austraLasia #2074

GC26: The humourist - there's one (or more) in every bunch!

ROME: 27th February 2008 -- Yesterday, the first full day of Assembly in the pre-Chapter gatherings (recall, GC26 does not formally begin until 3rd March), was a solemn enough day, and the solemnity was marked in particular by a moving Requiem Mass for Fr Helvecio Baruffi. Regional Councillor for America South Cone who died in 21st inst.  You can turn to ANS and/or the GC26 website on sdb.org to follow that, including a number of photos of the event.  The remainder of the day, both before and after the Mass, was given over to the presentation of the departments and regions.
    Here it would not be possible to convey the wikipedia-dimensioned 'universe' of facts and analyses that cam through in presentations yesterday!  Almost all of these were presented through one or other of the major software vendor's 'presentation' programs - not all done by 'Powerpoint' as if that were the only way to do it.  Certainly, as one who has sat in the Aula Magna for a Chapter in the past, this observer can comment that it beats the heck out of speed reading a book during similar sessions, or worse, simply hearing a voice drone on all day.  Of course there was that too - though several presenters mercifully chose to let the technical stuff do its thing and present through images and music, or one actually used two or three recorded voices.  So the SC Department has had some influence around the traps it seems, at least at that level! What we can say is that these presentations all took the Rector Major's Report (which no Chapter members have as yet) as a guide and that, essentially, takes the program set out by the Rector Major and his Council for the six years just concluded.  The aim of these presentations of departments and regions, something which has not been done before in Chapters, is to lead up to the Rector Major's Report.  Methinks the process is a good one - and there's a Retreat coming up to help sit with it all, dwell, pray.
    And of course there is a humourist or two in the group!  Much appreciated is the cartoonist.  You will find his first two efforts by going to http://www.sdb.org/cg26/gc26web/index.html (which is the GC26 site), then scroll down to the cartoon figure in the left hand bottom corner and click on it.  This will be added to as other cartoons come to hand so check it regularly.  Check the 'Photos' section too, under 'AGORA' on the right hand set of links, as this is added to daily.  Then you have ANS photos/news and the sdb.org homepage photos as well - and we make a point of choosing different ones across that range, so you should be well-informed visually.
    Until tomorrow.....
  _________________
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Title: australasia 2074
Subject and key words: SDG General GC26 Funeral, Humour
Date (year): 2008
ID: 2000-2099|2074