Dundorf

[Drax]

ODERVELD - LEUCHTFEUER

OCCIDENTALIUM MONKS MEET TO REORGANIZE
 
Dunburg , May 17, 5630:  ODERVELD – LEUCHTFEUER caught up with Aulus Sempronius, Prior of the Schwabisch Gmund Chapter House of the Contemplative Monastic Order of Occidentalium, at the International Airport in Dunburg. The prior was returning from a convocation of the leadership of the Order at the Eliasit Institute for Higher Studies in Mavigny, Royaume Uni de Kanjor.

Asked what had happened at the meeting, Sempronius replied:
 

We reviewed the situation in each of the three nations where the Order has chapters.  In Badara while growth had remained small but steady since the founding of the Order there in 4900, it has now been in decline for some time. Growth came from a few novices joining from Badara itself each year and more coming from elsewhere to the home of the Order. With Badara pretty much in isolation, travel there is difficult to arrange and so new brothers from abroad have become quite rare and accordingly deaths exceed new arrivals.
 
With around six hundred brothers remaining, the Abbey located in the Tahir Highlands on Nashwa near streams that feed the Izdihar River is still a viable operation. The Abbot oversees several Chapter Houses. First Master Publius Vipsanius will remain at the Abbey but it was agreed future First Masters would not necessarily do so if one should choose otherwise.
 
Throughout the Order finances are still no problem because of good stewardship and acute investments for seven hundred years.
 
In Royaume Uni de Kanjor, the Order is an integral part of the Aurorian Patriarchal Church  (APC) community and the obvious choice for those drawn to a monastic vocation. The total number of those associated with the Order is a little under 2500. There are currently 15  Chapter Houses overseen by one abbot, the Abbot of Vitry le Francois.  It was agreed to appoint a second Abbot, to be the Abbot of Trois Fontaines. 
 
In Bundesrepublik Dundorf, we have our Chapter House in Schwabisch Gmund and sub priories in Degerloch, Sonnenburg, Pforazheim, , Ecterdingen, Boeblingen, Calw and Kornwestheim with about 1350 brothers and novices. Growth has been steady and looks promising in future.  The Bundesrepublik has long been a very wealthy nation, and there are those who really want to withdraw since they can and try and learn how one can have a loving spirit, the 700 year old quest of our Order.
 
Most of the subpriories will be converted to priories and we will have an Abbey at Scwabisch Gmund. The First Master will be appointing a Vicar General for Royaume Uni de Kanjor and Bundesrepublik Dundorf who will have authority from the first Master to appoint the Abbots thereof. And yes, I am under consideration for Abbot at Schwabisch Gmund.
 
The Order wants us to undertake three projects.  First, subsidize several  more APC secondary schools. Second, start an associated women’s branch of the 0rder, likely Mendicant Sisters of Occidentalium which likely will be for staffing schools.  Third look into feasibility of opening a bank with investment profits.  All three seem doable.
 
The Archbishop of Atyr, Reynard Bourdeselles, who officially confirms election of our First Master was in attendance and addressed the Convocatiion.