#571
from Joe Arimpoor:
Ever since the special General Chapter the Congregation has moved forward in
spite of the threats and dangers. From a very traditional and authoritative
style of governing, in the special GC we moved towards recoginzing
the individual, his needs, and his contributions. We almost called it the
Chapter of the INDIVIDUAL!
When we gave so much of importance to the individual problems of individualism
emerged. The next chapter care-fronted this situation... There were temptations
to blot out the individual (and bring back the earlier system) with all their individuality , creativity, initiatives...
But the creative solution came in the emphasis given on the COMMUNITY,...after all, a community consisted of individuals!
In the system of of Don Bosco
the role of the rector used to be percieved as a very
important one. However, in the next chapter we saw the importance given not
only to the Rector but ... he, with individuals in the
community. Hence there came the creative solution of Rector-in-the-community!
Then we moved forward with the themes of "Educatuion
to the Faith!", and "the Collaboration with the Laity...
unfortunately, some of the experiences have not been so positive.. but should we go back or
forward? ... How to go forward in a creative way?... Salesians and the lay people!
The over emphasis of the Q & Q of the SDBs only,
is definitely a step backward. How to achieve a Q & Q with the lay people
is a real challenge!
Can we have some well-planned and well-designedexperiments
in the different regions of the Congregation?...
document the process, outcome, difficulties, and problems... and revive it in
the next chapter...and accordingly plan to take more definitive steps...
How about giving guidelines in this Chapter for such experiments?
-Fr Joe Arimpoor, Delegate of
