A ROAD TO BUILD, A PATH TO TRAVEL

A ROAD TO BUILD, A PATH TO TRAVEL
FOR THE YEARS 1999 - 2003

Rome 31 December 1998

Prot N 296/98

Dear Confreres:

I send you this notification of decisions made by the General administration after the meeting with the Provincial and Regional Superiors, so that everyone can get to know what has been established. In due time, either from myself or from the General Councillors responsible for the various sectors, you will receive further information accordingly.

Wishing everyone a very happy 1999, I invite you to walk together along this new section of road, which has been built by implementation of "We the Congregation at the service of Mission".

Fr. Virginio D Bressanelli scj Superior General

The "Plan for the Congregation" of the XX General Chapter was presented to us as "a path to travel" and limited itself to giving us only a kind of route map, an invitation was offered by the Chapter "all of us together should journey along this path" (Cf. Documenta XVII, p. 377-378)

In the working out of the programme "We the Congregation at the service of Mission" (Plan 1997 - 2003) the General administration pointed out that, "all of the 'operative choices' made in this plan still had to be worked out according to the aims of the General Chapter, something which would take place at the appropriate time in the course of the six year period" (Plan 1997 - 2003, n. 34)

The first of these 'appropriate times' for working out some actual choices was the meeting of Major Superiors of the Congregation with the General Council which took place in Rome from the 3rd - 13 November 1998.

Subsequently, the General Council, meeting in various sessions from the 14 November to 28 December 1998, working on the basis of the contributions of the Major Superiors, has put some of these choices into effect.

In this way the first part of the road has been built, the path to travel has been made clear.

What then is the spirit in which we wish to journey? Our response can only be in terms of "We the Congregation in the service of mission". This was indeed the point that was emphasised at the opening of the meeting with the Major Superiors. In order to build new roads, to open up new paths along which to travel, hearts and minds need to be converted - turned around so that we can truly grow in our awareness of the Congregation as a "we" as a "body". "No-one is so destitute that they can do nothing for others, just as no-one is so rich that they have no responsibility for others"

What are the goals towards which we travel? We are "at the service of Mission", called to "go through the streets of the whole world and search out those who are excluded and marginalised" as the liturgy of the day put it.

The 'actual choices' now put into effect by decision of the General administration, will begin to have an effect on the life and work of Provinces and Regions as the sense of belonging to an international Congregation which journeys through the streets of the world, grows in the hearts of each individual religious as in their Major Superiors.

We would now like to outline our plan of action for putting into effect some of the 'actual choices' without prejudice to other choices in the Plan 1997 - 2003 which still have to be put into effect by the respective Major Superiors.

1. MISSION AND MISSIONS

1. The General administration decided that the animation of this sector should be entrusted to a General Councillor. It was not thought necessary to re-establish a Commission nor indeed a Secretariat. Father Ricardo Mis will be the "responsible person", and his duties will include:

keeping in contact with the relevant Roman bodies (Sedos, Forum, etc...)
stimulating individual provinces in their missionary activities
facilitating the collaboration between mission secretaries or responsible persons and the various geographic zones
convoking and organising meetings of "ad hoc" committees or "commissions of experts" when necessary (specific problems, difficult situations, future planning...)
making available appropriate documentation, mission material and missiology
co-ordinating the interchange of information

Alongside that which has been done by the General administration, a committee of experts will produce a document for the service of the mission "ad gentes" on the theme "A new model of Mission" and will also elaborate various "specific projects for the missions in the light of future developments".

2. In the various provinces we will maintain a Mission Secretariat or commission, where such is not in place there should, at least be a "nominated person". These appointed persons have the duty to:

keep in touch with the missionaries from their own province
animate mission awareness in our communities
promote the formation and mission preparation of our religious
distributing material on mission and on missiology
promoting our responsibility for the missions in general and SCJ missions in particular
collaborating with other mission secretaries (responsible persons) in the geographic area

It is appropriate that missionaries who are home on leave should take part in mission animation, in as much as they are often well received by people and are happy to share in this task.

