On the basis of the proposals sent in by Provincial Chapters, individual Confreres, and also the General Council and from the Chapter Assembly, after being examined by the Juridical Commission and the Assembly, the General Chapter approved the following deliberations. Some of them concern articles of the Constitutions and General Regulations; others are operative guidelines for the government of the Congregation.
1. TRANSFER OF THE VICE PROVINCE OF MYANMAR TO THE EAST ASIA - OCEANIA REGION
114.
The 26th General Chapter
- having considered the request put forward by the Chapter of the Salesian Vice Province of Myanmar;
- having taken account of the fact that Myanmar belongs geographically to the South-East Asia Region and is part of ASEAN, “Association of South-East Asian Nations”, and that as a result links between these nations are made easier;
- bearing in mind that culturally Myanmar is closer to many countries in the East Asia – Oceania Region; ;
determines that the “Mary Help of Christians” Vice Province of Myanmar be transferred from the South Asia Region to the East Asia - Oceania Region, according to the norms of art. 154 of the Constitutions.
2. REGIONS OF EUROPE
115.
The 26th General Chapter
- bearing in mind that processes of incorporation are in progress as well as a new configuration of the Provinces within the three European Regions;
- appreciating the positive nature of the initiatives carried out in the previous six-year period, the processes of collaboration and exchange in progress and the work of the bodies that have been set up;
- aware that the time is ripe for a “Project Europe” on the part of the Congregation;
determines that the current configuration of the three Regions of Europe be maintained and asks the Rector Major with his Council to strengthen coordination among the Regional Councillors and with the Councillors for Sectors that may be involved, and to set up the office which was suggested by GC 25, 129, to develop projects and achieve common goals.
3. ASSIGNMENT OF THE ANIMATION OF THE SALESIAN FAMILY TO THE VICAR OF THE RECTOR MAJOR
116.
The 26th General Chapter, noting
- the positive assessment of the members of the Salesian Family concerning the assignment to the Rector of the Rector Major of the task of animating the S.F.;
- the need to ensure that the Vicar can give priority to the institutional tasks attached to his role; ;
confirming the assignment of the task of the animation of the Salesian Family to the Vicar of the Rector Major, asks that the team for animating the Salesian Family (GC 25, 133) be strengthened and have a Coordinator. An evaluation of this will be carried out at the end of the six-year period.
4. DEPARTMENTS FOR YOUTH MINISTRY, SOCIAL COMMUNICATION, MISSIONS
117.
The 26th General Chapter
- having considered the complexity of the Salesian mission;
- seeing the need for greater coordination between the Departments for Youth Ministry, Social Communication and the Missions, especially for animating sectors of shared activities;
asks the Rector Major with his Council to promote interdepartmental animation teams for these sectors and entrust the Coordination to one Councillor or another, in each case safeguarding the unique and organic nature of Salesian pastoral ministry.
5. EVALUATION OF THE STRUCTURES OF ANIMATION AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OF THE CONGREGATION
118.
The 26th General Chapter
- considering that the next General Chapter will be asked to evaluate the assigning of the animation of the Salesian Family to the Vicar of the Rector Major, the coordination of the three Departments for Youth Ministry, for Social Communication and for the Missions and the configuration of the Regions of Europe;
- considering also that such a review directs attention to the overall structure of the General Council;
asks the Rector Major with his Council to promote for the next General Chapter an evaluation of the structures for animation and central government of the Congregation, involving the Provinces.
6. ELECTION OF THE REGIONAL COUNCILLORS
119.
The 26th General Chapter
- having recognised that for the election of the Regional Councillors the suggestion of only one name in the vote with secret ballot makes it possible to know with greater clarity the prevailing mood of the confreres of the Region
determines that art. 128 of the General Regulations be modified with the expression “writing one name on each voting paper.”.
7. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN COMMUNITY AND WORK
120.
The 26th General Chapter recognises that at present in the Congregation there is a plurality of models in managing works:
- works managed by a Salesian community that is the animating nucleus of a wider educative pastoral community;
- activities and works entirely entrusted by the Salesians to lay people, or set up by lay people and recognised in the Provincial Plan, according to the criteria indicated by GC 24, nn. 180-182;
- varied forms of management that cannot be reduced to a single model, in which the relationship between a local community and a work (or more works) persists, but this (or sectors of it) are managed by lay people.
- having considered the diversity of contexts and the different requirements, and the need to try out possible new forms of the management of works;
- having recognised as essential the need to ensure the qualitative and quantitative consistency of the communities, to guarantee the living and * working together that “is for us Salesians a fundamental requirement and a sure way of fulfilling our vocation” (C. 49);
- to identify which works or sectors of works, while retaining their reference to a local community can be entrusted to the management of lay people,
- to define their responsibilities, the criteria for appointment, the duration of the appointments; the processes of decision making and the organs of government; the competences of the Rector and of the local Council, the competences of the Provincial and of the Provincial Council.
8. LOCAL ECONOMER
121.The 26th General Chapter
- considering that in a number of places it is not possible to entrust to a confrere the role of economer of the local community, or as a result of the considerable increase in the complexity and structural organisation of the activities for which the religious community is directly responsible,
This faculty granted to the Provinces needs to be exercised respecting the following conditions.
- That the constitutional distinction between the role of the Rector and that of the economer be always respected, excluding the practice which sees the Rector engaged in administrative roles and tasks.
- That the duration of the role and the areas of economic responsibility entrusted to the lay person be clearly defined, especially in those matters in which such action involves the institution. The same applies to powers to sign in cases of delegation, exercise of the powers of attorney, purchases, the administration of money, etc.
- The lay person called upon to carry out the functions of the economer ought always to act in close dependence on the Rector with the Council.
- In these cases the Provincial Economer will accompany and support the community and the lay person to whom the functions of the economer have been assigned.
- The Provincial should identify and prepare confreres capable of taking on administrative and managerial roles, at the service of the communities and of the Province.
9. MODIFICATION OF ARTICLE 13 OF THE GENERAL REGULATIONS
122.
The 26th General Chapter
- having considered the notable number of Salesian institutions of higher education, with a considerable number of Salesians engaged in them and a large number of students attending them;
- considering it opportune that in article 13 of the General Regulations these institutions of higher education be explicitly mentioned, together with the other schools at various levels and the vocational training centres;
- so that also in these activities and works there be applied the criteria indicated in article 13 and in article of 14 the General Regulations, especially as regards “those for whom it is particularly designed” and the educative and pastoral objectives.
Determines that article 13 of the General Regulaions be modified, with the following wording: The school, vocational training centres and institutions of higher education
13. The school at various levels , vocational training centres and institutions of higher education foster the total development of the young person through the assimilation and critical re-elaboration of culture and education to the faith in view of the Christian transformation of society.
The educational process, carried out in a Salesian manner and with recognized technical and teaching ability, should be based on solid cultural values, and be tailored to the needs of the young. The programme should provide a harmonious balance between intellectual and technical training and extra-curricular activities.
A periodic examination should be made to ensure that the contents of the curriculum and pedagogical and training methods are still valid as regards their relationship with the social milieu, the world of work and the pastoral indications of the Church.