Elections continue
As noted in an earlier e-mail today, the rest of the General Council has been elected. Third councilor is Fr. Claudio Weber, who will serve his second six-year term on the council. He was first elected at the 2003 General Chapter; he is originally from Brazil.
Fourth Councilor is Fr. John van den Hengel, regional superior of Canada, and Fifth Councilor is Albert Lingwegwe of Congo, where he is novice master and vice provincial. Fr. Albert was not present at the chapter but accepted the vote by phone. It is hoped that he can join the chapter soon.
Yesterday Fr. José Ornelas Carvalho was re-elected superior general and Frs. Paulus Sugino and Claudio Dalla Zuanna were elected first and second councilors.
At the end of the elections Fr. General expressed his gratitude to the two out-going councilors, Zbigniew Bogacz and Fr. Andreas Madya Srijanto, and welcomed and thanked the SCJs will will serve with him in the next administration.
Vocations and youth ministry
As they have in the previous two days, delegates began their day in random, multi-lingual groups. Today's focus was on youth and vocational ministries. Reporting on their discussions in plenary, several themes repeated themselves. Groups noted the need to be present in schools, including universities. However, youth outreach should go beyond education and parishes. It is important for SCJs to "enter the world of young people," said a delegate. The congregation needs to speak the language of youth and meet young people where they around found -- especially on the internet and in other mass media.
All entities should have a website. An internet presence could also include interaction with youth, helping them to learn about religious life, the Priests of the Sacred Heart and even simple questions about their faith.
There was a call for better planning for vocations (some suggested the development of one-year plans that could be reviewed and revised each year). In entities where there is not already a person or committee leading vocational development, one should be established. Several groups also called for similar leadership on the general level. Perhaps vocations could be an area of focus for one of the councilors, or there could be a secretariate for vocational development.
At the same time, several groups said that vocations are the responsibility of all members of the community."We need to develop a culture of vocational welcoming," said one group. Personal accompaniment is also a key part of the discernment process. Members of the community need to be willing to be available to walk with young people as they discern their vocation in the Church, regardless of whether it is with the SCJs, or on another path.
"We also need to dare to be audacious," said a delegate in small group. "We are often too timid when it comes to vocations; we should be bold and invite people to consider religious life and ministry."
Communities and individuals need to be welcoming of young people, and they need to be a witness to the joy of fraternal life. The example of a healthy, happy community is one of the best ways to encourage vocations. There should be more informal sharing of religious life with youth, such as inviting young people to visit with a returning missionary to hear about his life and work.
At the end of the group reports individuals had an opportunity to share their thoughts. One spoke of a religious community that has a significant number of vocations yet continues to commit itself at all levels to vocational development. Have the Priests of the Sacred Heart made vocations a priority? And if so, is the congregation ready to do what is needed to live that commitment?
Several delegates spoke about the concept of "international vocations." The Priests of the Sacred Heart is an international congregation. If there are vocations in one area of the congregation, can they be sent to another not only to help, but to become full members of a different entity? Candidates would not only minister in another entity, but also do their formation there as well. Could this be a way to revitalize some of the older provinces who are now diminishing in size, but who have given so much to the congregation?
Another delegate reminded SCJs to look not only at youth but also at older men who may have had a career prior to pursuing a vocational call. At a time when young people make significant life decisions at a later age it makes sense to look at adults who may have a call to religious life.
There was much discussion about vocational development, but one delegate reminded the chapter about the need to continue to walk with and nurture a man once he enters formation. "Too often we lose people in the first years of vows; we cannot just focus on attracting men," said the delegate. Emphasis must also be made on fostering a vocation after vows.
While many thought that guidance on the general level in regards to vocations would be beneficial, it is vital to take into account the cultural realities of each location. What may be appropriate in one part of the world might not be in another.
And again, delegates noted the need to be present to youth, and to families in general. It can be easier to talk about structures, suggested a delegate, than to make the commitment to be present to and active with youth. Lay people see the need for more vocations -- how can religious work with them to look at ideas for vocational development?
Entity reports
Today, the chapter heard brief reports on Argentina, Uruguay, North Brazil and South Brazil. In all of these Latin American entities there is a focus on serving the poor, both in parish ministry and in external social works, as well as education and formation. Each also has an international flavor, collaborating with other entities in formation as well as ministry.
