In the morning the whole group went to Bordeaux, in the footsteps of our Founder, visiting the places where he lived and worked

In the evening

At 4.00 in the afternoon, participants – Lay Associates and Priest Associates – filled the assembly hall once again.

They were invited to share their lived experience during the past few days.  Gratitude, commitment, hope, challenge, the presence and action of the Holy Spirit, life of the Family, sense of communion, change, desire to share, energy, awareness of the new emerging worldview, desire to “unlearn” in order to learn, sense of belonging, interdependence, joy – all these feelings and thoughts were expressed.

At the end of this exchange there was a prayer inviting us to make a choice for this new life that was awakening in us.

Regina Ramalingam, in the name of the InterContinental Committee of the Lay Associates, thanked all those who contributed to the smooth running of the Congress.

Margaret, in the name of the General Council thanked all the members of the Family who committed themselves to the preparation and carrying out of the event we have just experienced.  She ended by saying: “It is difficult to say goodbye after such powerful experiences lived together.  Let us go forward with great hope knowing that there is a new way of being and living Family”

One of the Priest Associates in the name of the Assembly thanked Margaret and presented her with a magnificent shawl in recognition of her leadership in the Family.

We ended with the Closing Mass celebrated on the island around the statue of our Founder.