INTERVENTIONS IN THE ASSEMBLY
OF Fr JUAN E.VECCHI
The following extracts from the MINUTES of the CAPITULAR ASSEMBLIES refer to some clarifications and interventions of the Rector Major.
APPENDIX 7
Replies to questions concerning the state of the Congregation
27 February 1996
[259]
Clarifications concerning the government and central structure of the Congregation, and the way they function (n.254 of the report).
Various questions expressed opinions about the validity of the present structures as regards their functioning, or proposed to insert among the Chapter themes a discussion on the central structure of the Congregation. Fr Vecchi gave a general response rather than answer each question individually.
By the central structure of the Congregation, is meant the fundamental roles which make up the General Council: Rector Major, Vicar General, the Departments and Regions. A problem arises over the relationship between Departments and Regions. N.254 of the Report recounts a reflection made by the General Council on the central structure and its functioning; it was made over two different periods, at the first of which Fr Viganò was present. The Council was of the opinion that the present arrangement is convenient and the best for combining communication with the different parts of the Congregation and animation of the different sectors of its life (formation, youth pastoral work, Salesian Family, communication, finances); it allows for movement, contact and reflection at national and world level, as regards the making of suggestions, production of material and assistance on the part of the Council.
There are difficulties:
- in the practical definition of the roles of the Councillors, which need to be clarified and expressed in writing;
- an improvement is needed in the ability to face problems of global perspective by spending more time together and overcoming a sectorial concept of the role of each one;
- we must aim at a more unified programme thanks to the Department Councillors being able to remain longer at headquarters; this would allow us to avoid overlapping in common areas or sectors which are already looked after at provincial or national level.
As regards the proposal to discuss again the Congregation's central structure of government, Fr Vecchi said it will be wise to keep in mind the process which led to the elaboration of the present structures at world, provincial and local level, involving considerable time for explaining the underlying reasons and in reaching a substantive agreement on the details by two thirds of the assembly. He thought that for an enterprise of such a kind an adequate preparation of the theme would be essential, so as not to lose sight of the organic vision (cf. the experiences of the 20th, 21st, and 22nd General Chapters).
Concerning the request to set up the Regions in conformity with the new geography of the Congregation, he said the need for this will be on the Chapter agenda, on the basis of a reflection made in the General Council, As regards the perspective of a fresh study of the areas of work covered by the Departments, it was pointed out that the Rector Major has the authority of easy movement among what is allotted to the various Departments, and in this sense it would be useful to have specific suggestions from the Chapter. Another problem is where to put the Department for Social Communication. On these problems the General Council has reflected without reaching any agreed decisions; the conclusions have been passed to the Moderator.
With reference to a request for an evaluation of the team visits, it is suggested that the persistence of these since 1972, with an evaluation at intervals of six years, shows that they are valid. In 1984 Fr E.Viganò presented to the GC22 the results of an evaluation of the team visits, which emphasized the following aspects, which are still the motives for their validity. The team visits are:
- moments of communion and exchange of views,
- times for verification and synthesis,
- occasions for relaunching certain aspects of the previous GC,
- periods of animation for Provincials and their Councils.
It is recognized that some elements need improvement:
- in the choice of themes,
- in the preparation of the Provincial Councils and General Councillors concerned.
- in the definition of concrete guidelines to be adopted,
- in the efforts to apply the conclusions.
The overall evaluation of the Vicar General with respect to the team visits is that they are good and sufficient, and in some cases markedly positive. They have multiple effects in many directions. We must not let ourselves be carried away by the partial aspect that they are not always immediately practical.
[260]
Concerning the significance of our pastoral presence.
A series of questions concerning salesian identity, numerical growth and the educative originality of the parish were dealt with synthetically. There had been a gradual mental acceptance of the SGC and the GC21 and of other documents with regard to the identity of the parish, clarified also in some meetings of Regions with the Councillor for the Youth Apostolate and the Rector Major himself. There has been a gradual improvement as those responsible were gradually replaced by others with a new kind of preparation.
Elements contributing to a clearer and more practical definition of the identity of a parish are:
- an updating of the concept of the parish (community, mission);
- the establishing of priorities among the dimensions to be fostered in the project, among which will be those relating to education and the young;
- a balance between parochial commitments.
The dimension needs to be readjusted concerning the excessive numerical growth of parishes, with attention to the fact that they are distributed over 88 provinces and the different motives for accepting them (pastoral experience, missionary expansion, pressing requests of bishops, and the need to provide work for certain classes of salesian personnel).
[261]
Clarifications on the Salesian Youth Movement, and on the influence and limitations of Salesian Youth Spirituality (n.265 of the Report).
Fr Vecchi explained that the SYM has developed as the educative and apostolic involvement of young people united by a spirituality and linked together by meetings and encounters, with an indispensable minimum of organization and structure. The results are good, even though there are evident limits in the maturing of some youngsters who risk at times getting no further than activism. This is partly due to the youth condition and partly to the ability (or lack of it) of the Salesian responsible for the spiritual accompaniment of the young members.
