RITUAL OF ACCEPTANCE OF CONGREGATION
LOGO
The
Journey of seeking an internationally accepted Congregation
Logo was commenced at the 2002 Chapter. The journey has
been a gradual one, providing opportunities for members of
the Congregation to reflect on our identity as a
Congregation at this time, and to come to a consensus of
what kind of Logo represents us as we are today. The
Congregation Logo was agreed upon at the meeting of Leaders
in the Philippines, January 2006.
A
Reflection: Discovering an Identity
Whilst some
[Religious] deny concern about their identity, most concede
that the issue hangs over their heads like a storm cloud,
robbing them of the confidence they once knew, rendering
them awkward and self-conscious in certain ministry and
social situations.
A certain unease and awkwardness accompanies anyone’s
search for identity since identity is at the same time both
a constant and an evolving reality. Even though an
individual experiences a sense of ego-awareness that
remains constant throughout his or her life,
identity’s fluid character renders it illusive and
ethereal. Ultimately our true identity remains a mystery
hidden in God.
Both profoundly intimate and obviously social, the sense of
one’s identity touches literally every aspect of
personality and serves as the filter through which pass the
daily events and rhythmic patterns of life.
Unless [Religious] choose to wrestle with the implications
of their evolving identity, the shadow of unfinished soul
work drains their energy and weakens their confidence.
Donald Cozzens
From
our Statutes and Constitutions
Our attire as
religious is simple and distinctive. Stat.5.1
We are called to witness by prophetic action to our option
for the poor and the oppressed and to solidarity with them.
Const. 26
Logo Interpretation
A logo is always open to exploration and insight. What
meaning do you see in the symbols of the logo?
The central
symbol of Christianity, i.e. the cross, is also central to
our expression of our identity as Christian Brothers. The
shape of the cross takes its origin from Celtic
spirituality, which is also at the root of our Congregation
spirituality. Symbols of the Trinity are found within the
central circle, the cross, and the free flowing movement of
the branch. The significance and the insights of Edmund
Rice are highlighted in the stylised E which is
incorporated in the logo.
As disciples of Christ, Christian Brothers are continually
called to let go and leave behind all that prevents us from
living faithfully the values of the Gospel, and from
promoting the Kingdom of God. This call and response is
shown symbolically by the movement of the circle away from
its regular pattern. Our call to internationality, which
flows from the time of our Founder and continues on to this
day, is not just in geography but also in moving, as
flexible and mobile disciples, to meet the needs of the
times. The new leaves and shoots express a continually
renewing spiritual journey, offering new life to the
Congregation and bringing hope to our Brothers and to our
world. Yet even the new leaves continue to express our
growth through fragility, by their links to the cross and
in the risks of branching out.
Further
meaning will be found as we reflect on the logo and take
inspiration from what it tells us about our story and our
challenge as disciples.
Share any other meanings of the logo with one
another.
Blessing
of Logos:
All pray together
O God, the
boundless source of all good things, the strength of all
who put their trust in You, our unfailing guide on our
Congregation journey,
We ask you to bless these symbols which we wear as a sign
of our faith and commitment to the proclamation of the
gospel and to the witnessing of the gospel in the whole of
our lives.
Let these logos be a reminder of our Congregation journey,
of the inspiration of Blessed Edmund, of all the committed
men who have gone before us, of our solidarity with all of
our Brothers at the present time.
Let the logos be a reminder to all of our commitment to
promoting your Kingdom throughout our world, a reminder to
live out our charism, finding you in the marginalized and
oppressed of our world.
Let the wearing of this logo be an encouragement to let go
of all that holds us back from you, and a reminder to take
up our cross daily and follow you.
Confident that you are with us, we seek the strength and
courage to follow the inspirations of the Spirit as we are
led into the unknown.
All
pray together while the Logos are sprinkled with blessed
water:
We ask now that You bless these symbols of our Congregation
, and make them holy by the power of the Spirit, through
the sprinkling of this blessed water, in the name of the
Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Acceptance
of Logos:
We
pass the logos from one to another, saying as we do so:
Receive
the logo of the Christian Brothers and wear it as a
reminder of our identity as Disciples of Jesus, and as
Brothers living the charism of Edmund Rice
Concluding
Mantra: I
am the Vine, you are the branches