Comboni MissionariES
OF THE HEART OF JESUS
Dear confreres:
We are pleased to present the document entitled “Continentality”, which collects the wish of the XVII General Chapter andthe Intercapitular 2012, “what has been said and done on the theme of continentality in order to more fully define the identity”.
This document has the form of a “vademecum”that arranges, organises and harmonises in a single compendium everything that,in terms of continentality, has emerged both inthe General Chaptersas well as in the Continental Plans, mentioned in a number of other documents and consolidated into current practices.
The “vademecum” includes regulatory statements (coming from the General Chapters and, in a smaller degree, from the Rule of Life)as well as other statements that are not normatively binding. The practice of “continentality” presented here, therefore, does not change the government structure as codified in the Rule of Life. Nevertheless, taking into account the reflection and experience of “continentality” already in place, the “vademecum” is a “reference guide”, as emphasised in the Letter of the General Councilwhichestablished also the commissionto oversee the drafting“in the event of the rotation of the people in terms of authority and responsibility”.
We are convinced that the ideas and practices on this issue should keep developing. For this reason the “vademecum” is an instrument in the making, in the sense that it will need further and future additions and clarifications. This can be done only by a real experience of “continentality” integrated by a healthy reflection.
So we offer this result of the work of the commission and of all those who wanted to contribute to the drafting of the document, in the hope that, as intended, it will serve as a help and clarification and also as a stimulus for further development which can take place where subsidiarity is creatively pursued.
The General Council
Rome, 19 March 2015.
The route to“continentality”
The realisation that mission is an increasingly complex reality and, therefore, the need of a more agile and less centralized government structure that can better address emerging problems,was felt since the seventies of last century. The Superior General of the time, Fr. Tarcisio Agostoni, in the Pan-American Assembly of La Paz (Mexico) in 1974, said that the experience of the continental assemblies in Gulu (Uganda) in 1972 and in La Paz would bring the General Chapter to “delegate a number of responsibilities to these conferences in the same way it [the Chapter] had delegated some powers to the Regions”. It was already an admission of the need to decentralize the government of the Institute vis-à-vis the many challenges of the mission.
However,it was from the ninetiesthat the Institute had increasingly begun to feel some discomfort with regard to a form of government in which all decisions depended from Rome, as noted in the Superior General’s Report of to the XV General Chapter(1997),particularly in the over-centralised management of personnel and the inability of the General Council to follow up all the decisions taken.
The XV General Chapter (cfr. AC ’97, 166-172) welcomed this request and reiterated the need to“review the structural organization and theInstitute’s way of coordination” in the sense of a greater continentaland/or sub-continental autonomy, according to the principles of “communion, promotion and subsidiarity”.
In accordance with the indication of the Chapter, a Constitutional Commission, formed by Fr. Anton Maier, Fr. Fernando Colombo and Fr. Enrique Sanchez Gonzalez, was established. The commission promoted a wide consultation in the Institute and studied forms of “government” of other missionary institutes. In the final document “Proposals for the Revision of Structural Organization and Methods of Coordination in the Comboni Institute” (8 December 1999), the Commission set out proposals on some models of governance as well as the duration of the superiors and councilsat general and provincial level.
The Constitutional Commission submitted to the Intercapitular Assembly of 2000 two options on which the Institute has to decide: either to introduce a system whereby the General Assistants residedon the continents and thereby increasing their number,or to give greater weight to the Provincial Coordinator of the area, without increasing the number of the General Assistants. The Intercapitular confirmed the need to move towards “continentality” in any way possible and to increase the Assistant General’s proximity to the continental reality.
The XVI General Chapter (2003) examined the proposal of an alternative model presented by the Pre-Chapter Commission. The Chapter, however, merely restricted itself to clarify the role of the continental coordinator: to be one of the provincials and whose task is to act as the link among the Provincials and Delegates (AC 137-138). It also described the role of the Continental Assembly of the Provincials (AC 139), of the Provincialwho oversees a sector(AC 140) and the Sectors’Continental Councils (AC 141).
The Intercapitular Assembly of 2006reiterated the concerns often expressed in previous years and the need to schedule meetings between the Continental assemblies of provincials and the General Council.
The General Chapter of 2009, reaffirming the validity of the continental coordination established in the previous Chapter, and assessingas positive the meetings between the General Council and the Superiors of circumscriptions, did notdeem appropriate to increase the number of the General Assistants and, conversely, decreasethat of the General Secretariats. It reaffirmed, instead, the decision to merge the provinces and to develop criteria for the erection of a Province by increasing its number of communities and members. The latter regulationwas tocome into force on 1st January 2014.
