General Chapter Delegates and Consultants, as representative of all our Brothers, partners, and associates throughout the world, I welcome you to the 43rd General Chapter of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools. I welcome you to the General Chapter of the Year of the Great Jubilee, the first Chapter of the new century and new millennium; the Chapter during which we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Proclamation of St. John Baptist de La Salle as Special Patron of all Educators of Children and Youth and the 100th anniversary of his canonization.

Labor Day (Festa del Lavoro)

In many parts of the world, including Italy, May 1 is Labor Day (or the Feast of Work), a day that reminds us that John Baptist de La Salle founded our Institute primarily for the children of artisans and of the poor. Celebrations, marches, and demonstrations today help us remember that God is calling us to "solidarity" with people of the world of work. The events of this day are reminders also that God is calling us to live simply as people of modest condition, to work for our livelihood, and to share the lot of the poor. (Rule, 32. 32a).

Feast of St. Joseph the Worker

To bring an explicit faith dimension to this day, the Church has instituted the feast of St. Joseph the Worker. Joseph was indeed a worker, a laborer, an artisan. Every day he shared the lot of the poor. He earned his livelihood and supported his family as a carpenter.

In his Testament, dated four days before his death, St. De La Salle recommended that the Brothers have a special devotion to St. Joseph, whom he called the Patron and Protector of their Society. Consequently our Rule exhorts us to invoke St. Joseph, an exhortation that is particularly appropriate for us this afternoon. That same article of the Rule proposes Joseph as a model for our whole life: Joseph, the man of confidence and faith in God; Joseph, the just man; Joseph, the humble man. With Mary he raised and educated Jesus. (Rule, 77) The Founder reminds us that just as God made Joseph responsible for the welfare of Jesus, he has made us responsible for the children he confides to us. De La Salle urges us to imitate Joseph, "who had nothing more at heart than to provide for the needs of the Child Jesus." (Med. 110.3)

Logo

On the top of page one - and on many items and documents you will receive during these days - you note the official logo of the General Chapter, creation of Brother Felipe Ocádiz from the District of South Mexico, currently serving in Japan. We recognize in the logo 1) a star, which signifies the spirit of faith; 2) a Chinese character, which means very important; 3) the Cross of Christ, which reminds us of our identity as Christians; 4) a human figure with arms outstretched, sign of Lasallians striving to embrace as brothers and sisters all those confided to their care; 5) a figure pointing in all directions, symbolizing the unity in diversity of Lasallians; 6) a horn on the lower left, which signifies that God is summoning us to the service of the Church and the world; 7) a Mesoamerican symbol for "word" on the lower right, signifying the dialogue which must characterize the General Chapter; 8) the color blue, which reminds us of the waters of baptism.

This description does not the exhaust the meaning of the logo. In prayerful meditation each of us can find in it his own meaning.

Union

Among the recommendations the Founder made to the Brothers in his Testament is a moving exhortation "to maintain an intimate union" among themselves. We capitulants need to take this recommendation to heart, interpreting quite literally the words "intimate union." This expression of De La Salle is not surprising. It is consistent with many passages of his meditations: "Union in a community is a precious gem, which is why our Lord recommended it to his apostles before he died. If we lose this, we lose everything . . . A community without charity and union is a hell . . . Preserve (union) with care, therefore, if you want your community to survive." (Med. 91.2, 65.1)

According to our Rule, the General Chapter is "constituted as an image of the whole Institute." It is the "ultimate expression of the communion that exists among all the Brothers." Union among us as we strive to discern God's will is a precious gem. If we lose it, we lose everything. A General Chapter without charity and union would be a hell. Preserve union with care, we can imagine our Founder saying to us today, if you want your General Chapter to succeed.

God in his Providence, that is to say, in his love and concern for the life and mission of the Brothers of the Christian Schools and of Lasallian partners and associates, has called us together as representatives of our Brothers. A few of us are here by right of office or appointment, but most have been elected by the Brothers of our sectors and sent to Rome as their delegates. We are very aware of the great diversity that characterizes us: diversity of culture, race, language, political and economic realities. Religious situations are strikingly different. Diverse also is the average age of the Brothers: ranging from 42.4 years of age in one region to 75.1 in another. One region has 194 Brothers in temporary vows, while two regions have only one. We are conscious of our numerical diminution. We are perhaps not aware, however, that of some 500 religious institutes of men, we rank number six, after the Jesuits, Franciscans, Salesians, Capuchins, and Benedictines. Following us are the Dominicans, Divine Word Missionaries, Redemptorists, Marist Brothers, and Oblates of Mary Immaculate. As delegates we bring these realities to the General Chapter, together with the challenges, questions, and proposals of our Brothers.

