GC25: PMI EXERCISE ON THE SALESIAN BROTHER
PMI, you say? Pluses, minuses and 'if only...'. On Saturday the Assembly met fraternally to summarize reflection on the consecrated lay element of our charism, especially in the light of the Beatification of Brother Artemide Zatti. Here are the key points of the PMI analysis:
PLUSES: under the heading of:
What are signs of hope for the future?
a) In some provinces there is a more positive and more significant presence of the Salesian coadjutor among the young people;
b) In some instances the brothers’ formation has been more complete;
c) Greater development of the educative and pastoral dimensions of the Salesian work has made the figure of the Salesian coadjutor more understandable in certain areas.
MINUSES: under the heading of:
a) In some provinces there is a more positive and more significant presence of the Salesian coadjutor among the young people;
b) In some instances the brothers’ formation has been more complete;
c) Greater development of the educative and pastoral dimensions of the Salesian work has made the figure of the Salesian coadjutor more understandable in certain areas.
MINUSES: under the heading of:
What are the difficulties encountered in the development of the vocation of the Salesian coadjutor?
a) Little visibility of the brother, and an inadequate understanding of consecrated life;
b) A clerical "vision" of the Salesian vocation that stresses the functional ministry of the priest over the educational ministry of the Salesian vocation, rendering the brothers’ vocation as second rate;
c) Lack of clarity with regard to the vision of the Salesian coadjutor: little understanding on the part of the SDB priests of the vocation; the presence and mission of the Salesian coadjutor has little significance in the community mission; the need for more significant models of Salesian coadjutors.
IF ONLY: under the heading of:
b) A clerical "vision" of the Salesian vocation that stresses the functional ministry of the priest over the educational ministry of the Salesian vocation, rendering the brothers’ vocation as second rate;
c) Lack of clarity with regard to the vision of the Salesian coadjutor: little understanding on the part of the SDB priests of the vocation; the presence and mission of the Salesian coadjutor has little significance in the community mission; the need for more significant models of Salesian coadjutors.
IF ONLY: under the heading of:
(1) What are some concrete initiatives that can help promote the vocation of the Salesian brother?
a) In every Salesian community promote a greater understanding and deepening of the vocation of the Salesian coadjutor in the community and in the mission;
b) In vocational work make sure that the people on the vocation team understand well the vocation of the Salesian coadjutor and can help prospective candidates to see its significance;
c) In the formation of the young confreres, make sure that both the clerics and the coadjutors see their complimentary roles in the Salesian mission;
d) Stress the vocation of the coadjutor in more visible ways—video, CD rom, web site, retreats where brothers give their own personal testimony;
e) Province and regional meetings of brothers, and those aspiring to the life of the Salesian brother;
f) Have a good qualification program for the Salesian brothers;
g) Include brothers who are prepared on the house council, the provincial council, on province teams.
(2) What are some initiatives that can be used on the worldwide Congregation level to help renew the vocation of the Salesian brother?
a) On the feast day of Artemides Zatti, March 15, have a day dedicated to the Salesian brother on the world-wide congregational level;
b) Stress prayers for vocations to the Salesian brotherhood through the intercession of Artemides Zatti;
c) Celebrate the anniversaries of religious profession for all the confreres, as a sign of our common unity in religious life;
d) In each province have a deeper study of the vocation of the Salesian brother;
e) Use this year as a special one to study the "form" of our Congregation and come up with a deeper understanding of how we can be a "mixed" congregation, and be faithful to our charism and the original project of Don
Bosco.
a) In every Salesian community promote a greater understanding and deepening of the vocation of the Salesian coadjutor in the community and in the mission;
b) In vocational work make sure that the people on the vocation team understand well the vocation of the Salesian coadjutor and can help prospective candidates to see its significance;
c) In the formation of the young confreres, make sure that both the clerics and the coadjutors see their complimentary roles in the Salesian mission;
d) Stress the vocation of the coadjutor in more visible ways—video, CD rom, web site, retreats where brothers give their own personal testimony;
e) Province and regional meetings of brothers, and those aspiring to the life of the Salesian brother;
f) Have a good qualification program for the Salesian brothers;
g) Include brothers who are prepared on the house council, the provincial council, on province teams.
(2) What are some initiatives that can be used on the worldwide Congregation level to help renew the vocation of the Salesian brother?
a) On the feast day of Artemides Zatti, March 15, have a day dedicated to the Salesian brother on the world-wide congregational level;
b) Stress prayers for vocations to the Salesian brotherhood through the intercession of Artemides Zatti;
c) Celebrate the anniversaries of religious profession for all the confreres, as a sign of our common unity in religious life;
d) In each province have a deeper study of the vocation of the Salesian brother;
e) Use this year as a special one to study the "form" of our Congregation and come up with a deeper understanding of how we can be a "mixed" congregation, and be faithful to our charism and the original project of Don
Bosco.
