Team Visit, EAO:
RM's closing points
(and below, a brief roundup from Japan from a
Salesian perspective)
HUA HIN: 12 March 2011 -- "Rather than
multiplying guidelines I invite you to concentrate your
efforts and resources on four action areas to which you
yourselves have given priority, and through which you will
be able to face the challenges of the economic, social,
cultural and religious situation in the Region", the Rector
major told participants in his concluding address to the EAO
Team Visit which has taken place at Hua Hin over these days.
What follows is an indication of the main points of this
'invitation', and serves as a broad summary of content,
rather than chronology. To keep it brief, what follows also
includes paraphrase.
Salesian Mission in its global context
"The secret of the renewal of provinces and local
communities is to be found in article 3 of the
Constitutions, Our apostolic consecration, where we read:
“Our apostolic mission, our fraternal community and the
practice of the evangelical counsels are the inseparable
elements of our consecration which we live in a single
movement of love towards God and towards our brothers. Our
mission sets the tenor of our whole life.” In this way
mission is for us, Salesians, the centre of gravity and the
driving force of our life.... I consider it, therefore,
fitting to define first the global challenges of the
historical moment we are living through worldwide,
emphasising that these are at the same time opportunities
for the renewal of our Salesian life and mission. We cannot
fail to notice, secondly, how this Region is composed of
diverse economic, social, cultural and religious realities
that do not allow us to speak in uniform terms".
1. Cultural challenges. The RM goes
on to note postmodernity, inculturation and inter-cultural
mindset, secularistion and secularism as key cultural
challenges. Postmodernity's onset, with positive and
negative aspects, touches this region, though its full
impact may yet be ahead. the RM asks for a balance between
inculturation and inter-cultural thinking: the test of
inculturation is greater faith commitment because faith is
perceived through the eyes of one's own culture.
Secularisation is not in itself negative, but its forces
often degenerate into secularism. The RM makes the point
that it may be more a risk for the Salesians themselves than
for the many deeply religious peoples of the region.
2. Church Challenges. Amongst
Church challenges, he lists evangelisation (not an option
but a missionary obligation). It means, for us, finding and
using new channels (street, media, music, information...).
Pluralism is a challenge - it can become relativism: the
challenge here is thinking and reflection to then be
translated into social commitment. Inter-religious dialogue
in this region is crucial: we need a "ministry of
intelligent conciliation; we are called to give account of
our faith in public places". An implication is concliation,
first of all in community!
3. Institutional challenges.
Initial formation. The Ratio's 'Criteria and Norms' are
simply not known or not applied. Little clarity about
structuring accompaniment, evidence of fragmentation and
lack of assimilation of the Congregation's guidelines on
pastoral ministry: mission, youth ministry, communication,
vocation activity need integration. The RM also notes
weakness in animation and governance especially at
provincial and local levels noted in such things as an
absence of quantitative and qualitative consistency of some
communities, disproportionate ratios of work/community, low
profile of the Rector... in other words animation and
governance has yet to overcome certain mindsets, resistance
to change.
4. Personal challenges. Individualism
tops the bill, in its various manifestations. Lack of
awareness of consecrated identity which can lead to
disaffection, poverty not seen as a qualifying asset,
affective and effective alienation from the young. Clear
identity is a key to good evangelisation. But another
element to be attended to is the affective dimension in
terms of interpersonal relationships, the intellectual
dimension, spiritual life, pastoral action. it all needs
'warmth'. without this confreres cannot successfully address
challenges, difficulties.
Fostering Salesian Mission in East Asia-Oceania
The RM notes the 'Springtime' in much of east Asia: the
foundation of new local Churches (e.g. in Mongolia), the
birth of new local missionary institutes (Korea,
Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia), a fresh proclamation of
the Gospel and the flourishing of vocations despite the
diaspora-like situation (Vietnam, Timor Leste and Indonesia,
South Korea). Within the Church of East Asia we are
witnessing an impressive growth: the last 15 years has seen
a fourfold increase in the number of priests, men religious
have increased by 40% and women religious by 30%.
Hundreds of missionaries “ad gentes” and “ad vitam” have
gone out from the local Churches. In the Pacific part
of the Region many religious Congregations are still looking
for expressions of consecrated life in local cultures shared
by missionary members from abroad and by indigenous
members. In Australia, on the other hand, the efforts
of consecrated persons are directed towards pastoral work
for vocations and the formation of lay collaborators in line
with the various charisms of the Congregations concerned.