With regard to the statement that the oratory runs the risk of becoming educatively insignificant, Fr Vecchi wholeheartedly agreed, pointing out that in some oratories no project existed. no objective was aimed at, and that there was no educative rapport, involvement or content offered.
To the request for criteria for a renewed pastoral work for vocations, the Vicar General replied by referring first of all to the available salesian literature. He emphasized the following :
- concentrate on today's likely age groups - adolescents and young men, without neglecting pre-adolescents,
- the commitment of the local community,
- a favourable atmosphere,
- accompaniment in the journey of faith,
- meaningful experiences of prayer and apostolic involvement,
- discernment,
- individual follow-up in personal vocational development.
He added that good work is being done in the Congregation as regards journeys of faith which are applicable in many of the groups.
[262]
On the relationship between vocational fertility and pastoral quality, he replied that vocations are certainly a gift of God, that some contexts are difficult, that some categories of young people (drug addicts and those with other problems) are less likely prospects, and that not only pastoral activity but also the life of the community is at the origin of vocations. But it should be noted that in the text it is stated that this is a sign (not the only one) that the life of the community is an integral part of our youth pastoral work, and that when we speak of vocations we are referring to priestly and religious vocations, but to lay vocations as well.
[263]
In connection with clarifications asked for about tasks and roles offered by dioceses (n.270 of the Report), on the one hand there had been the danger of Salesians become little different from secular priests, but on the other there are many positive experiences. The criteria for accepting such work are: harmony with our charism, responsibility of the province, the urgency involved, and the proportion. Working for the local Church does not necessarily mean taking on diocesan commitments. The charism must maintain its tendency towards our own frontiers. Our relationships with dioceses have been judged 99% good. Difficulties which arise are sometimes due to the personality of the Bishop or that of the Salesian concerned, or to the manner in which our charism and presence is perceived. There remains nevertheless the need that the Salesians be actively present in the life of the local Church and become elements of communion.
[264]
Formation.
The Vicar General replied that it is not possible to provide a complete framework with intellectual responsibility on the motives of those who leave us, because of lack of sufficient data for an overall study of the phenomenon. The General Secretariat and the Formation Department have asked for a full report from the Provincial in each case together with a statement from the subject concerned, but both the one and the other are rarely received, and so we are left without sufficient material for a serious study. Moreover the research needs to be made at Regional level because the causes differ widely. From the Report it is clear that such verifications have been made in Spain, the Atlantic side of Latin America, and India.
[265]
Brothers.
It has been asked whether the so-called 'juridical equality' is one of the reasons for the falling off in coadjutor vocations, and whether the question is to be considered closed. Fr Vecchi replied that it does not seem that the fact that the highest authority in the Congregation can be given only to priests is a fundamental obstacle. At the present moment it should be said that it is a criterion of discernment, in the sense that anyone who wants at all costs to realize a different figure of the lay religious is not meant for the Salesian Congregation. This is equally true of anyone who would want a kind of priesthood which has little in common with our community project. A further stage of reflection and discernment cannot be excluded, but light is go be sought in the charism, in the kind of community and mission and hence in the kind of guide the Congregation wants, and not in the hope that the change would result in more vocations.
A theological commission following the Synod is investigating the possibility of a third kind of Institute of consecrated life called 'mixed', which would be neither clerical nor lay, but this too emphasizes the need for each individual Institute to study more deeply its charismatic reality, the mission, community and spirituality.
[266]
Some denounce certain inadequacies in the content of ongoing formation, especially in what concerns knowledge of the youth situation and the understanding of culture. Ongoing formation is not to be identified with a course, but is the capacity of the individual to make a constant dynamic synthesis of the realities and ideas with which he interacts, on the basis of a strong spiritual foundation (which is sometimes found to be absent). A good course includes this aspect, and provides plenty of stimuli and keys for reading. This means that the contents concerning the youth condition and mission offered to communities by the various Departments or teams form part of ongoing formation. It is understandable therefore that in a certain part of the courses there should insistence on personal aspects (spirituality, sense of consecration, nature of the mission). The reasons for vocational "giving way" are to be found in this direction rather than in knowledge of the youth situation.
[267]
Salesian Family
As far as concerns the other groups beyond the Cooperators, Past-pupils and Don Bosco Volunteers, we have responsibility for communion in the Salesian Family, but no obligation for animation or spiritual assistance. We offer those services we are able to provide, in the general economy of our mission and under the responsibility of Provincials and Rectors.
The Friends of Don Bosco are a living reality, which is on the move, without structures or organisms for linkage; they have a bond in a common affection for Don Bosco. The General Chapter may want to say more about them.
