of meeting with confreres in order to build up Crosier community life? Are our meetings efficient enough? It would be worthwhile if every community should have regular meetings in order to regulate its own way of life, insuring the continual realization of our particular religious fellowship and critically examine it in the light of the Gospel and our special resources of inspiration. (Cfr. Const. 8.2). At the end of the workshop, Bert Graus called for an ongoing keeping ourselves in touch with the rich and inspiring content of the Constitutions which since 1967 didn't lose any of their significance for Crosier life. The best way to do so is: "tolle lege".

At 11.45, we gathered in small groups for Lectio Divina. We reflected and prayed upon Mc. 9, 2-10: the transfiguration of the Lord. An inspiring icon, that reflects what's going on at these International Study Days 2000, on mountain Pratista. Soon, we are to come down from this mountain, back to the daily life reality, with in our hearts and minds a renewed spirit for an inspirational building up Crosier community life.

The afternoon was free. For the confreres participants was it a welcome opportunity to relax after such an intense full week program, exploring the resources of our spirituality. Monday, 07 August, we continue with another four days of study and reflection. Via these daily news updates, you will be informed about how our sharing and discussion will develop towards final outcomes of our International Study Days 2000 on "Deepening our Crosier Charism on Community".

ISD 2000 Daily Report 13
Sunday, 6 August 2000

Our glorious day began on a high mountain, Mount Pratista, elevation 3100 feet, enshrouded in a cloud, while the Study Day participants were nestled in their rooms, not tents, catching a breather before the third and final week of our program.

After six days of continuous meetings the confreres planned to descend the mountain as the disciples did after the Transfiguration. Jesus was their leader, Mammouth and Dedi were our "Cruise Directors;" the disciples went by foot, we by an eighteen passenger tour bus; they went to Jerusalem, we went to Bandung; they headed for the Temple, we headed for the Crosier parish of St. Odilia's in the Cicadas neighborhood, one of the most densely populated areas of the world. The "high priest" was our confrere Fr. Baru Alamsyah, O.S.C., who presided with vigor and preached with humor accessible only to the local folk who filled the church to capacity. We received a taste of local culture when the bridal party for a Javanese wedding appeared in a flower-covered Mercedes immediately after Mass.

Part two of our morning itinerary was a tour of St. Joseph's Hospital, a short distance from the church, which was founded by the Sisters of St. Charles Borromeo with the explicit intention of reaching out to the many poor in the area.

Our pilgrimage continued through the incredibly congested streets, jammed with green and yellow mini-buses, becaks (tricycle-like cabs with a wooden bench and two wheels in the front, and pedaled from the rear, the local equivalent to a rickshaw), autos, trucks, motor scooters, bicycles, and throngs of pedestrians, all amidst clouds of diesel smoke. The narrow streets are flanked with a multitude of street side vendors selling everything you can imagine, especially bottled water and cigarettes. The many fruit stands feature a wide variety of produce: bananas and more bananas, oranges, apples, pineapples, papaya, and durian (also known as stinky fruit, a name that is well deserved)!

The next stop was Universitas Katolik Parahyangan, the Catholic University which Crosier Bishop Peter Arntz, O.S.C., helped to establish. The place was locked up tight as a drum, so we got a nice look at the outside.

By now peoples' stomachs were growling, so we headed for the Glosis European Food Restaurant. After a steady diet of rice and vegetables, the confreres gleefully recalled what it was like to eat Italian, German, and American cuisine.

After lunch we forged ahead to the Rainbow Factory Outlet, your classic tourist trap, with a souvenir shop, antiques, jewelry, post cards, jeans, and T-shirts. The confreres adhered closely to their vow of poverty as the purchased next to nothing, frustrating the bus driver who was hoping for a handsome kickback.

Our final stop of the afternoon was Sultam Agung, the Crosier formation house for our philosophy students, under the direction of Abu Kasman, O.S.C., the magister and a participant of our Study Days, and assisted by Harimanto, O.S.C., the socius. They provide the dollar tour ­ we saw every nock and cranny of the building, after which they provided a cornucopia of delectable delicacies.

After returning to Pratista at 5:00 p.m., the membership reconvened for evening prayer at 7:00 p.m. with Rudiyanto Subagio, O.S.C. as presider. Our prayer featured a grace-filled liturgical dance given by a local twelve-year old girl. Rudy also distributed a memento of the Study Days to all, a little doll with a bobbing head made with sea shells, neatly dressed with a mozetta, scapular and Crosier cross.

Monday morning we will be back in session at 8:30 a.m. Thanks for reading to the end. Please keep us in your prayers. We remember all of our confreres around the world in our intentions each day.

Michael A. Van Sloun, O.S.C.

| Updates 25-30 July | Updates 31 July-6 August | Updates 7 -10 August |

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