#575

GC25:DISCERNMENT DRAWS INEVITABLY TOWARDS DECISION

Note: For those of us 'out there', the excitement and responsibility of the moment is tempered by the daily round - but we feel it nonetheless and unite ourselves with our brothers on the job in there!

My source for what lies below is Nick Reina (SUO).  I've chopped, stripped his account back, since readers want the 'guts' of it all - with the attendant dangers of doing that, so apologies to Nick if it doesn't do his account justice.  One last thing - you already have the outline of the process; I take it you just want what people are thinking at the moment!  Nick's account is one of upbeat honesty, I think.

PROBLEMS, PRIORITIES CONGREGATIONWIDE

"Fr. McSweeney along with the translators had come up with a list of the problems, the priorities, and the qualities most needed.  From what I can see, there is
a definite feeling on the part of a majority of the chapter members to come to grips with the basic identity of the Salesian.  By that I mean that the identity of our religious charism along with fidelity and the integration of our charism into today’s society were stressed.  At the personal level, there seems to be a problem with superficiality, especially as regards to our religious commitment.  Some mentioned problems with regard to formation; others noted that there is a definite problem with vocations, especially the vocation of the Salesian coadjutor.  Mention was made of the “aging” of the Salesians in many parts of the world, coupled with a certain tiredness and disillusion.  On my part I see the problem with the brothers’ vocation as one that involves the problem with a basic understanding of religious life today.  I think we need to look at our basic commitment to religious life as Salesians first, and not stress the difference between the “clerical” and the “lay” religious.  The fact that there are many more priests than brothers has a certain effect even on the way the brothers perceive their vocation.

As someone in my group pointed out, it isn’t a cause/effect problem.  Sometimes we run the danger of trying to sort things out as simple cause/effect difficulties.  That kind of thinking, especially in dealing with something as vast as the vocation problem, can lead to discouragement and a sense of futility.  There are so many factors at work today, in society, in our own personal lives as Salesian religious, in our Church, in the family structure, to name a few, that trying to find a single cause for the vocation problem isn’t easy and won’t necessarily mean that we can solve the problem. 
 
AND QUALITIES NEED IN 'THE MAN'?

With regard to the qualities needed in the Rector Major, as you can well imagine the one that garnered the most comments was “Salesian spirituality and Salesian charism.”  The chapter delegates are looking for someone who loves the congregation, is imbued with the charism, and isn’t afraid to proclaim it in a charismatic and prophetic way.  In reference to qualities needed for governing the congregation, a majority of the delegates listed the “ability to work with a team” as a high priority.  Also high on the list of governing qualities was courage, optimism, and a decisive manner of working.


In reference to the personal qualities needed by the new Rector Major, a good majority of the delegates noted that he had to be a man of faith, someone who
was kind and reflected Don Bosco’s charity of “amorevolezza.”  A few others noted that he had to be someone who could communicate well.  A final category in reference to the qualities needed by the Rector Major focused on “openness to the world scene.”  He needs to have an open mind; he needs to be someone open to the signs of the times, and he needs to be someone sensitive to the issues of enculturation.  When I look over these traits and qualities I can feel the presence of the Holy Spirit guiding and directing all of us in this period of reflection and discernment."

What better point to leave the discussion and await the outcome.  JBF