Nothing has been said about possible difficulties in relations with the FMA, for reasons of honesty and sincerity: we have no serious elements for analysis, and problems are sometimes linked with individuals; in any case, such a question would have to be studied together with the FMA. Generally relationships are good, respectful and fraternal, even though we may not have found an ideal manner of collaboration in our works, and we need to recognize our need to mature in the appreciation of the original contribution of women in general and women religious. In the Report the Vicar General noted that there is good collaboration at local level where both are working in the same area.
The Common Identity Card, which had been desired for some time, is the result of various efforts made in common with other branches of the Salesian Family. It has the approval of the Rector Major and his Council. It is an authoritative instrument which is useful and capable of further improvement, realized along the lines of the Synod and of the experiences of other religious families.
APPENDIX 8
The launching of the Chapter's work
2 March 1996
[268]
A word about the twelve days we have already experienced. They have been marked by some effective realizations:
* the opening of the Chapter, with a general vision of its nature and tasks;
* the 4-day retreat, to lift us to a proper spiritual and salesian level;
* we have heard, studied and gone more deeply into the Report on the state of the Congregation to an extent that went beyond the practice of previous Chapters; and we deduced the urgent need for a study of the present theme and the elements of a global response to the salesian vocation;
* we have studied and approved the Chapter Regulations, not as a mere formality but as a condition for validity and for mutual understanding;
* we have approved the basic working document after an intense discussion in which many took part;
* the presidency has been completed with the election of the chairmen and the completing of the Central Coordinating Committee;
* the Commissions have been set up and have already elected their own presidents, secretaries and spokesmen;
* the overall general calendar has been approved, covering:
- elections
- meeting with the laity
- definitive polishing up
- closure;
* we approved a manner of communal discernment to combine in the best way possible the personal process with access to all the information that could come from the community. Fr Vecchi emphasized that the choice had been made on the basis of a specific request from the GC23 in view of a phenomenon that had been pointed out: some items of information remained concealed in national groups or tendencies; it ensures that there will be nothing to fear on grounds of discretion because there will be no general assemblies during the discernment process and no signatures will be asked for at any stage; what is asked for is absolute purity of intention;
* the Committee for Information has been set up; it is responsible before the Congregation and public opinion for the diffusion of information about the Chapter; naturally the committee can use the services of other agencies and preferably the ANS, which has our confidence, for passing on correct information about the aims and content of the GC24; the responsibility for such information cannot be delegated to others.
The work of this first phase of the Chapter has been abundant, and the results more than satisfying. The conduct of business has been skillful, sure and respectful.
In this first phase the assembly has practised the responsible use of: study, participation in discussion, request for clarifications, voting, and acceptance of results.
We now have available all the instruments needed for working with intelligence, wise choice and discernment.
Some communal and decisive objectives for the attainment of the Chapter's goals have been launched or achieved: our community has become progressively integrated at fraternal, cultural and salesian level, with the knowledge, esteem and appreciation of our differences; we have celebrated personal birthdays, feastdays, etc. in a suitable manner at table, and in praying together. We recognize that language imposes a barrier, but that somehow we have to get over the difficulty, accepting the use of translation as necessary for communication. We have developed trusting relationships: when we express our opinions we have no hidden intentions: we keep nothing up our sleeves.
Realizing that we are a Capitular Community, we have accepted and made our own the need to adopt a universal perspective which rises above regions and nations in exchanging experiences and cultures at personal level and in sharing liturgical moments. The latter are not closed to exclusively linguistic groups; we must remember that the Region is seen as an exclusive element only for the election of the Regional Councillor.
All this serves to place us on a charismatic platform which unites us in the sense that all matters, problems and proposals, are seen in the perspective of the nature, form and structure of salesian originality, i.e. in the light of the charism and not of fleeting facts and circumstances.
We now prepare ourselves to face the second stage:
1. the drawing up of guidelines on the theme of the Chapter;
2. integrations in the Constitutions and Regulations.
The quality of the work of the commissions is of great importance. All the capitulars without exception are obliged to make use of their time and intelligence in study, research, reading and discussion. In this work it is essential that there be communication between commissions and the assembly, which alone has authority; the function of the commissions is to prepare and facilitate the work of the assembly.
Fr Vecchi concluded emphasizing that we must "let ourselves converge", i.e. bring about an interior convergence which will also be the result of a rethinking of what is necessary, urgent and possible.
APPENDIX 9
9 March 1996
[269]
We have reached the end of our third week; it has witnessed:
* the work of the commissions,
* the functioning of the Central Coordinating Committee,
* a test of the assembly, which has taken a document from its first phase through to its approval, in the following stages:
- proposal of the commission,
- requests for clarifications,
- general discussion in assembly,
- soundings by straw vote,
- re-presentation of the proposal,
- successive votings on the same text, with the possibility of reformulation.