3. Some of the Major Superiors proposed the creation of a non-governing body (NGO), with an international remit which would be based in Brussels for the service of the Congregation. No decision has been taken on this and the matter remains open.

4. Prophetic international communities. By a "prophetic community" we understand a community which has a real significance, one with a purpose which is understood and appreciated in the area in which it is located. Such a community derives its significance from its living of the evangelical life in a radical way in the fullness of the Dehonian religious Charism.

The international dimension of the living and working of these communities is in accordance with the decisions made at the General Chapter regarding the development of the Congregation in the proximate future.

Without making any judgement on existing communities, even less not wishing to exclude others, the meeting of Major Superiors designated the following as "international prophetic communities": La Capelle, Uruguay, Equador....

5. La Capelle

1. The general outline of the local plan has been approved:

a clear presence of SCJ religious

focused on the sources of our Charism and spirituality

fully involved in the life of the local church (letter of the Superior General 2.02.98)

The local community will specify its community and apostolic plan more concretely in the light of these general guidelines and the contribution of the Major Superiors' meeting.
2. Members of the community
From the GA Province

Fr. Bernard Radin, aged 70; who has worked on Fr. Dehon's writings

Br. Pierre Auger, aged 78: for the maintenance of the house

Br. Hubert Jung, aged 63: (working part-time for the administration)

From the HI Province Fr. Pedro Garcia Verdú, aged 60; he has worked on the missions, in seminary formation, and in parish ministry
From the ACR Region Fr. Stanislas Leszczynski, aged 47; from the PO Province he has worked pastorally in Poland, Switzerland and Austria.
3. Launch of the community
At the beginning of December Fr. Radin and Br Auger moved into the house in order to get it ready. On the 11-12 January 1999 the first meeting of the new community will take place along with the GA Provincial and the General Councillor for the South of Europe. The official launch of the new community will be decided at that meeting. It is hoped that the community will be able to host the meeting of young religious of Europe preparing for final vows, in spring of 1999.
4. Juridical Status
The community at La Capelle will be constituted as an "international community" for a "specific project of the Congregation". It will depend directly on the GA Province but will have direct referral to the Curia for the guaranteeing of the project and the community.
5. Finance
For the purchase and the redevelopment of the house (making sure that the rooms and fixtures and fittings, electricity, plumbing etc...were adequate) all the provinces have been involved through the General Curia. The ongoing needs of the community will be met by

the apostolic work of the community
voluntary contributions from the European provinces
the Dehonian Family.

It has been suggested that on 14 March (Dehon day) a special collection be taken from all the parts of the Dehonian family for the community at La Capelle. Such funds would be administered by the Superior and Bursar of the GA province.

2. SOCIAL INVOLVEMENT

6. For the animation of this sector a "commission" has been ruled out. Many Major Superiors favoured a Secretariat of three people living in Rome. However, the difficulty of releasing such persons from their Provinces led the General administration to favour the entrusting of this responsibility to a General Council as "responsible person". That person is Fr. Carlos Alberto da Costa Silva and he will have responsibility for:

keeping in contact with the various people responsible for this sector in our provinces and regions and with other religious institutes and civil organisations for the interchange of information.
keeping in touch with developing situations round the world which impinge on the work of Justice and Peace
participating in congresses and meetings about social problems, those organised within the congregation and those outside it - at least those which are most important
organising meetings of those responsible at province or region level and setting up 'ad hoc' commissions when there is a case of urgent need demanding a response.

7. From the various "actual choices" outlined at the XX Chapter or by the General administration various initiatives have begun or are about to begin in various provinces:

supporting the dissemination of the social doctrine of the Church in BM
translation out of the French of certain works of social concern by Fr. Dehon, still ongoing
apart from the Internet - gathering together in a single volume the various activities, specifically those with social significance, which are going on in our provinces or regions.