The Intercapitular Assembly of 2013hoped for the preparation of a vademecum that would gather in a single document what had been saidon continentality defining its nature and structural organization. In March of 2013 an ad hoc committee, composed of Frs. Mariano Tibaldo, Jorge Garcia, John Baptist Opargiw and Claudio Lurati, was set up.
Thisis,in short, the journey towards a more subsidiary form of government where localsituations and contextual differences may be recognized and supported.
Sources:
Chapter Acts 1997, 2003, 2009, 2015
APDESAM Continental Plan
APDESAM Sub-Continental Plan for Evangelisation
Ratio FundamentalisInstitutionisetStudiorum
Thematic Commissionof Governance 2008
Directory of the General Administration (DDG) 1997
Commission’s Supplement (CV - Commission Vademecum) and Rule of Life (RL)
EXISTING CONTINENTAL GROUPS:
Anglophone Africa and Mozambique
Francophone Africa
America – Asia
Europe
The deliberative power of the provincial assembly is considered to be effective in relation to common activities. (e.g. indications and compositions of the continental assemblies and councils). The same applies to the common commitments at continental level (e.g. Media Centres, magazines): in this case, the provincial superiors meet as members of the governing body (Board) of an autonomous entity. / CV (Commission Vademecum)
A.The missionary’s work at continental level
B. The continental structure
2. Continental coordination
3.Continental Assembly of provincials
Composition and times of convocation
Tasks
4. ContinentalCoordinator
Tasks
5. Provincial in charge of the sector
Identity
Tasks
6. Sector’s Continental Councils
Composition and meeting times
Tasks
7. Sector Continental Assemblies.
Times of meetings
Information / Specific issues concerning Basic Formation and Finances follow, respectively, the Ratio FundamentalisInstitutionis et Studiorum and the General Directory ofFinance.
As for the exchange of personnel,the norms of theRL n. 116 and 125 are followed.
According to the principle of subsidiarity,“higher authorities do not intervene or interfere in the jurisdiction of the lower authority, unless it is required by the good of the community or of the missionaries.”
1.The contextualisation of the missionary work is a recognised fact by the General Chapter of 1985. The Chapter of 2009 outlines the mission situations ‘in their context’, the requalification and necessary prophetic choices:
1.1 Africa: presence among the peoples not yet evangelized, the nomads, pygmies, interreligious dialogue, ecumenism, JPIC, immigrants, urban areas, training of leaders, marginalized youth and AM.
1.2 America: Afro-descendants, indigenous peoples, urban suburbs, JPIC and AM.
1.3 Asia: first evangelization, interreligious dialogue and AM.
1.4 Europe: frontier situations in the Church and society,MP, JPIC, immigrants.
The adjectives ‘continental’ and ‘sub-continental’ in this document have both the same meaning.
2.1 Each continent determines concrete ways to implement the principles of shared responsibility and subsidiarity to favourthe contextualization of our missionary service.
2.2 Promotes forms of inter-provincial communication/ sharing of solidarity, such as joint projects, exchange of personnel/means, etc.
2.3 Leads the discernment of the continental emergencies (natural or social - earthquakes, famine, refugees ... - or those that concern the Institute’s life: personnel or structures) along with the Assistant General in charge
3.1 The continental assembly of provincials is composed of the continent’s circumscription superiors and general assistant with the possibility of the participation of the superior general or other general assistants.
A Brother chosen according to the norms of Chapter Acts 2015 will attend the assembly.
The Assembly is convened regularly at least once a year.
3.2 Three meetings with the General Council are organised over the six years: on the occasion of the meeting with the General Administration after each election of the circumscription superiors and during theIntercapitularAssembly. In these meetings there is an evaluation on how authority and subsidiarity are understood and lived.
3.3 It chooses the Continental Coordinator.
3.4 It promotes subsidiarity for a contextualisation of the missionary work.
3.5 It promotes forms of interprovincial communication and sharing as joint projects, exchange of personnel and means.
3.6 It defines the composition of the sector’s continental councils.
3.7 Schedules the sector’s continental assemblies and defines its composition in accordance with the sector’s Secretary General.
3.8 Checks the smooth running of the sector’s activities.
3.9 Promotes reflection groups at continental level.
3.10 Agrees with the general assistant in chargeabout the mode of cooperation, presence on the continent, visits and frequency.
3.11 Defines a budget for the assemblies and the continental councils and establishes how expenditures are distributed.
3.12 Checkshow the General Chapter has been implemented and writes an annual report to be published on the MCCJ Bulletin.
