Capítulo General 2007. Orden de Predicadores. Bogotá 2007.

Bogotá, D.C. 22 de July of 2007

Praise the Lord in His temple
Praise Him playing trumpets,
Praise Him with harps and zithers,
Praise Him with drums and dances,
Praise Him with horns and flutes!

And this is all up to the moment. During these days we have lived moments of praise to God for His generosity and for His presence among us, among our brothers and sisters from the different countries and regions that are gathered in the Chapter.

MEETING THE DOMINICAN FAMILY OF COLOMBIA

After breakfast, all the capitulars went to the gym of the Nuestra Señora del Rosario de Santo Domingo School near the Convent in order to meet the different groups and communities that are part of the Dominican Family of Colombia. There, the capitulars were greeted by the religious communities, secular fraternities and the Dominican Youth Movement of Colombia (MJD) with its delegates from Mexico, Peru and Ecuador, among others. They with their different denominations and missions have been working tirelessly to be faithful to the delicate commitment of belonging to the Order of Dominic de Guzmán. There were cultural activities, typical dances and the performance of the White & Black band, conformed by the Dominican student Friars. Those were moments of happiness and fraternity.

From the gym, a place that can hold at least 3000 people, we returned to the Priory to celebrate the Sunday Eucharist with the people from the nearby neighborhoods. Fr. Antonio Garcia, Provincial of the Province of Aragon; Fr. Francisco Carballo, Provincial of the Province of Spain –who preached- (homily), and Fr. Danielle Cara, Provincial of the Province of Saint Catherine of Siena in Italy presided. Our General Secretary, Fr. Orlando Rueda, greeted all the community gathered in the temple, recalling the Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene, protector of the Order and patroness of the Province of the Rosary.

The temple was completely crowded. Children, very lively young people, cloister nuns, Dominican sisters from at least twelve congregations, seculars, secular virgins, pre-novices, novices, students, in all, a great number of people participating of Sunday Mass lived up by the songs of our Dominican sisters.

Our brother Fr. Francisco Carballo’s exhortation was presented from "The great concern of the Kingdom of God" point of view and keeping in mind the event of Marta and Mary regarding Jesus’ visit. Contrasting the message of the Gospel regarding the reality that has summoned us, what are our worries today? What kind of worries does this General Chapter of Provincials have? local or universal? These are some of the questions that our preacher has formulated in regards to the threat and to the future conditions of the announcement of the Kingdom of God in a world increasingly more universal and globalized that allows to continue traveling through the Christian road as Mary, sharing His great worry: the Kingdom of God. This was the invitation for everyone: not to behave like the "Martas" of the family.

Pre-Hispanic and “cachaquita” afternoon (From Bogota)

After lunch that was shared with the Dominican Family, the capitulars participated of their first official sightseeing of the City of Bogota. A rainy afternoon. It was necessary to use the umbrellas. Nevertheless, the Capitulars were able to walk downtown, to visit the Gold Museum where the most valuable jewels, the pre-Colombian treasures in gold, clay figures, precious gems, and an endless number of elements that were part of the most outstanding antique cultures of Colombia and that are under the custody of Banco de la República are exhibited. Then, the Catedral Primada of Colombia with its chapel and museum was visited. After that, the Plaza of Bolivar that is surrounded by the buildings of the Congress of the Republic, the City Hall of Bogota and the Supreme Court were also visited. It was a cachaco-style walk, a very Bogotanian afternoon, that is to say, with umbrellas, coats, hats or caps, wool sweaters, gloves…, just to keep warm and to visit other sites that there are on the main street of the city. Oh! They couldn’t miss a cup of coffee at Juan Valdéz coffee shop, icon of the Colombian culture.

The thought of the day: "Between the XIII and XIV centuries, seven General Chapters recommended the Friars to celebrate the Feast of Saint Marta. (It would be desirable also that this General Chapter commands the Friars to celebrate religious feasts!). Marta became a model for Dominican brothers and sisters" (Homily by Fr. Francisco Carballo)

Brother Ubaldo
Chronicler

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