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OCDS Provincial Council Holds First Meeting at Holy Hill

From left to right: Suzanne Treis, Burtonsville, MD, Pedro Gonzalez, Fort Myers, FL, Anne Lex, Minneapolis-St, Paul, MN, Fr. Phillip Thomas, OCD Provincial, Kathryn Blumhagen, Tampa, FL, Virginia Chromczak, Utica, NY, Thomas McCabe, Rockbridge Baths, VA and John Leidy, Dexter, MI.

During the weekend of March 31, - April 2, 2006, Fr. Phillip Thomas, OCD convened the first meeting of the OCDS Provincial Council at the Motherhouse of the friars of The Immaculate Heart of Mary Province at Holy Hill Monastery in Hubertus, WI. Our three Provincial Delegates, Fr. Regis Jordan, OCD, Fr. Paul Fohlin, OCD and Fr. John Grennon, OCD were also in attendance

We had a lot of work to do and accomplished a great deal. It was the first time most of the Council members met and we all feel that a strong foundation was laid that will help us to be of service to our brothers and sisters in the Secular Order. We elected Tom McCabe from the St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross Community of Roanoke, VA as President of the Council. We felt the presence of the Holy Spirit and the power of the prayers that were being offered on our behalf throughout the weekend and are very grateful for the support we have received. Please keep the prayers coming!

The OCDS Constitutions stipulate that “where there is an organized circumscription of the friars of the Order, the Secular Order is to form a Provincial Council to assist one another better in formation and the apostolate, but not for intervening in the government of the local communities.” As a Provincial Council we will be responsible for writing the local statutes for our province. Section 58 of the OCDS Constitutions says that the statutes are to determine the following:
* the development of an adequate program of formation;
* the acceptance and formation of those new members who do not live near an established community; in every case these new candidates must be identified with and formed by an established community. They are considered members of that community;
* the procedure for elections and the responsibilities of the three councilors;
* the remembrances for the deceased members of the community;
* the circumstances and the conditions for taking vows;
* the minimum and maximum age to accept new members;
* the maximum number of members of a community before dividing the community to form another;
* the coordination of apostolic endeavors within the community or Province;
* the form and use of the external signs of membership in the Secular Order;
* the practices of mortification and expressions of devotion to our Blessed Mother and our Carmelite Saints.

We have begun to work on the statutes and once we have a working draft, we will submit the statutes to the membership for feedback and input. We are also in the process of organizing how to implement the work of the Provincial Council. The Regional Advisory Boards will continue as they are for the time being and will continue to be a resource and support for the Delegates and members of the secular order.

If you have any questions, please contact your Provincial Delegate.

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