The first phase of the GC6, begun the day after the Rector Major convoked it saw al, the Salesians involved in studying the theme “Da mihi animas”. An important part of this phase were the various Provincial Chapters which provided useful material for the lives of the individual communities and the Provinces in view of the General Chapter. In the meantime the Technical, Juridical and Precapitular Commissions met at the Generalate, and coordinated by the Moderator Fr  Francesco Cereda, organised and clarified the processes for the carrying out of the GC26.

The second phase, which ended on Saturday 12 April, witnessed the eyes and the heart of the Congregation, and not that alone, focused on Rome where the 232 Salesians members of the Chapter met together. Following a pilgrimage to Turin to the Salesian places of special interest and by a Retreat, the Chapter which is  “the principal sign of the Congregation’s unity in diversity”; “the fraternal meeting in which the 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” (Salesian Constitutions art. 146).
 
“It is now up to each Region and Province to work on putting into context the major courses of action with the subsequent procedures so that they respond better to the actual situations and concrete challenges,” Fr Pascual Chávez Villanueva, confirmed as Rector Major of the Salesians for a second six-year period, said in his concluding address as he offered the  document to each member of the Congregation. It was the beginning of the third phase!

Finishing his address  the  Rector Major said “Here I am then, dear Confreres, handing over to you the fruits of the GC26, in which you have been protagonists. I am giving you a document yes, one that will be our navigation chart for the six-year period 2008-2014, but above all I hand on to you the spirit of the GC26. It was meant to be an intense Pentecostal experience for the profound renewal of our life and mission. It represents therefore for all  Salesians the launch pad for the  Congregation on the way to the great Salesian Jubilee of 2015.”

The General Council has already begun its working sessions to determine the agenda and the stages of the work that will lead to the planning for the next six years.

Published 14/04/2008