ROME: 7 March 2014 -- Now that the Chapter is getting into a rhythm
which it will keep, largely, for the coming month or more,
let's take a look at how this happens, along with some of the
more interesting moments, issues. These are merely 'hints' at
things, as the Commissions get down to the task of exploring
the Chapter theme, going over the Rector Major's report on the
Congregation.
The statistical material, prepared by Salesian Brother Marco
bay from the UPS, has just been presented.
There
are other things happening, too, outside the immediate realm
of the Chapter, but involving it.
Commissions
*
two words!
Commissions
are at work - they need to look at the major aspect of the
Chapter theme, try to come up with a brief summary of their
thinking (and based on the long time of preparations,
Provincial Chapters, discussions in the auditorium, personal
study). And then given that the Rector Major has presented his
report on the Congregation, they are to put questions to him
about the material he has presented - or other questions that
they have.
They follow the same process for the first task - the Chapter
theme - that we are by now used to: a 'Listening and
interpreting' stage (maybe run into one), and then
seeking to propose a way ahead. So what might it look
like in a real case? Here is an excerpt from one Commission's
thinking at this early stage:
Possible ways ahead in three
areas: A. Community – Fraternal life
Seek a simpler, poorer, more supportive ('solidale') style
Encourage the primacy of God which gives meaning to our
community and religious life. B. Shared mission with the
laity
Enabling them and making them available to accompany young
people in our works
Reading and putting the message of “Evangelii Gaudium” into
Salesian language
Reshaping our works according to the criterion of pastoral
significance C. Vocation – Formation
Giving importance to a vocational culture
Formation is a priority: therefore the quality of formators
needs to be seen to - they are our guarantee of faithfulness
and proper discernment in the light of the Word of God and the
modest set up of our formation settings respecting and valuing
cultural diversity. Thus our witness will also be a source of
vocations.
This kind of material comes in from all the Commissions - it
eventually becomes 'fodder' (after much debate and tossing
around) for a possible statement/document which is adopted by
the Chapter as a whole. these are early days. Don't put too
much store on the above in final terms, but it offers a
glimpse.
And questions to the Rector Major? They can be wide-ranging
and some of them will have been asked before, like the one
that runs: "Is it not limiting for a General Chapter to focus
just on one theme? Should we be drawing up a thematic document
or a six year plan?" There are questions about the UPS (in a
context now where there are many Salesian universities), and
given the financial situations we face today, no surprise that
one question is how to prepare confreres competent in a
financial management which can balance religious life and
professionalism.
Comment (taken from
written comment on these stats)
"Over the last 18 years, as you already know, we have gone
from 17,500 to 15,000 or less, a loss of more than 2,000. This
reduction in overall terms needs to be placed within the
contemporary situation that sees a growth in the Catholic
population and a drecrease in numbers for other historical
religious families such as the Jesuits, Franciscans,
Dominicans ... In this context a loss of more than one percent
a year on average is not as sharp as it has been for other
religious, especially, for example, the de la Salles.
(Fratelli delle scuole cristiane)".
Other:
The
famous 'Gerini case' has not yet got a final resolution either
way, but the very recent confirmation of a public auction date
by civil court in Rome does ramp up the pressure - 30
April. Mind you, the conditions for tenders are so
demanding that it is quite likely the Pisana would be 'passed
in' on the first round - and the court has set another date in
September if that be the case. Meanwhile there is an appeal
already in legal due process and this could nullify the
entire process if there is a positive judgement (positive,
that is, to the Gerini Foundation and the Salesians). At this
point it all depends on that legal judgement and whether it
arrives in time.