8. General Conference on "Economics and the Kingdom of God"

1. Having been a Chapter decision this theme cannot now be changed.
The objective we are asked to aim at is that the provinces and the Congregation as a whole have an administrative and economic policy which is directed against the neo-liberal ethic and makes precise decisions in favour of poverty and at the service of the poor. In order to attain our objective the preparation for the General conference in the provinces or regions is more important than the celebration of the conference itself. Each province or region therefore needs to study their own socio-economic reality in whatever way is most opportune for them before the conference. It is necessary to raise awareness, to create a new way of thinking, to become conscious of the importance of this theme in order to arrive at real and demanding new ways of living, looking even at how we administer our goods.
Certain provinces have got their preparation under way by:

A course on on-going formation in Indonesia

"Iberian week" focusing on "Economics and the Kingdom of God" (Spain and Portugal)

meeting on "Economics and the Kingdom of God" in south Brazil

publication of Dehoniana XXVIII, 1998/3.

2. the preparatory commission (Fr. Nestor Eckert (BM), Fr. Pete Sanders (CA), Fr. Angelo Cavagna (IS)) at the meeting of 21 - 23 December 1998 in Rome launched a schema for reflection which will be sent out to all religious with relevant information. Subsequently the commission will prepare a working document for the general conference.
3. Participants. Other than the 49 Superiors (General administration, Major religious, staff...) the General finance committee, 3 province bursars (Africa, Asia, Latin America), 6 representatives of Justice and Peace and some invited persons making a total of 65 participants.
4. Place. The Major Superiors have chosen the BS province as the place where the consequences of a neo-liberal ethic can best be experienced. The conference will therefore take place in Recife 16 - 26 May 2000.
5. Cost It is anticipated that the cost of the conference will be US $30 per day.

3. INITIAL AND ON-GOING FORMATION

Certain decisions regarding the "Project 1997 - 2003" have been made regarding:

9. Initial Formation. The meeting for formators has already been called for 10 - 21 may 1999 in Rome. (Letter of Fr. Zolile to Superiors and formators 18/11/98)

1. The theme looks at the whole spectrum of formation Postulancy, Noviciate, Temporary- Vows. Various formation programmes will be examined, education in Dehonian values (as requested in "We the Congregation at the service of Mission") the principal problems and challenges.....
2. The method will be to look at the situation operating in all the provinces or regions, looking at the challenges we face in formation, looking for a way of inculcating Dehonian content into educational programmes. A particular challenge is the perseverance of religious in temporary vows - even in final vows. Each province will examine its own situation looking at the poor perseverance rates and the reasons why people leave.
3. Participants. The meeting is open to all formators, in particular novice and postulant masters.

10. Permanent vows, or perpetual profession should be arrived at with a sensitivity to the internationality of the congregation through inter-provincial meetings. This is already the case in Latin America and in Europe they have begun this process. European formators will be gathering in Salamanca 23 - 28 February 1999 to prepare the programme for the course in preparation for final vows which will take place in La Capelle the following spring.

11. On-going Formation. The course in on-going formation in Rome "each year in a different language" (Plan 1997 - 2003) will begin with three month courses.

1. Specifically the themes will focus on the spirituality of Dehonian values - towards the development of truly international and community attitudes.
2. Proposed themes:

the religious in his actual situation (life and context)

the religious and the Dehonian Charism

the religious and the theological dimension.

3. Participants: not more than 20 at a time - favouring participation of different provinces. The low number is to encourage a real sense of communion. Participants are then asked to share their experiences in their home provinces.
4. Dates:
Course 1 September - December 1999 Italian
Course 2 March - June 2000 English
Course 3 September - December 2000 Portuguese
Course 4 September - December 2001 French
Course 5 September - December 2002 Spanish
5. Costs. For the first course, those provinces who can afford it are asked to pay US $ 40 per day. For poorer provinces they are asked to pay the same rate as international students at the college (Italian L.750,000 per month) with the celebration of Holy Mass. The rest of the expenses will be covered by the General Curia.

12. "Two on-going international formation courses are planned in different languages and countries" (Plan 1997 - 2003 n. 21).

