By Fr. Joel Camaya, SDB

Batulao, the Philippines, 24 June 2024 -- Confreres from the Salesian Province of Philippines North-Malaysia (FIN) gathered in Don Bosco Batulao from June 16-20, 2024, for the Provincial Chapter 2024 (PC 2024). According to the Salesian Constitutions (170), the provincial chapter is the “fraternal gathering in which the local communities strengthen their sense of belonging to the provincial community, through their common concern for its general problems… the representative assembly of all the confreres and local communities.

This Provincial Chapter came a year sooner than what had been foreseen because the Rector Major of the Salesians was created a cardinal by the Holy Father Pope Francis. All the Provinces of the Congregation thus celebrated their respective chapters in preparation for the 29th General Chapter (GC 29) of the Salesians scheduled in the spring of 2025. GC 29 will elect the next Rector Major, the 11th Successor of St. John Bosco.

The theme of GC 29 and PC 2024 is “Passionate about Jesus Christ, dedicated to young people.” PC 2024 is intended to deliberate primarily on the FIN province’s contribution to and participation in the 29th General Chapter and, secondarily, on other concerns of the province, thereby focusing on the following: 1) The deliberation on the community reflections regarding the three Core Areas proposed by Rector Major in his convocation letter and contained in the working document of the chapter; 2) and the presentation of and deliberation on critical issues and concerns affecting the life and mission of the FIN province.

Forty-eight confreres took part in the chapter: the Provincial, Fr. Gerardo Martin, and the Provincial Council members, Fr. Alexander Garces, the moderator of the Chapter, the rectors of all canonically established houses, and delegates from the different communities, and from the Province, and one observer, Fr. Ramon Borja from our community in Kuching, Malaysia. There were also three confreres who formed the secretariat.

The gathering began with the evening prayers on Sunday, June 16, where Fr. Provincial officially opened PC 2024. Later that evening, the assembly approved the rules of the chapter and elected the scrutineers and the chapter secretary. The next day, Fr. Provincial gave the State of the Province Address, followed by an open forum. Then followed, for the next two days, the discussion on the three core areas proposed by the Rector Major, the product of which would be submitted to Rome for GC 29. Core Area 1 is about the animation and care of the true life of each Salesian; Core Area 2, on Salesians, Salesian Family, and lay people together “with” and “for” young people; and Core Area 3, on governance of the Congregation.

The process used in the discussion of these core areas is the novelty in PC 2024. There was a personal preparation before the plenary. In the plenary, there is a moment of silence, prayer and reading of the Word of God. The first part of the process is “taking the word and listening,” where each member who wished shared his experience and prayer. After a prayerful silence came the second part: “making space for others and the Other.” In this second round of sharing, members shared what resonated most with them or what aroused the most resistance in them from what had been shared in the first round. After another moment of prayerful silence, came the last part, “building together,” where the assembly identified, through votation, five priorities that may be implemented (as a province, local communities, or individual confreres.

Apart from discussing these core areas, the chapter also tackled certain matters that are of great importance: directions of the health care program of the confreres in the Province, re-dimensioning of communities, houses, and settings, and the shift of the Academic Year back to June. The Eucharistic celebrations with the homilies and the Good Night talks also enriched the Chapter celebration.

One of the tasks of PC 2024 is also to elect the delegate of the Province who will join Fr. Provincial in taking part in GC 28. It is also important to elect a substitute in case the delegate is unable to take part in the general chapter. On June 19, the Chapter members elected Fr. Alexander Garces as delegate and Br. Carmelo Martinez as substitute.

PC 2024 concluded with the Eucharistic celebration on Thursday evening, June 20. Fr. Provincial closed the chapter after giving his final word—a reflection of his personal experience of what has transpired in the past days, as well as words of thanks to everybody who has made the Chapter a success.

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