XIII. SERVICE OF AUTHORITY IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY
"As each one has received a gift, employ it for one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace;... whoever renders service, as one who renders it by the strength which God supplies, in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ." (1 Pet 4,10-11)
175. The local community is made up of confreres who reside in a lawfully erected house, and in it live a common life in unity of spirit under the authority of the superior,1 sharing responsibility as they carry out their apostolic mission.
176.
The superior of each local community is called the rector.He is first in order of responsibility for its religious life, its apostolic activities and the administration of its goods.
With the collaboration of his council he animates and governs the community according to the Constitutions and general Regulations.
177. The rector must be a priest, perpetually professed for at least five years; he is appointed by the provincial with the consent of his council and the approval of the Rector Major, due regard being paid to the results of a consultation carried out among the members of the province.
The rector is appointed for a period of three years and can be confirmed for a second term of three years in the same community.
During his period of service he may be appointed to some other office if the provincial, with the consent of his council, deems it necessary.
178. In every local community there shall be a council composed of confreres in perpetual vows and no longer in initial formation, in number proportional to the number of confreres and to the requirements of their activities.
R 180
The council is convoked and presided over by the rector, and has the task of collaborating with him in animating and governing the community.
179. The following are members of the council:
1. the vice-rector and the economer;
2. the confreres responsible for the principal sectors of the community’s activity, as laid down in article 180;
R 183
3. one or more members elected annually by the assembly of the confreres when the latter are numerous, in accordance with articles 180 and 186 of the Constitutions.
R 183
180. It belongs to the provincial with the consent of his council, after hearing the opinion of the local community, to decide which sectors of the community's activity shall be represented in the council. He too will decide whether any councillors are to be elected by the assembly of the confreres, and how many they will be.
181. The rector must have the consent of his council for:
1. the approval of the annual programme of the community's life and activities, to be submitted to the provincial for endorsement;
2. proposing to the provincial new experiments and substantial changes in the nature of the work;
3. the approval of the annual financial budget and balance sheet of the community and of the works for which we are responsible;
4. the financial operations envisaged by article 188 of the Constitutions;
5. deciding on the normal frequency of the council's meetings.
R 180
In other matters of importance the rector should always listen to his council.
R 181
182. Whenever circumstances suggest that some exception should be made, the provincial, with the consent of his council and after hearing the opinion of the local community concerned, can modify the ordinary roles and structures within the community, especially when it is small in number of confreres, provided always that the figure of the rector is safeguarded.
183. The vice-rector is the first collaborator of the rector. He takes his place in matters which have been especially entrusted to him and, if the rector is absent or impeded, in everything concerning the ordinary government. He must therefore be a priest.
R 182
On the death of the rector and until the provincial provides otherwise, the vice-rector takes up and exercises the government of the house.
184. The economer is the one immediately responsible for the administration of the temporal goods of the religious house, in dependence on the rector with his council. He carries out his service in a spirit of charity and poverty.
185. The role and duties of those responsible for the principal sectors of the community's activities will be laid down by the provincial chapter.
186. The assembly of the confreres, which is a gathering of all the Salesians of the local community, is convoked and presided over by the rector for consultation on the principal questions which concern the community's religious life and activities.
It is also its duty to elect the delegate to the provincial chapter and his substitute, and also to elect those members, if any, to the local council in accordance with article 180 of the Constitutions.