The commissions had realized a first discussion, reaching some convergence and preparing for the presentation in the assembly of the first draft of their document.
The Central Committee had held two meetings in sober and concise fashion and had heard the opinions of the commission presidents with a view to solving some problems concerning coordination and overlapping. He congratulated the commission presidents, spokesmen and secretaries on their work. He also added some comments on the dynamics of the Chapter and other questions.
With respect to the dynamics of the Chapter he remarked on the internal tranquility of everyone. They have a time and place to make their ideas heard, especially in the commissions, and it is up to each one to put forward solid and convincing reasons for his proposals, following the discernment method. He also mentioned the freedom of expression and the will to participate which have been undoubtedly a source of benefit for the assimilation of the document by individuals and for the document itself which can thus reflect the sensitivities of everyone.
As regards the topics about the study and creation of structures of government, he directed attention to
- a sense of objectivity: universal application on the part of ordinary government. After expressing personal preferences and interests, one has to pass:
* from feelings to reasons, and
* from the part to the whole.
Moreover it would not be expedient to disregard an overall view because of minority opinions; ours is not an assembly for the dividing up of capital, but for the purpose of giving consistency to the Congregation in its life and activity.
- A second point calling for our attention concerns the global coherence of the structures on which functionality depends. The Vicar General explained this by two examples concerning the relationship between the tasks of the Regional Councillors in respect of their own Region, and those in the setting of the General Council in respect of all the other Regions and important questions of the Congregation as a whole. With regard to possible new obligations: the sectors are important, but more important still is the ability of the General Council to come to grips with global problems. He further referred to the criterion of proportionality, emphasizing that it is necessary to activate the sectors in a manner proportional to the Congregation's possibilities. To think that where an urgent need arises structures must be immediately set up to meet it, seems to be a too hasty way to go about things when the articulation of 89 circumscriptions of the Congregation have to be kept in mind. In addition to a horizontal distribution of duties, there is also a vertical sequence corresponding to the principle of subsidiarity: the Regional Councillor does not have a direct rapport with the local communities but with teams and structures at provincial and regional level, Central roles are not called upon to repeat with greater authority what has been entrusted to provincial levels, but to insist on coordination at higher level.
- Fr Vecchi concluded with a reference to three further points concerning the functioning of transmission structures.
* Correspondence with the mission, but remembering that the mission is not exhausted by the sum of the sectors which express it; there are problems regarding the life of the community and the strengths available, their location in the context, etc.
* The dimensions concerning what the General Council is called upon to do at the present day in the Congregation as a whole, in the organization and ordering of the different sectors, i.e. the range of the Departments is not to be measured simply by their titles (missions, youth pastoral work, etc.) but in line with what the Salesian Congregation can and must do.
- A criterion of action: due proportion between the production of proposals, their communication and their realization; it is useless to have an abundance of proposals coming from various sectors, if those who receive them have neither the time nor the means to give them effect. In such a case the General Council would do better to study other problems of a global nature.
APPENDIX 10
After the first passage of the Chapter themes
in the assembly
16 March 1996
[270]
Summing up at the end of this week, I emphasize three sets of items:
1. Points realized during the week:
1.1 The setting out of the six parts into which the theme has been split up. This means that the commissions now have their method for working, as the individual spokesmen have explained in the assembly, and have understood the specific objectives of each part so as to make a good selection of the contents. The commissions now have a detailed panoramic view of their own theme, and hence a sufficiently clear vision of points that are clear and of others which appear problematic. Consequently they will be able to stimulate discussion on the points which have need of it and thus evaluate the contributions they receive.
1.2 The presentation in the assembly of the six parts of the theme; this has enabled us to get an idea of the work as a whole. Each part has been presented sufficiently clearly to enable the capitulars to study it with profit, without conditioning the assembly. There was more than sufficient time for an attentive reading before the discussion took place, especially if we keep in mind the parts that will be discussed after the week of discernment. Each one is getting an idea of the material as a whole.
1.3 The discussion 'per partes' of the schema of the first commission. We had the opportunity of listening tranquilly to each others views and also to begin to foresee the make-up of each part and the content of the whole schema.
At this point too we must begin to verify what we are trying to do. It is a common phenomenon to demand a final document which is very brief but must contain everything, so that (as one humorist put it) we want shoes that are small outside but big inside. We begin to see also that concordance must be brought about, and hence the usefulness of the passage of parts from one commission to another to which reference was made in our early days. We hope we shall finish up in this way with the picturesque country fair that came to mind when we first heard the expression, and that we do not have the kind of difficulties that followed Maastrich.
