XII GENERAL SYNOD OF THE PASSIONIST CONGREGATION

6 December, Rome

 

RESTRUCTURING OF THE CONGREGATION OF THE PASSIONISTS PROPOSAL TO THE GENERAL COUNCIL

 

Some agreements of the Synod members are:

N.B. 35 members of the Synod participated in the sessions of this day.

 

I. RESTRUCTURING OF THE CONGREGATION OF THE PASSIONISTS PROPOSAL TO THE GENERAL COUNCIL:

 

THE SYNOD ASKS THE GENERAL COUNCIL:

 

1. To launch a process of reflection on restructuring that will involve all the Provinces, Vice provinces an Vicariates in the Congregation. The General Council will also accompany and facilitate this process where necessary.

The General Council will submit to the next General Chapter a comprehensive report with the results of the activities that this launching process will imply.

 

2. To launch and accompany the viability study of all Provinces, Vice provinces and Vicariates of the Congregation.

The General Council will submit to the next General Chapter a comprehensive report with the results of the viability study.

 

Votes in favor:        35

 

II. DISCUSSION GRUPS FOR RESTRUCTURING IN THE COMMENCEMENT PHASE

 

THE SYNOD OFFERS TO THE GENERAL COUNCIL THESE RECOMMENDATIONS IN ORDER TO FACILITATE THE DIALOGUE ON RESTRUCTURING:

 

FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES

Assure that the group meetings are inspired by the Passionist charism and spirituality, while staying focused on Christ Crucified and his crucified people.

 

Assure that the meetings are inspired by fraternal solidarity toward the entire Congregation in order to obtain a type of greater solidarity with the crucified of this world.

 

To always seed for vitality an passion for life and for the Passionist mission, in a spirit of openness to world and to the Church.

 

CRITERIA FOR THE FORMATION OF DIALOG GROUPS:

 

Premise: these criteria should be understood as complementary and non-exclusive

 

Consider the implementation of these criteria in a gradual, complementary sequence: meetings of major superiors, meting of Councils, of the member of the Provinces, Vice provinces and Vicariates; meetings with laity, etc.

 

Always guarantee efficient communication between the participants at the meeting as well as with those that the participants represent

 

Groups that represent the various Conferences.

 

Groups which are international and multicultural.

 

Groups that represent the young religious of the Congregation.

 

Groups that favor the representation of the laity which are involved in Passionist spirituality and mission.

 

Votes in favor:        35

 

NOTE: Criteria for enhancing the future of the Passionist Congregation and the Glossary of words and expressions with regard to the process of restructuring in the institute of the Passionists proposed by the members of the Synod will be revised by the General Council.

 

III. NORMS FOR PARTICIPATION AT GENERAL CHAPTERS AND AT GENERAL SYNODS

(Implementation, revision and adaptation of the Const. Nos. 129 and 147, and of the Gen. Reg. No. 77)

 

APPROVED PROPOSAL

 

1) THE NORMS FOR PARTICIPATION AT GENERAL CHAPTERS:

 

Those Provinces with at least 50 religious shall have one delegate; Provinces with more than one hundred religious may elect an additional delegate for every one hundred religious and for every unit greater than one hundred; the Regional Vicars of vicariates with at least 25 religious are members by right of the General Chapter.

 

Those Provinces with less than 50 religious, those Vice-provinces and Vicariates shall elect one delegate from with the parameters of the regional Conference for every 50 religious and additional delegates, one for every unit greater than 50.

 

For the election of delegates to the Chapter, those religious that form part of Regional Vicariates shall not be counted with their respective mother Province, but within the context of the regional Vicariates.

 

Those religious of the communities of Latin America that are directly dependent upon Spain, the religious of Mozambique that depend totally upon Brazil, and the religious of Angola who depend directly on Portugal shall be counted within the Regional Conferences (together with the Vicariates), and not within the Mother Province.

Every Conference shall devise appropriate norms for the election of its Delegates to the General Chapter.

            Every Regional Conference shall have one Brother as its delegate to the General Chapter.

 

2) THE ANTICIPATED NUMBER OF CAPITULARS, ACCORDING TO THE APPROVED PROPOSAL: (According to the 2003 statistics)

 

General Curia:  Fr. General, the Council, Major officials, Ex-General:                      11

Provincials – Vice-Provincials:                                                                                        28

Delegates of the Provinces with at least 50 religious:                                                   15

Delegates of Provinces with more than 100 religious: (PAUL)                                     2

Regional Vicars with at least 25 religious:                                                                        6

Delegates of Provinces with less than 50 religious, of Vice-Provinces and of Vicariates:

 

COPAL Conference (345 religious + 32)            8 delegates +

CPA Conference      (140 religious + 5)               3 delegates +

NEC Conference      (112 religious)                     2 delegates +

PASPAC Conference (195 religious)                   4 delegates =      17

Brothers                                                                                                         7

                                                                                  Total members:         86

 

3) GENERAL SYNOD – MEMBERS BY RIGHT: In addition to those currently prescribed by the Constitutions, i.e. the members of the General Curia, the Provincial Superiors, the Vice-Provincials and the Superior of a General Vicariate (11+28+X), also the Vicars of Vicariates with at least 25 religious (6) = 45.

 

 

Votes in favor:        34

 

IV.   PROPOSAL CONCERNING THE LAITY

 

A)  Premise:

 

We are pleased to note that, especially after the last General Chapter of 2000 which took place in Brazil, the number of laity that are open to our charism continues to increase.  Presently many of them are associated with us in various ways and under different titles, based on activity initiated by the Congregation in this regard and with respect to the diversity and in deference to the life style and sensibilities of the various cultures and geographical areas.  Recently, in addition to this positive situation, requests are being made by several lay people for forms of closer union with the Passionist family.

 

B)  Recommendation:

 

This XII General Synod is happy to acknowledge this interest in forms of closer union with the Passionist Family on the part of the laity who wish to consecrate their lives to Christ Crucified in accord with the lifestyle, the spirituality and the apostolate of the Passionist Congregation.  Therefore, this Synod assembly recommends that the Superior General and his Council study and devise concrete ways and means of affirming this union (profession of the vow to live and promote the Passion of Jesus, participation in the work, in the prayer, etc. of the community).

 

Votes in favor:    34

 

 

V.   POSSIBLE FOUNDATION IN VIETNAM

 

VI. BULGARIA:  Religious are being sought who might be interested in collaborating with the PIET Province in living and working in Bulgaria. Currently there are five religious there, and they are aged and infirm.

 

VII. BETHANY:  Our community in Bethany faces many difficulties due to the conflict situation that exists between Palestinians and the Israelis and, consequently, it is a place where the Passionist charism can be lived authentically. Here, too, religious are invited to consider the possibility of living and working with those that currently compose this community. This community will have a new jurisdiction: of the Province CORM passes directly to the General Council.