1. Course 1: 27 June - 23 July 1999 in Poland in Italian
This course in line with preparations for the great Jubilee of the year 2000 will have as its theme "united with Christ in his love for the Father and for humanity".
2. Places are limited to 30.
3. The first week will be in Warsaw moving thereafter to Stadniki. A trip to Bielorussia is also planned to get to know the work of our fathers there. Participants will need to have a Bielorussian visa in their passports before arrival in Poland.
4. Bookings for the course should have arrived at the Polish Provincial before the 30 march 1999.
5. The cost will be US $ 30 per day.

13. Course 2: June - July 2001 at Malpas (BH) in English.

Indications from the Provincial of BH suggest that the course will offer an experience of the Church and Congregation in these islands. For this reason one group might visit Ireland and another Scotland. The aim is nevertheless to develop personal growth in our Dehonian spirituality.

4. VOCATION MINISTRY

14 ."Organising an international meeting for those in vocation ministry in Brazil as on-going formation so as to share programmes and experiences of the Congregation" (Plan 1997 - 2003 n. 24).

The BM province has already planned, in broad outline, this course which will take place in Lavras from 1 - 20 August 1999. Visits to those communities in the province that operate a vocation ministry have been organised. This course which is understood as an on-going formation programme is designed for those already in vocation ministry. It hopes to develop a reflection on an interchange of information between the various provinces or regions; to look at the biblical and theological foundations; an authentic vision of anthropology; and the tools and means necessary for vocation ministry.

Between 35 - 40 people can participate in this course. Translation facilities are intended for Portuguese, English and French. The cost is still to be worked out.

5. DEHONIAN FAMILY

15.

1.The General Council, in response to the motion no.1 of the Chapter regarding "lay Dehonians" has decided to involve the lay people themselves, asking them to:

study and define 'the profile of the lay Dehonian' and the 'nature of relationships' between the various components of the Dehonian family.

have meetings according to geographic areas (Plan 1997 - 2003 n. 27)

Since the Provincial Superiors have direct contacts with the various groups in their province, it falls to them to organise meetings in their own country. Thereafter meetings should take place of all who consider themselves lay members of the Dehonian family in the geographic area. In this way we can attain the goal set by the General Chapter through the contribution, participation and development of all the people involved. Such a process should have taken place before 30 September 1999.
The results of these meetings should be forwarded to Rome before October of the same year. This will give enough time for a proper preparation for the international congress and to prepare a 'document' as the General Chapter requested.
2. The international congress will take place in Rome 9 - 13 October 2000. A committee of experts composed of Fr. Warjito and Fr. Chiarello along with another religious, a lay person and a member of the Compagnia Missionaria will meet in January or February 1999 to prepare:

reflection points for the preparatory meetings of the various component parts of the family

gathering together all the responses from the meetings of laity according to geographic area and also the contributions of other recognised groups.

preparing a work plan for the meeting in 2000

preparing all that is necessary for the 2000 meeting

setting the number of participants and the criteria for participation

studying the economics of such a gathering - keeping in mind the costs suggested at the meeting of Major Superiors.

3. For the co-ordination of all these activities at general level the provinces or regions are asked to liase with the General councillor who has responsibility for this in Rome:

through the Major Superior or the confrere nominated 'ad hoc'

through the person who has responsibility for each of the organisations working in the various countries

sending out any information / publications which are made

Making known the various initiatives in formation, organisation, apostolate, etc... which each group carries out.

Sending out suggestions for the preparation and realisation of the meeting.

6. FINANCIAL MATTERS

16. Motion n 2 of the XX General Chapter:

re-affirms the validity of FAG in order to respond to all of the requests that come in to the General administration
establishes that all Provinces should contribute a certain percentage based on their annual budget
this percentage will be established by the General administration

To bring this new arrangement into effect we propose the following strategy:

1. Any requests for help from FAG should have the approval of the Provincial Superior and his Council and should arrive in Rome before 31 December each year.
2. The General Finance commission (CGF) will examine all requests for help at its first meeting of the year in January-February, taking account of the complexities of the whole Congregation.
3. The Provincial Superiors and their Councils will submit their budgets, laid out according to the new official schema, before the 30th April. These should show clearly the amount or the percentage which is assigned to FAG. The budgets will be examined by CGF by the end of May - beginning of June.
4. The CGF will thereafter communicate its observations on requests for help, on the sums available for the provinces, the ways of establishing the percentage etc...
5. At the beginning of September, the General administration will respond to the requests for help and determine the percentage contributions.

