DIREZIONE GENERALE OPERE DON BOSCO Via della Pisana, 1111 P. 18333 - 00163 ROMA - Tel. 06.656.121 Fax: 06.65612556 - www.sdb.org Fr Filiberto González Plasencia sdb General Councillor for Social Communication - fgonzalez@sdb.org Skype: dicastero.comunicazione.sociale Rome – Italy 24.06.2011 Dear Fr Provincial Our mission, practical needs and the Salesian Magisterium's (teaching) understanding today of new culture and social communication, all lead us to appreciate the intrinsic relationship between education, communication, and evangelisation, and the changing times in which we live. These lead me, after reflection with the Department team, to offer some food for thought and some criteria which can help introduce lay provincial delegates into this field. Such individuals can share our spirit and the Salesian mission openly and in an up-to-date way in the spirit of the Church (Vatican II) and justified by our charismatic perspective (GC24). Not to take decisive steps in the social communication area means not only being left behind in the race, but finding ourselves off- track, becoming mere observers and critics of the cultural and technical evolution which is part of the lives of those to whom we are sent. The Church has realised the importance of communication in the new culture. This is why Pope Benedict XVI has created a new Pontifical Council for Evangelisation and Culture, placing new evangelisation at the centre of digital culture, with its new technologies and languages. The Rector Major, Fr Pascual Chávez, when he touches on the subject, quotes GC26 104 / 5: ”... the need... to change our mentality and modify our structures, moving from...a timid attitude and sporadic presence in the media to one of responsible use and a more incisive educative and evangelising animation.” I note, and not as a secondary thing, that the Pope has appointed the Rector Major as a consultant for the new Council, because the gospel, youth and communication are the basis of the future for the Church. It is a fact that the gradual decrease in the number of Salesians urges the vast majority of the confreres to strive for better personal and community witness and restructure provinces and works in order to be more amongst the young, while some others, we see, try to multiply their work despite the lack of personnel, with resulting increased anxiety which leads to mental, physical, vocational exhaustion and more; some others just give in and accept the status quo, let things die slowly because they have lost the dream, the creative call, the passion for God and the salvation of youth. Herewith the need to recognise and value the baptised lay person and his or her valuable complementarity and cooperation in the field of religion and the Salesian mission, more so when there are few Salesian personnel trained in the field. It is one way today of being Church and walking with Don Bosco and the times. I offer these general ideas for your consideration: We are aware of the importance of the communications sector and its delegation on behalf of the mission and the entire Province. There is a strong desire in all of us to transform our lives according to the spirit and teaching of Vatican II and the GC24, including in this area, by sharing our spirit and mission with the laity. We admit that there are relatively few Salesians specialised in the field and with little opportunity to devote themselves to it full time. We are aware that the burden of responsibility on an individual Salesian can lead to a fragmented personal presence, weak image, superficial interventions, poor results on his part. We value lay people who have a solid Christian and Salesian preparation, with training and experience in this field, and who are capable of working in a team with other delegates and sectors for the Salesian Mission: Youth ministry, Missions, without forgetting both Education and Economy. Given the above, here below are some detailed criteria that may help you when you think it appropriate to delegate Social Communication in your province to a lay man or woman, a practice increasingly seen in other places: Any kind of delegation is up to the Provincial, so is developed under his leadership, direction and responsibility. Communication, as a sector of the Salesian Mission, is the Provinicial's responsibility. The Social Communication delegation must carry out its activities according to the principles of the charism and the Congregation: Constitutions and Regulations, General Chapters, the Magisterium of the Rector Major and his Council and, in particular, the principles and guidelines of the new Salesian Social Communication System (SSCS 2011), and those which come from the SC Department. The Provincial delegates leadership in SC understood as a sector, field, and cultural, social and pastoral dimension of the mission, but not his responsibility to govern. He delegates people with a satisfactory level of knowledge and Salesian identification who are trained and involved as well as being capable in the communications field. No Salesian is available for this delegation. As it is for Salesians too, lay people must be formed over time. You should not ask them to be the same as a Salesian, but you 'cooperate' with the fact that they are baptised and may have some specialisation for the Salesian mission, just as did Don Bosco did then and as the Rector Major does now. SC delegation, as for other sectors, depends on the Congregation's mission in a particular Province, and is part of its structure and strategic planning (OPP). Other specific planning results from this, including the Provincial Social Communication Plan (PSCP) and, within it but with particular relevance to it, the Provincial Social Communication Formation Plan (PSCFP). The SC delegation's service takes the form of structures and processes which do not run parallel with but across sectors, via teamwork and mutual harmony with other provincial delegations regarding the (common) mission. All departments and sectors serve the mission. The need for teamwork and harmony comes from this. Autonomy, however, is necessary because of specific content, methodologies and processes. The Provincial, in agreement with his Council, may delegate a layperson for SC leadership/animation, beginning with a trial period, then drawing up a contract for a determined period according to the circumstances, but allowing, by mutual agreement, for the possibility of bringing this contract to an end if things do not work out as planned. At the conclusion of the contract, the Provincial may re-appoint the same or another individual, or a consecrated Salesian, so that this service to the Province is not interrupted. The Provincial and his Council are to offer the SC Delegate effective support, Salesian formation and professional development in view of personal development, the sector itself and the Salesian mission entrusted to the Province. The world today is immersed in communication and it depends on it. It is not just a question of tools, but the social, cultural, pastoral and technological environment in which we live. The Provincial will set up whatever the delegate needs to best develop his or her role in the province and will offer support by way of appropriate appointment of personnel. The Delegate, in agreement with the SC Team, will prepare and present communication projects for the Province (working in with the Delegates for YM and Missions) and for formation to communication (working in with the Formation delegate). These will have short, medium and long term objectives, in line with the OPP, EPP and the SSCS (Salesian Social Communication System: service, animation, information, formation and business - production), which the Provincial and his Council will approve and follow up. The Delegate will provide the Provincial and his Council with a quarterly account of planning and work, use of personal time, according to an agreed schedule or whenever it seems the Provincial considers it convenient to check on the work being done. It is appropriate for the SC Delegate and Delegates for Youth Ministry and Missions to work in close relationship - the same applies for Formation and Finance - creating stronger and increased teamwork on behalf of the province's mission and in its service, bearing in mind the differences and respecting the variety of sectors, areas, methods, roles and tasks. They should work by mutual agreement, following written guidelines which do not depend on the personal whim of whoever is in charge at the time. If the Provincial appoints a lay person as a Coordinator and a Salesian as Delegate, the Coordinator should be the one who takes part in national or international SC meetings, since it is this person who actually carries out the ordinary set of tasks. The appointment is not limited to something merely nominal or hierarchical. We are well aware that the Salesian, priest or brother, has other responsibilities which take up much of his time, presence and activity. The Provincial motivates the Province (SDBs and lay people who work with us) by providing the criteria on which he has based his choice and decision, and presents and supports the the delegate in his or her role and function in the structure and organisation of the Province, OPP and overall teamwork amongst delegates for the mission. It is my hope that the above can help you gradually improve your ministry and service to the Province and the Salesian mission. The SC department, with its own Salesian and lay personnel, is constantly at your disposal. May the Virgin Mary continue to guide your life so that you can serve the Lord in what He has entrusted to you. Fraternally in Don Bosco, Fr Filiberto González Plasencia sdb Councillor for SC
