Bogotá, June 10, 2007
Dears BROTHERS AND SISTERS:
Receive our fraternal greetings from Bogotá, where we will soon have the pleasure of welcoming you at Saint Dominic Convent in this beautiful Colombian city. You are most welcome to your home and family here in Colombia.
The purpose of this second newsletter is to provide you with some details and practical information regarding your arrival and stay at our convent. First, I would like to request that you provide us with your travel plans, so we will be able to welcome you at El Dorado Airport in Bogotá. From July 10 to the 17 we will have a 24 hours counter at the airport, in order to be able welcome all the arriving brothers, even those who have not provided us with their travel plans.
Climate:
The weather in Bogotá during the months of July and August is similar to mid-spring weather in the northern hemisphere, between 10° and 16° centigrades during the day. In the evenings though the temperatures can drop as low as 4° or 5° centigrades. For that reason we recommend that you bring some sweaters or some other warm clothes. We would like also to remind you that Bogotá is 2,600 meters above sea level.
Liturgical Vestments:
The Chapter organizing group will give each ordained brother a stole to be used at all the liturgical celebrations. Those who will preside at the liturgies will also be provided with the necessary liturgical vestments for the day. We request that each brother bring his habit. Those brothers who wear of albs for the liturgical celebrations, please bring your own.
We will provide you with a small booklet with the corresponding liturgical texts for the celebrations of the Eucharist and the daily prayer of the Divine Office. These will be published in the three official languages of the Chapter. We will also provide the text of the Eucharist Prayers in different languages. If you would like some music to be included in these booklets, please send us the text and music as soon as possible.
Room and Board:
Each capitulars will be provided with his own room. Linens and towels will be changed once a week. Laundry service will be provided twice a week, once for your personal laundry and the second for linens and towels.
A food service company will provide a professional food service during the Chapter. The dining room will be located at the Cafeteria of the Jordan de Sajonia School, located on the grounds of the convent. Those who have requested special diets will receive them according to your request included in the registration forms. If you are in need of a special diet and you did not notify us before, please do so as soon as possible.
Internet Service:
Those who notified us that they will be bringing their laptops, will be able to connect through the local network of the convent (LAN) or through the wireless option also available. Those capitulars who are not bringing their own laptops will be able to use the convent computer room. All the computers have all the programs from Microsoft Office. Some computer technicians will be available to help your with the configuration and connections of your laptops. Both internet services will be free of any charge.
Power Grid:
The electrical grid at the convent is 110 v. The electrical connections use the regular American plugs, that is, two flat parallel connectors and a round one for ground. If you need some adaptors, please let us know in advance.
Cell Phones (Mobiles):
Cell phones in Colombia function according to the GSM norms, using a 900-1800 MHz frequency, similar to the one in Europe. If you are planning to bring your own cell phone, please contact your service provided in your own country to see if you can use them here.
Regular telephone service:
There will be a phone system available to all the Capitulars. All calls will be run through the convent phone system. International calls can be arranged through the Chapter Syndic, fr. Carlos Ariel Betancourt Ospina. Incoming international call will be directed to your extension.
Mail:
Any mail addressed to you during the Chapter must be addressed in the following manner:
(Your name)
Capitulo General
Convento de Santo Domingo
Carrera 1ª N° 68-50
Bogota, D.C. Colombia
Emergency phone numbers:
If you need to be contacted, you can be reached at the following numbers:
+57 1 287 84 70
+57 1 321 26 05
+57 3 310 37 39 394 (cell)
+57 3 310 61 82 415 (cell)
+57 3 315 22 37 708 (cell)
Fax: +57 1 211 68 05 / +57 1 2 88 63 52
E-mail: capitulobogota207@opcolombia.org
Sports:
The convent has its own gym. You may also use the sport facilities of the Jordan de Sajonia School next to the convent grounds. You will be able to play football (soccer), basketball, volleyball and tennis. You may also use the heated swimming pool at the campus of the Universidad de Santo Tomas. All these services are free of charge.
Testimonial letters:
Please do not forget to bring your testimonial letters to be presented on July 17, 2007. Prior Provincials and General Vicars must present copies of their letters of confirmation signed by the Master of the Order or his Vicar. Provincial Vicars must present a copy of their letter of confirmation signed by their Prior Provincial. Delegates from entities directly under the Master of the Order must present a copy of their letter of appointment signed by a member of the General Curia. Members of the Curia must present a copy or their letter of assignment. Delegates and guests must present a copy of their document of delegation or letter of invitation.
Visits and tours:
On July 22, we will have the opportunity to visit the Museo del Oro, the largest collection of pre-Columbian gold artifacts in the world. On July 28, we will have the opportunity to share with the brothers at the campus of the Universidad de Santo Tomas. On August 4 and 5, we will visit the national shrine of Our Lady of Chiquinquirá and the surrounding areas so we will enjoy the landscape and the Colombian folklore. It is important that you bring warm clothes and comfortable shoes.
Fees and payments:
Because of the vertiginous downfall of the US dollar in Colombia, we have requested and obtained permission from the General Curia to establish the daily cost of room and board not in US dollars but in Euros. Therefore the daily cost for room and board will be of 25 €. The rest of the chapter expenses will be presented according to the budget approved on November 2006. We remind you that according to the last General Chapter “the cost of the General Chapter is to be shared equitably i.e. reflecting the portion in which each entity contributes annually to the ordinary budget of the Order. We divide the transportation costs equally and share the administrative cost proportionately. Each capitular pay his actual diem costs”. Krakow, 350.
The best way to cover your expenses will be through direct bank transfers to the account of the Province of San Luis Beltran de Colombia. We will provide you with this account number during the Chapter. Payments in cash will also be accepted. There is a large network of electronic cashiers throughout the city. You will also have the possibility of making your payments using Visa, Master Card, and American Express credit cards. It will not be possible to make your payments with checks.
The travel and room and board expenses for the translators, interpreters, and guests will be covered by the General Chapter.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us as soon as possible. You can contact us using the addresses printed on the heading of the first page of this newsletter.
Feel yourself already welcomed to Bogotá. Your brothers of the Colombian Province of San Luis Beltran are awaiting you with a joyful expectation.
Your brothers in our father Saint Dominic,
Fr. Orlando RUEDA ACEVEDO, O.P.
Secretario General
Fr. Carlos Ariel BETANCOURT O., O.P. Fr. Giovanni GUARNIZO V., O.P.
Asistente (Síndico de Provincia y del Capítulo) Asistente (Síndico Convento S. Domingo)
Capítulo General 2007 - ORDEN DE PREDICADORES
[Todos los derechos reservados]
Copyright © Frailes de la Orden de Predicadores