LIFE OF THE CONGREGATION
Andrea Tessarolo, scj
The XX General Chapter, held in Rome in May 1997, concluded its work with a "project for the Congregation", better understood as a "road to be travelled together", rather than a pre-established list of things to do. In the same way the "1997-2003 project" of the general administration, prepared in the spirit of the Chapter, was restricted to listing some "priority choices" which needed to be better "planned" before making them operative.
The meeting of the general administration with the Major Superiors of the Congregation, held in Rome on November 3-13, 1998, was clearly an important occasion to make a more profound study of these "choices" and to devise plans to make them functional.
Since the themes to be tackled were numerous and the information regarding all of the Provinces and Regions was abundant, it would certainly be out of place for us to use this paper to consider all of the themes to be dealt with. This report will therefore be limited to presenting a summary of the introductory speech by the Superior General, Fr. Virginio Bressanelli, and a very brief description of the decisions made regarding the principal problems on the agenda.
The Superior General's Speech
The meeting was opened by Fr. Virginio Bressanelli with a speech in which, after having presented the meaning and the significance of this "get-together" of the general administration and the Major Superiors, he spent some time indicating some "keys to the understanding" of the work program which had been proposed to the assembly.
Fr Virginio began by saying that the present meeting was the first one to be held between the new general administration and the Major Superiors of the Congregation (21 Provinces, 6 Regions, and 3 international communities which will subsequently be called "Districts") Meetings of this kind are not foreseen by the Constitutions but they have been part of the Congregation's procedure since the times of Fr. Panteghini. Their utility was also recognized by the last Chapter, which explicitly asked for a meeting of this type in order to clarify and define certain problems raised by the Chapter and still under discussion: the structure of the governing body, the nature and functioning of the general commissions, the international communities, the FAG (General Aid Fund), etc.
Fr. Virginio then continued by relating that, in addition to these problems, a meeting like this is useful for many other reasons: it helps the general administration by suggesting practical ways of putting certain capitular perspectives into action; it favors knowledge of and dialogue between the various Provinces and Regions; it favors the exchange of different experiences and it can widen our knowledge of the challenges, the expectations and the possibilities which the Congregation encounters today in the various countries; therefore it is a concrete way of implementing co-responsibility.
Fr. Virginio then specified that the principal objective of this meeting, however, was that of evaluating and proposing concrete measures for putting into operation project 1997-2003: a proposal elaborated by the general administration in compliance with the indications given by the Chapter. In doing this work it is important to let oneself be guided by some keys to understanding, which he formulated as follows:
1. the conscience of "We the Congregation";
2. a "We" in the service of the mission;
3. the "see-judge-act" method.
The first point invites us to see the Congregation as a "We" and as "A Body". It reminds us of the "Sint Unum" of Fr. Dehon. However, Fr. Virginio insisted, it is not enough just to say the words, it must be felt in the heart and in one's own flesh... The task that each person in the Congregation can take on is limited, but all of us feel responsible for the whole. Life and growth, joy and suffering: "they are mine, they are ours, they are everybody's".
"It is under the sign of community, lived in the spirituality of the Sint Unum and inspired by the mystery of the Trinity, that the communion of persons, the collaboration in programs, and the sharing of our goods all originate. It is therefore a question of a unity which can be defined as communion. And this is because:
a) it maximizes plurality when you are living values which are shared in common with those around you;
b) it respects the autonomy of the various parts (but invokes everyone to feel themselves "part" of a whole);
c) it stimulates a strong involvement in various common initiatives.
The second point invites us to see all of this "in the service of the mission". The spirit of "service" is more than a "key", it is one of the mainstays of the program which is proposed. The Congregation, like the Church, "exists for the mission". Therefore, feeling ourselves to be "We the Congregation" does not lead us to closing ourselves up; it is a "We" which propels us forward, united, on the "highways of the world", prophets of the love of Christ and servants of reconciliation. That is why it is necessary to rethink and re-express our mission today. In doing this we must be continuously animated by the charism of Dehonian spirituality, but also strongly marked by the challenges and the expectations of the man of today. There is, therefore, an urgent need to reassess our organization and our governing structures in relation to the mission.
