This time the Latin proverb “post festum pestum” – which implies that after a celebration there is not much craving for work- has not come true, because on the day following the excursion, in spite of some cramps, the agenda has been kept in its entirety.
A paper was given out with several questions in order to evaluate the meeting, paper to be given back duly filled out to the secretariat.
In the name of the Commission for the revision of the Statutes, which had already made its presentation on Monday, Fr. Turati entertained us the whole morning. In the first place, the Secretary, Fr. Giuseppe Turati has explained briefly the procedure. Afterwards, first in small groups and then in plenary session, corrections and recommendations have been presented so that a better and more detailed presentation could be ready for the 2010 General Assembly. A few other recommendations and remarks have been also offered spontaneously in the plenary session.
In the afternoon, Fr.Thomas F.McKenna, Visitor of the Eastern Province of the United Status presented, along the same lines of the main purpose of this meeting, an instrument for helping in Continuos Formation. It consists of an online study of the Constitutions prepared under the direction of Fr. John B. Freund, which is being studied in different sessions to the great satisfaction of those who peruse it. There is also a CD in English and in Spanish with the first six sessions to which further sessions could be added if the users consider it useful.
It was the turn afterwards for what we had been calling the “Agenda of the Superior General”. It was question once more of the Project for the election of the Superior General. The Document, which included all the suggestions received after its first redaction, was delivered in the three official languages, and it was shown also on the screen in three parallel columns. A count was taken by raising hands on the different possible solutions that were presented. And even if it seemed at first sight that the topic was already well defined for the 2010 Assembly, the different interventions made it plain that a consensus had not been yet reached.
Finally a working document was presented to help thought on this topic for the next General Assembly. The document seemed well structured, and it insisted on the idea that the General Assembly is for other things in addition to the business of electing the Superior General. It has to try, as it is stated in the Constitutions, to invigorate the spiritual life and the pastoral activity of the whole Congregation. A few additional topics were added which might be of interest for the next General Assembly in line with the ideas exposed with some of the Curia members and other missionaries; some questions were as well presented as to how often should General Assemblies be held, their duration and their contents.
There were many other very interesting interventions about the purpose of the Assemblies, and about how could we make of them an instrument for revision and for the animation of our life and of our apostolate, which would endow with an added dynamism all our provinces, all the communities, and all the missionaries.
J.S.O.