1.4 As far as the questions about the Constitutions and Regulations are concerned, with the work of the seventh commission we have practically defined, with the final vote, the matter of the limitation to the duration of Councillors in the same office, and the assigning to a single Councillor the sectors corresponding to the Salesian Family and to Social Communication. The work of distributing the provinces among various Regions is well advanced and we hope that the conclusion will give satisfaction (at least relatively) to all, and will be of help to the Rector Major and his Council in the coming six years. Again for the Regions, as in the case of the Departments, it must be said that after examining them one by one, we shall have to consider the way government applies to them as a whole, so as to be able to animate all of them more easily and throw light on the overall problems. Since there is a further discussion still to come, this is a point that could be considered.
[271]
2. In addition to the items that have been realized, a certain maturing is evident in the assembly, and I emphasize five indications of the progress we have made in this line.
2.1 There is a greater clarity about the role of each one, and hence in the manner of fulfilling it adequately. It is the assembly that decides, and today we have experienced the importance of the final vote, because by a single vote a certain deliberation has been adopted. The moment of decision is typical of the assembly, since it is also the response in conscience to the soundings made through the straw votes; it is typical because it is one of the moments when the assembly expresses itself as a body. The decision of the assembly is prepared by the work in commission, by the discussion, by the soundings of opinions; each one has learned to intervene at the appropriate moment to avoid bewailing the fact that he had not inserted what he wanted to say.
2.2 Together with greater clarity about the role of each one, there is an awareness of the relationship between commission and assembly. The commission has the task of reordering the material, to offer and clarify motivations for the various hypotheses and to explain the reasons for its own choice. Without doubt this has an influence on the assembly, but no one should allow himself to be conditioned by it; rather he must let himself be enlightened, but in soundings and voting the decision is always in his own hands. The mediator of this relationship between commission and assembly is the commission's spokesman, and we thank all the spokesmen we have heard for their efforts at clarity, synthesis and adherence to what the commission wants expressed. The spokesman does not speak in his own name, but brings to the assembly what the commission has said and expressed.
2.3 There is a process of common assimilation of themes, of problematic points, of foundations of our reflection; this assimilation is the result of the linkage that exists between the different passages of a theme. Thanks be to God that our assembly does not carry on a dialogue between deaf people. And so we prepare also to communicate in a mature manner our course of formation to the confreres. This material, which goes through the assembly and is assimilated by all in its totality, will later be passed on to the confreres, perhaps to a greater extent than what is written in the official documents.
2.4 Also developing is a healthy balance between deeper doctrinal analysis and operative concreteness. At the beginning of the Chapter we seemed to detect in some of the exchanges a certain doctrinal allergy, perhaps justified to some extent, but it is being replaced by the conviction that without motivations, rooted in the fundamental realities of our life and Christian experience, we cannot move forward, and still less can all our 1,700 communities move forward together. My experience is that there has never been any pastoral and spiritual progress without a corresponding deepening of faith in a doctrinal sense, a return to the truth of the Church, a return to the truth of Christ, a return to the truth of faith; and so if we are to move forward together we must combine doctrinal depth with spiritual life and pastoral practice. I say "to move forward together" because, while action varies with places and groups, there is need for a shared frame of reference to ensure that the different actions and activities are carried out in the same orientation.
2.5 I think that there is a greater understanding of the problems, which at the beginning may have been outside the knowledge of the majority of the members of this assembly; the limitation on the duration in office, for example, gave rise to some interesting deeper thought about the figure of the Rector Major; the discussion on the Regions prompted some interesting information about the Regionals and problems of government. And one could give other examples too.
[272]
3. Some final comments concern the community. Let us give them a quick glance. I feel that at community level too we are making progress.
The overall vision and intercultural sensitivity is becoming consolidated. It is acquiring consistency through daily encounters, the fraternal evenings we experience, and the 'good nights' we hear.
Gaining in strength also is the desire for continuity between our work and what was done by the GC23, as we see the lay aggregation that is possible with us: it is true that the mission does not coincide with the works, but it is also true that the salesian mission always requires a visible operative setting around which those invisible circles are formed which live a kind of spiritual adherence; an operative setting is not a work in the formal sense, but it can cover a wide area. We can dream of the day when the Salesians will put a communications satellite in orbit, with a team to use it. We shall not have a work in the traditional sense, but our working space will include wherever communication reaches. Our form of aggregation, as can be seen from the way the Oratory began, is rather different from that of some ecclesial movements: it allows for spiritual adherence, but the visible and stimulating centre, through which God calls in the first instance, for the building of other circles is the working space where the mission is embodied and rendered visible. The continuity between this Chapter and the preceding one, which emphasized the journey of young people to the faith rests in this linkage: the breadth of the mission and the significant force of the working space.
The union of the community and its intercultural aspect are realized to an ever greater extent in times of common prayer, especially when such moments are characterized by some sign which touches us deeply, as for instance our visit to the tomb of Fr Viganò at the Catacombs or some particular moments of our community celebrations.
And so we are approaching in a sufficiently well prepared manner the important week of discernment, which we place under the protection of Mary Help of Christians.
