2001-09-19

Dearly beloved LMC's of the world and our dearly beloved sorrow-stricken brothers and sisters of America,

Just on the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows I wrote you a letter with much sorrow in my heart, pain and trepidation. The situation of the world in general seems to be going from bad to worse. People are feeling more and more insecure everywhere. They are becoming very tensed and nervous. No one trusts anyone any more.

The family members of our General Chapter participants are no longer at peace to let his wife or husband, father or mother, son or daughter to leave their beloved ones; nor the one who has to travel long distances from the Americas are free from worry or anxiety to leave their beloved ones behind. There is pressure, tension and feeling of insecurity in almost everyone's heart. The thought of taking a flight to Rome itself frightens many, as some of them have expressed over the phone or through email. Here it is not a question of lack of trust but the weight of one's responsibility for the family and the loved ones. For the LMCs we all know that the family comes first.

Taking the present world situation into account we thought of postponing our General Chapter to July 2002 - Saturday 6^th to Sunday 14^th July. This will enable us to prepare for our General Chapter even better. We need to set up an international commission to prepare our Instrumentum Laboris for the General Chapter from the reports of the works we already have done. In the meantime we continue to study more diligently and more prayerfully our Charism, Spirit and spirituality for the lay people based on our Statutes and related documents especially of the recent Apostolic Exhortations: Familiaris Consortio and Christi Fideles Laici and any other Church documents may find helpful.

Whoever prepares for a presentation of a specific theme must first explain our Statutes say about it and exactly is the teaching of the Catholic Church and then goes into one's own affirmations, suggestions etc. For example one who has to give a talk on Chastity must explain what chastity and sexuality is. What our Statutes speak about this vow and what the Church teaches. Does it make any sense to married people today? And then what you have to say , where do you agree, where do you differ and why. Are your suggestions and affirmations morally sound and acceptable according to the Church's Magisterium?

Let us continue to pray to the Holy Family: Jesus, Mary and Joseph and to beloved Mother Teresa of Calcutta for the success of our forthcoming General Chapter and also for peace in the world especially in the Uniteed States of America. "Offer more sacrifices, smile more tenderly and pray more fervently and all the difficulties will disappear". This was Jesus' own request to Mother Teresa. Let us do the same now more than ever and beyond doubt all difficulties and problems can be overcome one by one. Let us remain in touch. Love and prayers. God bless you.

Fr. Sebastian Vazhakala M.C.