General Chapter -- 16th English Report

The following is a summary of the activities of the 20th General Chapter on Wednesday, June 4. Those reading these summaries are reminded that the chapter maintains a web page at: http://www.scj.org

Also, since this is the first time that the congregation has used the internet for communication on a General Chapter, the administration welcomes comments and opinions on both the e-mail reports and the web page. These comments should be sent to Fr. Tom Cassidy at: tomc@scj.org

*****

The Chilean Province led the delegates in morning prayer before the minutes of Tuesday's sessions were approved. Fr. Bressanelli then let the chapter know that he had spoken with Fr. Ryszard Mis by phone and that Fr. Mis accepted his election as a general councilor.

When the last plenary session ended on Tuesday, the chapter debated a motion from the SCJs in Madagascar concerning what they identified as "a new type of region, although not depending directly and immediately on a province or on the superior general, to which autonomy be guaranteed."

Many agreed that the situation in Madagascar, as well as other territorial regions, needs to be studied. The Steering Committee revised the proposal as follows, taking into account the comments that have been made by the delegates during the plenary as well as small group sessions:

"The 20th General Chapter recognizes that the motion presented by the delegate from Madagascar urgently requires an operational response. It grants a mandate to the superior general and his council to study a juridical configuration somewhere between a territorial community and a province which is adequate to the situation specific to Madagascar and applicable to new foundations which are international in character. This new government structure shall be made operational ad experimentum until the next General Chapter."

The motion, in place of the one submitted by Madagascar, was voted on and approved by the chapter.

Next, a motion on "other structures of government" was presented:

"The 20th General Chapter charges the general administration to study the structures of government of the congregation at the general, province and geographical zone level in function of the Global Project. It may avail itself of communities of experts in dialog with the interested parties. At the next meeting of provincial/regional superiors with the general administration, their views about any recommended changes shall be asked."

After clarifications were made, the chapter voted, by electronic ballot, to approve the motion.

The next motion to be discussed concerned brothers serving as local coordinators/superiors (the U.S. Province uses the term coordinator in place of superior on the local level). The motion, presented by all three North American Provinces:

"The 12th Provincial Chapter of the U.S. Province requests that the General Chapter petition the Holy See to make it possible for any province to open the position of local coordinator to all province members in final profession, both cleric and lay, retaining the particular law of the congregation regarding age and number of years in perpetual commitment."

In the discussion before the vote, one delegate noted that this is not only an important issue for the congregation but for other religious institutes as well. "It goes beyond us," he said.

In response to a delegate who had concerns about the proposal, another SCJ said that the chapter needs to realize that this particular proposal takes into account situations not known by all provinces. As a chapter that represents the whole congregation, the delegates need to be sensitive to that. Fr. Bressanelli reminded the SCJs to reflect on Vatican II, which stressed equality in religious life.

The chapter voted, by electronic ballot, to approve the motion.

Following this vote, the chapter heard the reports from the geographic groups concerning their discussion of "The Mission and the Missions." Suggestions and observations from the groups included: 1) that each zone establish at least one international prophetic community in the next six years, 2) that those prophetic communities have a clear vision of option for the poor, 3) that the initiatives begun in Uruguay and Ecuador are supported, 4) that communities are created in the historical places of the congregation, 5) that each province or region create a historical community if possible, 6) that candidates be given the necessary preparation for such international communities, 7) that discussions take place on the local level concerning what it means to be prophetic in a Dehonian context.

Fr. Bressanelli noted that much discussion on this issue has been recorded in chapter documents. He suggests that these documents be studied after the chapter and that priorities be established following such study. Proposals would later be sent to the provinces for further discussion. The delegates agreed to Fr. General's suggestion.

Discussion then turned to a proposal concerning the historical sites of the congregation: "The six provinces wish to safeguard the historical sites of the congregation in Northern Europe, particularly La Capelle (if it can be purchased), St. Quentin, Brussels. It seems important to give these sites a suitable apostolic project."

"This is not simply an issue of nostalgia," said one delegate. Those making the proposal don't want to turn these places into museums, but hope to retain the sites because of their historical significance, establishing within them the prophetic works which have already been suggested.

After further discussion, the chapter voted, by electronic ballot, to accept the "essence" of the motion.

Fr. Bressanelli then commented on a proposal from the synthesis group on government. Tied to the suggestion of an ad hoc committee to study the governmental structures of the congregation was another suggesting that the general commissions be dissolved until such a study is completed. While he agrees that the function of these commissions needs to be studied, the work that they have done is noteworthy and he would not like to see them abolished prematurely. He suggests instead that the chapter re-affirm the proposal that the commissions be studied. By a show of hands, the chapter agreed.

ELECTION OF THE FIFTH AND SIXTH COUNCILORS

The final task of the morning was the election of the fifth councilor. In the first vote the top three were: Fr. Hedrianus Wardjito of Indonesia with 39, Fr. Peter McKenna of English Canada with 16, and Fr. Thomas Cassidy of the United States with 15. The absolute majority was short by one ballot, so a second vote was taken. In this second vote, Fr. Wardjito was elected as the fifth councilor.

Fr. Bressanelli asked Fr. Wardjito if he was willing to serve and he said yes. Fr. General thanked him, noting the variety of cultures that will now be represented on the council and the "newness" that this variety will add to the congregation.

Before breaking for lunch, Fr. Peter McKenna took the floor to withdraw his name for consideration as general councilor. He thanked the delegates for their affirmation but said that at this time, he felt his place was on the regional level.

Following the lunch break, the chapter returned to elect the sixth and final councilor. In the first vote the top three were, Fr. Thomas Cassidy with 30 votes, Fr. Hugh Hanely of the British-Irish Province with 21, and Fr. Maurice Légaré of French Canada with 7. A second vote was taken. In this, Fr. Hugh Hanely received 36 votes, Fr. Thomas Cassidy 33 and Fr. August Hulsmann of the German Province had 5. Before the third vote was taken to seek the absolute majority, Fr. Hugh Hanley withdrew his name from consideration, noting that as provincial superior, it would be difficult for him to leave his province at this time.

On the third vote, Fr. Cassidy received the absolute majority. Fr. Bressanelli asked him if he was willing to serve. In his acceptance, Fr. Cassidy noted the difficulty of the decision, saying that he had gone through much discernment in previous months. He was grateful for the support he had received from the provinces he had served and that he says yes to another six years of service out of his love for the congregation.

After a break, the delegates voted on the vicar-general. Fr. Umberto Chiarello received the absolute majority in the first round and accepted the position. Second through fifth councilors will be determined by the order in which they were voted in.

The election of the general bursar then took place. Fr. Emilio Ciarrochhi received the absolute majority in the first vote and accepted the position, saying that he hopes the next six years will be less chaotic than the first (he was referring to his work with the renovation of the Generalate).

The final vote of the day was on the topic of the next General Conference. By electronic ballot, the delegates voted that "Economics and the Kingdom of God" be the topic of the next General Conference, "for the sake of establishing consistent apostolic choices in keeping with the social dimension of the SCJ charism."

Mary Gorski
mgiornal@scj.org
Rome, Italy