#570

THE STATE OF THE CONGREGATION:  COMMENTS

Fr. Luc Van Looy, Vicar General, comments on his 'state of the congregation' report.

FORMATION

Fr. van Looy cited Formation as the top priority.  He noted that candidates who don’t have positive signs of being able to live a religious life should not be admitted to the novitiate.  He also stated that criteria must be used at every stage of formation, and that everyone in the province must be on the same "track" with regard to the criteria used.  He touched on the question of men wanting to re-enter the Congregation after a time away.  He also noted that the formation team and the formation people in the province had to be consistent and should not be changed from year to year.  He cautioned about having "fragile" directors in the formation communities, because he noted that "fragile directors lead to fragile commitments" on the part of the young men.  He stressed the need for the period of practical
training to ordinarily be held in a person’s own province.  He also noted that since formation was such an important topic, that the councilor in charge of formation at the congregation level will work diligently to see that norms and criteria are applied and will have a greater voice in the selection of formation personnel in the future.

Re the question of homosexuality and sexual abuse.  Luc noted that we had to accept mature candidates, and we had to insure that they developed a mature and healthy outlook with regard to their own sexuality.  He stressed the need to be cautious and vigilant in this regard.  He expressed his approval with the guidelines given in the "Ratio," and he made an example of the fact that now in the United States a teacher cannot be alone with a young person for fear that the person might accuse the teacher/Salesian falsely.

YOUTH PASTORAL ACTIVITIES

Luc noted that the Salesian community had a renewed role to play in this important area.  GC 25 needs to challenge communities to a new presence among the young.  He stressed the need of the house council and rector to be intimately concerned with the EPC.  He reminded us that the rector of the community must be involved with the work to ensure that it is a Salesian work.

PROVINCE PROJECT 

  We need a strategic plan for the province.  This plan must include criteria for opening and closing works  It needs to take into account the available personnel in the province and has to keep in mind the fact that Salesians need to be in positions where they can exert the most influence on people in the work.  Luc stressed that the community is challenged to work with the laity and to form them in a Salesian mentality.  He also noted that the provincial plan should ensure light and flexible structures in which the Salesians are given privileged place in working with people rather than in being tied up with administrative structures.

 Luc went on to show how the congregation at the world level was cooperating with other religious orders.  He noted that the General Council was at work with international agencies, and was making headway in getting recognition from the European Union.

COMMUNITY   

 With reference to the theme of Community, Luc stressed the need to cultivate a sense of community among the confreres.  Salesians are community people who work through a community.  He noted that some people regard community as teamwork on a project, but rather our community life means that we are a people called together by God in a radical life commitment for the mission.  The role of the Rector is to unite and stimulate collaboration.  He talked about the Community Day as a privileged time of on-going formation.

BROTHER  

Luc noted that the communities and provinces needed to carry on a deep reflection with regard to the brothers’ vocation.  He stressed the notion that the Salesian congregation has a lay dimension, and without this lay dimension of religious life the Salesian Society cannot exist.  The figure of the coadjutor is extremely important, especially in the context of relationship with the civil context.  He also mentioned that clericalism was prevalent in certain parts of the congregation, and noted that if we do want to have vocations to the brotherhood we needed to concentrate on working for poor youngsters as a rule.

POVERTY

Our life of poverty means that we have to be open to working for the poor.  Our life needs to be seen in solidarity with the poor.  We need to create an atmosphere in our communities where the poor can always find themselves at home.  Another aspect of poverty, mentioned by Luc, was the setting up of funds.  Any province that wants to set up funds or be involved with investments must have the permission of the Rector Major.  In addition, any project involving the getting of funds from NGOs or other foundations must be cleared since the danger is the fact that the province will not be able to handle the expenses brought on once the project is completed.  It’s the province that needs to be involved in major projects and should be the "clearing house."

With regard to solidarity with the rest of the congregation, Luc noted that the Generalate has never asked provinces to give an account on how the funds given to them were spent or used.  There is a level of absolute trust here.

STRUCTURES   

 Referring to the structures of the congregation, Luc reminded us that no one except the Rector Major can speak about changing province boundaries or the joining of two provinces together.  He noted that the works needed to be restructured in the provinces, especially those that had no vocations for the past number of years.  Luc stated that the office of the Procurator General needs to be discussed more fully in the General Council; he thought that a link to the Vatican was always important.  To a question concerning whether it would be more profitable to conduct the General Chapter similar to a Synod, Luc noted that the General Chapter is the legislative organ of the congregation, and, as such, the General Chapter has legislative authority, whereas a Synod is only consultative.  

In referring again to the General Chapter, Luc stated that he hoped this General Chapter would not write a document.  Rather he hoped for a series of statements or an outline on the specific themes that would be useful to the local communities.

Finally, Luc spoke about Salesians going to work in dioceses of other countries where the provincial did not know of their presence.  He stressed very clearly and emphatically that if any Salesian is in a province other than his own for work or ministry, the provincial of the province he is in must know about him.

Luc fielded a few questions from the general assembly.  For the most part he looked quite good and healthy.  He walks with crutches to support himself, but these are only temporary while the healing process takes place.