APPENDIX 11
At the end of the week of the elections
23 March 1996
[273]
As we end this week which has seen the election of the Rector Major, the Vicar General, and the General Councillors for the various Departments, it is interesting to see the convergence that has developed, and another point of interest is the presence already in the new Council of persons with experience of four continents, if not by birth at least by virtue of long salesian activity.
The Council is already rich in ability and in knowledge of languages, and will be subsequently completed and further enriched by the election of the Regional Councillors. Thanks are due to those who have accepted, and those who worked so hard during the past six years. The Rector Major referred particularly and expressed his personal thanks to Fr Omero Paron, who is leaving behind him a strong and well-ordered department, open to solidarity.
Fr Vecchi went on to speak of the positive result of the new 'discernment' process which seemed to have given general satisfaction. He referred to the personal spiritual fruit stemming from the interior process of purification, from the ability to listen, from prayer and the practice of convergence, which had also allowed some unclear moments to be accepted calmly by the community: this was gratifying because we live close to God not in some mythical way, but with realism and responsibility. This experience of discernment is something rich that we can take with us to local communities and provincial councils: there are always problems that must be faced with discernment and calm. He mentioned numerous articles of the Constitutions which refer to discernment; it is demanded by our identity in view of fidelity in today's cultural world, in the complex situations in which the Congregation is living, and in view of long-term prospects, perspectives and deadlines.
In conclusion he indicated a further achievement: mutual trust and esteem in diversity, and an easier relationship amongst ourselves. He expressed thanks to God and to the capitulars.
APPENDIX 12
A week with the laity
30 March 1996
[274]
1. Presence of lay brothers and sisters
They arrived as expected and have been involved in the life and realities of the Chapter; they have taken part in discussions in the assembly; they have been responsibly implicated in the subsequent redrafting of documents, and have helped to increase our knowledge of the different branches of the Salesian Family.
Their presence has been of real worth because of the consistency of their contributions, and has also had a symbolic value as a sign for the Congregation. Certainly its influence will be multiplied in salesian communities.
Fr Vecchi renewed his thanks to them for their contribution to the Chapter, and referred to the difficulties that had been experienced in getting them there: first they had to be sought and invited, and then there were problems to be overcome with regard to employment and other obligations; but the results had been more than satisfactory, and well repaid all the efforts.
[275]
2. The first discussion in the assembly had been completed in respect of each of the six parts into which the Capitular Document had been divided. Interventions and personal contributions had been abundant.
The first commission had received 137, the second 70, the third 49, the fourth 37, the fifth 61 and the sixth 36. A total of 390 interventions (verbal or written) - an average of 1.8 pages per capitular (including the lay participants). Some were frequent contributors, some wrote nothing at all but took part through the soundings and straw votes, but wisdom is made up of a combination of words and silence.
Some determining aspects received many comments, e.g. the relationship between the laity and consecrated life: that rapport which goes beyond courtesy and welcoming acceptance, and consists rather in the exchange of talents for the building of the educative community and the education of the young; the animating nucleus; the definition of Salesian Movement and Salesian Family.
From the lengthy discussions Fr Vecchi emphasized certain elements, without going into details of the contents which will come later.
The first element is the concrete nature of approach and the effort at definition. We did well not to seek enthusiastically utopian terms in trying to define the precise practical significance of terms. Perhaps here lay the source of the desire for a vocabulary of terms, and examples of a kind we could not accept (cf. the suggestion made in the assembly of an example on the lines of the McDonalds fast-food chain).
A second element is the many references to lived experiences which enable all to see the possibilities of realizing the suggestions made. Moreover there was a constant search for foundations and inspirations for evaluating individual experiences and for maintaining the charismatic originality of different solutions.
[276]
3. The third achievement was the examination of the discussions on the part of the commissions; thus began the preparation of the second draft of the document. Great care went into the effort to integrate into the text the different contributions, including those of the laity, and even the Apostolic Exhortation Vita consecrata which had only recently been published.
Sometimes these integrations brought about a reduction in the number of pages and at the same time a concentration of the contents.
And so we are moving towards the definitive text; there will be further discussions, more soundings with straw votes, and then the definitive systemization.
4. The future path of the document from its present state to its conclusion is now clear; it must be completed in the three weeks of the Chapter which now remain.
In the process has also been included the work of the group which will give unity to the style of the document and make the final text easier to read.
5. The results at personal level are evident: all have been able to get a universal vision of the situation, all know where we are and what we still have to do, and all know the conditions to be fulfilled if we are to realize our objectives.
6. The seventh commission has finalized the definition of the Regions after overcoming mountainous difficulties. All these "regions" have been approved by the assembly with a majority of more than two-thirds.
This brings me to the end of the points I had listed, and so I have reached the goal ahead of the others (applause).
And now one or two comments about the discussions
[277]
1. Looking for equilibrium
There is an equilibrium or balance to be fostered personally, in the document, in the government of the provinces and houses, and there are some other complementary requirements.
