ACTS OF THE 7th EUROPEAN ASSEMBLY OF LAY DOMINICAN FRATERNITIES

ANNEX IIIa

Fr. CHRYS McVEY’S ADDRESS

Thank you once again for the invitation. Ever since the General Chapter of Bologna,
the brothers have been encouraged to welcome new forms of Dominican life
springing up. This we have done. There are new forms of Dominican laity, groups
with their own statutes, groups that are for academics, for youth, for volunteers,
associates of the apostolic sisters, groups that are both Dominican and ecumenical.

These are all signs of the surprising vitality of the charism, which the brothers have
come to realise they cannot claim as theirs alone: the Dominican charism of
preaching is a gift of the Spirit to the Church. And I believe we should all have a
profound reverence for the way this Spirit works so peculiarly and so surprisingly.

I had thought that my job in Rome was to travel around and encourage Dominicans,
but I have almost always found that I received much more encouragement than I
gave, especially from sisters and brothers doing quite remarkable things in places
where no one else wanted to go. On the frontiers, just like Dominic! So, thank you for
including me once again in your meeting. This one, like the others, I have found to be
energizing!