Responsible for the entire Body of the Institute

This afternoon, however, we become capitulants. As capitulants we recognize, acknowledge, and accept responsibility, as the Rule says, "for the entire Body of the Institute." (Rule, 193) It is our solemn duty, before God and before all the Brothers of the Institute, to make the decisions that we believe to be in the best interests of the entire Lasallian world. "Intimate union" among ourselves will enable us to enter into sincere dialogue. We have come to this Chapter with positions resulting from our personal reflections and from those of our communities, districts/sub-districts/delegations, regions, and interregional precapitular meetings. We need to express these positions to our fellow capitulants, and we need to listen attentively and respectfully as they express their positions to us. As Atticus Finch said in the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, we have to climb into one another's skin and walk around in it. Everyone must be convinced that he can say what he sincerely thinks and that his Brothers will listen to him carefully and take his views seriously, whether or not they agree with them.

It is obvious to all of us that a General Chapter is not a political convention or assembly. Nor is it an athletic contest that determines winners and losers. It is rather "the ultimate expression of the communion that exists among all the Brothers." The Rule mandates the General Chapter to perpetuate "living fidelity to the special charism of the Institute." (Rule, 103) For this purpose we need to create a process that will enable all of us to leave the Chapter as winners; winners because we will have discerned together the will of God in our regard.

Very often the answer, decision, proposal or action for which we are searching emerges in the process we call "synergy." Synergy, according to my dictionary, is the cooperative action of distinct agencies, such that the total effect is greater than the sum of the effects taken independently. Stephen Covey, writer on effective leadership, says that the process of synergy unleashes the greatest powers within people. It opens the mind and heart to new possibilities, new alternatives, new options. Results can be totally unexpected, but very satisfying. Synergy happens when relationships are grounded in love and intimate union, and when dialogue is sincere, open, and respectful.

That great document of the 39th General Chapter, popularly called The Declaration, was the fruit of synergy. Prior to the Chapter, there was no movement to compose a document on the identity of the Brothers and their mission. It "happened" because the capitulants dialogued with one another in mutual respect. In the process, they opened their minds and hearts to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Sharing in the Body of the Lord in the breaking of the Eucharistic bread

In a few minutes we will celebrate the Eucharist - for the first time as the General Chapter community. The celebrant will be Archbishop Marcello Zago, Secretary of the Congregation of Evangelization. Archbishop Zago is former Superior General of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate. He was Special Secretary of the synod on consecrated life in 1994. I had the pleasure of working with him as Assistant Special Secretary.

"The mystery of the Eucharist energizes every aspect of the Brother's life." (Rule, 70) We want this Eucharistic celebration this evening to energize each of us. In the breaking of the Eucharistic bread, we really share in the body of the Lord. Christ Jesus gathers us in communion with him and in communion with one another. He sends his Spirit upon us and "mystically constitutes as his body those brothers of his who are called together from every nation." (LG 7) "As there is one loaf, so we, although there are many of us, are one single body, for we all share in the one loaf." (I Cor 10:17). We are the sign of the communion that exists among all our Brothers.

As capitulants we have the duty, as the Rule says, of perpetuating "living fidelity to the special charism of the Institute." That is another way of expressing what I tried to say in my pastoral letter for this Jubilee Year: The Challenge: Live Today our Founding Story. The 43rd General Chapter is a Providential means to help us, our partners, and our associates to live faithfully and dynamically today the charism the Spirit bestowed upon John Baptist de La Salle, the charism manifested so poignantly in our founding story.

Brothers, we know that Christ will take us into communion with him and with one another, and that he will make us his body. In union with him and with one another, let us stand before the Father with arms outstretched and pray: Speak, Lord, your servants are listening. Lord, we have come to do your will. What will you have us to do?

The Rule exhorts us to learn docility to the Spirit from the total yes of Mary, Mother of Jesus. Four weeks ago the General Council again made a pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Good Counsel at Genazzano. Our intention was to pray for the General Chapter through Mary's intercession. Together this afternoon, let us pray:

Our Lady of Good Counsel, pray for us.

St. John Baptist de La Salle, our beloved father and founder, pray for us.

Live Jesus in our hearts!

Forever.