austraLasia #2085
GC26: A smooth and very effective process seems to be in place
ROME: 6th March 2008 -- A busy day! A busy day for everyone from the President of the Assembly to the humble translators. One of the first things readers might like to do, though, is to go to the reserved area of sdb.org (best enter through the GC26 website to find your way to the right pages) and check on the new document in there - you will be able to follow the Rector Major's report more closely. It is such a prominent part of this first part of the Chapter. You may also like to take a peek at the GC26 Regulations with its newly added section to R. 20 - these are in the 'open' area and can be accessed from the RH column on the GC26 page, about halfway down that list.
The Regions met on 4th and 5th March and produced a set of responses to two questions, one on their perspective of the state of the Congregation, having read and studied the RM's report individually and together, and the other indicating what issues should be part of the planning for the next 6 year period. This approach is what the altered GC26 R. 20 was all about - it substantially changes the way General Chapters have worked thus far in the sense that the vast experience of the Congregation is being brought to bear early, on this 'reporting' stage, with a view to influencing the next six year programme quite directly. Regions will meet again towards the end of the Chapter and plan ahead in their own regard as well.
The afternoon saw, in addition to these regional assessments being presented publicly, a question and answer time. The Rector Major made it clear that while he took full responsibility for his Report, he had followed the tried and proven method of asking his Councillors to help him draft it - therefore they were in the best situation to respond to specific questions for their sector. So they did! And this will continue at least for the first part of tomorrow morning. In the meantime, four hard-working characters are drafting a synthesis of all these region reports and have to present that tomorrow also. By then there will be a clearer idea of what the key issues are. It suffices to note at this point that the importance of quality community life, spirit, growth, support, is one of those issues. It was already highlighted by the Rector Major but it is coming through again in region responses.
You can read the chronological stages of the day through ANS, and follow up with the excellent photos taken either by our Bro Hilario Seo of EAO Region and published on sdb.org or by others published in both ANS and in the photo section of the GC26 website. Don't overlook the ANS video either. And keep an eye on the very active cartoonist!
The management of the Chapter is quite outstanding when you look at it. Fr Cereda has a light but direct touch and keeps things moving, nobody is allowed to weigh things down with long speeches, there appear to be very few glitches in the overall operation, and where voting procedures got a little tedious the first time (electing three Moderators) it was quickly simplified. Commissions, including a specific Juridical Commission, will be in place by the morrow.
Wednesday 5th was Fr Bregolin's name day, Thursday 6th is Fr Cereda's birthday, so there are celebratory moments amidst it all.
_________________
AustraLasia is an email service for the Salesian Family of Asia Pacific. It also functions as an agency for ANS based in Rome. For queries please contact admin@bosconet.aust.com . Use Bosconet-wiki to be interactive. RSS feeds - just go to Bosconet, click on austraLasia 2008 in the sidebar. You will see the RSS orange icon in your browser address bar - add it from there. Avail yourself of the Salesian Digital Library at at http://sdl.sdb.org
Title: australasia 2085
Subject and key words: GC26
Date (year): 2008
ID: 2000-2099|2085
GC26: A smooth and very effective process seems to be in place
ROME: 6th March 2008 -- A busy day! A busy day for everyone from the President of the Assembly to the humble translators. One of the first things readers might like to do, though, is to go to the reserved area of sdb.org (best enter through the GC26 website to find your way to the right pages) and check on the new document in there - you will be able to follow the Rector Major's report more closely. It is such a prominent part of this first part of the Chapter. You may also like to take a peek at the GC26 Regulations with its newly added section to R. 20 - these are in the 'open' area and can be accessed from the RH column on the GC26 page, about halfway down that list.
The Regions met on 4th and 5th March and produced a set of responses to two questions, one on their perspective of the state of the Congregation, having read and studied the RM's report individually and together, and the other indicating what issues should be part of the planning for the next 6 year period. This approach is what the altered GC26 R. 20 was all about - it substantially changes the way General Chapters have worked thus far in the sense that the vast experience of the Congregation is being brought to bear early, on this 'reporting' stage, with a view to influencing the next six year programme quite directly. Regions will meet again towards the end of the Chapter and plan ahead in their own regard as well.
The afternoon saw, in addition to these regional assessments being presented publicly, a question and answer time. The Rector Major made it clear that while he took full responsibility for his Report, he had followed the tried and proven method of asking his Councillors to help him draft it - therefore they were in the best situation to respond to specific questions for their sector. So they did! And this will continue at least for the first part of tomorrow morning. In the meantime, four hard-working characters are drafting a synthesis of all these region reports and have to present that tomorrow also. By then there will be a clearer idea of what the key issues are. It suffices to note at this point that the importance of quality community life, spirit, growth, support, is one of those issues. It was already highlighted by the Rector Major but it is coming through again in region responses.
You can read the chronological stages of the day through ANS, and follow up with the excellent photos taken either by our Bro Hilario Seo of EAO Region and published on sdb.org or by others published in both ANS and in the photo section of the GC26 website. Don't overlook the ANS video either. And keep an eye on the very active cartoonist!
The management of the Chapter is quite outstanding when you look at it. Fr Cereda has a light but direct touch and keeps things moving, nobody is allowed to weigh things down with long speeches, there appear to be very few glitches in the overall operation, and where voting procedures got a little tedious the first time (electing three Moderators) it was quickly simplified. Commissions, including a specific Juridical Commission, will be in place by the morrow.
Wednesday 5th was Fr Bregolin's name day, Thursday 6th is Fr Cereda's birthday, so there are celebratory moments amidst it all.
_________________
AustraLasia is an email service for the Salesian Family of Asia Pacific. It also functions as an agency for ANS based in Rome. For queries please contact admin@bosconet.aust.com . Use Bosconet-wiki to be interactive. RSS feeds - just go to Bosconet, click on austraLasia 2008 in the sidebar. You will see the RSS orange icon in your browser address bar - add it from there. Avail yourself of the Salesian Digital Library at at http://sdl.sdb.org
Title: australasia 2085
Subject and key words: GC26
Date (year): 2008
ID: 2000-2099|2085
