austraLasia #3388
Week one down, many still to go
ROME: 9 March 2014 -- After a full week of solid Chapter work, Chapter members will be looking forward to Sunday and a little cultural animation involving the 'Meridionale' (Southern) Italian Province - Naples.
But work went on right up to Saturday. Much of this week was taken up with the Rector Major's Report, reactions to it, study of it and questions to the RM about it.
All of that seems to be coming together in appropriate summaries to be made available in the major languages of the Chapter.
And of course, Lent started. Someone asked the RM if there would be a common penance for Lent for the Chapter. Given cultural differences, he said, food would not be part of that, but being punctual with all duties and schedules for the Chapter would be!
And - is there a new term somewhere on the horizon? We've had POI (OPP) - are we about to get a POC (OCP or maybe SCP), Strategic Congregational Plan? If we do get a POC then maybe 'Rasunuma 'n poc' takes on some additional importance (cf yesterday's item)!
Questions to the RM
As a result of the RM's extensive report, there would obviously be questions to him - these came for the most part from the Commissions, the juridical commission maybe furnishing more than the others.
Some of those questions reflect the commissions comments presented in yesterday's austraLasia. But here are a few others, just to offer a glimpse into these questions.
Questions covered issues like: the tone of the Report in general; Formation; Brothers; Fraternal Life; the Religious Discipline; Those who leave; Youth Ministry; the SDB-Lay relationship; Finance; Redimensioning; Expectations of this Chapter; Project Europe; UPS. 41 questions in all.
He was asked, for example, if in the light of the statistics, the Report might not be too optimistic? One Brother made the observation that other than 1 who was ex-officio, 6 who were elected and 4 invited only 7 have voting rights. They make up 3% of the Chapter group but Brothers are 12% of the Congregation - obvious question then: is there not some imbalance here? Why?
There has been work done on why temporary professed have a high attrition rate, but has similar reflection been given to the loss of perpetually professed members?
When will the YM new Framework be presented - or will it? We've been told it is complete and ready.
With regard to the SDB-lay relationship, could we also have statistics on lay people who are closely integrated into our work also integrated into our statistics?
What lessons have been learned from examples of financial mismanagement?
Getting around to some first 'results' of the week
More work was done on the initial report of the drafting group attempting to sum up the study (RM) reflections by commissions. That is now being translated into English. here are some tidbits from that:
This more formal and finished summary covers the following areas:
1. Visible, credible, fruitful fraternal life
2. SDB and lay formation
3. The mission: our presence amongst the young
4. Animation and Government.
The summary draws attention to the powerful testimony of Pope Francis and directions indicated in his Evangelii Gaudium - with implications for our educational and pastoral mission.
Under (1) above there is a call to seriously rethink our community life and restructure it. That will obviously get further airing over the weeks to come. This involves formation of rectors amongst others. It also appears to call for a substantial review of our formation processes
Under (2) a number of the problems in the relationship stem from the SDBs themselves. So it is also a case of clear identity on our part, as well as the clear lay identity rooted in their baptismal role and place in the Church. A suggestion that one of the Departments needs to take responsibility for this area of lay formation.
Under (3) there is a renewed call to ensure that the young and not our works are the focus. We need to begin with the implicit desire young people have for spirituality but eventually reach an explicit proposal of faith.
Under (4) the rector has another mention. maybe we need to redefine his role within the new dynamics of the context for Salesian work today. There are suggestions for far greater collegiality and cooperation and interaction at General Council level, between the GC and Provincials, Provincials and local communities. And, finally, a request to review the tasks of the Regional who often gets caught up with extraordinary visitations and spends little time in coordination within the region or in being close to Provincials.
As indicated, these are but glimpses. There is much more, and it's only the start.
Week one down, many still to go
ROME: 9 March 2014 -- After a full week of solid Chapter work, Chapter members will be looking forward to Sunday and a little cultural animation involving the 'Meridionale' (Southern) Italian Province - Naples.
But work went on right up to Saturday. Much of this week was taken up with the Rector Major's Report, reactions to it, study of it and questions to the RM about it.
All of that seems to be coming together in appropriate summaries to be made available in the major languages of the Chapter.
And of course, Lent started. Someone asked the RM if there would be a common penance for Lent for the Chapter. Given cultural differences, he said, food would not be part of that, but being punctual with all duties and schedules for the Chapter would be!
And - is there a new term somewhere on the horizon? We've had POI (OPP) - are we about to get a POC (OCP or maybe SCP), Strategic Congregational Plan? If we do get a POC then maybe 'Rasunuma 'n poc' takes on some additional importance (cf yesterday's item)!
Questions to the RM
As a result of the RM's extensive report, there would obviously be questions to him - these came for the most part from the Commissions, the juridical commission maybe furnishing more than the others.
Some of those questions reflect the commissions comments presented in yesterday's austraLasia. But here are a few others, just to offer a glimpse into these questions.
Questions covered issues like: the tone of the Report in general; Formation; Brothers; Fraternal Life; the Religious Discipline; Those who leave; Youth Ministry; the SDB-Lay relationship; Finance; Redimensioning; Expectations of this Chapter; Project Europe; UPS. 41 questions in all.
He was asked, for example, if in the light of the statistics, the Report might not be too optimistic? One Brother made the observation that other than 1 who was ex-officio, 6 who were elected and 4 invited only 7 have voting rights. They make up 3% of the Chapter group but Brothers are 12% of the Congregation - obvious question then: is there not some imbalance here? Why?
There has been work done on why temporary professed have a high attrition rate, but has similar reflection been given to the loss of perpetually professed members?
When will the YM new Framework be presented - or will it? We've been told it is complete and ready.
With regard to the SDB-lay relationship, could we also have statistics on lay people who are closely integrated into our work also integrated into our statistics?
What lessons have been learned from examples of financial mismanagement?
Getting around to some first 'results' of the week
More work was done on the initial report of the drafting group attempting to sum up the study (RM) reflections by commissions. That is now being translated into English. here are some tidbits from that:
This more formal and finished summary covers the following areas:
1. Visible, credible, fruitful fraternal life
2. SDB and lay formation
3. The mission: our presence amongst the young
4. Animation and Government.
The summary draws attention to the powerful testimony of Pope Francis and directions indicated in his Evangelii Gaudium - with implications for our educational and pastoral mission.
Under (1) above there is a call to seriously rethink our community life and restructure it. That will obviously get further airing over the weeks to come. This involves formation of rectors amongst others. It also appears to call for a substantial review of our formation processes
Under (2) a number of the problems in the relationship stem from the SDBs themselves. So it is also a case of clear identity on our part, as well as the clear lay identity rooted in their baptismal role and place in the Church. A suggestion that one of the Departments needs to take responsibility for this area of lay formation.
Under (3) there is a renewed call to ensure that the young and not our works are the focus. We need to begin with the implicit desire young people have for spirituality but eventually reach an explicit proposal of faith.
Under (4) the rector has another mention. maybe we need to redefine his role within the new dynamics of the context for Salesian work today. There are suggestions for far greater collegiality and cooperation and interaction at General Council level, between the GC and Provincials, Provincials and local communities. And, finally, a request to review the tasks of the Regional who often gets caught up with extraordinary visitations and spends little time in coordination within the region or in being close to Provincials.
As indicated, these are but glimpses. There is much more, and it's only the start.
