austraLasia #3397
GC27 taking shape
ROME: 18 March 2014 -- GC27 taking shape? Hasn't it been doing that for nigh on four weeks now? True, since it has to 'take shape' at many levels, and an essential level is that 230 people or thereabouts become very familiar with one another.
But things are moving on. With a set of 'straw votes' behind them, the juridical commission will be looking to redrafting proposals for final voting; with the presentation of a 'Listening and interpretation' draft on the 3rd key topic (Servants of the young) by the Drafting Group on Tuesday 18 March, this means that the final 'Way ahead' stage will also move towards completion, leaving the way open to reshaping the text into its final form.
And other things are moving on: this time next week (25 March) will will probably have a new RM and subsequently a new or reupholstered General Council. special 'scent', sweaty though it may be: a marathon in Seoul on their behalf.
'Taking shape' has been happening in more than formal meeting stages. Trips to Naples and Florence for interested (and not too weary) people, meetings on the side, be they other Salesian activities, e.g. 70 or so Provinces were represented on Saturday at a PDO-cum-DBN-cum-VIS meeting to see how capacity building and advocacy strategies are working across the Salesian spectrum. Special focus on Africa, but that as an example of particular interest. And Regional meetings are beginning to happen too - formally organised ones as well as the informal ones. These are intended to suss out candidature for the role of the Regional, which would appear, at least in straw vote terms, to be a largely unchanged feature of the new General Council. Some Regional must change under the rules - they only get two consecutive goes at it. Other could decide it is time for someone else. Stay tuned.
Monday 18 March was largely given over to commissions of all kinds - studying the first draft of the 'Listening and Interpretation' stages of what will end up as the final document comprising the three key sub-topics of the theme: mystics..., prophets..., servants... The study was on the 2nd of these. The Juridical Commission instead was hammering out drafts of 'iuxta modums' (no, not a new kind of technology, but the 'yes, but with reservations' proposals received), and presenting new proposals. Some time together in the afternoon looking at elections procedures for sector and region councillors and voting (still 'straw') on the morning's work.
Tuesday sees the Listening and Interpretation stage of the 3rd key topic (Servants of the young) go to the Assembly for discussion. It is looking good, but from a translator's perspective its four pages contain just about every linguistic trap you could want (or not want - risignificares and protagonismos and animaziones galore!). That in itself is a good indication that it is really getting to the nub of things, hitting us where it hurts, or where it must make an impact.
As the week moves on, the mood will too - more focused on the upcoming elections, To guide the confreres in this, Fr José Cristo Rey García Paredes cmf (yes, they do have rather long names some of our Spanish-speaking brethren, don't they) a Claretian missionary, will be at work - is already quietly at work judging from his pre-prepared and excellent material.
Elsewhere in the Region
- The Timorese Bishops have turned up in Rome for their ad limina
- DB Henderson (Solomons) is at its Rector's Cup once more, under the new rector this time, Fr Dominic Kachira.
- The SIGNIS world conference, recently concluded in Rome, produced a statement on media for a culture of peace: creating images with the new generation. Participants included Fr Ambrose Pereira sdb, SIGNIS Pacific President and Sr. Sesilia Sala fma, Catholic Communications Solomons Director.
- CSJ's (Caritas) Sisters sent off 3 new missionaries on Sunday: 2 to Peru and one to South Sudan
Elsewhere in the Salesian World
Don Bosco Publications has just published A Connected Life: Mystical Christianity for today by Michael Cunnignham sdb
GC27 taking shape
ROME: 18 March 2014 -- GC27 taking shape? Hasn't it been doing that for nigh on four weeks now? True, since it has to 'take shape' at many levels, and an essential level is that 230 people or thereabouts become very familiar with one another.
But things are moving on. With a set of 'straw votes' behind them, the juridical commission will be looking to redrafting proposals for final voting; with the presentation of a 'Listening and interpretation' draft on the 3rd key topic (Servants of the young) by the Drafting Group on Tuesday 18 March, this means that the final 'Way ahead' stage will also move towards completion, leaving the way open to reshaping the text into its final form.
And other things are moving on: this time next week (25 March) will will probably have a new RM and subsequently a new or reupholstered General Council. special 'scent', sweaty though it may be: a marathon in Seoul on their behalf.
'Taking shape' has been happening in more than formal meeting stages. Trips to Naples and Florence for interested (and not too weary) people, meetings on the side, be they other Salesian activities, e.g. 70 or so Provinces were represented on Saturday at a PDO-cum-DBN-cum-VIS meeting to see how capacity building and advocacy strategies are working across the Salesian spectrum. Special focus on Africa, but that as an example of particular interest. And Regional meetings are beginning to happen too - formally organised ones as well as the informal ones. These are intended to suss out candidature for the role of the Regional, which would appear, at least in straw vote terms, to be a largely unchanged feature of the new General Council. Some Regional must change under the rules - they only get two consecutive goes at it. Other could decide it is time for someone else. Stay tuned.
Monday 18 March was largely given over to commissions of all kinds - studying the first draft of the 'Listening and Interpretation' stages of what will end up as the final document comprising the three key sub-topics of the theme: mystics..., prophets..., servants... The study was on the 2nd of these. The Juridical Commission instead was hammering out drafts of 'iuxta modums' (no, not a new kind of technology, but the 'yes, but with reservations' proposals received), and presenting new proposals. Some time together in the afternoon looking at elections procedures for sector and region councillors and voting (still 'straw') on the morning's work.
Tuesday sees the Listening and Interpretation stage of the 3rd key topic (Servants of the young) go to the Assembly for discussion. It is looking good, but from a translator's perspective its four pages contain just about every linguistic trap you could want (or not want - risignificares and protagonismos and animaziones galore!). That in itself is a good indication that it is really getting to the nub of things, hitting us where it hurts, or where it must make an impact.
As the week moves on, the mood will too - more focused on the upcoming elections, To guide the confreres in this, Fr José Cristo Rey García Paredes cmf (yes, they do have rather long names some of our Spanish-speaking brethren, don't they) a Claretian missionary, will be at work - is already quietly at work judging from his pre-prepared and excellent material.
Elsewhere in the Region
- The Timorese Bishops have turned up in Rome for their ad limina
- DB Henderson (Solomons) is at its Rector's Cup once more, under the new rector this time, Fr Dominic Kachira.
- The SIGNIS world conference, recently concluded in Rome, produced a statement on media for a culture of peace: creating images with the new generation. Participants included Fr Ambrose Pereira sdb, SIGNIS Pacific President and Sr. Sesilia Sala fma, Catholic Communications Solomons Director.
- CSJ's (Caritas) Sisters sent off 3 new missionaries on Sunday: 2 to Peru and one to South Sudan
Elsewhere in the Salesian World
Don Bosco Publications has just published A Connected Life: Mystical Christianity for today by Michael Cunnignham sdb
