(ANS – Rome) – The Councillor for Formation and Moderator of the 27th  General Chapter Fr Francesco Cereda is encouraging the Provinces to prepare through reflection and prayer for the Chapter and is inviting the Provincials to prepare the Provincial Chapters. Salesian Biblical Association is preparing material for “lectio divina” on the topics of the GC27.

In a letter sent to the Provincial Formation Delegates, Fr Cereda reminds them that every Province needs to harmonise the processes of  preparation for the General Chapter and for the Bicentenary of the Birth of Don Bosco. “In addition it will be  up to the Province to decide how best to keep in mind and to take advantage of the events in the life of the Church which occur in this  period: the Year of Faith and the Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on New Evangelisation.”

To help the confreres to “reflect and pray” on the basic themes of the GC27, the Salesian  Biblical  Association is preparing examples of  “lectio divina” on some of the themes connected with the three key issues of the next Chapter.

It has also already planned an exegetical – spiritual study of some significant Biblical texts on the subject of  “Witnessing to the radical approach of the Gospel,”  with the help of Salesian biblical scholars.

The “lectio divina”  will consist in three or four pages each with an identical structure:

• a short introduction explaining the choice of the text to throw light on the theme of the Chapter
• the biblical text
• an exegetical - spiritual commentary: lectio
• points for its application to life and to prayer: meditatio e oratio.

The  biblical texts and the  authors of these  meditations opening the way to the  “lectio” on the key issues of the GC27 are the following :

a) Mystics in the Spirit: Fr Juan José Bartolomé President of the Association
              The vocation of Paul: Gal 1,13-17
              The rich young man: Mc 10,17-31

b) Prophets of  fraternal life: Fr Giorgio Zevini
              The early form of common life: Acts 4,32-35
              The common life and the gifts of the Spirit: 1 Cor 12

c) Servants of the young: Fr Frank Moloney
              Feeding the  multitude: Mk 6,30-44
              Everything for everyone: 1 Cor 9

Fr Cereda says that “The reason for the choice of these topics is based on the “Letter of the  Rector Major” convoking the GC27 and the  “Outline of reflection and work on the theme of the GC27”, which can be found in the  Acts of the General Council  N. 413. and in digital format in the appropriate section of sdb.org”.

The texts for  meditation and translations of them will be ready most probably by the end of June.
 In the meantime, Fr Cereda the Moderator of the GC27 has asked the Provincials to appoint the Moderators for the Provincial Chapter, to fix the dates of the sessions and to set up the Provincial Preparatory Commission.   

Published 30/05/2012