Summary from the Drafting Commission: 31 October

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The closing session began with a prayer reflection led by Fr Orven Gonzaga. The session was chaired by Fr Luigi Vaninetti, who began by saying that the session would consist of four parts: the reading by the Synod Secretary of the decisions taken by the Synod; a statement from the General Econome on the expenses of the Synod; a verbal evaluation of the Synod on the part of the Synod members; the Superior General’s concluding remarks.

Fr José Luis Quintero then read the text of the six proposals which had been agreed by the Synod. These are: the proposal on the Solidarity Fund from the Commission on Solidarity in Finance; the proposal to study the question of criteria for the viability of provinces and the situation of the vicariates in preparation for the 2012 General Chapter; the proposal on giving decision-making powers to the configurations; the proposal that the General Council consult our own religious and the members of the various Passionist lay movements and examine the situation of the various groups, with a view to including references to our Passionist lay movements in both the Constitutions and the General Regulations; the recommendation to provinces regarding the eligibility of Passionist Brothers to the role of First Consultor; the proposal that the configurations continue to operate until the 2012 General Chapter.

The General Econome, Fr Battista Ramponi, then gave the Synod members a detailed breakdown of the costs incurred during the Synod, including travel to Rome for Synod members, food and lodging, rental of equipment for the secretariat and translators, costs for facilitators and invited speakers. He compared these to the costs of the last General Synod in Cuernavaca and the last General Chapter in Rome. He explained how the costs, including travel, would be redistributed around the provinces, vice-provinces and vicariates according to their ability to pay, following the same percentages used for the annual contributions to the General Administration.

Homily for the Closing of the XIV General Synod

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My dearest Brothers of the Congregation,

Let us thank God for these days that we have spent together. Let us do this with the Eucharist where Jesus himself becomes thanksgiving to the Father by his death that is renewed and offered in another “Last Supper” in the cenacle of this chapel where He again is priest and victim and where we, together with Him, form the mystical body which is the Church.

Solidarity has its maximum expression on the Cross where Jesus dies for us and in the Cenacle where He takes bread, which is His body, and breaks it and shares it among the disciples. He takes the cup, which is His blood, and he gives it to the disciples so that they may all drink from it. Breaking and sharing the same bread and drinking from the same cup are the “sign” of sharing and solidarity and doing this we “remember.” We do this in this Eucharistic sacrifice where: “Because the loaf of bread is one, we, though many are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.” (1Cor.10:17) Personal choices, choices as a Synod and as a Congregation cannot contradict what we are celebrating. It was sharing and breaking the bread that it could be distributed, that enabled the disciples of Emmaus to recognize Jesus.

However, the days of this Synod, two years after the Synod of Cuernavaca, were not easy. We experienced foggy days, feeling lost, feeling afraid and feeling tempted to a “reverse Exodus”—wanting to turn back, like Israel, to slave labor and the precarious life in Egypt. God had a plan for his people; it was not a plan to help the powerful, but to free the oppressed.

Summary from the Drafting Commission: 30 October

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Fr Franz Damen was the principal celebrant at the Mass which was celebrated in Spanish.

The morning session was chaired by Fr Denis Travers. It was preceded by a prayer reflection; the theme was ‘The Passion of Jesus – The bridge which unites us’, based on no. 5 of the Constitutions.

Fr Michael Mullins introduced the day’s work. It is difficult to deal with matters ad experimentum. Here we need to suspend judgement, particularly canonical judgement. This is a new way of acting, a systemic way. The future of the configurations will largely depend on the quality of leadership, particularly at local level. A key element is dialogue at and across the different levels; in this area we learn by doing. Reports on yesterday’s questions and reflections were then heard.

The Sacred Heart Configuration report spoke of uncertainties about the future and the fear that the Synod has not gone far enough but has seemed to be going backwards. We want to continue on the road chosen at Cuernavaca. This configuration wants to become a single province with zones. The configuration has a list of initiatives, including a formators course in Rome next January, provincial chapters in the three provinces and an assembly in the vice-province, and various inter-provincial events, including the World Youth Day. The configuration intends to keep the same co-ordinator.

Peñafiel will host the Young Passionists Meeting for WYD 2011

A tour to see the town of Peñafiel, the Passionists Monastery and the structures that will host the Young Passionists Meeting before the World Youth Day 2011 in Madrid.

