ROME: 9 March 2014 -- After a full week of solid Chapter work,
Chapter members will be looking forward to Sunday and a little
cultural animation involving the 'Meridionale' (Southern)
Italian Province - Naples.
But work went on right up to Saturday. Much of this week was
taken up with the Rector Major's Report, reactions to it,
study of it and questions to the RM about it.
All of that seems to be coming together in appropriate
summaries to be made available in the major languages of the
Chapter.
And of course, Lent started. Someone asked the RM if there
would be a common penance for Lent for the Chapter. Given
cultural differences, he said, food would not be part of that,
but being punctual with all duties and schedules for the
Chapter would be!
And - is there a new term somewhere on the horizon? We've had
POI (OPP) - are we about to get a POC (OCP or maybe
SCP), Strategic Congregational Plan? If we do get a POC then
maybe 'Rasunuma 'n poc' takes on some additional importance
(cf yesterday's item)!
Questions to the RM As
a result of the RM's extensive report, there would obviously
be questions to him - these came for the most part from the
Commissions, the juridical commission maybe furnishing more
than the others.
Some of those questions reflect the commissions comments
presented in yesterday's austraLasia. But here are a few
others, just to offer a glimpse into these questions.
Questions covered issues
like: the tone of the Report in general; Formation;
Brothers; Fraternal Life; the Religious Discipline; Those who
leave; Youth Ministry; the SDB-Lay relationship; Finance;
Redimensioning; Expectations of this Chapter; Project Europe;
UPS. 41 questions in all.
He was asked, for example, if in the light of the statistics,
the Report might not be too optimistic? One Brother made the
observation that other than 1 who was ex-officio, 6 who were
elected and 4 invited only 7 have voting rights. They make up
3% of the Chapter group but Brothers are 12% of the
Congregation - obvious question then: is there not some
imbalance here? Why?
There has been work done on why temporary professed have a
high attrition rate, but has similar reflection been given to
the loss of perpetually professed members?
When will the YM new Framework be presented - or will it?
We've been told it is complete and ready.
With regard to the SDB-lay relationship, could we also have
statistics on lay people who are closely integrated into our
work also integrated into our statistics?
What lessons have been learned from examples of financial
mismanagement?
Getting around to some first
'results' of the week
More work was done on the initial report of the drafting group
attempting to sum up the study (RM) reflections by
commissions. That is now being translated into English. here
are some tidbits from that:
This more formal and
finished summary covers the following areas:
1. Visible, credible, fruitful fraternal life
2. SDB and lay formation
3. The mission: our presence amongst the young
4. Animation and Government.
The summary draws attention to the powerful testimony of Pope
Francis and directions indicated in his Evangelii Gaudium - with
implications for our educational and pastoral mission. Under (1) above there
is a call to seriously rethink our community life and
restructure it. That will obviously get further airing over
the weeks to come. This involves formation of rectors amongst
others. It also appears to call for a substantial review of
our formation processes Under (2) a number of
the problems in the relationship stem from the SDBs
themselves. So it is also a case of clear identity on our
part, as well as the clear lay identity rooted in their
baptismal role and place in the Church. A suggestion that one
of the Departments needs to take responsibility for this area
of lay formation. Under (3) there is a
renewed call to ensure that the young and not our works are
the focus. We need to begin with the implicit desire young
people have for spirituality but eventually reach an explicit
proposal of faith. Under (4) the rector
has another mention. maybe we need to redefine his role within
the new dynamics of the context for Salesian work today. There
are suggestions for far greater collegiality and cooperation
and interaction at General Council level, between the GC and
Provincials, Provincials and local communities. And,
finally, a request to review the tasks of the Regional who
often gets caught up with extraordinary visitations and spends
little time in coordination within the region or in being
close to Provincials.
As indicated, these are but glimpses. There is much more, and
it's only the start.
