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THE WORKINGS OF OUR GENERAL COUNCIL

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NOTE: austraLasia from time to time makes use of the above service in the interests of a wider understanding of the Salesian mission at its various levels. The service comes in Italian. The translation of snippets is mine. jbf

Taking the session which concluded on 21st January as an example, the General Council works along the lines of a network. Sometimes two or three councillors will offer their thoughts on a region or province. They will seek to gain deeper understanding of a question that pertains to one of the departments. Sometimes the councillors will gather in small groups to explore an issue or prepare a paper....either in groups relating to departments, or to regions.

The plenary session, where all the member sof the Council come together, is the most complete but not the only expression of its work. It is in this larger group that particular and important projects are elaborated, above all directions and orientations of a political nature. In the session just completed, for example, without counting the small group gatherings, of which there were many, the whole council gathered 28 times for a total of some 56 hours or work - multiply that by 15 members and you get 850 hours of reflection and work!

What else has happened in the last session? There are many practical matters like the nominating of Provincials. This time round there were twelve of them, including the first Provincial of all france who will reside in Paris; the first Filipino-born Provincial for Philippines North; we did not succeed, unfortunately, in nominating an African Provincial for the Africa Central Province. After a long reflection on the matter we felt that things had not quite matured to that point yet.

There were many ongoing matters, amongst which: 11 reports from visits to Provinces; the examination of some 39 Provincial Chapters; reports from Councillors who had made vistis relating to their Departments.

In the Council this time, a number of ideas and tendencies, developments have attracted attention. For example, the increase in communication within the Salesian world...and in connection with the wider Catholic world. Much more communication via e-mail, for instance, and messages from Africa, Latin America, Asia and the provinces generally flow through the place. This increase in every direction and from every possible source has given rise to a new section of the Social Communications Department: Promoting the Image, a Press and Public Relations Office. Consideration is being given to a new web site (central) which will also involve chat/webphone. There has even been a brief discussion of a new circular throughout the Congregation which will look at the way we live in this new cyber climate (a sort of cyber ecology, if you like).

Another matter which has preoccupied the Council is Africa: Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ethiopia, Eritrea - all places where Salesians are working and violence is prevalent. We have had confreres kidnapped by police in the Sudan, imprisoned. In the Congo, serious problems continue - a lot more than tv or newspapers succeed in conveying. The same goes for Ruanda and Burundi. The Council can sometimes only assist by means of advice, encouragement, spiritual support (all much appreciated). Where possible the Council has sent emergency funds to relieve difficult situations - the Sudan for instance, or Central America, the latter receiving $100,000. In the Congo the Congregation has had to set up a special delegation with a degree of autonomy from the province as a whole...it envisages a delegate of the Rector Major himself, with special powers which will last for the duration of the military emergency.

Another area has given the Council much concern: Dimapur (North East India), where there are 182 different ethnic groups under the influence of some major surrounding nations all seeking territorial advantage. In the division and confusion, our own confreres have experienced at least 104 counts of threat, 63 of them serious and one resulting in the death of a confrere. These problems beset not only our confreres (217) but also the Missionary Sisters of MHC (508) and the FMA (230).

Then there is the matter of Team Visits. Their story begins in 1972 after the Special General Chapter. It is not a constitutional structure of government as such; it is a meeting to evaluate, reflect, find points of agreement at the end of which some directions emerge and which are ratified by the Rector Major (usually presiding) or whoever presides in his place. There has been, in this present session, some fine-tuning and rationalization of the process. In the year February through to next February, 11 such visits will take place. Feb: English-speaking Africa; two in April for the Cone of South America; Germany/Austrai in May; Western Europe in August, North Europe (UK, Ireland, Belgium and Holland) in September; East Poland and Interamerica in October. In February 2000 there will be four in hot pursuit of each other: Italy, French-speaking Africa, Asia-Pacific, India. Each Team Visit has a common theme: Salesians and lay people: the community as animating nucleus of diverse strengths.

Finally - the Millenium! The Council has decided that by and large the Congregation will take part in the Church's many initiatives so as not to multiply efforts. But there will be a special missionary expedition. This is quietly happening at the moment - requests being constantly received for involvement in it. The Council is giving thought to a possible proposal of a 'journey of conversion' for each community and its work, to mark the millenium.

And vocations! A constant theme of provincial chapters and Team Visits, it is also constantly under consideration by the General Council, and in close connection with other Superiors General and their Councils.

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* BOSCONET - website of the Salesians of Don Bosco, Australasia region, serving especially the Asia-Pacific area, operating out of Fiji, and found at http://www.bosconet.aust.com
* 'austraLasia' - English language internet news service for Asia-Pacific
* austraLasia-subscribe@bosconet.aust.com will give you a chance to join a closed mailing list for interactive exchange on topic of mutual Salesian interest.
* Contact the webmaster at jbfox@ozemail.com.au or jbfox@bosconet.aust.com

0152_THE WORKINGS OF OUR GENERAL COUNCIL

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