Animating and governing the community

By our own correspondent

RMG, 8 March 2020 -- After quite a lengthy and participatory process that involved some hundreds of Salesians around the world, we have in our hands the 'provisional' copy of 'Animating and governing the community' - The ministry of the Salesian Rector, or simply called 'The Rectors Manual' (edition 2019). All provincials have already received a copy in the 5 major languages and the 'semi-final' copy of the Manual has already been available for some months on Boscolink. The release was announced by Fr Ivo Coelho, General Councillor for Formation, on 27 January 2020.

The revision of the Rector’s Manual, that may now be called a “Manual of the Community” – was a request of the previous General Chapter, GC27. Given that the previous text had been composed in 1986, the new text had to take into account several General Chapters, the magisterium of at least three popes and several Rector Majors, many important documents of the Church and of the Congregation, and the digital revolution.

The new 'Manual of the Salesian Rector' (ed. 2019) is the result of a long process ending with a quite outstanding layout of the whole booklet, facilitating its use by each Salesian community rector and confreres. Concrete action or life experience are highlighted in 'boxes' at the end of each section:

• 'Like Don Bosco, each Salesian makes sure that his personal plan of life emerges from within his faith journey' (p. 102)

• The Rector is committed to promoting and giving visibility to both forms of the one Salesian vocation (Salesian Brother and Salesian Priest) especially in the EPC (Educative and Pastoral community), even when he has no Salesian Brother in his community.

• The community is involved in the preparation of the annual budget and financial statement (GC 26,88)

• The community makes the annual scrutiny of poverty (R 65) and is involved in the annual budget (GC 26, 88)

• Where there is a Salesian economer, the Rector submits his own monthly accounts to him.
• The Rector offers Cooperators and Past Pupils an office and meeting rooms in the house...."

The Rectors Manual is available on the Boscolink

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