ROME --  March 2002.  REFLECTIONS OF THE AUSTRALIAN DELEGATE

REFLECTION 3:

A major gathering of people from all around the world as The Chapter, must have a clear ‘modus operandi’.   The process adopted for the Chapter is one that proves to be extraordinarily cumbersome.  The issues and ideas forwarded from around the world for consideration at the Chapter are taken up into a very restrictive process that conditions what has been submitted and prescribes what is to happen to those submissions without sufficient sensitivity to the origin and the nature of the submissions.

Sitting in the Work-Groups grappling with the process, one is somewhat hamstrung in being able to address the submissions in an enlightened manner.   There is little opportunity to bring to bear the assistance of strategies and resources beyond what one can call to mind in this ‘hot-house’ situation.   The submissions from around the world have been worked into a preparatory document which becomes the starting point for the work of the group.  As the various members of the group focus on the working paper and assess it in light of the Constitutions and other Documents (both Church Documents and Salesian Documents), various observations are shared and gradually the working paper is redrafted.   This process is followed until the Commission (of which the Working Group is just one subsection) is happy that the Document is ready to submit to the whole membership of the Chapter for comments and eventually approval.

The end result will be a compromise Document that attempts to include all the various points of view.   For those reading the Document there will not be the same response as for those who will have been engaged in formulating it.   But, to expect that the Salesians throughout the world will be renewed by these Documents is quite unrealistic.   However, it is true that for those engaged in the process there is an experience of renewal and certainly a greatly increased appreciation for the Salesian Mission throughout the world.

If the objective of the Chapter is to launch this process of renewal, then there has to be a more effective way of achieving this end.   If the objective is to formulate Documents, then a more effective way of achieving  that would be to engage a circle of expert researchers and writers who have the competence to gather the appropriate information, weigh it up in light of existing Documents (Ecclesiastical and Salesian), bring to bear some historical perspective and other relevant contextual information gleaned from contemporary studies and present the result to the Salesian world for consideration.   So once this Document had been drafted it could be circulated  for comment and reaction before it was submitted to a gathering such as the Chapter for final comment, revision and approval.   Such a Document would have greater value and could then become the reference for devising further interactive experiences to effectively bring about the renewal that is desired.

It is disappointing that after bringing together such a cross-section of people from the Salesian World that no major statement of vision or of witness is proclaimed.   If the Salesians are great advocates for youth,  then there should be a message to youth or a statement of commitment to youth that can be proclaimed in a public (Media) statement.  If the Salesians are working amongst the poor providing a key to a better life such as by education programs, then the world should hear of this as a prophetic comment on contemporary situations and a challenge to the ‘wealthy’.

Quite evidently there is great work being done by Salesians in Missionary settings where the boundaries of Christianity are being stretched out and new peoples and areas  gathered into the Church.   There is room also for an equal enthusiasm for evangelisation in the developed world.   Young people need ‘Prophets’ who stand out and provide sign posts to point them in directions other than the materialistic and hedonistic way of contemporary society.  

It is difficult to see how the Documents coming out of the Chapter will be of assistance in rekindling this flame so that the Salesians are attractive to the young who are searching for a more purposeful way of living in contemporary society.  The in-ward focus of the Chapter leaves these prophetic aspects of being present amongst the young of today largely untouched.  But when the Chapter is over this will be the challenge that we face in the day to day living out of our Salesian commitment.