Prot.n.0075/2005
To the Major Superiors and their Consultors:
My dear brothers,
The
month of May, the month of Mary, is nearing its end and, as was announced to
you in the Letter commencing the process of Restructuring of 20 March 2005, 3b,
Part II, I am sending all of the Major Superiors, the Provincial Superiors,
Vice-Provincials, Regional Vicars and their Consultors,
as well as to all the communities of the Congregation, several questions aimed
at soliciting reflections that may help to formulate the initial steps of the
eight year program that is planned for the Process of Restructuring. The period of eight years for this process
was designed precisely because of the fact that Restructuring is not merely
about “making some minor adjustments”; rather it involves a revision and a
global rearticulating and thus we feel that it is necessary to involve everyone
so each individual may make a contribution to the process.
These
questions will be sent, together with the same questionnaire, to all the Consultors of the major Superiors of the Congregation and
to all the communities and the individual religious. Every religious may submit personal responses,
however it would be better if the communities met to study the questions and
offer a common response.
These
questions have been prepared during several meetings which the general Council
had with the Commission for Restructuring.
The
three main inter-related questions concern the Passionist Charism, Passionist
Presence, and the Passionist
The
Charism refers to the fundamental, unifying
elements of our specific vocation: the
Passion of Jesus; present-day human suffering; our unique identity; the
characteristics of our life and our spirituality. This means that each act of restructuring
should be founded upon a more in-depth exploration of what the Passionist charism means
today. While intellectual research may
be important, even more important is the experience of the charism.
Presence, above all refers to the Passionist communities, to their composition and the structures
upon which they are established, their situation in the Church, in society and
in their particular localities. Presence is the basis of mission. It is the starting point for mission and the
reality to which we return to live the common life, to pray together, to
encourage one another and from which we are sent forth.
Regarding
our
The
General Council and the Restructuring Commission would greatly appreciate your
specific contribution to help us and to explore, as far as possible, the
wonderful potential of what it means to be a Passionist.
We
would be grateful if you would share with us some your hopes for the future, so
that your reflections may help us to formulate strategies for planning the
subsequent stages of the process.
What
life style, what mission can we envision today for a Passionist
future? How are we present and effective
in the current globalized world? What kind of Congregation can we
envision? What are possible dreams?
It
is necessary to send the responses and reflections to the Secretary of the
Commission, Fr. Elie Muakasa,
as soon as possible but no later than next August 15. The Commission will have an opportunity to
study the responses and to integrate some or all of your reflections or
suggestions into the upcoming work phase.
We
are looking forward to the ideas that you have to offer us so as to proceed
more efficiently.
Together
with this letter you will find the questionnaires and the three main
questions: Charism, Presence, and
Then
the reflections and the responses will be studied and categorized by the Restructuring
Commission in the form of a report and which will then constitute the basis of
dialogue and further study by the Commission and the General Council next
September in Australia where the PASPAC Assembly will take place and during
which the General Council will meet among themselves and with the Major
Superiors of the Region.
At
the September meeting the Commission will prepare the third phase by means of
more specific questions directed toward the Major Superiors and the Regional
Conferences. This will also be the point
at which we wish to enlist the involvement and consultation of the women religious
and the laity of the Passionist Family.
Obviously
the Restructuring process which was initiated with the mandate of the Synod of
last November/December, wishes to involve all the religious of the Congregation
and the various components of the Passionist
Family. We must all be involved in
searching out paths to be taken and in offering concrete suggestions for
actualizing Restructuring. It must truly
be a collegial undertaking because we are convinced about the presence of the
Spirit of God in the Congregation and about the living dimension of the
sacrament of salvation that, according to the Council, is the Church.
Therefore,
in a spirit of simplicity and humility, may no one feel inadequate to be able
to give a response, because “the Spirit
blows where he wills” and because through the “mouths of little ones God is glorified”. Today, 31 May, the feast of the Visitation of
the most Blessed Virgin Mary to St. Elizabeth her
cousin, “the barren one who gave birth”. We
entrust to her, the Mother of Jesus, our journey, she who “set out and traveled to a town of
As
I leave for a week’s pastoral visit to our mission in
Sts. John and Paul, Roma
31 May 2005
Feast of the Visitation
Fr. Ottaviano D’Egidio, C.P.
Superior
General
* Secretary
of the Commission for Restructuring
Fr.
Elie Muakasa, C.P.
P.za
SS. Giovanni e Paolo, 13
00184 Roma Italia
e-mail: muakasa@yahoo.fr
or to the Secretary General
** e-mail: segretariogen@passiochristi.org
Questionnaire #1
To the
Councils of all Provinces,
In order to share your
hopes for the future of our
Congregation, please answer the three major questions below. These will be sent
to every Province,
Q A. In light of the call to
restructuring of the Congregation, our Province is committed to deepening our
experience of the Passionist Charism now
and in the future in the following ways: …………………………..
Q B. In light of the call to
restructuring of the Congregation our Province is committed to development of Passionist presence now and in the future in the
following ways: …………………………………..
Q C. In light of the call to
restructuring of the Congregation our Province is committed to re-focusing the Passionist mission now and in the future in the
following ways: …………………………..
In
responding to these three questions please take account of the following issues
that have emerged in the process so far. Grouping these issues under a
particular question may help you. However, feel free to use them as you deem
best.
For Question A: 1, 2, 3, 4;
For Question B: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 11, 14;
For Question C: 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14;
1.
The ways in which the
Congregation can remain rooted in its charism and yet
have the strength and flexibility to adapt and develop new ways of life.
2.
The ways in which the
prophetic witness of the Congregation could develop.
3.
The ways in which our Passionist Formation can develop.
4.
The ways that your
Council could assist the Province, Vice-province or Vicariate to experience,
express and communicate the Passionist Charism?
5.
The ways that
diminishment of our Congregation can call us to new ways of life.
6.
The ways we can widen our
Passionist presence to welcome others in.
7.
The way in which that the
experience of the poor & suffering of our world impact upon us.
8.
The ways that new forms
of leadership and governance could develop for the Congregation.
9.
The ways in which we
could re-focus our mission as Passionists.
10.
The ways that
communications within the Congregation could be enhanced.
11.
The ways we can respect
the needs of younger and older religious.
12.
The ways we maintain and
promote a positive relationship between developed and developing parts of the
Congregation.
13.
The ways that the Passionist Congregation can understand and promote the
priesthood of all the baptized.
14.
The ways we can finance
our life and ministry for now and the future.