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| Conclusion of the GC35 | | [06/03/2008] Father Mark Rotsaert, whose role as Secretary of the general congregation ended a few hours before the final Mass began, stood up at the end of the Mass which all the delegates concelebrated to mark the conclusion of this thirty-fifth general congregation. |
| He wanted to thank the one who earlier that day had thanked everyone else, the new superior general, Father Adolfo Nicolás. Rotsaert commented that Father Nicolás was probably the only one who was surprised at his election, but that the delegates were sure at the time that the Holy Spirit was guiding them. Two months later, they feel more convinced that they had done a good work and listed well to the Spirit. Although Father General Nicolás has not spoken often during the second part of the congregation, he set a tone for the delegates who remarked about the warmth and affection that guided the often-difficult process of writing decrees to speak to the Jesuits on a wide range of topics.
The final liturgy took place at 6:00 p.m. on a rainy Thursday evening. Unlike the opening liturgy or the post-election liturgy of thanksgiving, there were no crowds of journalists eager to get images of the new Jesuit leader. Many friends from religious life as well as Jesuits from Rome filled the Chiesa del Gesů for a Mass that was solemn yet simple. Fr. Vlastimil Dufka again led a choir that filled the Baroque Church with prayerful music, concluding with a Te Deum as members of Father General’s council added incense to burning coals on a brasier placed on the altar. The delegates were far more subdued in the same church two months after their opening liturgy, but the Sign of Peace they exchanged passed between friends who had prayed, discussed, argued, written and ultimately worked closely together. |
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