[131]

The 25^th General Chapter, after considering the proposals made by the Chapter itself,

and keeping in mind the general indication of the Code of Canon Law¹ concerning the temporary nature of offices in Institutes of Consecrated Life, as also the norm already adopted in our own law for superiors at provincial and local level;²

and considering furthermore on the one hand the heavy commitment called for by responsibility at such a high level, and on the other the increased pace of history and the complexity of the present time, which suggest that two periods of six years seem sufficient for a person to give of his best,

approves the following modification (in italics) to art. 128 of the Constitutions:

“The Rector Major is elected by the General Chapter for a term of six years and may be re-elected only for a second successive six-year period. He may not resign his office without the consent of the Apostolic See”.

[132]

The 25^th General Chapter, after considering the proposals made by the Chapter itself,

and keeping in mind the general indication of the Code of Canon Law³ concerning the temporary nature of offices in Institutes of Consecrated Life, as also the norm already adopted in our own law for superiors at provincial and local level;⁴

and considering furthermore on the one hand the heavy commitment called for by office at the level of the General Council, and on the other the increased pace of history and the complexity of the present time, which suggest that two periods of six years seem sufficient for a person to give of his best,

approves the following modification to art. 142 of the Constitutions:

Art. 133:

“The councilors in charge of special departments are: the councillor for formation, the councillor for the youth apostolate, the councillor for social communication, the councillor for the missions and the economer general”.

Art. 134

“The vicar general is the first collaborator of the Rector Major in the government of the Society and has ordinary vicarious power.

He takes the Rector Major’s place whenever he is absent or impeded. To him is entrusted particularly the care of religious life and discipline.

He has the task of animating the Congregation in the sector of the Salesian Family. In accordance with art. 5 of the Constitutions he promotes communion between the various groups, respecting their specific character and autonomy. In addition he guides and assists the Provinces so that they may develop in their own territories, according to their respective statutes, the Association of Salesian Cooperators and the movement of the Past-pupils”.

Art. 137

“The councillor for social communication has the duty of animating the Congregation in this sector. He promotes salesian activity in the social communication sector, and in particular coordinates at world level the structures and centres for which the Congregation has responsibility in this field”.

4. MODIFICATION OF ART. 24 OF THE GENERAL REGULATIONS (Mission Offices at Congregational level)

[134]

The 25^th General Chapter,

having considered the proposal put forward by the General Council,

and having in mind the need to better identify the responsibility of the economer general in the management and distribution of the resources of the international mission offices, together with that of the Councillor for the Missions,

and to foster a more accurate and precise identification of the resources and a more rational coordination of their distribution, in the light also of the considerable development of the Mission Offices and international NGOs,

approves the following modification (in italics) to art. 24, paragraph 2, of the Regulations concerning the constitution of mission offices at Congregational level:

“Their organization and method of functioning will depend on the provincial or provincials in whose territory the offices operate, in the light of a statute made previously with the Rector Major, and in agreement with the councillor general for the missions and with the economer general”.

5. DIVISION OF THE AUSTRALIA-ASIA GROUP OF PROVINCES

[135]

The GC25, after considering the proposals put forward by the Chapter itself,

in the light of the considerable growth of the Australia-Asia Region in the six-year period 1996-2002 and the prospects for the future, of the difficulties in follow-up and coordination, of its cultural, religious and social complexity, and of its geographical extension,

and keeping in mind that there already exists a Conference uniting the provinces of India, that the Indian situation is itself intercultural, interreligious and multilingual, and that the number of provinces and confreres is adequate,

approves the following division of the Australia-Asia group of Provinces:

SOUTH ASIA GROUP: including the Provinces of: India-Bangalore, India-Bombay (Mumbai), India-Calcutta (Kolkata), India-Dimapur, India-Guwahati, India-Hyderabad, India-Madras (Chennai), India-New Delhi, India-Tiruchy.

EAST ASIA – OCEANIA GROUP: including the Provinces of: Australia, China, Japan, Korea, North Philippines, South Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Vice-province of Indonesia-Timor.

6. REQUEST REGARDING THE METHOD TO BE FOLLOWED IN CELEBRATING THE GENERAL CHAPTERS

[136]

The 25^th General Chapter:

• considering the requests from many chapter members for an arrangement that would be less monothematic, more open to the assessment of the prevailing general situation and to the opportunity for a more specific and focused response;

• given that its members represent the whole Congregation and that there is a need to promote a better awareness and consideration of situations and perspectives at the level of Regions and of similar cultural areas;

• considering the high and rising number of chapter members, which requires a way of operating that encourages interpersonal relationships, a better knowledge of the candidates for the elections and the sharing of particular significant experiences;

• aware of the consequent need for an updating of the regulations for the General Chapter;

approves the following statement:

The GC25 requests that during the next six year period the Rector Major with his Council carry out an assessment of the celebration of the recent General Chapters with a view to evaluating and proposing a manner of operation that is more streamlined, and aimed at carrying out an examination of the situation of the Congregation and drawing up fundamental guidelines for the policy to be implemented during the following six year period, in addition to fulfilling the constitutional requirements.