#571
from Joe Arimpoor:
Ever since the special General Chapter the Congregation has moved forward in spite of the threats and dangers. From a very traditional and authoritative style of governing, in the special GC we moved towards recoginzing the individual, his needs, and his contributions. We almost called it the Chapter of the INDIVIDUAL!
When we gave so much of importance to the individual problems of individualism emerged. The next chapter care-fronted this situation... There were temptations to blot out the individual (and bring back the earlier system) with all their individuality , creativity, initiatives...
But the creative solution came in the emphasis given on the COMMUNITY,...after all, a community consisted of individuals!
In the system of of Don Bosco the role of the rector used to be percieved as a very important one. However, in the next chapter we saw the importance given not only to the Rector but ... he, with individuals in the community. Hence there came the creative solution of Rector-in-the-community!
Then we moved forward with the themes of "Educatuion to the Faith!", and "the Collaboration with the Laity... unfortunately, some of the experiences have not been so positive.. but should we go back or forward? ... How to go forward in a creative way?... Salesians and the lay people!
The over emphasis of the Q & Q of the SDBs only, is definitely a step backward. How to achieve a Q & Q with the lay people is a real challenge!
Can we have some well-planned and well-designedexperiments in the different regions of the Congregation?... document the process, outcome, difficulties, and problems... and revive it in the next chapter...and accordingly plan to take more definitive steps...
How about giving guidelines in this Chapter for such experiments?
-Fr Joe Arimpoor, Delegate of
