austraLasia #2105

The Horn of Africa, and a moment of emotion in today's elections

ROME: 25th March 2008 --  No doubt readers have visited www.sdb.org and seen the banner welcoming the re-election of the Rector Major, or have gone into AGORA and seen the hundreds of messages that are pouring in by the minute, or added their own. 
    The moment, never really in doubt, was joyful, and an African confrère trumpeted the proclamation with what looked like a homemade horn - but a very effective one! Fr Pascual accepted his election gracefully, recalling that six years ago he had taken on the task with enthusiasm but perhaps little awareness of what lay ahead.  He spoke of having asked the Lord, at the beginning of this year, to give him as much as He wanted to give him - and the first thing He gave him was the death of his brother.  At this point Fr Pascual could not go on - he was overcome by a moment of emotion, but paused, regained his composure and pointed out that now the Lord had given him 16,000 brothers to think about, love and around whom to organise his life.  "For this I say 'yes'", he said.
    The afternoon saw Fr Bregolin confirmed as Vicar of the Rector Major.
    Chapter members now are into the straw vote stage for two of the 'sector' Councillors - Formation and Youth Ministry.  Formation has an incumbent who has put in six years, Fr Cereda, also the Chapter Moderator.  People could choose otherwise, but the Assembly has already demonstrated its readiness to stay with incumbents.  Youth Ministry is a wide open field, there being no incumbent (Fr Domenech will not be continuing) and the straw vote is part of the process to begin to see what directions the Assembly is heading in.
    Tomorrow a similar process will take place for Social Communications, and Economy, perhaps also for Missions.  The Rector Major spoke briefly to the fact that in making choices this time, Chapter members should consider first the role of Councillor (all councillors are equal as 'councillors' who can give advice to the Rector Major), keep in mind that a degree of competence and experience in the sector is advisable, and particularly in the case of the three sectors of the Salesian Mission which have already been discussed and voted on for stricter coordination, viz., Youth Ministry, Social Communications, Missions, the choice of person should keep in mind people who can work in such a coordinated manner on behalf of the entire Congregation.
    So there you have it.  Tonight will be a 'party' night; prayer together, then supper, then a show.  There are Chinese dragons wandering around, and no doubt the African horn will be back again, so it will be a colourful and noisy night.
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Title: australasia 2105
Subject and key words: SDB General GC26 Election of RM and Vicar
Date (year): 2008
ID: 2000-2099|2105