The service of authority
in our Society
X. GENERAL PRINCIPLES AND CRITERIA
"Whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be the slave of all. For the Son of Man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Mk 10, 43-45)
Basic structure of our Society
120. Our Society is made up of provincial communities, and these in turn are divided into local communities.
Government at world level ensures unity of life and action in differing environments and situations.
Central, provincial and local government is exercised with ordinary authority by a superior assisted by his council.
Supreme authority over the whole Congregation belongs to the General Chapter. Provincial chapters are granted specific powers within the domain of the province.
Nature of the service of authority
121. In imitation of Christ and in his name, authority in the Congregation is exercised according to the spirit of Don Bosco as a service to brothers for discerning and fulfilling the Father’s will. This service is directed to fostering charity, coordinating the efforts of all, animating, orientating, making decisions, giving corrections, so that our mission may be accomplished.
According to our tradition, communities are guided by a member who is a priest, and who by the grace of his priestly ministry and pastoral experience sustains and directs the spirit and activity of his brothers.
He is obliged to make the profession of faith prescribed by canon law.1
Unity in the government of the Society
122.
Superiors at every level of government share in one and the same authority, and exercise it in communion with the Rector Major for the benefit of the whole Society. In this way, while fostering the good of each individual community, they are solicitous for the unity, growth and perfecting of the whole Congregation.Participation and shared responsibility
123.
Our common vocation requires the responsible and effective participation of all the members in the life and action of the local, provincial and world communities, not only in terms of implementation but also of planning, organizing and evaluating, according to their respective roles and competence.This shared responsibility requires also the participation of the confreres, in the most suitable way, in the choice of those responsible for government at the different levels, and in the working out of their more important decisions.
R 169
It is the duty of those who exercise authority to promote and guide this contribution by means of adequate information, personal dialogue and community study and reflection.
Subsidiarity and decentralization
124. Authority of any kind and at every level leaves to the initiative of lower levels and of individuals whatever can be decided and done by them, according to their respective competence. In this way the worth of individuals and communities is recognized, and more real involvement is encouraged.
The principle of subsidiarity implies decentralization which, while safeguarding unity, recognizes a proper autonomy and consequently a right distribution of powers between the different organs of government.