21/06/2018
18TH GENERAL CHAPTER (DAY 2)
PART ONE
The main thrust of today's session has been the official report of the Superior General (SG) on the "state of the SVD". Key points in his report:
1. We are presently working in 84 countries.
2. The current number of SVDs worldwide is 6,005. The distribution is as follows: AFRAM = 550 (9.2%), EUROPA =1,126 (18.8%), PANAM= 1,2O8 (20.1%) and ASPAC = 3,121 (52.1%). The average age is 50.15yrs.
3. The number of SVD brothers is dropping in spite of all the efforts being put in to promote the Brother vocation.
4. Beatification process is underway for Bishop Gulielmus Finnemann, SVD, Bishop Jorge Novartis, SVD, Fr. Marian Zelazek, SVD, Sr. Maria Michael, SSpSAP and 22 SVD martyrs of Polish and German origin.
5. The Arnold Janssen Spirituality Center (Steyl) is temporarily closed. It will be reopened after 2020/21.
7. SVD is the sixth largest Male Congregation in the Catholic Church -- (1) Jesuits (2) Salesians (3) Franciscans (4) Capuchins (5) Benedictines (6) SVD (7) Dominicans
8. Our interculturality as SVD is our strong character in the world of Catholic Religious Congregations. Interculturality is our heritage and commitment. An example of this interculturality is the nationalities present as this year's Chapter -- capitulars are of 46 nationalities.
8. New missions have been opened in the following countries during the past six years: 1. Uganda 2. Latvia 3. Albania 4. Liberia 5. Norway 6. French Guyana 7. Myanmar 8. Bangladesh
9. Financial Concerns: 1. Care for the sick and aged 2. Dwindling number of benefactors 3. Rising expenses on travel 4. Financial help for relatives 5. New missions 6. Cutting expenses/Simple lifestyle 7. Progress in self-reliance 8. Well prepared budgets 9. Regular and complete rendering of accounts 10. Contract with bishops.
10. Three crucial points on finance for the future: 1. Financial solidarity - a conversion of minds and hearts. 2. Much better use of assets such as land to generate income. 3. Very well prepared treasurers and budgets on all levels.
11. A proposed Chapter Recommendation:
“That confreres pray daily for the Superior Generaland his Council as well as their respective PRMleader especially during the Eucharist. This prayercan be inserted after the prayer for the Pope,prior to the prayer for the local ordinary.”
12. Four things that touched the Superior General during his visits to the various PRMs: (1) Being trusted by the confreres. (2) The encounter with very committed confreres,communities and sisters doing extraordinary and
heroic work. (3) The positive feedback coming quite frequently from
the people we serve – many people love ourmissionaries and are grateful for their day to dayselfless services. (4) The dedication and sense of ownership of our laymission partners.
13. A call to transform our image of God: How does God want to be worshipped?How does God want to be celebrated?How does God want to be served?
After the report of the SG, we went into smaller groups to discuss the points raised by the SG. We just finished with the group discussion. We are going back to the plenum to dilate on matters arising from the report.
PART TWO
18TH GENERAL CHAPTER (DAY 2)
PART TWO
The afternoon session started with the nomination and approval by popular acclamation of the four scrutineers for the Chapter. They are: Walter Frederick Ríos, Yves Beguem N'Ghaba, Peter Claver Narh and Andrews Obeng.
The capitulars also voted for the acceptance of the agenda. The YES had it and the agenda was accepted.
The Superior General (SG) then took his seat to respond to some concerns and matters arising from his report:
CONCERN 1: The state and future of SVD infrastructure (buildings) particularly in Europe
RESPONSE OF SG:
* Many of the infrastructures in Europe have outlived their purpose. Provinces/Regions/Missions (PRMs) putting up structures should think of the future and build structures that will be relevant in future.
* Infrastructures in Europe that have outlived their usefulness would be converted into something else.
* As far as possible, existing infrastructures in Europe would be used for income generating ventures.
