A Mennaisian Family Assembly as an Extension of the Provincial Chapter. The Chapter Assembly of October 21st -24th , composed of 26 Lay People and 13 Brothers, set itself the Objective of reflecting on a few Questions developed during three Mennaisian Evenings held in three different locations in May and June 2025.
From the beginning of Our Assembly, Brothers and Lay People “called” by the Coordination of the Mennaisian Family, divided themselves into 6 Groups around questions like these:
What is the Identity of the Mennaisian Family and what is its Mission?
What should we do to give it all its Dynamism?
What Proposals should we make to give Life to the Mennaisian Family and make it bear Good Fruit?
How could we prepare for the Future and Rethink Our Current Organization?
What Structures should be adopted? etc..
Thanks to the Diversity of the Members, the discussions were very rich. Everyone was able to freely express their thoughts, be heard, and listen to different Opinions. We talked a lot about Training, but also about the Importance of Building Bridges between the different Entities of the Mennaisian Family. Knowing each other better would allow us to be more open to all and more committed to serving the Educational Mission, whether in Schools or in other Educational Organizations.
After three days of debate, in a very Fraternal Spirit, of the Participants; Heads of Schools, Members of Mennaisian Fraternities, Volunteers from Estival or Assific, Brothers, Delegates of the ‘Tutelle’, Formation Managers, etc., got to know each other better. The Work of Groups, then in Thematic Commissions, then in Plenary Assembly, made it possible to arrive at the Drafting of those Proposals.
At the End of that Meeting, a Great Happiness filled the Hearts of each and every one of us. A pride, too, for having agreed on what would Strengthen ties and build Bridges between the People and Institutions of the Mennaisian Family in France.
The Opinions were unanimous: We experienced that living within that Family gives Renewed Dynamism for the Mission entrusted to us. For some, who had been Mennaisians for years, that feeling had never been so strong. It was a Wonderful Meeting, very encouraging. We didn’t make many Decisions. But those that were made were made almost unanimously, after long Discussions that allowed everyone to contribute their Stone to the Building. Everyone was currently eager to implement them for the Benefit of the Body we formed.
It was a time of Celebration, a time of Prayer, a time of Sharing, of Discernment. The Spirit was at work. “A moment of Life that intersects the Personal and the Professional. Encounters, Testimonies, a Pause, a Breath of Fresh Air. Demanding, but Restorative. How lucky to have crossed Paths in one day with the Mennaisian Family. I believe even more strongly that I could say that I belong to that Beautiful Family. Yes, Together, we would continue…” wrote one of the Participants.
There was still much to be done. But the Fraternal Spirit and commitment of each other would allow us to take Decisive Steps towards the Future.
Brother Yannick Houssay, Provincial Brother