austraLasia 1487
PNG adds new dimension to Delegation life
PORT MORESBY: 13th March 2006 -- Not content to work in 3D, the PNG-SI Delegation is adopting 4D in a novel approach to the 'catch-up' process of future planning: drawing up an integrated delegation plan, formation directory, province directory.... though 'catch-up' is not quite fair. It is only in quite recent times that Solomon Islands was added into the Salesian Melanesian mix; that the Delegation has really seen itself as moving to the point where it could legitimately petition the next and inevitable step - Vice Province. All this is the background to the so-called 4D process for the Extraordinary Assembly of Confreres planned for July: Discover, Dream, Design, Destiny. That's 4D
PNG is no stranger to jungles, and you could believe, for a moment that you were amidst a jungle of acronyms at first glance on the 'Journey Together - Discussion Papers' provided by the Assembly Chairman, Fr Alfred Maravilla. The process, after all, involves AI, SAID and 4-D to arrive at IDP and SEPP at an EAC. But we already know - or should - what SEPP is, and IDP is a rather sensible English rendition of the animal Italian calls POI or Piano Organico Ispettoriale, Integrated Delegation Plan, for PNG. And there is nothing artificial about the intelligence behind the AI approach, for indeed it means 'Appreciative Inquiry', a positive approach to change focusing on probing the Delegation's best attributes and practices. AI pays attention to what is working well, to qualities of leadership. It is something that not only fits in with the 'does not give way to discouragement' line of C. 17, but centres on fundamental values of life, community and relations - everything a Melanesian heart desires!
The 'discussion papers' run to 55 pages, the early pages describing the AI approach, the overall 4D design that should result in the Delegation's forward planning, and SAID. SAID is where it is really all done! The confreres in each community 'Share, Appreciate, Inquire and Discuss' in the process of sharing their own story, exploring life experiences as a community, identifying the core sources of life (principles) over a range of set topics.
If it all sounds almost too optimistic, then note that Fr Maravilla draws the confreres' attention to precisely this. If the process works well, then they have to confront what was not life-giving in the past, or now, and see what needs to be done. Vision and Mission, Fraternal life, Animation and Government, the Evangelical counsels in a Melanesian context x 3, Salesian Family, Vocation promotion to Salesian life - Brothers and Priests, Initial formation, Ongoing formation, Formation of laity, Youth, Education and evangelisation, Review of apostolates, Communion with the local church...after 15 solid topics of the kind it will be time to say "yupela wet pastaim!", or "just hang on a tick (and get it all together)".
There is little doubt that the preparation for this Assembly has been extremely thorough. We look forward to hearing of the Assembly itself in July, which will actually be in three parts: an assembly of all confreres from the Delegation, the celebration of Delegation Day, and the EAC or Extraordinary Assembly of Confreres which is in fact a Chapter, juridically speaking. We look forward to hearing more of it.
______________________________
AustraLasia is an email service for the Salesian Family of Asia Pacific. It also functions as an agency for ANS based in Rome. For RSS feeds, subscribe to www.bosconet.aust.com/rssala.xml
PNG adds new dimension to Delegation life
PORT MORESBY: 13th March 2006 -- Not content to work in 3D, the PNG-SI Delegation is adopting 4D in a novel approach to the 'catch-up' process of future planning: drawing up an integrated delegation plan, formation directory, province directory.... though 'catch-up' is not quite fair. It is only in quite recent times that Solomon Islands was added into the Salesian Melanesian mix; that the Delegation has really seen itself as moving to the point where it could legitimately petition the next and inevitable step - Vice Province. All this is the background to the so-called 4D process for the Extraordinary Assembly of Confreres planned for July: Discover, Dream, Design, Destiny. That's 4D
PNG is no stranger to jungles, and you could believe, for a moment that you were amidst a jungle of acronyms at first glance on the 'Journey Together - Discussion Papers' provided by the Assembly Chairman, Fr Alfred Maravilla. The process, after all, involves AI, SAID and 4-D to arrive at IDP and SEPP at an EAC. But we already know - or should - what SEPP is, and IDP is a rather sensible English rendition of the animal Italian calls POI or Piano Organico Ispettoriale, Integrated Delegation Plan, for PNG. And there is nothing artificial about the intelligence behind the AI approach, for indeed it means 'Appreciative Inquiry', a positive approach to change focusing on probing the Delegation's best attributes and practices. AI pays attention to what is working well, to qualities of leadership. It is something that not only fits in with the 'does not give way to discouragement' line of C. 17, but centres on fundamental values of life, community and relations - everything a Melanesian heart desires!
The 'discussion papers' run to 55 pages, the early pages describing the AI approach, the overall 4D design that should result in the Delegation's forward planning, and SAID. SAID is where it is really all done! The confreres in each community 'Share, Appreciate, Inquire and Discuss' in the process of sharing their own story, exploring life experiences as a community, identifying the core sources of life (principles) over a range of set topics.
If it all sounds almost too optimistic, then note that Fr Maravilla draws the confreres' attention to precisely this. If the process works well, then they have to confront what was not life-giving in the past, or now, and see what needs to be done. Vision and Mission, Fraternal life, Animation and Government, the Evangelical counsels in a Melanesian context x 3, Salesian Family, Vocation promotion to Salesian life - Brothers and Priests, Initial formation, Ongoing formation, Formation of laity, Youth, Education and evangelisation, Review of apostolates, Communion with the local church...after 15 solid topics of the kind it will be time to say "yupela wet pastaim!", or "just hang on a tick (and get it all together)".
There is little doubt that the preparation for this Assembly has been extremely thorough. We look forward to hearing of the Assembly itself in July, which will actually be in three parts: an assembly of all confreres from the Delegation, the celebration of Delegation Day, and the EAC or Extraordinary Assembly of Confreres which is in fact a Chapter, juridically speaking. We look forward to hearing more of it.
______________________________
AustraLasia is an email service for the Salesian Family of Asia Pacific. It also functions as an agency for ANS based in Rome. For RSS feeds, subscribe to www.bosconet.aust.com/rssala.xml