17. Motion n 8 of the XX General Chapter looks at:

programming the development of the Congregation and its works
obtaining the means to realise this development
the involvement of the Provinces in the planning and the finances(and the availability of personnel).

To bring this into effect we propose the following strategy:

1. The Province, Region or District presents its project to the Superior General and his Council for a first evaluation.
2. CGF studies the project and its financial implications in dialogue with the Province/Region/District and works out a financial plan.
3. the project is presented at the first international gathering (Chapter, General Conference, Major Superiors' meeting) at which the congregation will give its thoughts on the project. Simultaneously the interested Provinces will work at making available the necessary people and/or finances.

18. For the financing of meetings held at the request of the General administration we offer the following:

1. The costs of meetings which are part of the life of our Institute (General Chapters, General conferences, meetings of Major religious Superiors) will be borne entirely by the participants.
2. The cost of meetings which are to animate the life of the Congregation (On-Going formation, meetings of formators and those responsible for various sectors, ad hoc committees etc...) the General Curia or the host Province or Region will bear some of the costs according to various different modalities, whether it is a formation course of three months or a shorter course of 10 - 15 days.

19. The General Finance Commission will:

offer proposals for the revision of FAG to be examined by the General administration
promoting a study of the autonomous finances of the various Provinces, according to the style of life in the respective countries.

The General Bursar will look into the NAB (Norms for the administration of goods) and offer it to experts in the field of administrative and canon law regarding the administration of ecclesiastical goods. He will point out our doubts and look for solutions.

7. GOVERNANCE

20. The Superior General of the Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, with the consensus of his Council expressed in the session of the 11 december 1998 and acting on the mandate of the XX General Chapter (motion 7) and after a meeting with the Provincial and Regional Superiors which expressed its approval of the text "Structures of the Congregation and forms of governance" at the meeting from 3 - 13 November 1998, publishes "ad experimentum" up to the next General Chapter the document as amended by the Superior General and his Council.

21. Besides, still with the date of 11 December 1998, the Superior General with the same conditions and modalities:

1. Institutes the DISTRICT (or Missionary District) and the REGION "nullius provinciae" as 'equivalent parts' within the Congregation (can 620) according to the nature, the requirements and the faculties attributed to the Superior of the District and the Regional Superior as they appear in the above mentioned "Structures of the Congregation and forms of governance"
2. Approves the following modification of DG 100.6 "by first profession the novice is incorporated into the Congregation as one of its members (Cst 100) and belongs to the District, or Region, or Province into which he has been admitted ";
3. Substitutes DG100.8 with the following norm: "Each religious is a member of the District, Region or Province where he resides, and depends on the respective Major Superior, except in the cases of study, or in the case of service to a pastoral project of a Province (Cst 73) or of a part equivalent to it, to be decided on between the respective Major Superiors and the religious concerned. The right to return to the Province (or part) of origin in which the religious was admitted by first profession remain intact."

22. We remind everyone that the document "Structures of the Congregation and forms of governance" which will be made available to all religious, is to be read in the light of two fundamental principles:

1. Holding together the "principle of subsidiarity" with the "principle of congregational communion".
This "congregational communion" which already exists in the Congregation, is now affirmed as a regulatory "principal" for the Congregation from the XX General Council's "collaboration in projects, communion of persons, sharing of goods".
2. We overcome the "pyramidal" structures typical of RV 73 - 86 in which the local communities are constituent parts of the Region and/or the Province: regions are integral parts of Provinces under which they are directly dependant; only the Provinces have a direct and immediate relationship with the General administration.

