Juridical changes
When should the superior general take office?
Past tradition is that the newly elected superior general takes office the day of his election and becomes the president of the chapter. In other congregations this transition can take place much differently. Fr. Marek Stoklosa, juridical advisor to the chapter, gave examples. In one community, the superior general leaves his post at the beginning of the chapter and serves simply as chapter president. In other communities the newly elected superior general does not assume duties until sometime after the chapter. This allows continuity during the chapter and a brief time of transition for the newly elected superior general.
A suggested change to the General Directory would have the new superior general take office the day the chapter concludes. The chapter could also, with an absolute majority, determine a later date within three months of the election, at which the superior general would be installed. The SCJ who was superior general at the beginning of the chapter would remain so through its completion.
After discussion and clarification the chapter voted to approve the suggested change. The new superior general will take office at the end of the chapter, or within three months (as described above). He will automatically become a member of the chapter steering committee with the duty of vice president.
Should the community have a vicar general?
The chapter then moved its focus to the position of vicar general. Currently, the first councilor elected serves as the vicar general, but as Fr. Marek noted, this person is really more of an assistant to the superior general. The Priests of the Sacred Heart have no actual position of vicar general. The first councilor does not have the same authority that a true vicar general would have. The current administration suggests that creating such a position would be very helpful. The vicar could tend to many concerns at the General Curia that now need the presence of the superior general. A variety of matters brought to the General Curia could be dealt with more expediently if a vicar, with proper authority, could be available to tend to them instead of waiting for the general superior to be present in Rome.
The vicar general would also coordinate the work of the general council and perform other tasks as given to him by the general superior. It was noted that most dioceses have vicars to lessen the workload of the bishop and better facilitate the work of his office.
Members of the current council are in favor of the new role. At times, the entire council and the superior general are outside of Rome. It would be helpful to have a vicar who spent more time at the curia offices to tend to daily duties. As the role of general councilor is now defined -- having both sector duties and a need to be present to the geographic areas he represents -- it would be difficult for a particular councilor to take on more duties as a true vicar general.
Although it is up to the chapter to decide, the current administration suggests that a five-member council be elected by the chapter (the only mandate is that there be at minimum four councilors). From those five, and in consultation with them, the superior general will chose a vicar general.
After discussion, the chapter took a consultative vote to determine whether delegates were in favor of the establishment of a vicar general. There was strong agreement. They then took a consultative vote to determine how the position would be filled -- would the chapter elect the vicar general or would the general superior, in consultation with his council, choose the vicar from among councilors? Delegates were in favor of the latter suggestion.
The deliberative votes echoed the consultative ones. The congregation will now have the fully established position of vicar general and he shall be chosen by the superior general, in consultation with his council, from among the councilors. The chapter later took a deliberative vote to decide that the number of general councilors for the upcoming administration will be five.
Revisiting Thursday's discussion regarding the general treasurer, the chapter voted to change the Constitutions and General Directory to allow for the treasurer to be named by the superior general, in consultation with his council, within one year of the superior general's election. This differs from the previous method in which the treasurer was elected at the chapter. Since dispensation from the Holy See has already been obtained, this change can take effect as of this current chapter.
Postulator's Report
After the chapter approved the minutes of May 20, Fr. Evaristo Martínez de Alegria, postulator, gave his report. He noted the history of the Postulator's Office, which began in 1951 with Fr. Lorenzo Ceresoli, who was succeeded by Fr, Giuseppe Girardi. Fr. Alegria is the third postulator.
Although Fr. Alegria noted the variety of causes with which the office is involved (including that of Fr. André Prevot, Fr. Bernardo Longo, Fr. Martino Nicola Capelli and Blessed Juan Maria de la Cruz), it was the cause for Fr. Dehon that drew the most attention from the chapter. Fr. Alegria echoed the frustrations of others, noting that the process seems to be trapped in what is termed "a long delay." Echoing what Fr. General said previously, the work to bring forth more of Fr. Dehon's writings and promote biographical research continues. One delegate noted that the silver lining is that had Fr. Dehon been beatified, there might not be as much discussion about him and his writings. Research of and discussion about him continues because of the delay is keeping him very much in the minds of not only SCJs, but many others.
Mozambique, Angola and Cameroon
Throughout the chapter, the various entities will continue to give brief reports about themselves and their works. On Wednesday, the chapter heard reports from Mozambique, Angola, and Cameroon.
The province of Mozambique has 52 members, two of whom are bishops, and its focus is on social and pastoral ministry, as well as formation. In all the province does, emphasis is placed on community life. Financially the province is not autonomous, but it is trying to be creative in meeting its needs. It now owns and rents out four houses, which provides a nice income.
Regarding formation, Mozambique is collaborating with other SCJ entities in Africa. The province is also working to develop Dehonian spirituality among the laity and working in youth ministry. Mozambique has several schools, including an agricultural school and furniture-making center. It is also active in health care, especially through the efforts of Fr. Aldo Marchesini, a well-regarded surgeon.
Angola is a country in which most of the people live in great poverty. The community attends to two parishes and dozens of small Christian communities (rural faith communities). The diocese is new and the SCJs have tried to integrate themselves into the life of it. One member currently serves as diocesan vicar.
Many of the small, rural chapels do double-duty as centers for literacy training and even as schools. The congregation has only been in Angola a few years, yet already there are four seminarians and one postulant.
Regarding Cameroon, Fr. Antonio Panteghini noted how rapidly the province is growing. At its first chapter, the province had 35 SCJs, by the second there were 70 and today there are 90. Of those, 40 are students. There is also one novice and 17 postulants. It is a province blessed with many vocations due, in great part, to the work of previous missionaries. "We are just bearing the fruit of the seeds they planted," said Fr. Antonio.
Cameroon is truly becoming African, continued Fr. Antonio. Many indigenous members of the province now hold roles in leadership, including the treasurer and novice master. Several local communities are fully indigenous. The province membership grows, though the number of missionaries decreases.
The geographic size of the province has decreased as more religious come to the country. This has been beneficial for the province because it can focus more on formation and the building of the SCJ community in Cameroon. The bishops of Cameroon have noticed the growth of the province and have asked the SCJs to take on more ministries, including parishes and the development of formation and spirituality centers.
Putting a priority on collaboration, the province has begun to send missionaries to places such as Angola, and is collaborating with other African entities in formation.
In 2012 the province will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the SCJs' presence in Cameroon. Plans are in place to dedicate a new church to the Sacred Heart at the time of the anniversary.
Preparing for next week
The day ended with a review of next week's work on the Instrumentum Laboris. To prepare for it, the chapter will have a day of retreat on Monday led by Sr. Maria Ko.
NOTE: The majority of photos taken at the General Chapter will be posted at the congregational website,
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I'll be posting some of the photos I take at http://www.scjusa.smugmug.com To see them, click on the first gallery, or go directly to:
