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Masses this morning were celebrated in language groups.
The sessions in the aula, which was chaired by Fr Denis Travers, began with a prayer reflection on the theme ‘The Seed of the Passionist Charism Scattered in Many Places’, which recalled the sixty different countries in which our Congregation has been established.
The first session was devoted to the second part of the report of the Superior General, Fr Ottaviano D’Egidio, entitled ‘Starting afresh after Cuernavaca’, a summary of which is given here:
Fr Ottaviano listed the various stages gone through in the process of restructuring, beginning with the General Chapter of 2000. A turning point in the process was the 2008 Synod at Cuernavaca during which six new configurations were established, responding to a new awareness that every part of the Congregation is responsible for the other. During the two years leading up to this Synod, the task of the configurations was to evaluate and experiment with the viablity of the composition of each configuartion as a hypothetical structure for the future. However, the process of examining the feasability of the new configurations will not end with the present Synod. During the next two years, we will move towards defining conclusively the new entities and the model of government to be used both at General level and at the level of the configurations. The juridic consequences also need to be clarified during the next two years.
The General then spoke of the meetings of co-ordinators which have taken place and summarised the different directions in which the six configurations are going forward. As, at the level of the configurations, discernment should result in decisions, he suggested that the configurations should be able to make decisions and act on them and, on behalf of the General Council, proposed a text to this effect for the evaluation and approval of the Synod. He also reflected with the Synod on the Congregation’s history of expansion and development, the meaning of solidarity in practice, and the means for achieving a culture of solidarity within the Congregation.
After points for clarification had been dealt with, the Synod then went into international groups to discuss two questions given by Fr Michael Mullins s.m.: What further questions do you have following the General’s talk? What did you find challenging in the General’s talk?
Among issues raised by the groups were the following: Is this way of restructuring the best way of achieving the goal of greater fidelity and mission? Are people happy with the configurations as they are? There is a lingering quest for clarity. Do the configurations as they are at present really support solidarity, e.g. in relation to the needs of Africa? In the future, our missionaries will be coming from poor countries and provinces; how can we support them? There are internal tensions in some configurations because of the diversity of cultures of the provinces involved. What is to be done if a configuration does not in fact take part in the process of restructuring? How do we recover internationality in the Congregation? Can different configurations have different forms of government? Will the existing provinces lose the power to govern themselves? In the face of what looks like greater centralisation, what can we say about subsidiarity?
Fr Ottaviano expressed surprise at the hesitations which were still present, stressing that what is to be done will be done within the framework of the Constitutions
In the afternoon session, chaired by Fr Luigi Vaninetti, the Synod began looking at the reports from the six Configurations. Fr Michael Mullins introduced the session, reminding all that this is part of the process of discernment; he asked the Synod members to pay attention to the importance of listening and to keep in mind the criteria which had been agreed at the 2008 Synod in Cuernavaca.
Fr Enzo del Brocco reported on behalf of the Configuration of Jesus Crucified. The configuration has set up three commissions as part of its organisational structure; these are the Commissions for Personnel, Formation and Finance. Each commission has established criteria and guidelines to further the work of solidarity in each of these areas. Agreement has been reached about formation, with two novitiates and two student houses envisaged. The configuration intends to create a common fund for formation and other projects. The Personnel Commission is working on a plan of action for mission projects. At an assembly earlier this year, the Major Superiors of the configuration acknowledged the richness of the realities which compose the configuration, while admitting that there is still some perplexity over its vast size. They had examined the possibility of dividing the configuration, but wish to remain together for the time being. The configuration must be considered an open space in which to share and create projects together for a new way and a new life. Fr Enzo’s report was supplemented by additional information from Frs Juan Rosasco (Formation), Francisco Valadez (Finance) and Augusto Canali (Personnel).
The report was discussed in groups and the following observations were made: The plans are very concrete and well organised. Are there still ways of co-operating with CLAP and FORPAL? There have been good developments for formation, but the sense of mission at configuration level needs to be strengthened. This configuration seems to be too big and geographically spread out. How are the plans of the configuration received by those at the grass roots level? This configuration is a space for dialogue, but does such a large grouping see itself becoming a juridic entity?
After a short break, Fr Antonio Munduate gave the report on behalf of the Configuration of the Sacred Heart. He began by describing the reality in terms of the number and age of the religious, and the countries in which they are working. They are working in solidarity in the area of formation and have begun developing solidarity for mission with four shared projects. They intend to move towards common management of the finances and accounting. The report included a possible form of government where the configuration would become a single jurisdiction, with a regional superior for the entire configuration working with four consultors, with the configuration divided into four zones. The report hoped that the Synod would clarify the following points: the geographical distribution of the configurations; the goal to be achieved; that a common language and objectives be used. We can proceed at various speeds; however, we all need to be directed towards the same goal and have the same objective.
There was general discussion on the notion of the existing entities being merged into one province. This path has already been agreed in the respective provincial chapters. The importance of recognising different cultures and traditions in Latin America was highlighted.
Evening Prayer followed in the Retreat House Chapel, marking the Passionist Centenary in Brazil.
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