Maryknoll Retreat and Meetings 2009

Meetings Day 3
17 January 2009

Amy Braun explaining the meeting process Today was scheduled as a full day of meetings for Maryknoll Asia South or MAS. Amy Braun, a member of the MAS service team, explained how the day would go.

Tom O'Brien Small groups of the MAS members discussed the outcomes of the general assemblies and chapters held at the end of last year and then put statements of the themes on newsprint for all to see. Tom O'Brien explained one set of reports for the large group.

Voting on issues Several votes were taken during the day, first on statements of ideas that would determine direction for MAS in the coming year and then on more mundane matters such as selecting a new member of the service team and dates for the retreat in 2011.

Gie and Sofia Gie and Sofia were two attentive listeners to the proceedings.

Reading the group reports After another round of small-group discussions, the reports were again posted on the walls and everyone was invited to read them to choose what ideas will guide Maryknoll Asia South until the next meeting in January, 2010.

Julia Schidler Sr. Julia Schidler gave one of the reports about the small-group discussions.

Small group discussion In each of the small groups, the different charisms within Maryknoll, different ages, different countries, etc., were represented as best as possible to give broad input into the decision-making process.

Charlie Dittmeier with a small group report Charlie Dittmeier made one of the small-group reports.

Voting on themes For the final voting on themes and direction, each member was given three colored dots and asked to stick them on the various thematic statements to show first, second, and third choices. The dots were then totaled to show the preferences of the large group.

The Gulf of Thailand at Hua Hin Surprisingly, the meetings were able to finish early in the afternoon so many people took advantage of the extra time to make a final trip to Hua Hin beach on the Gulf of Thailand. Each year when we come it seems there is one or two new condominium buildings piercing the skyline.

Closing liturgy In the evening, there was a final closing liturgy, presided over by John Barth, and a special point in the service was a sending ceremony for all the MAS members who will move on to a new part of their life in 2009. The departing Maryknollers were invited to the center of the chapel and recognized and blessed by the whole group.

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	Today was scheduled as a full day of meetings for Maryknoll Asia South or MAS. Amy Braun, a member of the MAS service team, explained how the day would go.
	Small groups of the MAS members discussed the outcomes of the general assemblies and chapters held at the end of last year and then put statements of the themes on newsprint for all to see. Tom O'Brien explained one set of reports for the large group.
	Several votes were taken during the day, first on statements of ideas that would determine direction for MAS in the coming year and then on more mundane matters such as selecting a new member of the service team and dates for the retreat in 2011.
	Gie and Sofia were two attentive listeners to the proceedings.
	After another round of small-group discussions, the reports were again posted on the walls and everyone was invited to read them to choose what ideas will guide Maryknoll Asia South until the next meeting in January, 2010.
	Sr. Julia Schidler gave one of the reports about the small-group discussions.
	In each of the small groups, the different charisms within Maryknoll, different ages, different countries, etc., were represented as best as possible to give broad input into the decision-making process.
	Charlie Dittmeier made one of the small-group reports.
	For the final voting on themes and direction, each member was given three colored dots and asked to stick them on the various thematic statements to show first, second, and third choices. The dots were then totaled to show the preferences of the large group.
	Surprisingly, the meetings were able to finish early in the afternoon so many people took advantage of the extra time to make a final trip to Hua Hin beach on the Gulf of Thailand. Each year when we come it seems there is one or two new condominium buildings piercing the skyline.
	In the evening, there was a final closing liturgy, presided over by John Barth, and a special point in the service was a sending ceremony for all the MAS members who will move on to a new part of their life in 2009. The departing Maryknollers were invited to the center of the chapel and recognized and blessed by the whole group.