ot
another chapter," groaned one of our confreres when the
preliminary documents heralding the millennium chapter of 2001 were
delivered. As with several of his brothers and members of other
congregations, he was feeling a little punch drunk from the wave of
chapters that has washed over religious families since the Second
Vatican Council (1963-1965) instructed religious communities to rethink
their apostolates and community life in terms of the challenge of the
modern world, the Gospel, and the charism of the founders. The
chapter (meeting/assembly), with its democratically elected
participants, became the instrument of choice to accomplish this task.
Since 1966 Xaverian leadership has convened seven General Chapters. One can follow the development of the Congregation by analyzing, even superficially, the atmosphere and concerns that characterized these meetings. For the sake of convenience and brevity, we will look at them under three arbitrarily chosen headings: Costume, Color, and Charism.
Costume
he
first post-Vatican II gatherings took place in the summers of 1966 and
1971. The two meetings could be considered one in two sessions,
since the two together meant to express a synthesis of the 'aggiornamento'
asked by the Council. Most delegates appeared in clerical garb (soutanes,
or black suits and collars). A very few showed up in more casual
attire and were regarded as mildly rebellious. By 1977, by which
time the General Direction had moved from the Motherhouse in Parma to a
new Generalate in Rome, and the Chapter was held in Rome, secular dress
was much more in evidence, particularly by those who came from 'mission
countries.' By 1983 little black was visible, and by 1989 and
1995, it had disappeared altogether. Important? Hardly earth
shattering but the trend does suggest, perhaps, a growing willingness to
change, to let go of old certainties, to risk a little and to seek ways
of integrating more fully into today's world.
At the coming 2001 Chapter, however, the clerical and male monopoly still has to be breached. While lay men and women have been already for several years working side by side with Xaverians in several mission countries, and have shared in the same spirit, one of them still has to attend a Xaverian Chapter. (Among other things, the presence of women would add another dimension to the changing sartorial style!). Of the topics designated for discussion in Guadalajara, lay participation in the Xaverian charism and ministry is singled out.
Lay missionaries leave for mission to make their own contribution there where churches are being born or where there is a particular need. The presence of lay missionaries gives witness that the mission "ad gentes" is within reach of all and, by reason of baptism, ought to participated by all. Their presence at our chapters is now, and will be, more than justified.
Color
hatever
about dress, the changing of color and culture composition of the
Chapter is a matter of considerable significance. Until Vatican II
and the 8th General Chapter of 1966, the cast was all white, drawn
almost exclusively from the tribes of Italy, Great Britain and Spain;
Africa, Asia, and Latin America were represented by missionaries whose
roots had developed in Italy. The USA had its lonely American
there.
The change has slowly increased so that at the 2001 Chapter more than 25% of the delegates will be from African, Asian, North and Latin American stocks. Not only will their presence change the hue of the gathering but these delegates, because of their youth and vitality, - in fact the two youngest are one from Brazil and the other from Cameroun - hopefully will inject a new enthusiasm and new vision into a community that sees its youngest membership come mostly from Third World countries.
Of the 43 delegates, 3 are from Brazil (one of them representing Mozambique), one is from Cameroun/Chad, 3 are from Mexico (one of whom represents Great Britain); 1 is from Indonesia; 2 from Spain; one is American, and one Scot. The Chapter of 1971 saw, for the first time, an American, Fr. Robert S. Maloney, elected to the General Direction (governing body) of the Xaverians. Two Spaniards, in later chapters, were elected to the four-member council. The 2001 gathering may well produce a more colorful and representative administration. Far from tokenism this development would be a realistic and practical recognition of the direction in which the Congregation is heading. Can a Superior General from the Third World be far behind?
Charism
hile
dress and ethnic mix are two of the more visual indicators of the
development of the Xaverian Congregation, it is the agendas of the
meetings and resolutions that best capture the changing scene.
1966-1971: The Years of 'aggiornamento.' The two Chapters dealt with the themes of renewal and aggiornamento of the religious and apostolic life, following directions and requirements set forth by Pope Paul VI. Msgr. Gianni Gazza, Bishop of Abaete do Tocantins in the Amazon, Brazil, was chosen Superior General in both chapters. His was a difficult period given the restlessness of youth which clamored for reform the world over. The climate of contestation, which reached its peak the years 1968-70, also had repercussions for the Congregation and spurned the Xaverians into living their identity fully as the missionary thrust proper to the charism of the Founder, Blessed Guido M. Conforti.
