|
(ANS – Rome, 26 March 2002)
The sixth commission on the structures of government has presented for the umpteenth time to the capitular assembly the draft of the document with proposals for a variation of the structures of central animation and government with the relevant texts to be inserted in the salesian Constitutions. Because these changes involve the Constitutions, a two thirds majority is required for their approval, and the straw-vote exceeded this by a big margin. Hence the capitulars have expressed themselves positively on the limitation in office of the Rector Major to two terms, with the relevant modification of art.128 of the Constitutions; on the limitation of the Departmental and Regional Councillors to two terms but eligible for other offices (with modification of art.142); on the attribution of the Salesian Family to the Vicar General, and on the constitution of the Councillor for Social Communication, with modifications to arts. 133, 134 and 137; and finally on the division of the Australia-Asia Region into two groups (whose names will be left to be decided by the capitulars of the two groups with their new Regionals) constituted as follows: South-Asia group: India-Bangalore, India Mumbai, India-Kolkata, India-Dimapur, India-Guwahati, India-Hyderabad, India-Chennai, India-New Delhi, India-Tiruchy; Est-Asia group: Australia, China, North Philippines, South Philippines, Japan, Indonesia-Timor, Korea, Thailand, Vietnam.
The text is now being given its final touches and in the afternoon will be submitted for the definitive vote of the capitulars.
(ANS – Rome, 27 March 2002)
Although the sixth commission, with its theme on the reorganization of some structures of government, had gripped the attention of the assembly during the last few days – due to the fact that they had to complete their final document in order to present it for definitive approval before Easter - the other commissions have continued their commitment to reflection on the documents assigned to them.
These days are characterised by the intensive work in commissions for the second draft document, which was rewritten in the light of interventions in the hall of the chapter. Already yesterday afternoon, the first and second commission have presented the second draft of their texts on “Fraternal Life” and “Evangelical Witness” respectively.
In particular, the first commission received many contributions from the assembly in the discussion preceding the second editing of the document. On the basis of these interventions, the commissions had synthesized, simplified and divided their tasks. They edited the document, rewrote it on a new scheme: the call of God, the situation of fraternal life in the Salesian community, the challenges and the practical suggestions. The same central commission, on the other hand, had considered it opportune to assume the diverse parts of the elaboration relative to the “context”, to the “preventive system” and to the “Salesian credo” for the preparation of an introduction and the eventual conclusion of the chapter document. For this the commission found it necessary to have to rewrite the credo keeping in mind “the call of God”.
On the first point of the new scheme, the commission outlined the fraternal life in community in its double dimension - the gift of God and the human task. It this keeping in mind the theological and anthropological aspects of fraternity, the experience of family lived by Don Bosco, the apostolic dimension of the life together and the prophetic element of the common life lived in communion. Among the practical suggestions it is interesting to note the emphasis given to the “Personal project of Salesian life” and the “Project of the Salesian Community”.
(ANS – Rome, 27 March 2002)
The second commission on the theme “Evangelical Witness” set about its work of revising its first draft following the methodological indications provided by the central commission and the contributions offered by the Chapter assembly.
Thus a new draft has emerged that is much more simple and synthetic. The document carefully outlines, in a particular way, the unified vision of the three parts. Fr. Gianni Mazzali, the spokesman, explains: “The analysis of the situation is illuminated by the call of God, because of which we have accepted the challenges and concretised and specified our orientations”.
The second version has maintained the requests of the members to integrate the evangelical councils in the context of the spiritual experience and a more complete presentation of the evangelical witness without giving the impression of reducing it only to religious vows. Further, the commission was attentive to highlighting the viewpoint of the community rather than that of the single Salesian.
The tone of the document too, has been retouched. It is now more encouraging, joyful and rich in hope. With reference to spirituality, and the consequent challenges and orientations, the following have been emphasized: the primacy of God and the sharing of spiritual experience (in particular the centrality of the Word of God in personal and community life, the Eucharist, meditation, the commitment to prayer in terms of quality and time, the joyful witness of appropriate religious conditions, the integration between the personal and community project, the spiritual accompaniment, the exchange and dialogue among confreres), the nurturing of the grace of unity, the centrality of obedience, the concreteness of poverty and the demands of chastity.
(ANS – Rome, 27 March 2002)
With a large majority the following modification of articles of the constitutions was approved: the duration in office of the Rector Major (const. 128), and of the members of the general council (const. 142); the division of Salesian Family and Social Communications into two departments with the consequent institution of one councillor for Social Communications and the assigning of the department of Salesian Family to the vicar of the Rector Major (const. 133, 134 and 137); and finally the division of the Australia-Asia region into two distinct regions. The sixth commission can now dedicate itself more freely to the texts of the document on the theme of structures of government.
In the morning the proposals for modifying the constitutional articles were presented to the Holy See for approval.
However, the sixth commission had already presented the first edition it had elaborated on 25 March and this morning the discussion on the text was discussed in the hall. Though not numerous, the interventions were significant. The manner of intervening was much more simple. The document was accepted positively for its content and for its tone. Among the written contributions handed over, three were that of the general councillors.
One of the interventions that was most interesting was one that rethinks the new way of organizing the theme of the general chapter: in case of a GC theme (as we now have) it was suggested that a preparation be had at the local and provincial community level, something that is being done with regard to ecclesiastical synods. Alternatively it was also proposed that six years preceding the chapter, a theme be chosen that is based on the speech of the Rector Major on the state of the congregation before it is singled out for reflection by the world community.
A proposal was also elaborately articulated on the structure of the large community of the Generalate. The reason behind the proposal was to help the Rector Major resolve the difficulties expressed also by the vicar on the state of the congregation at the beginning of the GC25. The proposal points at creating in this community the same safeguards of fraternal life and service that is expected of others. For this a re-structuring with more definitive roles and responsibilities, of modalities that are more in keeping with the times; a community not much atypical but closer to the style of other communities where the figure of the rector and of the council will have a concrete space and a way to animate that is recognized by the constitutions and by the regulations. The proposal suggests that the vice province of the Generalate be joined to three distinct communities situated in Rome.
Another intervention considers having the provincial chapters every six years, and transforming them into a great provincial assembly.
The sixth commission has gathered these contributions to proceed to a second draft which will be presented after the Easter festival.
The programme of today’s session will see the presentation of the second draft of the document of the third commission and the meeting with Fr. Anthony Mc Sweeny, who will guide the process of discernment for the election of the general council. In the evening the members will attend a presentation ceremony in honour of the late Fr. Vecchi at which a text on juvenile exploitation, which he had worked on just before his death, is due to be published. |
