DELIBERATIONS AND GUIDELINES CONCERNING
THE CONSTITUTIONS AND REGULATIONS AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE
SOCIETY
The 24th General Chapter examined the proposals coming from
the Provincial Chapters and confreres concerning some points of
our proper law and the structures of animation and government of
the Congregation. It approved the following modifications to the
legislative texts (Constitutions and General Regulations), and
certain other practical guidelines concerning the animation and
governing of the Congregation.
1. LIMITATION OF THE DURATION IN OFFICE OF THE MEMBERS OF THE
GENERAL COUNCIL, IN THE SAME SECTOR OF ACTIVITY (C 142)
[189]
The GC24, after considering the proposals reaching the
Chapter,
- keeping in mind the general indication of the Code of Canon Law1
on the temporary nature of duration in office in
Institutes of consecrated life, as also the norms already
adopted by our own proper law for superiors at provincial and
local levels;2
- considering also, on the one hand, the notable effort
required by a task at the level of the General Council,
and on the other the acceleration in history and the
great complexity of the times in which we are living, so
that two sessions in the same office seem sufficient for
expressing the ability for animation of a person, who
could eventually fill other offices, still with force and
possibilities;
has approved the following modification (in italics) to
art.142 of the Constitutions:
142. Members of the General Council remain in office for
six years, except for the case referred to in article 143 of the
Constitutions, and may be re-elected for a second period of six years in the
same office.3
Should a member of the General Council die or be
permanently unable to attend to his duties, the Rector Major with
the consent of his Council shall entrust his office to whomsoever
he judges most suitable in the Lord, but only until the expiry of
the six-year period.
This modification of art.142 of the Constitutions was approved
by the Apostolic See in a rescript n. T.9-1/96 of the
Congregation for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and the
Societies of Apostolic Life, dated 20 March 1996, and promulgated
by the Rector Major by decree n.088/96 of 20 March 1996.
2. MODIFICATION OF ART.3 OF THE GENERAL REGULATIONS
[190]
The GC24, on the basis of proposals coming from the provincial
chapters, and reflecting on the presence of girls and young women
in works and activities directed and animated by Salesians, in
the light of our mission, with reference to art.3 of the General
Regulations, has emphasized the following main aspects:
a) It is considered important, in the first place that the
charismatic reference in this article to the priority of
attention for boys and young men be preserved; this was the
intention of the GC22 in approving this article, which is linked
with Chapter IV of the Constitutions.
Nevertheless it is judged opportune to reformulate the first
paragraph of the art.3 in the following manner: Our educative
and pastoral service is directed primarily to boys and young men.
In this way, by introducing into the present text the word primarily, while
expressing the charismatic priority the impression of
exclusiveness is removed (which could give the impression that
the presence of girls is an exception).
b) As regards the remainder of the article in question, it
seems better to remove the reference to the various specific
works (youth centres, schools), thus broadening the scenario to
the whole of the Salesian mission. It was also considered
convenient to eliminate from the article the reference to
"dialogue with the Rector Major" before introducing
coeducation in schools, since the criteria and norms laid down by
the Provinces are sufficient in this regard.
c) Noting finally that coeducation is not a phenomenon
identical in all parts of the world, the importance is emphasized
of giving attention to local situations and hence of establishing
criteria and norms at provincial level. The competence for the
establishing of such norms and criteria for coeducation in the
works of the Province is assigned to the Provincial Chapter, with
the Provincial and his Council obviously having the power to make
decisions in concrete cases. The Rector Major and his Council
come into the matter when approving the deliberations of the
Provincial Chapter, in accordance with the Constitutions.4
The Provincial Chapter, in establishing norms and criteria,
will obviously act in harmony with the directives of the local
Church and civil legislation, being concerned to create an
adequate environment for coeducation in line with Don Bosco's
preventive system.
On the basis of these principles the GC24 has approved the
following new text for art.3 of the General Regulations:
Our educative and pastoral service is directed primarily to
boys and young men.
In our works girls are also welcomed in line with criteria
and norms indicated by the Provincial Chapter.
3. PRACTICAL GUIDELINE ON THE FUNCTIONING OF THE STRUCTURES
OF GOVERNMENT
[191]
The 24th General Chapter
- after examining some contributions from the Chapter
itself and from a study of the Report of the Vicar
General on the state of the Congregation;5
- considering the present structures of government which,
in their general arrangement, were created by the GC19
though with subsequent partial modifications; and being
of the opinion that in view also of the many changes that
have taken place in recent times in the life of the
Congregation in various contexts, it seems opportune to
submit them to a more exact verification both as regards
functioning and possible as regards arrangement, has
approved the following practical guideline:
The GC24 requests the Rector Major with his Council to make
in the course of the next six years a careful study, with the
help of experts, on the functioning of the General Council (in
its arrangement of Councillors for Departments and Regions),
giving effect to opportune interventions for a more efficacious
organization, giving greater strength to study organisms and
practical offices, and with a well-arranged programme.
