Definitory Meeting Update

Fraternity of the general curia and the general definitory.

ROME - The General Definitory met from April 5-14, 2011, with a crowded agenda of items for discussion and decisions to be taken, and the customary requests for dispensations, indults from the Holy See, and permission to hold Chapters. Another important task was, as always, to listen to the reports of the various pastoral, economic and fraternal visitations, and those in connection with missionary animation in the Order. 

• A number of changes are scheduled for different jurisdictions: four of the five Spanish provinces are being united. These are Navarre-Cantabria-Aragon, Castile, Andalusia and Valencia, which will be merged into one new province at a celebration in Madrid on 26 April of this year. Also. the Province of Austria will merge with the Province of Brixen (South Tyrol), an event which will be celebrated at St. Georgen Am Längasee. In both cases the provincial minister and definitory were appointed and will be made known during the respective celebrations.
• On May 22 2011 the Vice-Province of Goa will become a Province. In this case also the provincial minister and his Definitory were appointed.
• The General Definitory examined the request that the House of Presence at Yécora (Mexico) be raised to the status of Custody. The relevant Conferences (CONCAM and NAPCC) will be consulted on the question.
• The Definitory approved the request of the Province of Krist Jyoti for a House of Presence in the Diocese of Jabhua, in Madhya Pradesh State, India.
• Economic Solidarity. Following the changes made to the Statute for Economic Solidarity, whereby major superiors will no longer be able to be Commission members or Project Managers, the following appointments were made: In the Commission: Br. Gerhard Lenz (PR Germany), replaces Br. Anton Beikircher; Br. Joseph Coz (PR Gallica), replaces Br. Hubert Callas; Br. Alejandro Josué Núñez Ennabe (VG Guat.-Hond.-Salvad.), replaces Br.Oscar Arnoldo Méndes Santos; Br. Joseph Ezhuthupurackal (PR Pavanatma Kerala Sept.), replaces Br. Scaria Kallor. As Project Manager: Br. Aklilu Petros (VG Ethiopia), replaces Br. George Muthaka (VG Kenya).
• General Bursar’s Office: the consolidated balance-sheet for 2010, and the 2011 budget for the General Curia and dependent houses and cultural institutions, were approved.
• A draft of a new Vademecum, or Handbook for the Order’s cultural assets was examined. Some juridical refinements will be needed before the Handbook is approved for experimental use.
• Houses and Institutions dependent on the General Minister: § Historical Institute: following pastoral visitation of the fraternity, Br. Aleksander Horowski was confirmed as President Institute for the coming triennium. Br. Giuseppe Avarucci was appointed Vice-president. § House in Jerusalem: a Fund has been set up to support the Formation Centre in Jerusalem. Specifically, it will (a) provide scholarships for brothers whose jurisdictions are unable to meet the full board and lodging costs of their students; (b) contribute to the costs of organising courses, meetings and seminars at the Centre; (c) meet the costs of improvements and maintenance at the House of the Order in Jerusalem. § Church at the International College, Rome: the Definitory studied the minutes of the latest meeting of the Commission for the renewal of the Church at the College. Work is proceeding well. Sub-contractors have been employed to provide the furnishings for Church and sacristy. It seems likely that the original deadline for the inauguration of the church – by the end of this year – will be maintained § Generai Curia. In a joint meeting with the team of architects and the Commission in charge of the Curia restructuring project, the General Definitory reviewed and approved the entire project. We now await the permission of the Roman planning authorities for the work to begin. The General Minister informed members of the Curia that October 31st 2011 would be the final date by which the move to the International College would be completed.
• General Chapter: the Definitory studied the minutes of the first meeting of the Preparatory Commission. The main item on the Chapter agenda will be the study of the draft revised text of our Constitutions. The Chapter is scheduled to begin on 19th August 2012. The actual duration of the Chapter will be decided by June of this year, certainly it will last at least 5 weeks.

 

AUDIO IT: Ministro generale