Present: Bro Sean, Bro Terry, Bro Owen, Dave, Bella, Mark

Mark fed back his ideas on why the De La Salle Brothers should form a community in Bristol in September 2004. These ideas are to be found in the document “LAMB – WHERE ARE WE GOING?” In particular he asked for the chance to put this proposal to the next Provincial Council Meeting in September.

Bella added that there are young people who are prepared to do this sort of work and that LAMB are serious about this.

Owen believes that the brothers are committed to the results of Association and that they find the work begun in Bristol encouraging. It is perhaps an important sign for the future, a part of a bigger ministry and could be a model for Lasallian work in the future.

Terry stated “We’ve started so we’ll finish”. Something needs to be done and that the opportunity needs to be taken while it is there, but what is the way forward for Bristol?
· More involvement with the institute?
· Something independent of the brothers in the future?
He believes the need for community is as apparent to LAMB as it was to De La Salle.

The point was made that the work of LAMB is vocational; it would be both doing something and attracting people to itself, possibly new brothers too.

We need to build upon charisms already present within the community.

Sean said he had found the journey that LAMB is making a very interesting one. It hasn’t always been very clear where it is going yet despite this lack of clarity LAMB has had an increasingly strong sense of purpose. There was an increasing sense of belonging between older and younger people. There was an emphasis upon community. A sense of service and peer ministry. There was a perceived need to follow up the work of St Cassian’s and for retreat work.
Sean reiterated the problem of manpower for the order should they commit to Bristol; should Owen leave for Bristol then there would be ramifications for Oxford and elsewhere.
However Sean is positively disposed to our request to form a new community in Bristol and will support our venture. He believes he has listened very carefully to what has been said. He believes that to look at a start date for the community of September 2004 is realistic.

The brothers haven’t stood still either. There have been lots of developments elsewhere. LAMB’s request has come at a particularly apposite time. The next Chapter Meeting at Easter will be important fior the Brothers to reflect on everything that has gone on.

The decision to start a community in Bristol does not need the meeting of the Chapter but can be agreed upon at the next District Council. However the allocation of personnel is decided by the Chapter. The community in Bristol shouldn’t therefore set its heart on any particular brother joining it (ie Owen!!) but be flexible. The community will need to have at least two or three brothers in its make up.

The nature of community is something that will need to be looked at. What does it mean to “be in community?”

This new community can’t wait until April/May in order to get started. The brothers will need to raise the profile of Bristol at the next Provincial Council. Should this give the green light then we will need to see Bishop Declan. Sean will raise the matter at the next District Council Meeting in September. If the green light is given then there will be a broad agreement to meet both the requirements of manpower and financing.

This is the critical moment for LAMB. All of us, Brothers and LAMB have to move forward together. We all have to be involved in the preparation for this new community.

It was suggested that there could be representation from LAMB at the next Chapter Meeting. The brothers believe that non-brothers need to have greater involvement with the Chapter than they have had in the past because they are doing an increased amount of the Lasallian mission. The Palm Sunday Weekend of 2004 will be the next Chapter Meeting at which it is hoped there will be non-brother delegates. The “dress rehearsal” for this will be the October LACE Weekend in 2003.

The next District Council Meeting will be in Oxford on Saturday 13th September. The Council will need a clear document which outlines what will need to be done to make September 2004 a reality. The next step is to prepare a more concrete document for that meeting which LAMB will be invited to present. The original document as presented to this meeting (LAMB – WHERE ARE WE GOING?) will be presented to the District Council Meeting.