News
CGP - Red thread n.5 - Monday 4 and Tuesday 5 December 2023
Roma
Testimony from a Synod participant then diving into the projects required by the last general chapter.
Monday 4
The morning was devoted to discussions, in pairs, between provincials/general/assistants/vicars. At the beginning of the afternoon we had the chance to receive the testimony of Father Tesfaye Tadesse Gebresilasie, superior general of the Comboni Missionaries, who participated in the synodal assembly as one of the 5 delegates of the Union of Major Superiors (Male Institutes). He shared with us with great enthusiasm some of the fruits of this Synod, commenting on some of the 20 points of the Summary Report of the first session published on October 28. He underlined the significant sign of putting baptized people around the same table (whatever their role in the Church); the importance of an inclusive Church which gives a place to all; the need for listening between people of different sensitivities and options; the essential role of the style and way of doing Church which were at the heart of this Synod…
At the end of the day we began to study some first apostolic appointments. The new team that we are forming is aware of the complexity of the implementation of this provision of the 2011 chapter. This has already undergone several developments and we will still have to revisit the implementation of this first nomination, in the light of the last general chapter and its insistence on the development and consolidation of missionary mobility in the service of the entire Body that we form.
Tuesday 5
We dive into the heart of the matter, with a panoramic look at the various requests of the general chapter which are to be implemented at different levels: CGO; CGP; Provinces; Local communities and for each religious. We focused particularly on what must be achieved at the CGP level and through interprovincial collaborations. One of the first projects consists of the establishment of the various animation commissions at the general level. It was first a question of defining the list and then starting to discuss the composition and the leaders of these commissions. Secondly, it will be a matter of specifying the road map for each of these commissions... Thus, based on the Acts of the Chapter and the work in the CGP, 7 commissions are therefore envisaged: Lay/Religious Alliance; JPIC; Pilgrimages; Communication and the digital world; Education ; Mission of the East, ecumenism and interreligious dialogue and Protection of minors. To which will be added 2 working groups requested by the general chapter: 1 on the question of management of investment funds; 1 on the economic questions of the Generalate...
The first working time of the afternoon was, for its part, devoted to the report of the Secretary General for Formation (SGF) which evokes some further possible steps for its secretariat. We will take up his proposals as well as his roadmap in the coming days. At the end of the day, some formator approval files are presented.
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