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(ANS – Rome, 16 April 2002)
The six commissions have now completed the presentation of their documents, which are now ready for ‘iuxta modum’ voting and final modifications before being approved.
The most interesting innovation is that the work of the first five commissions, on the theme of community, has been presented as worksheets for the local communities. Each form will be in four parts: ‘call’, ‘context’, ‘challenges’ and ‘guidelines’.
The Provinces and the local communities will have the task of applying these to their local situations, selecting and adapting what is most appropriate and important for their community life in the environment in which they live and work.
The present documents are the fruit of the entire General Chapter, the fruit of reflection, discussion and comments from delegates, going back and forth between commissions and full assembly until the stage of the drafting commission and final approval. Sometimes six re-drafts have been required.
The document of the sixth commission, on the structures of government, also contains three novel elements. The first concerns the modification of article 24 of the Regulations, dealing with the setting up of Mission Offices. The second proposes the replacement of the Provincial Chapter with a Provincial Assembly. The third concerns the way of running General Chapters.
The ‘iuxta modum’ voting begins tomorrow.
(ANS – Rome, 18 April 2002)
On the morning of the 13th April, the Chapter dedicated a session to the theme of the vocation of the Salesian brother. The delegates divided into language groups for the discussion. The outcome of the reflection was presented in the assembly on 15th April. A group of confreres produced a synthesis in the form of a message to be included in the Chapter documents.
Giampietro Pettenon, a brother from the Province of Veneta East, comments on the draft text, which is awaiting ‘iuxta modum’ approval.
“The Chapter has often touched on the vocation of the Salesian brother, but did not want to treat it separately. The occasion of the Beatification of Bro Artemide Zati, however, seems to coincide nicely with the theme of the Chapter, and we felt the desire to send a message to all the Salesian confreres to reaffirm forcefully all our love, our concern, our commitment to value ever more and more this extraordinary gift and the vocation of the Salesian lay brother.
“The message refers to the renewed commitment in the congregation towards brother vocations, as promoted by Don Vecchi who saw in the figure of the consecrated Salesian layman the high value of the Salesian vocation. It gives evidence of the signs of hope which invite us to make new efforts with courage and conviction.
“The Salesian brother, with his particular concern for the young and the world of work, is a bridge between religious consecration and the world, between civil society and the ecclesial community, between human progress and the Christian message, between natural values and religious motivation.
“Our communities, the object of reflection during the entire Chapter, achieve the fullness of their identity and reveal the true face of Don Bosco, only when Salesian priests and brothers are present complementarily. We have all experienced how well the brother can be a ‘community man’, ready to carry out small daily acts of service, homely, able to form easy and fraternal friendships.
“We wish the liturgical celebration of Blessed Artemide Zatti to be an occasion of witness and prayer for every community, so that this vocation should continue to flourish, for the good of young people and the fullness of the spirit of Don Bosco.”
(ANS – Rome, 18 April 2002)
The assembly carried out a ‘dress rehearsal’ for the final document of the 25th General Chapter. It welcomed positively the documents of the six commissions and the voting was nearly always unanimous.
Among the more difficult topics have been the place of the community in the ‘animating nucleus’ (is it a part of it, or identified exclusively with it?) and the size of the community.
The document being approved has been drafted by a group of three delegates (Bonato, Pussino and Ruta) who have harmonized the style in consultation with the commissions.
Yesterday the assembly was presented with the text of two messages addressed to the Salesian Family and to international organizations dealing with the social problems of young people. The assembly also requested an open letter to the young, and this was assigned to a group of delegates.
The proposals to modify Regulation 24, dealing with Mission Offices, and to explore another way to organize the General Chapter were approved. It was decided not to replace the Provincial Chapter with a Provincial Assembly.
An evaluation of the 25th General Chapter is in progress, using a survey form to be returned to the steering committee during the day.
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