General Chapter of Diffinitors
2nd day
Tultenango, July 17, 2022
The capitular friars began Sunday with the lauds in English. Then, they participated in the meeting with the Dominican Family in Mexico. The friars, nuns, sisters of apostolic life, lay fraternities, and the Dominican Youth Movement (DYM), each shared about their charism and apostolate, in addition to an artistic performance.
At one in the afternoon, the Eucharist was presided by Gerard Francisco Timoner III, OP, Master of the Order; as well as concelebrated by Friar A. Héctor Reyes Vásquez, OP, Secretary of the Chapter; Friar Bruno Cadoré, OP, former Master of the Order; and Friar Enrique López García, OP, deacon of the Province of Santiago de México.
In his homily, Friar Gerard explained that “hope is based on the certainty that God will never abandon us, this is what Paul says to the Colossians in the second reading of this Sunday: “Christ in you, hope of glory”. Friar Gerard also encouraged the Dominican Family: “God is the wonderful hope, promised by Dominic, as our constant companion in the holy endeavor of announcing the word of God and spreading it across lands and seas, beyond the horizons of our gaze: Christ among us.
At the end of the Eucharist, the Master of the Order expressed his gratitude: “Excuse me for not speaking Spanish well, but the capitulars and I understand the language of your friendship”. He especially addressed all the lay people who participated with enthusiasm and generosity, recognizing the long journey they undertook from their communities to Tultenango. Worth mentioning, the Mazahua community made typical offerings, and, at the end [of Eucharist] they offered necklaces of bread as a sign of welcome and recognition, besides their performance of autochthonous dances.
Lunch was an expression of the autochthonous Mexican cuisine, offered by the lay fraternities. This Dominican sharing was enlivened by a mariachi group—a typical Mexican musical ensemble, composed of guitar, trumpet, guitarron and voice. A group from the municipality of El Oro, State of Mexico, also participated with folkloric dances.
The day ended with the praying of vespers and with the capitulars preparing for Monday’s activities.