Holy Mass: homily for October 30

Phil 1, 18b-26; Lc 14, 1,7-11

"When you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that... you will be honored...”This recommendation by Jesus releases uneasiness. Is this not false, hypocritical modesty? Does this really fit Jesus?

In any case, Jesus thereupon said to the man who invited him: "When you give a dinner or banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your kinsmen or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return, and you be repaid; But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. You will be repaid at the resurrection of the just", (v. 13-14).

Here, Jesus is breaking with a rule which is functioning until today in all cultures of the world: that invitation and return invitation must be kept in balance; the rule of reciprocity.

This is a rule, which really does not fit Jesus at all. He checks up the games we are playing with one another, and that usually are steered by our own profit. He puts himself on the side the poor, the cripple and the blind: those who fall out with our party games. The reconciliation he is looking for, is certainly not provided by the blind and the poor. But God is involved! This unbalance makes us think.

Summary from the Drafting Commission: 29 October

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Mass today was celebrated in language groups.

The morning prayer reflection was on the theme of having the mind of Christ crucified; it was led by Fr Giovanni Cipriani. The session was chaired by Fr Luis Alberto Cano.

An update was given on the situation of Fr Mario Bartolini in Perú. The Synod members had seen a news report which was broadcast on television yesterday. Today they received fresh information from our religious and sisters there about the present state of the case.

On behalf of the interprovincial Passionist Youth Ministry Team in Spain, Fr José Maria Saez gave a presentation about the World Youth Day in Madrid in 2011. It is important for us as a Congregation to be present at the WYD, as the sign which defines this encounter is the Cross. There will be a meeting of young Passionist religious at Peñafiel from 12 to 14 August. Groups of young people who are part of the Passionist family will be welcomed at Alcalà de Henares during the WYD, from 15 to 21 August. The special Passionist day, referred to in the General’s letter on the WYD, will be on 18 August. Those interested in taking part should contact the Youth Ministry Team and also, in the case of the Meeting of Young Religious, the Secretary General here.

We are family

Synodal Interviews: Fr. Frans Damen, GABR Provincial (Belgio) and NESP Coordinator

Some questions to Fr. Frans Damen, GABR Provincial (Belgium) and NESP Coordinator about same issues regarding his Configuration.

Web Album

Summary from the Drafting Commission: 28 October

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Mass for the Feast of Saints Simon and Jude was celebrated by Fr Joachim Rego.

The morning prayer reflection was led by Fr Giovanni Cipriani. The session was chaired by Fr Luigi Vaninetti.

The first item was a proposal from the Commission for Solidarity in Finances that all entities should contribute annually 2% of the gross income of their entity’s administration to the Solidarity Fund, and that the Synod should confirm the decision of the last General Synod that 7% of the proceeds from any sale of immobile goods (lands or buildings) be contributed to the Solidarity Fund.

A number of clarifications were sought, some in relation to cases where civil governments have requirements linked to the sale of property. Other issues raised included the following: Criteria for the running of the Solidarity Fund were established some time ago and could be revisited. There is a need for co-ordination between funding solidarity at configuration level and at the level of the whole Congregation. Should the Solidarity Fund and Formation Fund be united or remain separate? It would be useful for the Commission to meet with the economes or finance managers of the different entities. Even with these fixed contributions, voluntary contributions to the Solidarity Fund can still be made. After discussion, the proposal was carried with no dissenting voices.

The Superior General then gave the third part of his report. Among issues referred to in the report were: the need to include within our Constitutions and General Regulations a reference to those laity who seek to live our Passionist Charism and be associated with our Congregation; the importance of historical research and publications on our Congregation and its provinces; the work of the Commission for Communications and the setting up of a permanent office for communications; the need for norms to guarantee the safety of financial funds; the ‘two pulses’ of the heart of our Charism, which are (a) Contemplating the Passion of Jesus and living in fraternal and poor communities, located in solitude (b) Announcing the contemplated word of the Cross, giving preference to abandoned places and recognising Jesus in the suffering and the poor); our presence at the U.N. through Passionists International; the need for adequate policies throughout the Congregation for dealing with questions of sexual abuse and promoting the safeguarding the vulnerable; training for formation personnel; the role of brothers in leadership; the required number of houses and religious to constitute a province. 