The third point was confronted when Fr. Virginio suggested that in dealing with the themes on the agenda we should adopt the "see-judge-act" method. This means that we must have an approach to the problems and the challenges of the moment; an approach achieved by following the dynamics of evangelical discernment; an approach which searches to discover what the Father's designs are for us, for the Churches and for the world. While following this path we must be firmly convinced, through our faith, that the Kingdom has already been inaugurated by the Risen Christ, under the guidance and the action of the Holy Spirit. The program being considered is essentially an active program. It is clear then that one must take into account the geo-cultural shifts already taking place in the Congregation, and realize that this is yet another reason why we must all experience a profound conversion of mind and of heart.
Operative Choices of the General Administration
The work of the participants at the meeting was considerable and demanding. Every theme on the agenda started with a more or less "magistral" report, in order to illustrate the problem in its various aspects. Following this, each theme was examined and discussed by the study groups, which had to present a summary of their opinions to the general assembly. The group secretaries then made up a kind of "super-group" which had the job of making a summary of all the contributions collected and presenting it to the assembly once again for further evaluation. Those proposals that were considered as being operational were then put to the vote.
On the basis of all this material (magistral reports, group contributions, votes in assembly, possible annexes, etc.), the general administration, in a series of sessions (from the 14th to the 28th of December 1998), searched for ways to implement a long list of choices which had been elaborated in the previous month by means of a dialogue with all the Major Superiors of the Congregation.
The result of this last task was the elaboration of a document, not made public until January 1999, entitled "A Road to Build, A Road To Follow". This deals with concrete, operative choices. We are listing some of them which we feel are of interest to the whole Congregation.
1. Mission and missions - For this sector neither the general commission nor the secretariat will be re-established. A general councilor (Fr. Ryszard Mis) would be responsible for it. It is to be hoped, however, that a secretariat, or the commission, may continue on the Provincial and Regional level.
2. The "La Capelle" community - The house where Fr. Dehon was born has been purchased by the Congregation. The general lines of the plan have been approved: a clear S.C.J. religious presence; keeping alive the feeling of "origins" and "charism"; remaining in full communion with the local Church. Five brethren have already been nominated as members of the community: three from the French Province (B. Radin, P. Auger and H. Jung); one Spaniard (P.G. Verdù) and one Pole (S. Leszczynski). The inauguration of the house has been anticipated for March 14th. As of May it should already be able to host a course of preparation for perpetual vows.
3. General conference - This has been fixed for May 16-26, 2000, in Recife (BS), and will concentrate on the theme "Economy and the Kingdom of God". The purpose of the conference is not to achieve a simple acquaintance with the problems, but to discern the signs of the times and the stimulating appropriate congregational choices.
4. Formation - The importance of this has been strongly emphasized. A meeting has been organized for instructors, in Rome from 10-21 May of this year, to discuss initial formation. Courses of permanent formation will be held every year, one in Rome and another in one of the various countries, in order to allow the widest participation possible.
5. Structures and forms of government - This problem was raised by the Chapter (motion n. 7). A deeper study of the question had already been entrusted to a commission chaired by U. Chiarello, assistant General, and, at the meeting in Rome, it was he himself who explained the proposals of an executive nature which had been prepared by the commission.
The theme was then divided into six groups of questions, concerning respectively:
1. A new structure (the "district")
2. The Region
3. The Province
4. The "geographical zones"
5. The central government
6. Various questions
For the structures of the governing bodies the following points were listed: the conditions required for their establishment; the powers given to the respective superiors; new forms of Provinces and Regions, etc. The powers of the central government for the establishment, alteration or suppression of the various structures were also defined.
Many other themes were also dealt with, such as economy and finances, the FAG (General Aid Fund), the vocational ministry, the cultural and inculturation problem, etc. From all this material, the general administration selected the most valid indications for elaborating its governing plan and put together a project published at the beginning of this year: "A Road to Build", which we have already mentioned,
The secretary of the assembly, Fr. Maurice Légaré, concluded his report in this way: "Very beautiful things have been lived in this assembly. Now they must be made concrete in deeds and in our life, so that Man may always be Man... We have been able to realize that We the Congregation is already a reality".