ROME: 18 March 2014 -- GC27 taking shape? Hasn't it
been doing that for nigh on four weeks now? True, since it
has to 'take shape' at many levels, and an essential level
is that 230 people or thereabouts become very familiar with
one another.
But things are moving on. With a set of 'straw votes' behind
them, the juridical commission will be looking to redrafting
proposals for final voting; with the presentation of a
'Listening and interpretation' draft on the 3rd key topic
(Servants of the young) by the Drafting Group on Tuesday 18
March, this means that the final 'Way ahead' stage will also
move towards completion, leaving the way open to reshaping
the text into its final form.
And other things are moving on: this time next week (25
March) will will probably have a new RM and subsequently a
new or reupholstered General Council. special 'scent', sweaty though
it may be: a marathon in Seoul on their behalf. 'Taking shape' has been happening in more than formal
meeting stages. Trips to Naples and Florence for interested
(and not too weary) people, meetings on the side, be they
other Salesian activities, e.g. 70 or so Provinces were
represented on Saturday at a PDO-cum-DBN-cum-VIS meeting to
see how capacity building and advocacy strategies are working
across the Salesian spectrum. Special focus on Africa, but
that as an example of particular interest. And Regional
meetings are beginning to happen too - formally organised ones
as well as the informal ones. These are intended to suss out
candidature for the role of the Regional, which would appear,
at least in straw vote terms, to be a largely unchanged
feature of the new General Council. Some Regional must change
under the rules - they only get two consecutive goes at it.
Other could decide it is time for someone else. Stay
tuned.
Monday 18 March was largely given over to commissions of all
kinds - studying the first draft of the 'Listening and
Interpretation' stages of what will end up as the final
document comprising the three key sub-topics of the theme:
mystics..., prophets..., servants... The study was on the 2nd
of these. The Juridical Commission instead was hammering out
drafts of 'iuxta modums' (no, not a new kind of technology,
but the 'yes, but with reservations' proposals received), and
presenting new proposals. Some time together in the afternoon
looking at elections procedures for sector and region
councillors and voting (still 'straw') on the morning's work.
Tuesday sees the Listening and Interpretation stage of the 3rd
key topic (Servants of the young) go to the Assembly for
discussion. It is looking good, but from a translator's
perspective its four pages contain just about every linguistic
trap you could want (or not want - risignificares and protagonismos and animaziones galore!). That in itself
is a good indication that it is really getting to the nub of
things, hitting us where it hurts, or where it must make an
impact.
As the week moves on, the mood will too - more focused on the
upcoming elections, To guide the confreres in this, Fr
José Cristo Rey García Paredes cmf (yes, they do
have rather long names some of our Spanish-speaking brethren,
don't they) a Claretian missionary, will be at work - is
already quietly at work judging from his pre-prepared and
excellent material.
Elsewhere in the Region
- The Timorese Bishops have turned up in Rome for their ad limina
- DB Henderson (Solomons) is at its Rector's Cup once more,
under the new rector this time, Fr Dominic Kachira.
- The SIGNIS world conference, recently concluded in Rome,
produced a statement on media for a culture of peace: creating
images with the new generation. Participants included Fr
Ambrose Pereira sdb, SIGNIS Pacific President and Sr. Sesilia
Sala fma, Catholic Communications Solomons Director.
- CSJ's (Caritas) Sisters sent off 3 new missionaries on
Sunday: 2 to Peru and one to South Sudan Elsewhere in the Salesian
World
Don Bosco Publications has just published A Connected Life: Mystical
Christianity for today by Michael Cunnignham sdb
