(ANS – Rome) – On 22 and 23 June at the Generalate there was a first meeting of the Commission set up to reflect on the structures of government of the Salesian Congregation. No. 5 in the deliberations of the 26th General Chapter is being implemented with the contributions of the General Council, the Provinces and some lay experts.

“The 26th General Chapter […] asks the Rector Major with his Council to promote for the next General Chapter an evaluation of the structures for animation and central government of the Congregation, involving the Provinces.” This was the mandate given to the Rector Major and his Council  by the  GC26 held in 2008.

In these years the General Council has been engaged in this matter especially in reflecting on the areas and departments of the Salesian mission. Now with almost two years to go to GC27 the reflections continue.

In recent months a questionnaire was sent to the Provincials and their Councils to involve the Provinces and n.5 as requested. The replies are arriving back in the Generalate and the  results will contribute to outlining proposals for the new strctures of animation and government of the Congregation.

The  Commission with the task of drawing up a proposal for the GC27 met together in recent days and is chaired by the Economer General Bro. Jean Paul Muller. The members are the Councillors for Social Communication Fr Filiberto González and for Italy-Middle East, Fr Pier Fausto Frisoli, the Provincials of Germany, Fr Josef Grünner and of Poland-Piła, Fr Marek Chmielewski and two lay professionals engaged in various roles in the management of two large international companies: Dr. Lucchini and Dr Overberg.

Among the items on the agenda for consideration by the Commission are: the length of the mandate of the Superior General, which at present is of one period of six years with the possibility of a second term; the way of voting by the members of the General Chapter, the tasks of the General Councillors and the ways of carrying out the Team Visits. In his closing address at the GC26 the Rector Major said: “A return also in this General Chapter to a reflection on some aspects of the current configuration of the General Chapter means that there is a need for a serious study with alternative solutions, that can present a proposal that is really innovative and valid in its entirety. From all this there emerged a first directive approved by the Chapter Assembly: that of carrying out in the course of the six-year period an assessment of the central Government of the Congregation (its composition and functioning), in such a way that the service it gives can be more effective and closer to the confreres”.

The Commission considering the structures of government and animation of the Salesian Congregation will meet again on 16 and 17 September.

Published 26/06/2012