austraLasia
1556
Brothers pose
challenging but essential questions
EAO:
9th May 2006 -- Ongoing analysis of the results of the wide-ranging
questionnaire put to Salesian Brothers in the region last year is enabling many
of the essential challenges and questions to be distilled by a lengthy but
ultimately fruitful process of both machine and human 'distilling'. A sort
of Brothers' 'still', then with a pure
result!
The Brothers' Assembly will be held in Phnom Penh,
Cambodia, from 20-25 August, five full days (i.e. it begins the morning of 20th
and concludes the evening of 25th). The venue for the meeting will be Don
Bosco Technical School, though accommodation will be through local hotels, since
the community would be unable to host the large group that is expected from the
eleven provinces, vice provinces or delegations in the
region.
The questionnaire indicated a series of central
questions - the absolute necessity of the Brother, the question of awareness of
identity within consecrated Salesian life, questions concerning vocation
promotion, the Brothers' mission today, Brothers in the Salesian
community. Some of these questions have tentative answers - and in some
instances quite clear answers (again, drawing from the questionnaire results
rather than a priori). But they include
unanswered questions - often the question of discernment of this vocation
remains unanswered in practical terms, certainly until there is clarity on the
other major questions listed above.
Any good analysis also
notes what wasn't said, or what was passed over in relative silence. While
individual Brothers responded in quite some detail - and many of them - there
were fewer group responses by groups such as Provincial Councils; in some cases
there were groups of formators who responded, though as several responses by
Brothers noted, these would be mainly priests reflecting on the issue.
Less was said, too, about the impact of the beatified 'model' for the Brother,
Artemides Zatti.
The survey identified some of the
indicators of unease - often as practical as terminological issues such as
reference to 'Salesian Fathers' or efforts on behalf of 'theology students', an
exclusive term, when the efforts are meant to similarly benefit Brothers.
In fact, while there are deep and essential questions to be asked and answered,
the question of terminology is one not to be passed over lightly in our
Congregation, indeed in any worldwide organisation. The 'Brother issue'
helps focus that reality.
What all of this says is that
there has been, and in the few remaining months will be, an intense preparatory
phase leading to the five days together. Keynote contributors have been
chosen, a directory of all Brothers in the Region is being put together,
Salesian Family representation has been thought of and addressed, and important
issues from all the above questions sent to keynote contributors so they can
think through likely responses and processes to help address
them.
Further information concerning the Brothers,
including dozens of models of Brothers from around the world (short biographies)
are available from the Brothers' page on
Bosconet.
GLOSSARY
Still: machinery (and location) for distilling
whisky!
a priori: assumed from already established
'answers'.
___________________
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