2. GUIDELINES AND POLICIES
2.1. CALENDAR OF PREPARATION FOR THE 26th GENERAL CHAPTER
In preparation for the GC26 the following calendar indicates the main events.
April - May 2006
Between 3 and 12 April the Rector Major and the General Council studied the theme of the 26th General Chapter, its various aspects and the calendar. On 12 April the Rector Major appointed Fr Francesco Cereda Moderator of the GC26, according to the norms of article 112 of the General Regulations.
On 15 April the Rector Major, according to the norms of art. 112 of the Regulations, appointed the Technical Commission for the GC26, composed of the following confreres: Fr Tarcisio Scaramussa, Fr Marek Chmielewski, Bro. Claudio Marangio, Fr Juan Carlos Pérez Godoy, Fr Gian Luigi Pussino.
The Commission, chaired by the Moderator, met together in Rome between 15 and 17 May and in various sessions studied and formulated the following items:
Calendar of preparations for the GC26, starting from the opening date decided by the General Council.
Outline for reflection and work on the theme of the GC26, offered as a help to the Provinces.
Suggestions for the preparation and carrying out of the Provincial Chapters.
Juridical norms useful for the elections.
The contributions drawn up by the Technical Commission were passed to the Rector Major by the Moderator and have become part of this number 394 of the Acts of the General Council.
June 2006
The Rector Major convokes the 26th General Chapter, in accordance with articles 150 of the Constitutions and 111 of the General Regulations. He thereby specifies its principal purpose, place and opening date.
With the Acts of the General Council n. 394 the letter of convocation, the theme for the GC26, the outline for reflection for the local and Provincial communities and the instructions for the carrying out of the Provincial Chapters are being sent.
July 2006
The Moderator sends to the Provincials the forms for the minutes and the model sheets for the contributions of the Provincial Chapters and of the confreres to the GC26. They are also placed on the site of the Direzione Generale.
The Rector Major appoints the Commission for the review of the minutes of the elections of the Provincial Delegates to the GC26 (cf. Reg. 115). Under the direction of the Moderator of the GC26, this verifies the calculation of the number and the lists of the confreres belonging to the Province or Vice Province in view of the PC.
September 2006 - July 2007
Starting from September 2006, and as soon as possible the Provinces send to the Moderator of the GC26 the “General list of confreres belonging to the Province in view of the PC” (cf. AGC 394 n. 2.4.3.1).
During this time in the Provinces the preparations for and the carrying out of the Province Chapter take place (C. 171-172), the date of which should be fixed according to the following dead line.
15 July 2007
Not later than this date the following documents should have reached the Moderator of the GC26:
The minutes of the Provincial Chapters.
The minutes of the election of the Delegates to the GC26 and their substitutes.
The contributions of the Provincial Chapters.
The contributions of individual confreres.
Proposals which arrive later than 15 July 2007 cannot be taken into consideration.
Provincial Chapters which study themes concerning their own province and make deliberations which need to be approved by the Rector Major with his Council in accordance with C. 170, must send the deliberations concerned to the Secretary General.
August 2007
The contributions received will be put in order and classified by a group set up for the purpose. In the meantime the Rector Major appoints the precapitular Commission for the preparation of the working documents to be sent to those taking part in the GC26 (cf. Reg. 113).
September 2007
The precapitular Commission is at work.
November 2007
The working documents prepared by the precapitular Commission are sent to the Provincials and the Provincial Delegates to the GC26.
December 2007 - February 2008
The members of the GC26 study the working documents in their own communities.
24 February 2008
The 26th General Chapter begins.
Conclusion of the Chapter
The duration of the GC26 is expected to be about two months; 18 April 2008 is expected to be its final day.