austraLasia #1749

Poverty - a profound and detailed discussion for EAO Provincials and Economers

MELBOURNE: 6th February 2007 -- The fourth day of meetings involving provincials and provincial economers from the East Asia-Oceania Region in Melbourne, focused on one of the GC26 themes, that of evangelical poverty.  Fr Mazzali, Economer General, made the point initially that 'evangelical poverty' is a spiritual issue. Amongst the documents presented, including that part of the 2002-8 planning project from the Rector Major and Council dealing with poverty, Fr Lanfranco Fedrigotti, from China Province, made his own profound reflections available by way of a paper on biblical aspects of poverty - from poverty as indigence, to poverty as self-contentedness and sharing.  This paper is available to readers from the 'what's new' section on Bosconet homepage.
    A number of the provinces in the EAO region exist in settings known for their poverty, classed as 'poor nations' by the normal criteria of bodies such as UNDP, The World Bank. There was wide discussion and sharing on how such situations touch on evangelical poverty as lived and practised by Salesians. The discussion was distinctly practical, highlighting some of the difficulties and challenges at personal and community level, but responses from Fr Mazzali focused on direction and helpful response in each instance, often clarifying the issue for his listeners.  In those cases where Salesians have fine structures in poor countries - vocational or technical schools, for example, he reminded his listeners that we have received a mission which is fundamentally educational in nature. For educating in a structured way you need structures, and especially for the poor, to raise their  standards and their hopes. Insofar as these structures are at the service of the poor, they are a witness to poverty. This, he said, is a liberating point.
    Sharing amongst those present elicited the importance of the community as a criterion in this area. Poverty is linked with other elements of our consecrated life. The Province Directory dealing with the economic sector of community and personal life is most important - not an option.  Ninety five percent of these province directories have already been approved throughout the Salesian world. Fr Mazzali asked people to share with him their reflections and difficulties, and resolutions found too - as a help to GC26 reflection on the issue. He also recommended that in those societies where family bonds often impinge on community life and the personal lives of confreres, that pertinent local directives (where finance is concerned) on this be included in the province directory.
    There was also a lengthy discussion and Q and A on the so-called 'procures', especially with regard to how monies are distributed  by the Rector Major and the nature of the Don Bosco Network. Bro Michale Lynch from the Australian Salesian Missions Overseas Aid Fund (ASMOAF), also explained some of the workings of the Australian-based office.
GLOSSARY
economer: The Salesians have given two neologisms (new words) to the English language!  'Economer' is one of them. It is an imaginable term, but the reality is that it is not found in any dictionary. Its meaning is clear, and in linguistic terms such word formation is entirely regular, perhaps it was just waiting to happen!
procure: The second Salesian neologism!  Every linguistic bit of me resists this term, but it has its reasons.  One of these is a poor reason - the tendency to transliterate Italian Salesian terms into English - the Italian word in this case is a noun, 'procura' (usual meaning - power of attorney).  Unfortunately in English, the word is a verb and is often used in a distinctly negative sense - 'to procure' often means to obtain for personal gratification, or by unscrupulous means, certainly not the sense intended by Salesian users of the term, one hopes! Nor does English have the word as a noun.  Hence, for Salesians to use this English term in general conversation is to lead to certain misunderstandings.  On the other hand, the word 'mission' in 'mission office' does not wash with many - especially where Islam is concerned, so that too is to be avoided.  Frankly, I believe we should find a third term which abides by conventions of language and cultural requirements. jbf
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