RMG – Towards the Chapter: the Salesians in Europe - 1 |
RMG – The forthcoming Chapter: results of the Pre-Chapter Commission |
RMG – Preparing for the Chapter: a meeting of the Liturgical Commission |
(ANS – Rome) – From Saturday 7 September to Tuesday 17, a meeting is taking place at the Generalate of the Pre-Chapter Commission of the 27th General Chapter(GC27). The Commission is made up of 9 Provincials and Superiors representing the 8 Regions of the Congregation plus the Vice-Province of the Salesian Pontifical University (UPS).
The Commission, which is coordinated by Fr Francis Cereda, Moderator of GC27, consists of:
The Commission’s task is to study the contributions coming from the Provincial Chapters as well as personal contributions on the topic “Witnesses of Radical Gospel Living.” They will also take into consideration the contents of the Letter of the Rector Major announcing GC27 and prepare a synthesis of the elements occurring most frequently. This will then be the “working document” of GC27.
Contributions have been sent to the Moderator from 89 Circumscriptions. Three groups have been set up to study this material. The English language group will study 30 Chapters. The Spanish and Portuguese group will study 39 Chapters, while the Italian and French group will do 29 Chapters.
The Rector Major opened the work and mentioned some things to be borne in mind. This synthesis drawn up by the Commission will be considered the present state of the Congregation, as it appears in the letter of Convocation of GC27and as it is expressed in the Provincial Chapters. The commission should draw attention to the state of health of the Congregation, in other words its identity, and its spiritual, pastoral and vocational unity and vitality. It will also have to bear in mind the present context of Consecrated Life and of the Congregation, the 50th anniversary of Perfectae Caritatis, the journey travelled by Consecrated life in the intervening years and the changing paradigms, and the Bicentenary of the Birth of Don Bosco.
THE Moderator, Fr Cereda, then presented the methodology that will be used and some clarifications were given. In studying each of the three nuclei the approach will be the same as that used in the Provincial Chapters – listen, read and act. Finally Fr Cereda presented the time-schedule of the Commission work, which will be done in personal study, group work and commission meetings. Fr Saimy Ezhanikatt, Secretary of the Moderator, will collaborate with the Commission for the logistic and technical aspects.
Published 09/09/2013