On July 18-21, 2022, the Province of Our Lady of Consolation in the USA (OLC) held the second part of its Ordinary Provincial Chapter at Holy Cross Retreat House in Mesilla Park, New Mexico, USA. Some of the friars participated using the Zoom Internet platform due to Covid and other difficulties.

A main topic of the Chapter was how to live the mandate of Laudato Si’ in the everyday lives of the friars. On the first evening of the Chapter, this topic was emphasized in a presentation by Henry ATKINS concerning the ecological situation of the world and the need to develop an ecological conscience.
The friars discussed the importance of the facilities at Mount St. Francis in Indiana, USA. They discussed ways in which that site, and the ministries offered there, might be improved. They committed themselves to a process of strategic planning, so that whatever is done to “the Mount” might be part of a master plan.
The Capitulars also revised the Provincial Statutes in order to ensure their conformity with the new Constitutions and General Statutes of the Order.
The Chapter included a ceremony to induct various people as honorary members of the Province. On Tuesday evening, that included the leadership team of the Tigua tribe with whom the friars work in El Paso, Texas, USA. On Wednesday evening, it included a number of collaborators with the friars at the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish, also in El Paso.

Friar Jude WINKLER, Assistant General