4.1 Each continent chooses a continental Superior for the continental coordination. He iselected by absolute majority. The election takes place at the first meeting after the election of provincial superiors and the appointment of delegates.
4.2 The Coordinator shall convoke the continental assembly; shall prepare the agenda and chair the meeting.
4.3 He ensures the smooth running of the sector’s activities.
4.4 Discerns,plans and, in the case of continental emergencies,initiatives of solidarity to be implemented together withthe general assistant in charge.
4.5 The coordinator follows the implementation of the decisions that do not need the approval of the General Council. As for the decisions which are under the jurisdiction of CG, he asks the GC’sapproval and monitors the implementation of the decisions.
5.1 Some superiors of circumscriptionsare in charge of coordinating the different sectors of the missionary activity on the continent. The superior responsible of a particular sectoris elected with the majority of votes.
5.2 The provincial in charge accompanies and animates the work of the sector’s continental council.
5.3 He convokes the meeting of the sector planned in the assembly of the provincials.
5.4 Follows the implementation of the decisions taken in common with the circumscriptions superiors and presents a report in their annual meeting.
5.5 Work in close cooperation with the corresponding Secretary-General and encourages the secretaries of circumscriptions to a frequent exchange of information.
6.1 The Sector’sContinental Councils are the same as those of the General Secretariats,which have been defined inRL 140.1.
Other areas of commitment (Islam, pastoral peoples, indigenous, Afro-descendants, magazines, media, etc.) are under the corresponding and competent Secretariat.
6.2 The superior in charge of the sector is part of the continental council ofhiscompetence.
6.3 The continental meeting of provincials decides the composition of the continental council of the sector, ensuring representation in the different areas of commitment. The General Secretariats of the corresponding sector take part in the continental councils.
6.4 Each council of the sector will hold regular meetings. These meetings will be scheduled during the annual meeting of the circumscriptions superiors. Meetings will be convokedby the competent superior for each sector always in agreement with the Continental coordinator and the Secretary General of the corresponding sector.
6.5 Continental Councils that have consultative status, gather normally a year before the Continental assembly and whenever necessary.
6.6 They help in the implementation and monitoring of the guidelines of the Chapter and of the Continental Assemblies of the sectors
6.7 They verify and deepen the general lines of action in their respective continents.
6.8 Prepare continental assemblies of the sector
6.9 They study the particular problems of the sector
7.1 The sector continental meetings are held in accordance with a plan agreed upon by the superiors of the circumscriptions who shall decide the composition in accordance with the General Secretariat of the sector.
7.2 Information and motions that come from the base through assemblies and meetings of the sector are published in the following ways:
7.2.1 The minutes are made available to the General Administration and sent to the participants of the assemblies, the superiors and provincial secretariats concerned.
7.2.2 The final motions are submitted to the continental meetings of the circumscriptions’ superiors and the CG for approval and then sent to all interested parties through the most convenient means.
7.2.3 A brief report on the assemblies and meetings of general interest will be published on Familia Comboniana and the MCCJ Bulletin. / RL n. 106.2
See also CentesimusAnnus n. 48
CA’09 n.62,
Cfr. CA’85 nn.58-68; CA’03nn.11,43
C V
AC’03 n. 137
CA’97 n.168.4
CA’97 n. 168.4
AC’03 n. 139;
APDESAM Continental Plan 4.2
CA ‘15 n. 71
CA ’09 n. 132.3
CA ‘03 n. 139.1
CA‘03 n.139.2
CA ‘03 n.138.2; CA ‘97 n.168.4
CV
CA ’03 n.139.6
CA ’03 n. 139.3
CA ‘03 n. 139.4
CA ’03 n. 139.5
CV
Cfr. CA ‘09 n. 135.1
CA’03 n. 138; CA’97 n. 168.4Thematic Commission;
Government;
Chapter 2009, Alternative model;
BNE APDESAM Proposal;
Continental Plan n. 4.2, 4.3
CA’03 138.1;APDESAM Continental Plan 4.2
CA ‘03 n.138.1
APDESAM
Continental plan 4.2
CA ‘03 n.138.3
CA’03 n.138.4; CA’97 n. 168
APDESAM Continental plan 4.2
APDESAM Continental Plan n. 4.3
CA’03 n. 140
CA’03 n. 140.1
APDESAM Continental Plan n. 4.3
APDESAM Continental Plan 4.3
Sub-continental Guidelines for Evangelization 4.3
C V
AC’03 n. 140.2
CV
APDESAM Continental Plan 4.4
DDGn. 53
DDG 52.2
DDG n. 52.1
DDG 52.3
DDG 52.4
CV
DDG 58, 1-3
1