The Provincial Assembly of the Polish Province (http://bonifratrzy.pl) was held on 11‑13 July, 2016 at Wrocław/Breslau, in the convent of the Saint Elizabeth Sisters in the historic city centre, and was attended by the Prior General, Brother Jesús Etayo, and the General Councillor, Brother Rudolf Knopp. Wrocław (Breslau) has been officially chosen by the European Commission as the European Capital of Culture 2016. The Assembly was also attended by 20 Brothers and 15 Co-worker managers.

The main agenda items were:

Presentation of the first draft of the new Provincial Directory

Vocations Promotion and the Brothers’ Initial Formation

Evaluation of charismatic management in the Province

The work of the Bioethics Committees in the Province

Harmonising the labour contracts in the Province

Unifying the insurance contracts for all the Centres in the Province

Challenges to the present health care and social system in Poland

Changes needed to the strategies, organisation and legal status of the Centres in the Province

Provincial assessment of the Provincial Canonical Visitation

Two interesting papers were delivered to the Assembly on topical issues:

Cooperation between government and Church entities: where are the borderlines?
Sr Małgorzata Chmielewska

Giving life a meaning

How a paraplegic can change the vision of life

Piotr Pawłowski

In his address, the Prior General emphasised the importance of establishing the Single European Novitiate towards which we are moving, and of stepping up cooperation between the European Provinces. He quoted Pope Francis several times and emphasised the significance and the priorities of the Religious Life at the present time.

The Provincial Assembly was followed on 14 July by a meeting of the Provincial Council, which was also attended by the Prior General, Brother Jesús Etayo, and the General Councillor, Brother Rudolf Knopp.