SO - WHERE ARE WE AT?
Well for a start, the Archbishop of Adelaide (South
Australia) dropped a line wanting to congratulate our new Rector Major on his
appointment, and needed to know how to contact him. There are many readers
of 'austraLasia' who like to just keep a watching brief on things Salesian,
obviously, and who appreciate the work done by the Congregation in their 'neck
of the woods'. (I am aware that this newsletter goes out to those for whom the
Australian patois - we call it Standard English - may sound a little
odd!)
But where are we at in Rome, you ask?. With
just days to go to the conclusion there are many factors involved - final voting
on commission documents, of course. Commission #6 has proposals to
finalize other than its own final document. Then there are messages that
have to go out to one or other group in the name of the Chapter.
Commission work generally is proceeding 'according
to Hoyle' i.e. as expected. #6 has had its particular issues voted on,
viz, the inclusion of the Economer General in Reg 24 - voted in by a large
majority; the matter of the mid-term Provincial Chapter - voted down by a large
enough majority. This means effectively (I think; please correct me if
needs be) that Provinces feel quite up to the task within existing provision to
organize the mid-term Chapter as they see fit; a review of processes for the
General Chapter by the General Council - a solid 'yes' vote. (Well done,
#6!).
As for messages from the Assembly to various
bodies:
TO CIVIL AND RELIGIOUS AUTHORITIES: stresses the
call of the Salesians to be advocates for the young, especially the poorest,
most abandoned and exploited. It calls upon civil and religious leaders to
invest in the education of young people to ensure a future for humanity.
Yet to be finlaly voted upon, but in all probablility will be give the thumbs
up.
TO MEMBERS OF THE SALESIAN FAMILY: in response to
questions they had of the Chapter, and offering information about the new
structures in their regard given the earlier decisions to place the SF under the
Vicar.
THE SALESIAN BROTHER: this is a question to be
asked rather than a decision made at this stage. Given the focus on the
consecrated lifestlye vis-a-vis beatification of Art. Zatti, is such a statement
required?
THE YOUTH OF THE WORLD: as above - is such a
statement very much in order given the widespread publicity given to issues
where young people are the subject of abuse, dislocation etc.
With just two days to go, there is much work
ahead!!