The Rector Major and his Council should study also the
manner of making a deeper verification of the structures of the
central government, involving the Provincial Chapters, with a
view to the GC25.
4. GUIDELINE CONCERNING THE "FORM" OF OUR SOCIETY
[192]
The GC24, after examining the proposals coming from confreres
of certain Provinces of the Congregation on the expediency of a
further study on the "form of our Society", has
emphasized the following elements:
- On the one hand it noted that in the recent Synod of
Bishops on the consecrated life, a proposal was made to
study a possible "mixed" form (neither lay nor
clerical) of religious Institutes with respect to their
foundational charisms, and that a specific commission for
the purpose was set up by the competent
Congregation.6 provide us too with an
occasion for a deeper examination of the "form"
of our Society, to see whether it corresponds to our
charism (a Society made up of clerics and laymen).
It was observed that a new study of this kind on the
"form" of the Congregation, with a possible
recognition of the "mixed" form, could help to
define better the figure of the Salesian brother which
should be given greater value; and this in the interests
of the whole Congregation, rather than of a category of
confreres.
- On the other hand, calling to mind the great work done by
the renewal Chapters (SGC, GC21 and GC22) for the study
and definition of the Society's "form", it was
emphasized that the question touches deeply the charism
of the Congregation, on which there is both a tradition
and the Salesian magisterium (of General Chapters and
Rector Majors).
A thorough understanding will be needed of what is meant by a
"mixed" Religious Institute and what consequences, not
least of a juridical nature, it would have on the life and
mission of the Congregation; this too in the light of the
charism.
On the basis of these reflections, the GC24 has approved the
following guideline which it entrusts to the Rector Major with
his Council:
In the light of the Apostolic Exhortation Vita
consecrata (n. 61) and of the juridical developments now in
progress on the "form" of Religious Institutes, the
GC24 considers it important that a study be made of a possible
"mixed" form of our Society, and that there be a deeper
investigation to see whether the innovations in such a form
respond to our charism and to the original project of the
Founder.
5. THE GROUPS OF PROVINCES (C.154)
[193]
The GC24, in accordance with art.154 of the Constitutions, has
examined the configuration of the groups of Provinces, entrusted
to the Regional Councillors. It noted, in fact, the need for a
reconsideration of the entire framework of the so-called Salesian
Regions in the light of the present development of the
Congregation,7 keeping in mind both the guideline
already expressed by the GC23 (n.309) and the relevant study
carried out by the General Council, and in particular the changes
that have come about in recent times.
The Chapter considered it important to make a preliminary
reflection the role of the Regional Councillor and on the main
criteria for the constitution of the groups of Provinces.
The Regional Councillor and his duties
Attention was first focused on the figure and duties of the
Regional Councillor, as they appear from the Constitutions8 and General Regulations,9
and also from the life of the Provinces and the expectation of
the confreres.
The verification, based on experience, substantially confirmed
the figure of the Regional as described in the text of the
Constitutions and Regulations, and emphasized certain particular
characteristics, such as:
- he is a full member of the General Council, and so a
Councillor of the Rector Major, with duties regarding the
entire Congregation;
- at the same time he has a particular care for a specific
Salesian area, with a task of:
- communication and linkage, in two
directions: he represents the Rector Major and
his Council in the Provinces and with the
confreres, and represents the concerns of the
Provinces and the confreres in the General
Council;
- coordination of Salesian activity between
Provinces: he puts them in communication with
each other, fosters the exchange of aptitudes and
values between different provincial realities, so
that each group is mutually enriched;
- animation and encouragement for the
development of the Salesian charism: he helps the
Provinces in the inculturation of the Salesian
mission.
Criteria for forming groups of Provinces
Keeping in mind the duties of the Regional Councillor, to
which constant reference is needed, the Chapter went on to
identify the criteria to be applied in formulating
concrete proposals for the grouping of Provinces.
Taking as a starting point the criteria indicated by art.140
of the Constitutions ("promotion of a more direct liaison
between the provinces and the Rector Major and his Council"
and the fostering of the linkage of the provinces among
themselves), the following aspects were emphasized:
- The criteria of geographic contiguity, and of cultural
and linguistic affinity, are good and must be kept in
mind, but without them becoming absolute. No single
criterion is sufficient if considered in isolation.
- The importance is emphasized of having flexible criteria:
- which do not render homogeneity rigid;
- which do not end to identify the group of
Provinces which form the Region with the
Provincial Conference (or Conferences), even
though the presence of Conferences in a group may
lead to more intese collaboration between
Provinces which are more homogeneous.
