TWENTY-THREE PARTICIPATE IN FIRST ROME INTERNATIONAL SYNTHESIS EXPERIENCE
Twenty-three participants of the Coindre Leadership Program (CLP) of the three American provinces gathered at the Brothers of the Sacred Heart general house in Rome from June 20 through July 5 for the first Rome International Synthesis Experience (RISE).
The local international community of Brothers in Rome warmly welcomed their American confreres and their 13 lay partners who had completed the initial three-year program of intensive reading, reflection, and sharing with a mentor regarding the charism and spirit of Father Andre Coindre as it applies to Catholic education today. The purpose of the Coindre Leadership Program, an ongoing formation program sponsored by the U.S. Federation for the Brothers’ lay partners, is to form leaders who in turn will mentor others in their school communities.
The RISE program included a conference with Brother Jose Ignacio, Superior General, and his council; presentations on the seven characteristics flowing from the “Charism Statement of the Three US Provinces”; a two-day silent retreat led by Br. Bernard Couvillion, former Superior General; a meeting with the Vatican Commission on Catholic Education; as well as prayer and a supper meeting with members of the Sant’Egidio lay community in Rome.
Using PowerPoint slide shows to highlight seven characteristics of Coindre’s charism, the CLP board members and provincials made presentations: Br. Bernard Couvillion, Br. Ivy LeBlanc, Br. Francis David, Br. Joseph Holthaus, Br. Joseph Rocco, Mr. John Devin, Mr. Larry Walsh, and Br. Mark Hilton.
A major part of the program included prayers and liturgies prepared by the CLP board. Br. Nelson Dionne, an ordained Brother from the New England Province, presided at the liturgies. Another integral part of RISE consisted of small and large group discussions aimed at sharing and synthesizing lived experiences that illustrated Coindre’s charism in action.
In addition the program included a 4th of July pool-side picnic with the nearby Italian Brothers at Imbrecciato, a tour of the Brothers’ school Cristo Re in Rome, tour of the Scavi to St. Peter’s tomb below St. Peter’s basilica in the Vatican, and a trip by chartered bus to Assisi.
Br. Ivy LeBlanc, overall director of the Coindre Leadership Program, commented at the closing commissioning ceremony how pleased he was with this initial RISE program and he challenged the participants to continue to be transformed by the spirituality of the Heart of Christ as they build Christian communities in their schools and form future generations of school leaders to the mission and apostolate of Andre Coindre. Preparations for the next RISE, scheduled for 2012, are already underway.
july, 7, 2008