TV2000: Fr. Mario Bartolini

At the beginng of the afternoon session the Synod members were offered the possibility of viewing this program that the station TV2000 dedicated to Fr. Mario Bartolini and his case. It descrived the factors that caused our fellow religious to be brought to trial for having defended the rights of the Peruvian workers. Then Fr. Jesús María Aristín was interviewed and he clarified the current status of the process in this matter.

The Report of Fr. Ottaviano D’Egidio, General Superior of the Passionists: 3th part

The activity of the Synod this morning began with the third part of the report of Fr. Ottaviano, Superior General of the Passionists. In this section of his report he spoke about those projects and proposals that we are developing so that the Synod members could have a clear understanding of these projects so that they can discern those that can be better developed by means of the contribution of their entities. The report concluded by remembering our two bishops who died this year and the anniversary of our Constitutions and the initiatives taken in this area.

Report of the Superior General to the XIV General Synod (part three)

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1. Reminders.

a) Participation in the General Chapter. According to what is prescribed at No. 130 of the Constitutions and the General Regulations (GR) that determine the number of delegates to the General Chapter. What is prescribed by the G.R. at No. 77 was modified and approved at the General Synod of 2004 and confirmed at the last General Chapter of 2006.

b) Participation at a General Synod. According to No.147 of the Constitutions, the members of the Synod are those who participate at the General Chapter “ex officio”.

c) Modifications to the Constitutions. According to what is prescribed by No. 114 for the modification of any point of the Constitutions a two thirds majority of votes in favor of the change, and in order for it to become part of the text of the Constitutions, it needs to be approved a second time at the successive General Chapter.

2. The Laity. 

The Lay Passionist movements, with various titles throughout the world, are becoming more and more aware of their being called to our charism and to our mission. They exist, they are involved in formation and are collaborating among themselves and the number of those who are consecrated to the Passion as laity is increasing. We know that St. Paul of the Cross wrote numerous letters to lay men and women, trusting in their capacity to live the spirituality of the Passion.

However, neither in our Constitutions nor in our General Regulations is there is any reference to the laity being called to our charism. I believe that the time has arrived for their inclusion in the Constitutions and in the General Regulations as individuals who are associated with the Congregation. A small commission has proposed inserting into the Constitutions the following provisional text that is intended for study and therefore can be modified: “There are persons who feel an attraction (calling) to the charism of the Passion and who wish to live it in communion with the Passionist Congregation. When they are formally associated with the Congregation, according to the norms established in the General Regulations, they will form an integral part of the Congregation as the Passionist Family.”

It is suggested that we place this text or something similar, at the end of Chapter II of the Constitutions, the chapter on Community Life, following No. 38. In fact, in that chapter, in addition to the elements of community life, it speaks about the relationship with those outside the community and hospitality. The General Regulations should contain one or two points that define the forms of association and the specific relationships between the laity of the Passionist Family and the Congregation [...]

| Download | Report of the Sup. General to the XIV General Synod (part three)

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| Download | Report of the Sup. General to the XIV General Synod (part one)

| Download | Report of the Sup. General to the XIV General Synod (part two)

Backstage

Synodal interviews: backstage

Holy Mass: homily for October 28

The Gospel chosen for the feast of the Ss Simon and Jude is the passage from Luke which accounts for us Jesus spending the night in prayer on the mountain, after which he called his disciples, chose twelve of them, and named them apostles. These are the men that Jesus selected personally to walk closely with him, to be formed in the mysteries of the Kingdom, and to be sent to proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom to all the world.

We celebrate two of the Twelve today: Simon & Jude – named in the Gospel as disciples who were called to a further commitment to Christ, in mission, as apostles. They were sent to be faithful witnesses in the word (preaching/teaching) and in the blood (service), giving up everything in sacrifice with Jesus Christ. Both, Simon and Jude spent their lives preaching the Gospel to a pagan world, and it is believed that each died a martyr’s death for his faith.

