austraLasia #2094

Chapter ramblings

ROME: 14th March 2008 -- Firstly, apologies for a short break in news, not because there isn't any (though it's not a period of dramatic stuff by any means) but because some demands take precedence over writing up a bit of news! Just uploading the bits and pieces into the GC26 site takes more time than might meet the eye.  Anyway....
    The Chapter is taking its time to make decisions - a good thing in itself.  There is no air of frenetic hurry, but things are moving on.  In fact I've just completed the translation of the first redrafting of 'Return to Don Bosco' which will be  one part (not necessarily the first, maybe even the last, depending on how the Assembly wants to 'assemble' things at the end) of the final document.  It may yet get bashed about a bit in the Assembly and by commissions, but at least we begin to see something take shape. The structure of each part, as you find it in the Working Document, won't change it seems - people seem pretty happy with it.  But it is a simplified approach in style and content, from what you currently see in the Working Document. Personally I think people are going to like what they see, but it's too early to pontificate on something like that. I notoe that the Italian text has occasionally taken refuge in '-ismo's, which cause us English speakers headaches. The tendency to nominalise (turn things into abstract nouns) where we in English prefer a verb, is a challenge to translation, and sometimes an -ismo can be vague either way. I mean, what do they really want to say by 'immobilismo'? I'm flying a kite by translating it as ultra-conservatism instead of mere rigidity, and may end up like the kite-runner chasing my shot-down words through some backstreet. Despite the negative idea of 'immobilismo' let me say that the 'return to Don Bosco' is very positively expressed.
    I'll seek permission to publish one intervention which has not as yet been heard by the Assembly.  It has a touch of brilliance about it and simply moves the heart, probably better than many a long-winded document can do - but that's yet to come. Stay tuned!  The cartoons continue to be a good narrative reading of the Chapter, so don't forget to dip into those.
    The juridical commission keeps going back to work after flying its own kites in the Assembly - most of them keep flying! The longest and most heated discussion was over the GC25 decision to tie the Salesian Family to the Vicar. The likelihood is that it will stay that way for the next six period since there have been some very positive results from it - but it has raised the question of an already overburdened structure of government and animation that will need another Chapter to focus on in its own right. Likewise, the 'departments of the Salesian mission' (YM, SC, Missions) will probably stay as they are but what will eventuate in all likelihood is a far more coordinated effort between them. How that will happen has to be voted on. I'm just signalling some of the trends in discussion.
    The Cardinal Secretary of State will be here for Mass tomorrow morning. A certain degree of not-so-obvious Vatican and Italian security accompanies these visits. Mercifully Saturday afternoon and Sunday are quiet times and the sensible ones get out.
    Be in touch.
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Title: australasia 2094
Subject and key words: SDB General, GC26
Date (year): 2008
ID: 2000-2099|2094