austraLasia #3386
Commissions, Stats, Other
ROME: 7 March 2014 -- Now that the Chapter is getting into a rhythm which it will keep, largely, for the coming month or more, let's take a look at how this happens, along with some of the more interesting moments, issues. These are merely 'hints' at things, as the Commissions get down to the task of exploring the Chapter theme, going over the Rector Major's report on the Congregation.
The statistical material, prepared by Salesian Brother Marco bay from the UPS, has just been presented.
There are other things happening, too, outside the immediate realm of the Chapter, but involving it.
Commissions
Commissions are at work - they need to look at the major aspect of the Chapter theme, try to come up with a brief summary of their thinking (and based on the long time of preparations, Provincial Chapters, discussions in the auditorium, personal study). And then given that the Rector Major has presented his report on the Congregation, they are to put questions to him about the material he has presented - or other questions that they have.
They follow the same process for the first task - the Chapter theme - that we are by now used to: a 'Listening and interpreting' stage (maybe run into one), and then seeking to propose a way ahead. So what might it look like in a real case? Here is an excerpt from one Commission's thinking at this early stage:
Possible ways ahead in three areas:
A. Community – Fraternal life
Seek a simpler, poorer, more supportive ('solidale') style
Encourage the primacy of God which gives meaning to our community and religious life.
B. Shared mission with the laity
Enabling them and making them available to accompany young people in our works
Reading and putting the message of “Evangelii Gaudium” into Salesian language
Reshaping our works according to the criterion of pastoral significance
C. Vocation – Formation
Giving importance to a vocational culture
Formation is a priority: therefore the quality of formators needs to be seen to - they are our guarantee of faithfulness and proper discernment in the light of the Word of God and the modest set up of our formation settings respecting and valuing cultural diversity. Thus our witness will also be a source of vocations.
This kind of material comes in from all the Commissions - it eventually becomes 'fodder' (after much debate and tossing around) for a possible statement/document which is adopted by the Chapter as a whole. these are early days. Don't put too much store on the above in final terms, but it offers a glimpse.
And questions to the Rector Major? They can be wide-ranging and some of them will have been asked before, like the one that runs: "Is it not limiting for a General Chapter to focus just on one theme? Should we be drawing up a thematic document or a six year plan?" There are questions about the UPS (in a context now where there are many Salesian universities), and given the financial situations we face today, no surprise that one question is how to prepare confreres competent in a financial management which can balance religious life and professionalism.
Comment (taken from written comment on these stats)
"Over the last 18 years, as you already know, we have gone from 17,500 to 15,000 or less, a loss of more than 2,000. This reduction in overall terms needs to be placed within the contemporary situation that sees a growth in the Catholic population and a drecrease in numbers for other historical religious families such as the Jesuits, Franciscans, Dominicans ... In this context a loss of more than one percent a year on average is not as sharp as it has been for other religious, especially, for example, the de la Salles. (Fratelli delle scuole cristiane)".
Other:
The famous 'Gerini case' has not yet got a final resolution either way, but the very recent confirmation of a public auction date by civil court in Rome does ramp up the pressure - 30 April. Mind you, the conditions for tenders are so demanding that it is quite likely the Pisana would be 'passed in' on the first round - and the court has set another date in September if that be the case. Meanwhile there is an appeal already in legal due process and this could nullify the entire process if there is a positive judgement (positive, that is, to the Gerini Foundation and the Salesians). At this point it all depends on that legal judgement and whether it arrives in time.
Commissions, Stats, Other
ROME: 7 March 2014 -- Now that the Chapter is getting into a rhythm which it will keep, largely, for the coming month or more, let's take a look at how this happens, along with some of the more interesting moments, issues. These are merely 'hints' at things, as the Commissions get down to the task of exploring the Chapter theme, going over the Rector Major's report on the Congregation.
The statistical material, prepared by Salesian Brother Marco bay from the UPS, has just been presented.
There are other things happening, too, outside the immediate realm of the Chapter, but involving it.
Commissions
* two words!
They follow the same process for the first task - the Chapter theme - that we are by now used to: a 'Listening and interpreting' stage (maybe run into one), and then seeking to propose a way ahead. So what might it look like in a real case? Here is an excerpt from one Commission's thinking at this early stage:
Possible ways ahead in three areas:
A. Community – Fraternal life
Seek a simpler, poorer, more supportive ('solidale') style
Encourage the primacy of God which gives meaning to our community and religious life.
B. Shared mission with the laity
Enabling them and making them available to accompany young people in our works
Reading and putting the message of “Evangelii Gaudium” into Salesian language
Reshaping our works according to the criterion of pastoral significance
C. Vocation – Formation
Giving importance to a vocational culture
Formation is a priority: therefore the quality of formators needs to be seen to - they are our guarantee of faithfulness and proper discernment in the light of the Word of God and the modest set up of our formation settings respecting and valuing cultural diversity. Thus our witness will also be a source of vocations.
This kind of material comes in from all the Commissions - it eventually becomes 'fodder' (after much debate and tossing around) for a possible statement/document which is adopted by the Chapter as a whole. these are early days. Don't put too much store on the above in final terms, but it offers a glimpse.
And questions to the Rector Major? They can be wide-ranging and some of them will have been asked before, like the one that runs: "Is it not limiting for a General Chapter to focus just on one theme? Should we be drawing up a thematic document or a six year plan?" There are questions about the UPS (in a context now where there are many Salesian universities), and given the financial situations we face today, no surprise that one question is how to prepare confreres competent in a financial management which can balance religious life and professionalism.
"Over the last 18 years, as you already know, we have gone from 17,500 to 15,000 or less, a loss of more than 2,000. This reduction in overall terms needs to be placed within the contemporary situation that sees a growth in the Catholic population and a drecrease in numbers for other historical religious families such as the Jesuits, Franciscans, Dominicans ... In this context a loss of more than one percent a year on average is not as sharp as it has been for other religious, especially, for example, the de la Salles. (Fratelli delle scuole cristiane)".
Other:
The famous 'Gerini case' has not yet got a final resolution either way, but the very recent confirmation of a public auction date by civil court in Rome does ramp up the pressure - 30 April. Mind you, the conditions for tenders are so demanding that it is quite likely the Pisana would be 'passed in' on the first round - and the court has set another date in September if that be the case. Meanwhile there is an appeal already in legal due process and this could nullify the entire process if there is a positive judgement (positive, that is, to the Gerini Foundation and the Salesians). At this point it all depends on that legal judgement and whether it arrives in time.
