(ANS – Rome) – After theweek of the elections and after taking part in the papalaudience, it can be said that the Chapter, on Wednesday April 2, returned to its ordinary rhythm of work, with the days marked by the alternation of work in commissions and in the Chapter assembly.

Thedrafting commission, chaired by Fr Esteban Ortiz and the rapporteur Fr Giuseppe Ruta, continues to work by accepting the numerous comments by a number of Chapter members, many of whom spoke at the Chapter assembly, while others sent their own contributions directly online.

The discussionsrevolved round not only on the content, but also on the format of the final text which will be approved at the end of the GC27 and that is intended for all the confreres: trying to define a common goal, as well as search for convergence regarding the proposals of certain processes and steps to be made to facilitate subsequent reception at the local level, both individually and as communities.

The straw voteconfirmed these guidelines, as well as having a biblical icon from the Gospel of John, the vine and the branches (15, 1-11) at the introduction to the document.

The text of thefirst part of the final document (Listening), after it was read in the Chapter assembly, was presented to the Chapter members in view of votes taken iuxta modum, as it has already been subjected repeatedly to debates and discussions in the Chapter assembly, as well as studied and modified in the commissions.

The Juridical Commissionalso continues its work and has presented to the Chapter assembly the evaluation of the extraordinary visitations – contemplated in the Regulations and the Code of Canon Law – and of the Team Visit, which has been a tool for animation for years.

The evaluationfocused on how these visits are carried out and the straw votes gave positive result which opened the possibility for discussion in the Chapter assembly.

TheJuridical Commission has also proposed to "establish a Finance Committee, withmembers who are Salesians as well as non Salesian, non-resident professionals, who collaborate regularly with the Economer General.”

Published 03/04/2014