Weekend Round-Up, Part 2

AS WE WAIT WITH BATED BREATH on our side of the road for the the results of the final (God willing) ballot for U.S. regional superior, the Sisters' Bazaar (Thanks to Carrie Seo, my only loyal reader who caught and pointed out my malapropism in the previous post) is off to a roaring start despite inclement weather.

Br. Wayne Fitzpatrick has returned from the Hong Kong gathering of Young'Uns, sponsored by his Office of Lifelong Formation. He made a cameo appearance during the house meeting Wednesday but has since retreated to an undisclosed location, much like Dick Cheney was wont to do but hopefully not for similar reasons. Father Romane St. Vil and Fr. Ed Szendrey have also returned. Fr. Dennis Moorman is due back this weekend.

Ed seemed a little tired (or could be just jet lag) of continued queries as to what transpired in Hong Kong, but he did say something that may alleviate members' frustrations at the apparent secrecy: "It was not a meeting; it was more like a spiritual renewal."

I mean, does anyone really what to read transcripts of our old Holy Land or Lourdes programs? Do we really want to read about the younger members' spiritual renewal? Still, perhaps just a simple list of topics discussed might lessen the ever-increasing generational divide that threatens to tear our Society apart into warring camps bent on mutual annihilation. OK. That was hyperbole. But it was fun to write and it's a hell of lot more interesting than my usual dreck.

Laicization of MEP and Youth in Asia

EVEN A CURSORY GLANCE around the dining room these days during the National Meeting of Maryknoll Promoters reveals an astonishing reality. Most of our Promoters are hired employees. A majority are lay people but we also have a growing number of permanent deacons (five, by my count) entrusted with the awesome task of promoting Maryknoll and its mission and works to the Church in the United States.

Not too long ago we had 40 some-odd (how true) Developers/Promoters in 16 houses around the States. Yet our fast disappearing real estate can hardly keep up with our even faster declining membership. We now have just 11 Society members working on promotion and three retirees helping out. Thank God for the deacons and laity willing to take up the slack.

It has long been my observation nigh these many years that our employees, especially in MEP, have more enthusiasm, energy and the ever-elucive Maryknoll Spirit than we permanent members do. They certainly bring vitality to our dining room. Would be nice if before they leave we could meet them all, mayhaps at a final Happy Hour. (To date they have been happy separately in the Founders' Room whilst the members gather to be happy in the Third Floor Rec Room.)

Meanwhile, meetings being our second forte after mission, the Young'uns' gathering in Hong Kong continues apace although they have taken an oath of secrecy about just what is on their Hidden Agenda and where exactly they are going to hide it. We do know that all are having a good time, that the liturgies are upbeat and full of energy with strong singing (now we know why they didn't have this meeting here) and that it is still warm enough to swim in Hong Kong.

Aside from that, we can only speculate as to what they are discussing, although having Maryknoll youth in Asia may give us a hint.