(ANS – Rome) – The Chapter members are coming together to elect the tenth successor of Don Bosco and to direct the future of the Congregation for the next six years. Before they begin their work they will go on pilgrimage to the Salesian places from 22 to 24 February.

The 27th General Chapter (GC27) of the Salesians of Don Bosco will take place at the Generalate in Rome from 3 March to 12 April. The theme of the chapter will be "Witnesses of Gospel Radicalism." It will examine with particular attention the motto given by the Rector Major: work and temperance.

Before the official opening there will be some days of human, spiritual and Salesian preparation to help participants to enter the spirit of the occasion. From 22 to 24 February, the Chapter members will be on pilgrimage to Turin and the Salesian places, symbolizing their return to the places where it all started and drawing from the sources of the charism of Don Bosco. Then, from 26 February to 2 March, there will be a Retreat preached by the Salesian biblical scholar, Fr Juan José Bartolomé.

The General Chapter is one of the most important events in the life of a religious congregation. For the Salesian Congregation it is the supreme authority and, apart from a possible extraordinary convocation, it is held every six years. It "is the fraternal meeting in which Salesians carry out a communal reflection to keep themselves faithful to the Gospel and to their Founder’s charism, and sensitive to the needs of time and place." [Art. 146 of the Constitutions].

The participants at GC27 are the members of the General Council, all Salesian Provincials and Superiors and one or two representatives - depending on the number of confreres - for each of the 90 Provinces and Vice-Provinces of the Salesian world. They will number 220 ​​in all: 207 are Chapter members plus thirteen who are invited by the Rector Major but are not entitled to vote.

Published 20/02/2014