He presents the region with a threefold interpretation of
the Da Mihi Animas as a way of responding to all this:
– mysticism: in a Region which is in general deeply
religious, it is essential to ensure in our consecrated
confreres a strong personal experience of God;
– prophecy: our religious communities are called upon to be
courageous in living the Gospel as an alternative model for
living;
– service: for the benefit of the poor youth and those
marginalised for economic, sexual, racial or religious
reasons, in imitation of Jesus who humbled himself and came
to serve and not to be served. He concludes by
offering the following areas (and each has its own several
points, too many to recall here):
a) Starting afresh from Don Bosco: a heartfelt sense
of this in the region but beware superficiality in knowledge
of the Founder; Good
translations and a clearer and homogeneous terminology are
required.; reckon on
spiritual direction, people trained in spirituality and
Salesianity. Cultivate people with strong personal values.
b) Evangelisation and Vocation promotion. We are
aware of its importance. See to a Christ-centred education;
deep updated knowledge of Jesus Christ without false
Christologies; evangelisation is not an individual activity;
recognising the 'seeds of the kingdom' in Buddhism,
Confucianism, Taoism, Islam etc; training in Eastern methods
of prayer; generous response to 'missio ad gentes'. And
above all - primacy of God.
c) Poverty and New Frontiers. Poverty
constitutes an integral part of our being consecrated
persons; its first manifestation “is the total giving of
oneself to God in availability to the needs of the young;
this brings with it self-renunciation and putting aside
individual projects in order to share those of the
community” (GC26, 79). Here the RM calls on "Stewardship as
an expression of living out evangelical poverty. The
Salesian practices this by taking care of the earth and of
creation. He likewise integrates this in his youth
ministry"; sharing of our material resources; transparency
in financial matters; recognising new poverties, be they the
inordinate use of media, demands for youth labout,
migration....
d) New frontiers. In this part the recommendations
could already be found in the GC26 recommendations
Religious Discipline
"The term ‘discipline’, coming from the same root as the
word ‘disciple’, means, indeed, the way to undergo to become
disciples. Religious discipline is about being a faithful
disciple and not merely about following some norms or
fulfilling some laws. The majority of the confreres of
the region have taken in true religious and Salesian values
and are living their religious commitment well with a great
spirit of belonging and dedication. Most of the confreres
show the courage to face their failings and the willingness
to address issues of infidelity with a certain degree of
honesty. There are some who do not follow the rules and
regulations of the Institute giving rise to disorder,
scandal and influencing negatively the community and the
province. In order to help us to be faithful disciples we
resolve to abided by the following steps: processes that
will enable the confreres to grow in consecrated freedom and
not just in ‘guided’ freedom. Accountability not only to the
Salesian community and the province but also to our
beneficiaries through a process of realistic and sincere
social audit. In addressing cases of the abuse of minors and
including improper relationships both with men and women, we
will abide by the guidelines of the Congregation, the Church
and the laws of the country. We will make our communities
numerically consistent and appoint as Rectors people who can
both animate and govern. Confreres given opportunities for
ongoing formation and offered the possibility for competent
spiritual accompaniment. Steps to address not only personal
indiscipline but also institutional indiscipline
And to conclude: "Today, like yesterday, we are not alone,
but we have Mary as teacher and mother. 'Get up and let’s
go' (Mk 14,42)."
JAPAN
We are all well up-to-date with the general scene, be it in
the Northern Region where the Tsunami did most damage, or
Tokyo and surrounds where the earthquake itself caused
damage. The Salesian situation? No serious
damage and no loss of life or injury (our houses are not
north of Tokyo). In Tokyo itself, minor damage to a
number of community structures: the
Cross fell off the bell tower of the Meguro Parish Church. A
surrounding wall at Adachi and the Guardian Angels statues
all disintegrated! Kawasaki's statue of the Sacred Heart
fell down and an old part of the kindergarten was damaged.
The greatest damage in terms of collapsed bookshelves and
general upset was at the bookshop and religious objects
sales outlet at Don Bosco Sha.
Let's keep the people of Japan in our prayers. _________________
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