The documents are reaching this balance. The Rector Major spoke rather about some aspects indicating a "strong disparity".
- A first disparity or cleavage: the common vocation of the People of God and difference of gifts
All are equal in dignity and in the vocation to holiness and in the possibility of formation, but as regards the human condition the Spirit has made them different so as to enrich communion. An example is provided by man and woman, who are equal in dignity in marriage and hence there is a reciprocal relationship, but each has the specific elements of their particular human condition: this not for the purpose of establishing a hierarchy but so as to make the personal gift with generosity.
In this way we have to think of the gifts or endowments of the laity, but also of what is given by consecrated Salesians to the laity, amongst which we must not forget the priestly manifestations.
To be a priest means not only to exercise a particular function, but also to allow oneself to be moulded interiorly so as to be conformed to Christ, the "Good Shepherd".
- Another disparity is one that can defined as extension and quality.
The Salesian Family can be extended to include all those who make some gesture of empathy with Don Bosco; but one must then consider whether the bonds created are such as to enable the person concerned to be a bearer of the spirituality which makes the Salesian Family to be the animating nucleus of a boundless movement.
Such movements cannot function without the input of "leaven", and we have to think at the same time of extending the influence and of fostering the "leaveners".
- Then there is another cleavage: humanism and Christian originality.
Certainly all could be part of the educative community, even those who intend to limit themselves to human values and have no intention of considering the possibility of the faith.
- And we could continue with other disparities, as for example:
education and pastoral work
ordinary and extraordinary conditions.
In some circumstances an educative community can take up certain items difficult to manage, but one has to consider whether such a situation can be proposed as a general norm for giving consistency either to the province or to our educative and pastoral activity.
Maintaining the elasticity between these priorities is a guarantee of operative concreteness, and means actuating the "grace of unity" which is always quoted.
The General Chapter is called upon not only to point to goals and utopias, but also to present practical ways of realizing them.
[278]
2. The "animating nucleus".
Another comment concerns the "animating nucleus"; this is a theme which provoked a great deal of interest, and rightly so because it involves the new position of the salesian community in a work or initiative.
And here there is the question of the educative and pastoral identity of the salesian community, and also of its educational results.
This is a problem which had caused concern to Don Bosco himself in the conditions of his own time, when he had emphasized the importance of the Rector and his council, and had given to the Rector indications for animating both young people and adults.
It will be well in the first place to give clear expression to the various levels of animation: those of organization, daily coordination, methodical follow-up, educative guidance (as regards content and objectives), then spiritual and Christian formation, and above all the ensuring of the spiritual identity of everything.
These levels are interlinked, but a distinction can be made between them.
Some aspects are more decisive than others.
Secondly, it is important that the SDBs, wherever they are present, be always the animating nucleus; that every SDB be capable of animating and dedicate himself to animation, and that the community as a group sees it as a primary function to be carried out together. This is something that belongs intimately to their vocation as Salesians and consecrated persons.
The consecrated community is always a strong point of formation of the Church. Around it become created circles of communion and participation. This does not mean that it is at the centre as an organizing nucleus, nor that it is alone in the task of animation; in the latter lay people too take part, in line with their own progress and that of the community. It is a good and desirable thing that lay people be present in the animating nucleus, but it is most important that SDBs be not lacking in it.
It is even possible to have an animating nucleus at local level made up of laity alone, but with the assistance of SDBs as a reference point, either at provincial level or from a nearby community which will see to charismatic aspects and provide a ministerial presence. And this not in any weak form; in fact, the stronger the presence of the laity, the more substantial must be the assistance of the province or the nearby community, because Christian availability must never be left without corresponding encouragement and support.
Finally, with reference to such situations in a province one must ask: how many can be sustained efficaciously? Because the principle is not to "occupy" the greatest possible space, but rather to see whether the enterprise is fruitful in terms of formation of Church, of evangelization, in giving rise to vocations.
[279]
3. And here there is another discrepancy.
It is true that we are for the world, but the Church has never thought of the world without thinking of herself at the same time; and this not to impose on others or seek privileges for herself, but to examine her own identity and the conditions for her activity.
Being 'for' the world is not to be interpreted only in terms of extension, but as providing strong Christian leaven. The world does not live in terms of quantity alone, but both world and culture progress in terms of the quality of stimulation.
[280]
4. Finally we must remember that there can be other subjects totally responsible for works which are called salesian, because they intend to apply the salesian spirit and style, and it is not in the interests of the Congregation to take on the main responsibility for all these works, especially if there are people available who are able to do so in their own name. One thinks of Cooperators, Past-pupils, 'Damas Salesianas', etc. This implies on our part a different kind of assistance and follow-up, which does not correspond to the action of an 'animating nucleus'; the latter belongs to the subject with responsibility for the work.