The new structures are based on a more "horizontal" view in which all the "parts" are on the same horizontal plain but have differing competencies. According to this "horizontal" perspective the "new structures" facing "new realities" with an international character, do not necessarily have to depend on a Province or on the General administration, but can have a certain degree of autonomy, which is appropriate and sufficient for its growth. If there is a need to go beyond the level of competence they have been granted they can ask for authorisation directly from the General administration.

In this way, in the Congregation we now have, in law and in fact, 3 levels of "structures and forms of governance" the basic structure (local communities) with its local Superior,

the "parts" of the Congregation (District, Region Province) with their respective Major Superiors, and the "Congregation" with its supreme Moderator.

23. At the meeting of the General administration with the Major Superiors other matters were looked at (the verification of the plan "We the Congregation", ageing, politics of the local culture, inculturation. Dehonian Archives, the Centro Studi, communication (Internet e-mail) information about Roma 1 (Curia) and Roma II (collaboration between the Curia and the international college), Villa Aurelia).

The issue of the General Commissions was dealt with in the document "Structures of the Congregation and forms of governance" and in this text regarding the animation of various sectors.

24. The Centro Studi is currently composed of Fathers: Tessarolo Andrea, Perroux Andre, Driedonkx Egidio, Goncalves da Costa Rafael, all of whom are resident in Rome. President and co-ordinator Fr. Rafael Goncalves da Costa.

Their plan of work for the next six years has been worked out, this will involve the collaboration of people from outside.

25. The Dehonian Archive. Fr. Adrian Borst has been asked to look at various possible solutions to the problem:

to let the documents and works of father Dehon be better known and helping them to be used and diffused
to conserve the original works and manuscripts.

26. Villa Aurelia. At present a "convention" is being drawn up between the Curia and the IM Province. As soon as possible there will be an "administrative committee" formed from two representatives of the Curia and two religious from IM. For the first three years the president of the committee will be the legal representative of the Curia, Fr. Emilio Chiaricchi.

27. Collaborators with the Curia have met for various gatherings to report on their work and to reflect on various aspects of community life.

8. EDUCATION

28. On the theme of Education (Plan 1997 - 2003 n. 39) the Spanish Province has been asked to take responsibility. The Provincial, Fr. Aquilino Mielgo along with the General councillor Fr. Carlos Alberto da Costa Silva, will prepare an international meeting in Spain. This will gather together representatives from those Provinces that have people involved in this sector. The preparatory committee will meet for the first time, possibly in May 1999. The aim of this meeting will be to work out a project for Dehonian education, what does it mean to be a Dehonian working in education for the young people of today? SCJ religious should not limit themselves to being teachers of academic subjects, but rather they should be true educators of their students.

9. SPIRITUALITY AND APOSTOLATE

29. At the level of the General Administration

In place of the "commission" there is a new "animation team" based in Rome which is composed of:

a General councillor with responsibility for "Spirituality and Apostolate"
the leader of the Centro Studi
the person responsible for the publications from Centro Studi.

Their principal duties are:

stimulating research and publications from Centro Studi and from that base, also in the Provinces and geographic zones
serving and keeping in contact with the Provincial commissions
being present at commission meetings within the geographic zones

30. At Province/Region level

We ask that each Province/Region have a commission established, or at least, a nominated person. The commission should stimulate the Province, the communities, and the individual religious in their principal endeavours through our apostolic spirituality paying attention to our Dehonian Charism (cst. 16 - 25)

It should develop study, research and publications at local level and within the geographic zone.

31. It has been proposed that the geographic zones draw up a "message" for the 14th March (Dehon Day of prayer for Dehonian vocations) - a liturgical guide - which would replace the letter of the Superior General. However, because this proposal was not accepted, we invite, at this time of anniversaries, the Province / Region to send a "message" to the whole Congregation, helping us to get to know their story and the significance of this event.

We will ask individual religious to prepare schema or vigils of prayer and/or adoration for the whole Congregation on the occasion of the birth of Fr. Dehon, for the feast of the Sacred Heart and for other particular circumstances.