PASPAC CONFIGURATION...
PASPAC Configuration Meeting
From 3rd – 5th February 2009 I attended a meeting of the Leaders of the PASPAC Configuration held at the Passionist Theologate House in Loyola Heights, Manila.
As PASPAC Coordinator for Restructuring, I called and chaired this meeting, which was also attended by Fr Clemente Barrón, the General Council representative for the Configuration. As you know, the former ‘Conferences’ have been suspended and we are asked to work within the six new ‘Configurations’ which were formed at the General Synod in Cuernavaca (Mexico) last September.
Whilst the life and structures of Provinces, Vice-Provinces and Vicariates keep operating, the Synod has called the Congregation to work within structures of Solidarity in the areas of personnel, formation and finance. During the meeting in Manila, we looked at how best we can work with one another and involve the wider membership of each entity in this process. ‘Discernment Instruments’ for structures of Solidarity in personnel, formation and finance offered by the General Council were distributed. These ‘instruments’ will be sent to every community and relevant Committee/group in the Province as a way of inviting your participation and seeking your views.
On 1st February 2009, Fr Clemente wrote the following to the Major Superiors of the PASPAC Configuration:
In the Introduction to the Principal Decree, the 2006 General Chapter states:
“Faithful to the workings of the Spirit, we are offered a new way of reflecting on our life; a new way of interacting with each other and the possibility of recreating the structures and the institutions that are at the service of the charism.”
A “new way of reflecting on our life, a new way of interacting with each other” means that we need to set aside the old ways of reflecting and the old ways of interacting with each other. Indeed, the General Synod of 2008, made sure that we would do just that. It suspended the Congregational Conferences that had been created over the years and created New Configurations composed of Passionist entities that were not in relationship with each other, for the most part. The New Configurations will need to define how the new ways of relating to one another are to unfold. The practices might remain the same, but the authority will now be with the Regional Coordinator for Restructuring in relationship with the General Consultor of Reference. Those collaborative projects and programs that are already in place do not need to begin anew. They may need to be reviewed in light of the General Synod of 2008 and the New Configurations, but if these projects and programs are fruitful, then there should be no trouble incorporating them into the new structures that were recommended by this Synod.
Just as old structures are now replaced with new ones, and old ways of relating with one another are changed with fresh ones, a new authority is now responsible for the ongoing progress of Congregational Restructuring in the New Configurations. The General with Council continues to have overall responsibility for Congregational Restructuring. However, the General Chapter named seven Regional Coordinators for Restructuring to work with the General Council, and each Coordinator for Restructuring will work with all of the Major Superiors of the New Configuration, individually and corporately. At the same time, a General Consultor will work closely with a Regional Coordinator for Congregational Restructuring. This will ensure that the fundamental discernment for Restructuring of the Congregation will take place where Passionist life and ministry takes place.
Congregational Restructuring calls us to a radical conversion of heart and invites us to discover new ways of doing the business of our everyday life. Every question raised by Passionist communities and every concern that Passionist have around the Congregation now becomes the context for making decisions at the local level. We truly need to live locally but to act globally. Provincials, Vice-Provincials and Regional Superiors will have to ask new questions about future commitments and projects, and they will have to give new responses to Passionists under their authority….It is no longer business as usual in our Provinces, Vice-Provinces, Vicariates and Missions.
The meeting further discussed the planned 6-months Intensive English programme for candidates from Vietnam and China to be held in Manila from 1st August 2009, followed by their Novitiate period in Glen Osmond, Adelaide. Fr Wilfredo (Willy) Estraza (Philippines) who is appointed as Novice Master attended this part of the meeting. Assisting him will be Fr Tomy Kanjiradhinkal (India).
The decisions reached during the meeting are as follows:
1) A voice vote was held in which agreement was reached that Laurence Finn would continue as Executive Secretary of the PASPAC Configuration. (Unanimous)
2) A hand vote was held in which agreement was reached to fund Laurence Finn as Executive Secretary of the PASPAC Configuration for 300 U.S. dollars from each unit of PASPAC until the time of the Bangalore Assembly. (Unanimous)
3) PASPAC establishes a Solidarity fund for Formation within the Configuration.
a. Each entity will make an initial contribution of U.S. $10,000 or according to its ability to this Solidarity Fund.
b. PASPAC establishes a committee consisting of Vincent Carletti, Antony Xavier and David Bennett to formulate the management, investment and criteria for this fund. This committee will report to the Standing Committee of PASPAC before the Bangalore Assembly November 2009. c. This report will be submitted to the PASPAC Assembly in Bangalore 2009 for approval. (Unanimous)
4) The major and mission superiors of PASPAC will meet next in Bangalore, India from November 15th until November 17th 2009 dealing with the results of the information gathered across PASPAC in the light of the Discernment Instruments for developing New Structures of Solidarity in formation, finance and personnel. The Assembly of PASPAC will be held from November 18th until the 21st dealing with the same materials. (Unanimous)
5) It was also agreed that the 21st of November would be dedicated to JPIC issues with a presentation by Jesús Maria Aristín, C.P. before noon that day. (by voice, unanimous)
Taken from HOLY SPIRIT PROVINCE NEWSLETTER
by Joachim Rego, CP
Australian Passionists' Provincial
As PASPAC Coordinator for Restructuring, I called and chaired this meeting, which was also attended by Fr Clemente Barrón, the General Council representative for the Configuration. As you know, the former ‘Conferences’ have been suspended and we are asked to work within the six new ‘Configurations’ which were formed at the General Synod in Cuernavaca (Mexico) last September.
