Was the theme of the 11th European Assembly of Lay Dominican Fraternities in Vilnius, Lithuania. More than 50 participants from all over Europe met from 12th to 17th of August 2022. Participants who arrived on August 12th joined in walking part of the Vilnius, Calvary Way of the Cross, in prayer and were given some historical information regarding «the way».
The official opening was Holy Mass on Saturday with Auxiliary Bishop Darius Trijonis (Vilnius). Following this the assembly began with words of welcome from Damien McDonnell OP (president of ECLDF) and Rita Paulukeviciute OP (president of the lay dominican fraternities in Lithuania). The master general of the order sent words of greetings and was represented by fr. Alain Arnould OP (Socious for Europe and Canada), fr Alain spoke to the assembly and encouraged us that “We need to walk together, to work together …” as an order with different branches. After fr Juan Ubaldo Lopez OP (promotor general for lay Dominicans) addressed the assembly.
EUROPEAN COUNCIL OF LAY DOMINICAN FRATERNITIES CONSEIL EUROPEEN DES FRATERNITES LAIQUES DOMINICAINES CONSEJO EUROPEO DE LAS FRATERNIDADES LAICAS DOMINICAS
You will hopefully have received our letter of 23rd February last, informing you of the convocation of the 11th European Assembly of Lay Dominican Fraternities, which will take place from 12th to 17th August 2022 in Vilnius, Lithuania, the theme of our Assembly is Europe – Land of Missions. The guest speaker for the Assembly is fr Thomas Eggensperger.
Below you will see a brief outline of the programme for the Assembly,
12th August : Arrival of Delegates
13th August : Welcome and opening Mass
14th August : Plenary sessions, workshops
15th August : Plenary session, nomination/introduction to ECLDF candidates, sightseeing trip
16th August : Plenary session, tractatus, election, new and old council meeting
17th August : Closing Mass, blessing and farewell
A full programme will issue to delegates prior to the Assembly.
EUROPEAN COUNCIL OF LAY DOMINICAN FRATERNITIES CONSEIL EUROPEEN DES FRATERNITES LAIQUES DOMINICAINES CONSEJO EUROPEO DE LAS FRATERNIDADES LAICAS DOMINICAS
On behalf of the European Council of Lay Dominican Fraternities (ECLDF) and the Lay Dominican Fraternities of Lithuania please be advised that;
the 11th European Assembly of Lay Dominican Fraternities, will take place from 12th to 17th August 2022 in Vilnius, Lithuania, the theme of our Assembly is
The European Council of Lay Dominican Fraternities has heard the horrific news coming from the Ukraine and indeed feel the palpable tension in Eastern Europe. Our thoughts and love are with our sisters and brothers affected by these alarming events. Immediately and with vigour we turn in prayer to our Protector, our Lord and Saviour, Lord of Peace and of Love.
As a community of Preachers, as a family of believers let us join, and invite others to join with us in praying for peace. We ask our father Dominic to intercede to God our Father for peace.
We would be grateful if you can share this prayer far and wide, together let us shower Heaven with our prayers for Peace.
Our Lady Queen of Peace pray for us and the whole world.
Greetings in our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ, we pray this communication finds you well.
The Convent of St Philip and St Jacob the Apostles, Vilnius, Lithuania, was the venue for the first face to face meeting of the European Council of Lay Dominican Fraternities in over two years. Our meeting began on Friday October 22nd and concluded on Sunday evening 24th October. The reason for meeting in Vilnius was in preparation for the next assembly which please God, will take place from August 12th to 17th 2022.
Although the Council have regularly met during these two years it has always been by zoom or skype. With the volume and pace of work we got through in Vilnius, it quickly became obvious that face to face meetings are far more productive.
The Lithuanian fraternities hosting our meeting were an amazing inspiration, we were totally blown away with their work ethic. Their mission is without doubt blessed, with Saint Dominic and the Holy Spirit working visibly among them. Our Lithuanian brothers and sisters delivered at a gathering in the convent an excellent presentation which highlights some of their work and which have agreed to share on agora so you can all see. Our sincerest gratitude goes to them for their wonderful hospitality.
Click on the image to view the presentation of the Lithuanian Lay Dominican Fraternities (patience the file is heavy).
As you can imagine the planning for the assembly entails much work, again the team in Vilnius have made a great start to the preparations. The council visited the venue for the assembly which will be held in St Joseph’s, the Lithuanian national seminary. We were very impressed with the complex and I know assembly delegates will be very well accommodated in this modern, state of the art facility.
Saturday morning work began in earnest, and I am happy to report that we were very successful in covering our planned schedule. The provisional programme for Assembly 2022 is prepared, our work continues as we seek to secure some brilliant speakers that we have identified. “Europe Land of Mission” is the theme selected for the assembly.
Over the next number of weeks, you will receive notification of the assembly and we will follow these with other various items of information as we firm up on speakers, facilitators, and special guests. In the meantime, sisters, and brothers, we ask for your prayers for a successful assembly where we can all meet, gather but most of all pray together for a healing of Europe that as we all know is suffering in many, many ways.
Finally, may I take this opportunity to thank the community of friars in the convent of St Philip and St Jacob the Apostles in Vilnius for their generous hospitality. Much gratitude also to our Lithuanian sisters and brothers for the great welcome and care they gave us during our visit, they have given at least one weary solider much inspiration and motivation by their exemplary apostolate.
In the Love the is Jesus Christ, we pray you keep healthy, safe and well.
