Since we are midway through the chapter, it seems like a good time to remind the readers of these reports about a few "housekeeping" issues:

As we noted in our first report, 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 includes photos from the chapter, interviews and other items. It will be updated every few days, as time permits. Some people have said that they are having problems getting to the home page from the "scj.org" address. An alternative address to get to the English page is: http://www.helsinki.fi/~huber/general/eng4.htm (or http://www.helsinki.fi/~huber/general/general4.htm)

The "journalistic reports" are being 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. Although it was originally suggested that a brief summary of these reports would be offered, several provincials have indicated that this would not be necessary. Unless we hear otherwise, we will let the full reports stand on their own.

Readers are also reminded that these reports summarize only highlights of the chapter proceedings. Full details of the chapter's activities are being recorded by the chapter secretaries in the minutes.

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

Grazie!

*****

Chapter Report for Monday, May 26, 1997

After a full, two-day weekend, the delegates began Monday with morning prayer and the approval of Friday's minutes. This was followed by reports from the linguistic groups.

During their session on Friday, the small groups were asked to articulate their hopes and concerns regarding the Global Strategy. The reports varied, but the hope of most small groups was that a global "plan" or "strategy" would be a positive way for the congregation to face its future in a collaborative manner. "It is time," said one delegate, "to shift our thinking from 'We the Province' to 'We the Congregation.' It is time for us to think of ourselves as citizens of the world."

Such a mindset, said another, is especially relevant to the younger members of the congregation "who are open to and excited about the challenges of living 'We the Congregation.'"

Many expressed the hope that a Global Strategy will help the congregation be "international in more than name only, that attitudes will be changed and that we will be inspired to bring down protective walls and share."

Such a strategy could bring a "deeper feeling of solidarity among SCJs, more fraternity and sharing, greater efficiency in our apostolates, and the capacity to undertake new missionary ventures through a pooling of human and material resources," said another group.

When asked to report on their "fears" regarding a Global Strategy, many were concerned that the experience of the chapter is something which can not be fully passed on to those not present. Through discussion and presentation, many delegates have been awakened to the possibilities of "We the Congregation." How can those who were not a part of the General Chapter "buy into" the same possibilities? How can the congregation as a whole undergo a conversion process?

Some delegates worried that a Global Strategy will give too much power to the central government of the congregation. Others noted that even if this is not the case, SCJs not at the chapter might believe it to be so. A Global Strategy, and congregational changes because of it, must evolve from the grassroots.

Others feared that the congregation will get caught up in the details of what a Global Strategy means and that eventually, the concept will simply die. Some felt that if the chapter didn't produce a document on the Global Strategy, the concept could also be lost.

In summing up his own thoughts, Fr. Bressanelli first asked the delegates not to get bogged down in terminology. Some people are comfortable with the term "Global Strategy," some prefer "Global Plan" and others want to call it something else. Whatever it is called, the concept means that the congregation needs to discover a way in which it can "respond in solidarity to the challenges of the world." To do this, there must be a communion of resources, a unified approach. "We must overcome individualism and find a simple and viable methodology."

There is a fear, he continued, of the unknown. How do the different cultures of the congregation combine in spirit? It is easy to get frustrated in the details. And as was mentioned, people fear a greater centralization. Would a Global Strategy lead to a loss of identity on the local level? This is not what he believes will happen, but what steps can be taken to ensure that it doesn't?

Following Fr. Bressanelli's comments, the secretaries from the linguistic groups were asked to say whether the delegates in their groups were for or against the concept of "We the Congregation." While some individuals had hesitations, all of the groups reported that they were in favor of the spirit of "We the Congregation."

"We believe that we are on a journey," reported one group. "Here in the chapter we are developing a vision for 'We the Congregation.' Later, this vision will help us define a Global Strategy to actualize that vision."

After the group reports, the floor was opened for discussion. Many delegates echoed what had already been noted in the reports. "What are we trying to accomplish here?" said one. "Are we simply trying to create an awareness or do we want to create a document?" A document, said another, could give the tools for enacting the ideas developed at the chapter.

Others disagreed, saying that a document can come later. What the chapter needs to do is define and accept a concept from which tools can be developed. A document, said another, is something which should come from the congregation, not the chapter.

"What we are doing is creating a common path, a way for us to fulfill the mission of Fr. Dehon," said a delegate.

Following the discussion, Fr. Bressanelli asked the delegates if they were ready to vote on whether they wanted to proceed with discussions of the Global Plan or project. If this is not the mind of the chapter, he added, then they would need to refocus their work for the rest of the gathering. The delegates agreed that it was time to proceed with a vote.

By electronic ballot, the chapter voted in favor of proceeding with discussion of the creation of a Global Plan (or strategy, or project -- it was noted that the actual terminology will be approved at a later time).

During the next session, delegates were to again meet in their linguistic groups. This time, they were to answer the following:

"Bearing in mind the path or journey already accomplished until now and the challenges that have emerged from it, what are the elements which must be a part of the Global Strategy and why."

Before breaking for lunch, there was one more item of business. Fr. Claudio Siebenaler, general secretary, explained the motions which the chapter would discuss in the coming days. One of the motions had just been submitted that morning, asking that the election of the superior general take place before Friday's audience with the Holy Father. According to the rules of the chapter, the delegates must vote to enter the motion into discussion. By electronic vote, the chapter voted to bring the motion to discussion. It will be dealt with on Tuesday.

FINAL SESSION
After the linguistic group sessions, the delegates gathered for a final plenary session to share the results of their discussions.

Formation -- initial and on-going -- was the most frequently suggested element for a Global Plan. Several groups stated that without an emphasis on formation, the ownership and implementation of the Global Strategy would be impossible. Several groups noted that the governmental structures of the congregation would need to be examined -- how will the general government relate to the provincial government? How can the work of the commissions be actualized?

Other suggested elements for the Global Strategy included: 1) focusing on the economy as a social justice issue, 2) developing a way to share human and material resources, 3) examining the impact of secularization so that countries who have not yet experienced it can learn from those who have, 4) inclusion of the Dehonian Family, 5) development of a sense of "mission" and 6) confronting the results of neo-liberalism.

During a brief discussion period after the reports, a delegate suggested that these issues be further addressed in geographic groups instead of linguistic ones. The Steering Committee was to take this and other suggestions under advisement.

The day ended with an evening showing of "Spitfire Grill," the movie produced by the U.S. Province. An English and Italian language version was offered.

PLEASE NOTE: In the last report it was mistakenly written that the Manzoni Theater (part of the Cristo Re complex) was located in Bologna. It is not in Bologna, but in Rome.

Mary Gorski
mgiornal@scj.org
Rome, Italy