1977: The rallying cry of "Unity in Diversity." The world and the Church are still changing, and this Chapter of 1977 reflected a religious community still struggling to find its identity in the midst of that change. In 1975, Paul VI ushers in a new era for missions by means of his "Evangelii Nuntiandi." This is not a classic missionary encyclical to shore up missionary institutes and missionary vocations, but one which delineates the idea of mission and evangelization as a call of the whole Church, as an essential consequence of baptism in Christ. Hence, at a general audience obtained at the end of this 10th General Chapter, the Xaverian capitulars heard from Pope Paul VI the call to close the phase of "restlessness" of the late 60's and 70's.
Indeed the Congregation itself was tired of the polemics that followed the Chapter of 1971 and desirous of recovering a certain internal peace. The document "Mission Today" of this chapter became a rallying cry of "unity in diversity." And a number of ideas that were to become pivotal later were found in embryo here. For instance, dialogue, ecumenism, cultural identity, justice and peace, liberation, solidarity, and development. All were to be pursued with caution, balanced judgment and prudence. Funds to support vocation and formation were initiated or strengthened. These were to become more clearly the kernel of the identity and criterium of every Xaverian activity. It was a return to the roots and an opening to new ways of living and doing mission.
1983: "May Xaverian religious observe these constitutions with love" Almost eighteen years of experimentation and dialogue culminated at the Chapter of 1983 with the promulgation of a new Constitutions and General Rule, which included select articles of the Foundation Rule of 1931 which had been put together by Bishop Conforti with little discussion. The new model involved literally hundreds of Xaverians participating in dozens of meetings, assemblies and chapters. This time considerable attention was given to revamping formation programs and adjusting for future financial demands. Were the results better? Only time will tell.
1989: "To tell each other about our actual missionary lives." "We listened to one another to learn what the Spirit has been doing among us," said a chapter participant. "We have narrated what we have done and taught in Jesus' name." But also we saw the coming of age, and some would say belatedly, of several important ideas. Xaverians wholeheartedly embraced "justice and peace" and formally committed themselves to the "option for the poor." This was also the assembly which recognized the validity of "international theologates," and officially established them, one in each continent: communities of theology students were set up to receive and train together aspirants from mission countries as well as from older Christian churches: to live and respect the Xaverian missionary vocation in the context of different cultures.
1995: "Lift up your eyes and look around" 1995 is the 100th Anniversary of the foundation of the Xaverian Missionary Congregation. The beatification of our Founder, Bishop Guido Maria Conforti, is scheduled for March17, 1996 These two events give new spirit and impulse to the 13th General Chapter. There is renewed promotion of the process of internationalization and inculturation of the Congregation: this out of fidelity to the present moment of the Xaverian history, which needs to be sustained by an adequate updating of the charism, and by a better perception of its truth and validity today.
2001: Where do we go from here? The 14th General Chapter, which meets in Guadalajara, for the first time moves out of Italy to Mexico; for the first time, there is substantial number of non-Italians and of third-world participants. This lends it a hopeful, even euphoric, note. But it is also quite clear that many challenges lie ahead as we enter the third millennium. And we sense change in the air. The epicenter of the Congregation is swinging away from Europe and North America where vocation recruitment has slowed considerably and average ages continue to climb. Increased funds and personnel are needed to build up the hope-filled new foundations in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
It is around the charism of Blessed Conforti that Xaverians will find unity in the necessary cultural diversity, in the collaboration of lay people, in the will to open up new missionary paths of evangelization in new lands and in new situations that await the proclamation of salvation in Christ. This requires a "rediscovery" of the founder and of his spirituality truly and uniquely missionary, in the membership, in the activities chosen, and in the formation of candidates.
The Congregation is now present in many and different cultures, the strengths and the ideas of the past have reached a watershed... All these considerations, and many more, will be tackled at this 14th General Chapter held in Guadaljara, Mexico. And then? Then, we must await... you guessed it... another chapter!
(From Xaverian Mission Newsletter)