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A snapshot of the Salesian Congregation in the report of Fr Van Looy to the General Chapter
(ANS – Rome, 26 February 2002) – The highpoint of the second day of the Chapter was the presentation of the Report of the Vicar General on the state of the Congregation in the six-year period 1996–2002. This is normally a task of the Rector Major, but because of the death of Fr Vecchi it has fallen to the lot of his Vicar to report on the life, problems and resources of the Congregation in the last six years.
In his presentation the Vicar General spoke of the objective, content and character of the Report and indicated those to whom it is addressed. Among other things it contains statistics relating to the Salesians, the works, the collaborators, and those to whom their apostolic mission is directed.
On the basis of the statistics, Fr Van Looy pointed out the decreasing proportion of Salesians in our works and the increasing number of laity; the works of greater importance remain the schools and training centres; he pointed to the continuing decrease in vocations and the inevitable rise in the average age of the Salesians themselves; he illustrated the positive results that had followed upon the decisions of the previous General Chapter, the foundations made in new countries, the setting up of new circumscriptions and provinces; the handing over of some works to management by the laity; the increase in the number of works for young people at risk; the increase in the number of Salesians serving various dioceses.
He also dwelt on some problems that call for attention: the time spent by Salesians in organizational and administrative responsibilities which takes them away from the youngsters; the obligation of providing spiritual assistance to the laity and groups of the Salesian Family, which needs further strengthening; the formation of young Salesians in appropriate houses; the falling numbers of Salesian Brothers; the new demands of privacy; the time taken from community life because of the enormous amount of work.
Fr Van Looy also indicated various emphases that the General Chapter, just beginning, must keep in mind as part of its duty of reflection and discussion: the community as the normal place for the continued ongoing formation of the confreres; the key-role of the Rector in the religious community and in the work; the possibility of judging the effectiveness of a work from its priorities among those for whose benefit it operates.
He finished with the slogan: “We’ll be mystics or we’ll be nothing at all”.
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