As the chapter comes to a close, the fathers share the fellowship and the joy of being together in this great task of planning and discerning for the delegation.
The chapter fathers thank God for all His graces and blessings on the Delegation over the years and for its future. They chant the Te Deum a hymn of thanksgiving and praise to God:
1. Holy God, we praise Thy Name;
Lord of all, we bow before Thee!
All on earth Thy scepter claim,
All in Heaven above adore Thee;
Infinite Thy vast domain, Everlasting is Thy reign. (2X)
2. Hark! the loud celestial hymn
Angel choirs above are raising,
Cherubim and seraphim,
In unceasing chorus praising;
Fill the heavens with sweet accord: Holy, holy, holy, Lord. (2X)
3. Lo! the apostolic train
Join the sacred Name to hallow;
Prophets swell the loud refrain,
And the white robed martyrs follow;
And from morn to set of sun, Through the Church the song goes on. (2X)
4. Holy Father, Holy Son,
Holy Spirit, Three we name Thee;
While in essence only One,
Undivided God we claim Thee;
And adoring bend the knee, While we own the mystery. (2X)
5. Thou art King of glory,
Christ: Son of God, yet born of Mary;
For us sinners sacrificed,
And to death a tributary:
First to break the bars of death, Thou has opened Heaven to faith. (2X)
6. From Thy high celestial home,
Judge of all, again returning,
We believe that Thou shalt come
In the dreaded doomsday morning;
When Thy voice shall shake the earth, And the startled dead come forth. (2X)
7. Spare Thy people, Lord, we pray,
By a thousand snares surrounded:
Keep us without sin today,
Never let us be confounded.
Lo, I put my trust in Thee; Never, Lord, abandon me. (2X)
The Holy Founders, St. Francis Caracciolo, Augustine Adorno and Fabrizio Caracciolo were invoked and thanked for the inspiration and guidance.
The chapter fathers also thank those who have prayed for the success of this gathering. It brought comfort and assurance that things would go well because of so many who were praying and helping us in so many ways.
Fr. Nony, the mission coordinator and superior of the house in Ramsey, NJ is grateful for all the people who came to provide dinner and snacks for the chapter fathers. Their love and dedication to God and support to the Adornos are commendable. He adds that “love for God begets generosity. Generosity gives birth to humility which is the mother of all virtues.”
In his homily during the concluding Mass, Fr. Ted said that all religious are workers in God’s vineyard, Jesus is the Master and we can accomplish many good things because of Him not because we are great workers. He exhorts us to always be humble in all things and at all times.
It was a great afternoon of fellowship following the first Mass at the place donated by Gino and Ana Dagri to the Adorno Fathers in Long Island, NY. The Order is grateful for their generosity and for entrusting their estate to the Order. The place will be named Villino Santa Maria to honor the place of origin of Ana which is Villa Santa Maria, the home town of one of the founders of the Adorno Fathers, St. Francis Caracciolo.
The chapter fathers will go back to their respective assignments bringing with them the news from the meeting; the proposals that the fathers deliberated and approved, new appointments and plan for the future of the delegation
At the conclusion of the last session, the chapter fathers pray:
O Lord, we thank you for the gifts that you have poured out upon us during this Chapter and we ask your forgiveness for the shortcomings from our judgement.
With your grace, bless and bring about the realization of all our endeavors.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen
Ad Maiorem Resurgentis Gloriam!