Lawaan, Philippines, February 15, 2016 - Fr. Godofredo T. Atienza, Provincial Superior of the Philippine South Province (FIS), declared yesterday the opening of the 8th Provincial Chapter which is held at the Don Bosco Retreat House, Lawaan, Talisay City – Cebu from February 15-19, 2016. The Chapter, happening every three years, is the fraternal gathering in which the local communities strengthen their sense of belonging to the Provincial Community through their common concern for its general welfare (Const. 170).
Every setting has been represented including those from Mindanao and Pakistan. The goal is to witness to a radical Gospel approach by means of continual spiritual, fraternal and pastoral conversion. “The 5-day event aims to decide on what pertains to the good running of the Province as well as to deliberate in concrete terms on the implementation of the General Chapter 27” explained Fr. Eugene Maglasang, the Chapter Moderator as he welcomed all the delegates from different places.
Since its foundation on May 30, 1992 the Philippine South Province has had 8 Provincial Chapters to date. The theme of this year’s PC8 2016 is “The Implementation of the GC27. Reshaping of the Salesian Presences of the Province.” Working documents have been prepared months back. But the work of facilitation during the actual proceedings of the Chapter, has been entrusted to Fr. Alan Ross Banogon, a Provincial Council member and Economer of Don Bosco Technology Center.
The Chapter commenced with a challenging talk given by Bishop Patricio Buzon, former FIS Provincial Superior but now Bishop of Kabankalan, Negros Occidental. He reminded the Chapter Delegates of the great responsibility of doing serious reflection for the guidance and direction of the Province for the next three years. Moreover, he stressed on three ideas needed to a more radical witnessing of the Gospel: Primacy of God, Conversion and the Grace of Unity.
He encouraged the Salesians to return to their “original experience of God” to as to respond with greater generosity and effectiveness. “Where God is no longer felt, radicalness wane” he said. Drawing from the wealth of his personal experience, he shared that as he gets older he realized that he is left with two choices in life: life or death; God or Self. Hence the call to continual conversion is needed to “celebrate the Paschal Mystery daily in an unending process of discovering God’s primacy in our life.” The key to live out our vocation is the grace of unity. Such grace of unity is seen in Don Bosco’s “union with God.” It is through this that the fruits of integration, balance and consistency are accomplished. If every Salesian makes this effort “not only will we wake up the world, but actually set the world on fire!”
The afternoon session of Day 1 proceeded with the presentation of the Chapter itinerary, procedures and regulations of the Chapter and the working documents which are to be voted upon by an absolute majority by the delegates. The Provincial also gave the State of the Province Address which provided a situational grasp of the actual pulse of the Province at the moment. The FIS PC8 2016 has begun. Its journey has been entrusted to Mary Undoer of Knots, Pope Francis’ favorite devotion.
