As the entire Congregation is already expressing it thanks
to the man who has led it for 12 years, thoughts now turn to
he - and those - who must lead it into the future.
Monday is Discernment Day. Not everything happens on Monday!
It leads to Tuesday, Wednesday ... We could expect to have a
new RM on Tuesday.
We provide here some insights into how this discernment
process will take place. It is an 'open field', in some ways
perhaps more open than ever before, and the facilitator will
be reminding 230 Chapter members of just that. ----------------------
But first - we say
thank you to Fr Pascual Chávez. He has led the
Congregation wisely, gently, firmly for 12 years. Thank
you! It is expected that Fr Pascual will address a brief
letter to the entire Congregation this Monday 24 March. It
will undoubtedly be made available on sdb.org.
Now, D-Day
First some interesting little details that might escape
general notice. Since the decision was made last week
about which regions are which in the Congregation,
the new configuration will obtain for anything in discernment
involving regions. For example:
- There are seven churches or chapels, no less, in the General
House, of different sizes (two of these have been especially
'created' but the others already exist as chapels). Each
region is assigned its chapel/church. A meeting hall is
likewise assigned to regions. So the new Region configuration
for Europe, North Central and Mediterranean will already be in
place.
- Since there will be a degree of reflection and discernment
going on at Regional level, the oldest confrere (if willing)
or the next one down in age until someone is willing (!) will
help with discernment.
- current Sector and Regional councillors have the option of
joining in with their region of origins (UPS which is a tiny
region is already assigned this way anyway). In which case
they can vote with that region. They may also choose not to.
Fr Garcia Paredes cfm, Claretian, who will be facilitating the
discernment, will lead the chapter members through a
reflection on Monday which will, amongst other things, invite
them to look at this 'sacramental' moment. He will remind them
of conscience and the Spirit, that this is community
discernment as well as personal. He will speak 'in praise of
slow, substantial time' so they can 'discover the David (1 Sam
16:12) amongst them'.
On another occasion today he will remind them that this is an
ecclesial, congregation and even global moment, given the
extension of our Congregation. he will provide two biblical
texts for personal lectio divina. He will invite them to think
about what the spiritual features of a 21st century leader
might be, and he will remind them of Pope Francis' stirring
words in Evangelii Gaudium: "I once more invoke the Holy
Spirit. I implore Him to come and renew the Church, to stir
and impel her to go forth boldly to evangelise all peoples".
The actual steps towards
electing a Rector Major
In practical terms he will lead them into the more immediate
steps for discerning and then voting for the new Rector Major:
1. Being aware of the theological and spiritual significance -
what is God's will in the context of the Congregation, the
Church, the world? Here they will write things down which will
be shared with the whole Assembly. There will be time for
personal prayer and to consult with others.
2. This leads them to the second step, where the chapter
members look at the Congregational context. Here, after an
inspirational introduction by the facilitator (see above on
the spiritual features of a 21st century leader) he will
invite them to think of the profile of a good Rector Major for
today. Again, personal prayer, lectio, consultation,
'corridor' chats, they will write something down on this - the
profile.
3. First straw vote: there will have been convergences and
divergences in such a profile. This is where the facilitator
can also help. But this time they begin to look for names of
individuals - who are the people the Spirit is offering us -
which way is the 'wind' blowing.
4. This step is based on having a list of names from the
earlier stage - names emerging with more than just one
'backer' - may 10, 20. At this point two things can happen -
someone who in conscience did not want to be part of that list
could indicate so, and there might still be people not on that
list at all who can enter in at a subsequent point.
5. By this step, an alphabetical list of names is provided.
Then there is Mass, invocation of the Holy Spirit and the
election tales place - for as many rounds as is needed.
The entire Congregation is invited to pray for this moment.