By our baptism and religious profession as Passionists, we, too, are called, chosen and sent to give such radical witness as Passionist apostles, and to make sacrifices for Christ and his mission in our world today. We are no strangers to the mysteries of Christ. Indeed, we share in his passion and in his dying and rising. Through the power of the Holy Spirit our faith overcomes our fear and makes our witness unashamed and bold. We are not temporary residents in the Church. Indeed, we have signed on the dotted line. We are at home in the Body of Christ; our life doesn’t make sense anymore without Christ and his Church. In the words of today’s first reading from Ephesians:

“We are no longer strangers and aliens, but citizens with the saints and also members of God’s household, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone.”

Summary from the Drafting Commission: 27 October

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Mass today was celebrated in language groups.

The morning prayer reflection was on the theme of listening and discernment. The opening session was chaired by Fr Denis Travers and began with an update from Fr Juan Maria Santamaria on the situation in Yurimaguas, Peru.

Sister Christine Anderson f.c.j. then introduced the morning’s work. One of the main tasks of this Synod is looking at the viability of the configurations. The configurations were an experiment in solidarity in formation, personnel and finance; now the experiment has to be evaluated. Human beings find difficulty in changing, but we have within us the resources needed for change. These are: 1) an open mind, the enemy of which is judging before we have heard everything; 2) an open heart, which allows us to get in touch with our vulnerability, and here the enemy is cynicism; 3) an open will, from which comes the desire for what is best for the mission and values of the Congregation; the enemy here is fear or doubt. The evaluation would be done in configuration groups. The groups were asked to look in a critical way at their own configuration and ask themselves if it is viable. Sister Christine suggested a viability tool, consisting of six areas for examination: 1) leadership capacity, strategic thinking, focus on Passionist mission; 2) government structures, decision making; 3) financial planning, accountability; 4) initial formation, ongoing formation; 5) communication networks, relatedness to General Council and other configurations; 6) in the light of all this, can you say you are working effectively towards solidarity of formation, personnel and finance within your configuration? Has your configuration the capacity to offer solidarity to other configurations? The Synod members were now invited to go into configuration groups, after a period of personal discernment. The groups were given two questions: Do you think the composition of your configuration is viable or do you suggest any changes? Regarding the other configurations, have you suggestions to make them increase solidarity in formation, personnel and finance?

Synodal Interviews: Fr. Antonio Maria Munduate, FID (Colombia) and Sacred Heart Coordinator

Some questions to Antonio Maria Munduate, Viceprovincial of FID (Colombia) and Sacred Heart Coordinator about same issues regarding his Configuration.

Synodal Interviews: Fr. Michael Ogweno, MATAF (South Africa) and CPA Coordinator

Same questions addressed to Fr. Michael Ogweno, Member of SPIR (South Africa)  and CPA Coordinator on some issues regarding Restructuration and his Configuration.

Summary from the Drafting Commission: 26 October

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The day began with Mass in the Retreat House Chapel celebrated by Fr Leone Masnata.

The morning session in the aula, chaired by Fr Clemente Barron, was preceded by a prayer reflection celebrating the centenary of the Passionists in Brazil. Fr Michael Mullins s.m. informed the Synod that the dialogue in response to the reports from configurations would be take place in a single group in the aula. He asked us to ensure that all voices are heard, and gave this background question: What are the key issues that the Synod has to address for the whole Congregation?

Fr Leone Masnata presented the report on behalf of the Configuration of Blessed Eugene Bossilkov. Initially the seven entities of the configuration looked at the following: replies made by provinces of the configuration to the template on restructuring; possible future shape for the configuration; choosing common projects in the areas of solidarity (formation, personnel, finance); decision-making powers of the configuration; ways of consulting the religious of the various provinces on their opinion of the viability of the configuration. The four Italian provinces of the configuration and the French province wish to work towards becoming a single province, with five regions, while ASSUM and VULN wish to continue as distinct entities within the configuration. The configuration has a study group, divided into three sub-groups (formation, personnel, finance), and a permanent secretary. The Italian entities have a common novitiate and student house. Various forms of collaboration exist, including support for the mission in Bulgaria and the house in Lourdes. 

Synodal Interviews: Fr. Joachin Rego, Provincial of SPIR (Australia and Papua New Guinea) and PASPAC Coordionator

Same questions addressed to Fr. Joachin Rego, Provincial of SPIR (Australia and Papua New Guinea)  and PASPAC Coordinator on same issues regarding Restructuration and his Configuration.