Whilst the life and structures of Provinces, Vice-Provinces and Vicariates keep operating, the Synod has called the Congregation to work within structures of Solidarity in the areas of personnel, formation and finance. During the meeting in Manila, we looked at how best we can work with one another and involve the wider membership of each entity in this process. ‘Discernment Instruments’ for structures of Solidarity in personnel, formation and finance offered by the General Council were distributed. These ‘instruments’ will be sent to every community and relevant Committee/group in the Province as a way of inviting your participation and seeking your views.
On 1st February 2009, Fr Clemente wrote the following to the Major Superiors of the PASPAC Configuration:
In the Introduction to the Principal Decree, the 2006 General Chapter states:
“Faithful to the workings of the Spirit, we are offered a new way of reflecting on our life; a new way of interacting with each other and the possibility of recreating the structures and the institutions that are at the service of the charism.”
A “new way of reflecting on our life, a new way of interacting with each other” means that we need to set aside the old ways of reflecting and the old ways of interacting with each other. Indeed, the General Synod of 2008, made sure that we would do just that. It suspended the Congregational Conferences that had been created over the years and created New Configurations composed of Passionist entities that were not in relationship with each other, for the most part. The New Configurations will need to define how the new ways of relating to one another are to unfold. The practices might remain the same, but the authority will now be with the Regional Coordinator for Restructuring in relationship with the General Consultor of Reference. Those collaborative projects and programs that are already in place do not need to begin anew. They may need to be reviewed in light of the General Synod of 2008 and the New Configurations, but if these projects and programs are fruitful, then there should be no trouble incorporating them into the new structures that were recommended by this Synod.
Just as old structures are now replaced with new ones, and old ways of relating with one another are changed with fresh ones, a new authority is now responsible for the ongoing progress of Congregational Restructuring in the New Configurations. The General with Council continues to have overall responsibility for Congregational Restructuring. However, the General Chapter named seven Regional Coordinators for Restructuring to work with the General Council, and each Coordinator for Restructuring will work with all of the Major Superiors of the New Configuration, individually and corporately. At the same time, a General Consultor will work closely with a Regional Coordinator for Congregational Restructuring. This will ensure that the fundamental discernment for Restructuring of the Congregation will take place where Passionist life and ministry takes place.
Congregational Restructuring calls us to a radical conversion of heart and invites us to discover new ways of doing the business of our everyday life. Every question raised by Passionist communities and every concern that Passionist have around the Congregation now becomes the context for making decisions at the local level. We truly need to live locally but to act globally. Provincials, Vice-Provincials and Regional Superiors will have to ask new questions about future commitments and projects, and they will have to give new responses to Passionists under their authority….It is no longer business as usual in our Provinces, Vice-Provinces, Vicariates and Missions.
The meeting further discussed the planned 6-months Intensive English programme for candidates from Vietnam and China to be held in Manila from 1st August 2009, followed by their Novitiate period in Glen Osmond, Adelaide. Fr Wilfredo (Willy) Estraza (Philippines) who is appointed as Novice Master attended this part of the meeting. Assisting him will be Fr Tomy Kanjiradhinkal (India).
The decisions reached during the meeting are as follows:
1) A voice vote was held in which agreement was reached that Laurence Finn would continue as Executive Secretary of the PASPAC Configuration. (Unanimous)
2) A hand vote was held in which agreement was reached to fund Laurence Finn as Executive Secretary of the PASPAC Configuration for 300 U.S. dollars from each unit of PASPAC until the time of the Bangalore Assembly. (Unanimous)
3) PASPAC establishes a Solidarity fund for Formation within the Configuration.
a. Each entity will make an initial contribution of U.S. $10,000 or according to its ability to this Solidarity Fund.
b. PASPAC establishes a committee consisting of Vincent Carletti, Antony Xavier and David Bennett to formulate the management, investment and criteria for this fund. This committee will report to the Standing Committee of PASPAC before the Bangalore Assembly November 2009. c. This report will be submitted to the PASPAC Assembly in Bangalore 2009 for approval. (Unanimous)
4) The major and mission superiors of PASPAC will meet next in Bangalore, India from November 15th until November 17th 2009 dealing with the results of the information gathered across PASPAC in the light of the Discernment Instruments for developing New Structures of Solidarity in formation, finance and personnel. The Assembly of PASPAC will be held from November 18th until the 21st dealing with the same materials. (Unanimous)
5) It was also agreed that the 21st of November would be dedicated to JPIC issues with a presentation by Jesús Maria Aristín, C.P. before noon that day. (by voice, unanimous)
Taken from HOLY SPIRIT PROVINCE NEWSLETTER
by Joachim Rego, CP
Australian Passionists' Provincial