07/12/2021
A vote-count like no other: at least, in the history of Holy Family Chapters!
Because the Chapter is online, Fr. Lougen, OMI Superior General – who had kindly opted to be physically present in keeping with our tradition, was in the hall with only the three Scrutineers. They were positioned in such a way that the Capitulants could see them via Zoom, and observe the vote-count.
This time the scrutiny was carried out not by the youngest Chapter members – another tradition – but by three of the Capitulants present in the house – M. de Lourdes de la Fuente, Malinie Jayamanne and Micheline Kenda…
- Count all the envelopes – checking that they are labelled for the Election of the Superior General, First Round…
- Open the envelopes, one by one, extract the ballot and hand it over
- Read the name indicated, pass the ballot to Fr. Lougen..
- Vote count written on the whiteboard…
As the minutes passed, the trend became clear….
Re-elected on the first round, Ana María ALCALDE was requested to go down to the hall, where in Portuguese – a language reminiscent of years spent by both as missionaries in Brazil - Fr. Lougen asked if she was willing to accept the service of Superior General.
“Yes.. I accept, and may God’s will be done in me, and also through me…may God’s will be done in us – because we have to do God’s will together – each one of us playing her part, as one united body, so that we can respond together to what God is asking of us. Thank you all for your confidence in me…
Certain Zoom screens were suddenly vacated, while the members of the outgoing GLT, and then the Local community, came to thank Ana María for her Yes – and to wish her every blessing…
Time away from the Chapter Session was brief, however – and soon all were back in place, ready to witness the procedure for the Election of the Vicar for the Contemplatives, and then proceed to the election of the Apostolic members of the General Council-to-be.
As in the case of the Superior General, the results of these Elections will be known only when all the paper ballots have arrived in Rome.