1st CHAPTER REPORT (sent by e-mail May 15, 1997)

Hello,

First, a few housekeeping issues before a brief summary of the first day's activities:

Any chapter delegate may receive e-mail at the general address for the chapter: scjchap@scj.org Please place the recipient's name in the "subject" heading line so that it can be easily delivered.

Also, the XX General Chapter has a Web Page (http://www.scj.org). The site will include photos from the chapter, interviews and these reports, as well as a few other items still being planned. It will be updated every few days, as time permits.

The "journalistic reports" will be sent approximately every one to two days to those who have requested them. This report, obviously, is in English, but a second is being done in Italian by Fr. Saverio Di Paola, SCJ. If you would like to receive the Italian reports also, please contact Mary Gorski at: mgiornal@scj.org

These reports are meant to give SCJs a summary of the chapter's activities. Provinces and regions are asked to disseminate the information to their membership. About once a week, a brief summary of these reports will be sent to you also.

If you have any questions regarding these reports, please contact Mary at the address listed above.

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The 20th General Chapter is composed of 77 members -- 36 are "de iure" members (those who by their office, such as provincial superiors and general councilors, are automatically included) and 41 "de voto" members (SCJs who have been elected to serve). The moderators are Frs. Peter Sanders, Addison Colombi and Giovanni Pross, and the two secretaries are Constantinus Kristianto and Stanislaus Swierkosz-Lenart. Fr. Bernard Rosinski is coordinator of the gathering and Fr. Andre Perroux is in-charge of liturgical coordination.

Also taking part during the first week of the chapter are eight representatives of the "Dehonian Family." These are men and woman from around the world who are involved in a wide variety of SCJ lay affiliations. They not only sit in on the chapter sessions, but are also taking an active part in liturgies. In the days ahead, each will give a report on the activities of Lay Dehonians in their countries or regions.

As do most large gatherings, the chapter's first session focused on "housekeeping" issues. The Generalate is still in the process of being renovated and delegates were thanked for their patience. SCJs and the lay Dehonians have been helping to move furniture as the building takes shape. Tuesday morning the chapel was bare but by Tuesday night, with the help of the delegates, pews were moved in and liturgies were again celebrated in the main chapel.

Fr. Virginio Bressanelli, superior general, was the main celebrant at the opening Mass. In his homily, he told the delegates that the chapter needs to be more than just a good meeting; delegates must be open to the workings of the Spirit. He continued this theme during his opening remarks in the afternoon session. Fr. Bressanelli said that the chapter is not just a private event for the SCJs but one that concerns the whole church since SCJs are in service to the church. The vocation of the church and thus, that of the Priests of the Sacred Heart, is evangelization. In the work that is done at the chapter, delegates must reflect on how their actions and the actions of the congregation proclaims the Gospel. "We must be witnesses in the world of the love of Christ," he said.

He encouraged the delegates not to be suffocated by problems and issues particular to the congregation and always allow the concerns of the church to prevail. "We are not isolated from the rest of the church, the world," he said.

Fr. Bressanelli added that the chapter is a moment of grace and that those taking part in the 20th General Chapter owe much to the work of previous chapters. He reminded the delegates that the General Chapter is the highest structure of government within the congregation. He also spoke of the chapter's theme: "We the Congregation." Delegates must look beyond individualism and think in terms of "we" and "us." "We must look beyond our borders," he said.

There will be three stages in the chapter, he explained. The first will deal with the state of the congregation. During this time, reports will be given from the provinces and regions, lay Dehonians and from the general superior. After this, there will be discussion of the global strategy. And finally, there will be the election of the general superior and general council.

Following Fr. Bressanelli's opening remarks, the chapter voted in the tellers, chapter secretaries and moderators. They also voted to give the delegates from the regions of Madagascar and the Philippines the right to vote.

The day ended with a presentation by Fr. Mathias Hansen on the status of Zaire. He noted the well-publicized chaos found in the country and the dire needs of its people. Getting supplies has been one of the greatest difficulties. Many areas, including most of the missions, have been looted. He explained the difficulty of maintaining the normal functions of a province because of the problems with communication and transportation. Recent years have been a time of much sacrifice and adaptability. But, even within chaos, the province has been making plans for its future. More emphasis will be placed on vocational development, as well as the formation of laity. Formation of the laity is the key, Fr. Mathias said, to inculturating the church in Zaire. In the years ahead, the province hopes to move into more works which are specifically "SCJ" and not just staff parishes. "We do not want to work just alongside the church in Zaire; we want to work in communion with it," he said.

Following a brief question answer session with Fr. Mathias, the chapter concluded its first day's activities.