The members of the European Commission met on Monday 8th and Tuesday 9th April at the General Curia of the Order for their first meeting in 2019. The meeting was one of the main launching points for the Order’s work in Europe during the new Sexennium 2019-2025, directly following up the work of the General Chapter held at the beginning of the year. Two new General Councillors with responsibilities for the European Provinces, Brother Joaquim Erra Mas (President of the Commission) and Brother José Augusto Gaspar Louro, have now joined the Commission.

The meeting discussed many different issues regarding animation and the strategy to be adopted by the Order’s Europe Commission: the programme for the social inclusion of vulnerable people, cooperation between the Provinces’ communications offices, the institution of the European Novitiate, the Vocation Promotion, Pastoral Care of the Sick and Bioethics Working Groups, as well as the projects being promoted by the Brussels Hospitality Europe Office.

The President, Brother Joaquim Erra, also re-called the main resolutions and lines of action adopted by the General Chapter to carry forward the process of regionalising the Order and consolidating collaboration between the Brothers and the Laity.  

The Commission will meet again in the autumn, on the eve of the week dedicated to the Assembly of Major Superiors.