As the Rector Major drew towards a conclusion, he emphasized that what he had said was not intended to close any horizons but to point to paths it was possible to follow.
But before closing his wide-ranging, rich and significant comments which threw light on what the Chapter had done and what still remained for it to do, he had also a word for the laity present. They would not be present during the work which still lay ahead, and this caused a certain nostalgia.
Theirs, in fact, had been a welcome and enriching presence, for which we must thank them once again, but there will not be any formal leave-taking. What is happening is that they are being sent-out, so to speak, on a mission as though we are saying: "Go", go to the places where Salesians and laity are working together, go to the communities of consecrated Salesians.
They are sent to proclaim an innovation: "we believe that it is possible, and we intend to work as an integrated family, as a movement that wants to gather up even the crumbs of good will and empathy of all who want to place themselves at the service of the young, and especially the poorer ones among them".
APPENDIX 13
The end of the discussions and
final elaboration of the text
13 April 1996
[281]
We have heard expressed all that this assembly of some 220 members wanted to say and hear in a month and a half of work. This does not mean that we have exhausted every argument. It still remains for them to be put into context and given more detailed expression by individual provinces and communities. Our reflections have been as deep as we could make them. They have led us to some indispensable clarifications, e.g. on the educative community, the animating nucleus and other themes; they have brought us back to certain important points which at the beginning were to some extent neglected, like the identity and function of consecrated religious or of the priestly ministry; they have led us to rethink points we had heard but which had to be given their proper place in the economy of our theme, such as the question of the FMA, who do not live the lay condition but that of consecrated persons: to speak of them is for us a particular commitment to compare ourselves with them; another theme is that of the coadjutor brother, who has a secular dimension but lives in the condition of a consecrated religious. The text has been able to use terms which were unexpected but enriching, like icons, liturgical accent, and historical references: we have to recognize the attention given by the commissions to all the contributions.
A point already realized is the work of the commissions in drawing up their documents. This implies a further obligation for everyone, that of an attentive reading in order to assimilate the contents; there is still the possibility of sending in "modi" for the further improvement of details before the document is offered to the Congregation.
[282]
Another point reached is the beginning of the final organization of the document.
The new arrangement followed repeated requests for the elimination of repetitions and overlapping, and meant a certain sacrifice for the commissions. There was nevertheless great collaboration between the commissions and the group with the task of giving an aspect of unity to the document
I want to dwell for a moment on the document of the General Chapter as such.
Various expectations had been expressed, e.g. that it should be easy to read, immediately understandable, and of practical application. I am sure that all these aspects will be kept in mind by the group preparing the final draft. In the meantime it may be useful to make one or two comments.
- The first is in connection with the character of this particular document.
It will be a document which will serve for the work of local and provincial communities. We may want it to have a certain elegance, a rather poetic character or one that will raise enthusiasm; we must not expect something analogous to the recent Apostolic Exhortation, which needed a year's work and five or six different drafts before its publication and is offered to all religious. Those to whom we offer our own document are communities well known to us; we know of their living and working conditions. Our document is an invitation to reflection; it is meant to be complemented by study in local and provincial communities. It should be emphasized that it is not meant simply for reading; it is a document for work.
- A second comment concerns its legibility.
The group concerned will certainly do their best to make it easy to read, but it is not a document intended to be read from beginning to end at one sitting, as for instance like spiritual reading. It is a document that needs study, in connection with the ideas it contains, the existing mentality which needs discussion, and its relationship to the life or situation in which we are placed. For this reason the document will need mediation, and the mediators will be precisely you who are members of the Chapter. The document provides a basis to enable you to pass on to others all that you have acquired through your experience of the Chapter, with the various nuances that will certainly be in no way contrary to the text or sense of the document but will serve to clarify it. For a profitable reading it will have to be split up into parts. A first reading can be a rapid one, but for a deeper understanding it will be necessary to return and dwell at length on single points and problems. It is a document that can be enriched by a creative and expansive reading which is not purely repetitive or solely for purposes of assimilation. Starting from this we have to understand what is demanded by our mentality and situation.
- A final comment on the function of this document in the Congregation's progress.
In the first place its function will be the creation of a communal mentality: the first difficulty that arises in the orientation towards pastoral objectives is precisely the diversity of sensitivities and mentalities with respect to content, objectives and methods, so that for a document it is a matter of some importance to try to form a communal mentality.
Secondly it can provide practical suggestions, arising from experiences already tried out, and here gathered together and offered to everyone.
A third function is that of providing criteria to be followed, especially in areas where exploration is just beginning, or can be suggested for future examination. To go ahead is a good thing, but not in a haphazard manner without either compass or criteria for orientation. Here those criteria can be found.
Finally a further function of the document is that of presenting goals to be achieved in the next six years.
In the light of all this, some expectations may need reshaping, but at the same time may reveal in the document certain merits which had been overlooked.