CONCERN 2 : Motivation of confreres
RESPONSE OF SG:
* From observation, those who do a lot for the Society do not need to be animated. Those who do little cannot be animated.
* A prophet is a person who feels the pain of the people. Confreres who do not want to leave their comfort zones will have difficulty living inside their comfort zones.
CONCERN 3: Leadership
RESPONSE OF SG:
* Leadership is for service
* PRMs should create an awareness of the importance of leadership.
* Confreres ought to grow in greater appreciation of leadership. Three words important in any family are please, thanks and sorry.
* A leader must be able to manage his time very well.
* Never make decisions all alone. It is the responsibility of many others. However, there is no guarantee that the view of the majority is the best.
* We have prophets among us. Unfortunately, the temptation often is to tame the prophets.
CONCERN 4: Lay partners
RESPONSE OF SG.
* The term 'lay' is often misleading. It gives the impression that the lay do not know enough.
* For a long time, our collaboration with lay partners have been one sided, i.e. lay persons supporting our projects ad intra and ad extra. We need to look at the other side of our collaboration, i.e. supporting the initiatives of lay partners.
CONCERN 5: Vocations
RESPONSE OF SG
*Are we concerned about the vocation of young people or we are concerned about they joining us? Vocation is bigger than becoming a priest or religious.
*We must address the needs of the family because the family plays a key role in every vocation.
CONCERN 6: Self-renewal
RESPONSE OF SG
* "We do not work for something. We work for somebody" Mother Teresa.
* Our being is determined by our relationship with the person of Jesus Christ.
* Mission is possible when we stay close to the people; only then can we feel their pain.
CONCERN 7: Retired confreres
RESPONSE OF SG
* It is not pleasant to say that there is no money for the elderly.
*The SVD has committed itself and will continue to commit itself to the care of the elderly confreres.
*It is the responsibility, first and foremost, of every PRM to have a retirement plan, not only for those in the PRM but also for those who have been sent on mission from the PRM to another PRM. Secondly, it is the responsibility of the whole Society to care for the elderly.
* Since the number of our SSpSAP sisters is decreasing, we commend our elderly confreres to the Prayer Apostolate.
* In planning for the elderly, they must be consulted.
CONCERN 8: Option for the poor
RESPONSE OF SG
* The poor are always with us. We cannot overlook their presence.
* Things will change if we revive our common concern for the poor.
CONCERN 9: Community.
RESPONSE OF SG
* Inherent in the word COMMUNITY is the word COMMON. Community life grows when we harness and foster what we share in common. Where there is nothing in common, community life becomes difficult.
CONCERN 10: Personal Preoccupation and Expectation of the SG
RESPONSE OF SG
* I have no personal worries. I sleep in peace.
* I was born in a culture where the glass is often said to be half empty but I have learned to live in cultures where the glass is said to be half full.
* Solidarity is key. Those who have must share with those who do not have.
*PRMs must not hoard their funds; they should invest in the formation of our confreres in other PRMs.
* We need a paradigm shift from obedience as an end in itself to responsibility. We must accept more responsibility whenever the need arises.
* We need to move beyond just pastoral work and venture into other SVD specific apostolates.
CONCERN 11: Our Priority
RESPONSE OF SG:
* Of all the Congregational Directions, Family and Youth stands out in the reports of the various PRMs
PERSONAL NOTE OF THANKS FROM THE SG
The SG proceeded to thank all the members of the General Council, the General coordinators, and everyone working in the General administration. He also thanked the zonal coordinators and every confrere for making his six year term fruitful. He recounted how he served in leadership positions at a university in Philippines as well as provincial for three terms in Philippines. He expressed gratitude for having had the opportunity to serve the Society as SG for 6years. He then said that at this moment, tiredness is setting in. The tone of his last statement set thinkers thinking.
WORKING DOCUMENT
The working document for the Chapter was voted upon. The YES had it and the document was accepted.
COMMITTEES
We then proceeded to our various zones to make nominations for the Planning and Proposal Committees.