- A flexible criterion of this kind should foster meetings,
exchanges and the communication of values, and
hence promote a creative relationship between
culture, history, mentality and even different languages:
this especially at the level of experiences and Salesian
history (reciprocal enrichment and exchange between the
Provinces). From this standpoint an effort to
internationalize a Region will have positive results.
- The importance is also emphasized of taking into account
in the first place the mission of the Provinces.
If it is important to consider the numerical consistency
of a group of Provinces, it is vital to cultivate
whatever fosters the mission and Salesian development.
- With regard to the numerical criterion: here too
flexibility is to be applied. Priority is to be given to
the good of the Congregation and the Provinces, and to
the service of the mission. This dictates the conditions
for the configuration of the group, but with due
attention to practical situations and possibilities.
- Together with these criteria, whatever be the composition
of the groups the importance is emphasized of
collaboration and mutual exchange between the Regions
themselves.
[194]
The groups of Provinces
With the criteria established, after a discernment on the
situations and concrete possibilities, the GC24 approved the
following overall framework for the configuration of the groups
of Provinces for the coming six-year period:
1. AFRICA GROUP
This is made up juridically of the five circumscriptions at
present existing: Central Africa, East Africa, Southern Africa,
Madagascar, and Zambia-Malawi-Zimbabwe.
The Rector Major with his Council will specify the
responsibility of the Regional in coordinating the other Salesian
foundations in Africa, in the spirit of n. 310 of the GC23.
2. LATIN AMERICA (SOUTHERN CONE) GROUP
This group has 14 Provinces:
Argentina-Buenos Aires, Argentina-Bahia Blanca,
Argentina-Cordoba, Argentina-La Plata, Argentina-Rosario,
Brazil-Belo Horizonte, Brazil-Campo Grande, Brazil-Manaus,
Brazil-Porto Alegre, Brazil-Recife, Brazil S+o Paulo, Chile,
Paraguay, Uruguay.
3. INTER-AMERICA GROUP
This group includes 12 Provinces and 2 Vice-provinces:
Antilles, Bolivia, Central America, Canada, Colombia-Bogotá,
Colombia-Medellín, Ecuador, Haiti, Mexico-Mexico,
Mexico-Guadalajara, Peru, United States East, United States West,
Venezuela.
4. ASIA-AUSTRALIA GROUP
This group contains 13 Provinces and 2 Vice-provinces:
Australia, China, India-Bangalore, India-Bombay,
India-Calcutta, India-Dimapur, India-Guwahati, India-Hyderabad,
India-Madras, Japan, Korea, Philippines North, Philippines South,
Thailand, Vietnam.
5. NORTH-EUROPE GROUP
This group has 16 Provinces and 1 Circumscription:
Austria, Belgium North, Czech Republic, Croatia, Eastern
Circumscription, Germany-Cologne, Germany-Munich, Great Britain,
Ireland, Holland, Hungary, Poland-Breslau, Poland-Cracow,
Poland-Pila, Poland-Warsaw, Slovakia, Slovenia.
6. WEST-EUROPE GROUP
This group has 11 Provinces:
Belgium South, France-Lyons, France-Paris, Portugal,
Spain-Barcelona, Spain-Bilbao, Spain-Córdoba, Spain-León,
Spain-Madrid, Spain-Seville, Spain-Valencia.
7. ITALY - MIDDLE EAST GROUP
This group embraces 10 Provinces and 1 Vice-province:
The Middle East and the following Provinces etc. of Italy:
Adriatic, Genoa, Milan, Piedmont Circumscription, Rome,
Sardinia, Sicily, Southern, Venice East, Venice West.
1 can 624
2 cf. C 163, 177; R 171
3 In presenting the
modified text for approval, the following clarifications were
given:
1. Concerning the expression in the modified
text: "... may be re-elected for a second period of six
years in the same office": this to be understood in the
sense that the General Chapter has the possibility of electing a
Councillor for a second six-year term, but not for a third
six-year term.
2. Concerning the particular situation
indicated in art.143 of the Constitutions (the death or cessation
in office of the Rector Major), the expression "may be
re-elected for a second period of six years in the same
office" is to be understood in the sense that, in the
case of a Councillor not having completed the second six-year
period, the norm does not prevent the General Chapter - if it
finds it convenient - to elect the Councillor for a third time in
the same office; i.e. the interrupted period is not
considered to be a complete six years. It will be up to the
General Chapter to make its own discernment in this regard.
4 C 170
5 cf.nn.253-254
6 cf. VC 61
7 cf. Report of the
Vicar General n.254
8 C 140
9 R 135-137
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