2. Meetings of the General Council with Provinces and
Delegations
A) Conclusions of the meeting of the General Council with the
“Divine Providence Province” (Rome, 16-21 April 2007)
1. Government
• It is agreed upon on the part of all counselors to promote the unity of
direction, to trust in the Provincial Superior, and to be “super partes”, in order to
make decisions free from any influence.
• It was given particular attention to the assimilation of the charism and the
Guanellian spirit by favoring more and more the presence of confreres among
the poor, and new projects in their favor. So far, the most important concern was
given to formation and to the organization of the houses of formation. It is
necessary now to take in consideration valid projects of our specific mission in
order to strengthen the Guanellian identity of the confreres.
• Authority as selfless and patient service. It is necessary to bear witness to
the fact that authority is not power. Superiors have to avoid favoritism, to
encourage and value all the talents of the individual confreres, but they have to
use also the necessary fraternal correction.
• There could be cases of personal difficulties that some confreres may
encounter in living fully their religious vows. It is necessary, by the authority
that comes from living a genuine religious life, that superiors reach the confrere
in
difficulty, and act with charity and justice at the same time.
2. Formation
• It is held necessary and urgent to choose and prepare some confreres to
assume the responsibility of the formative area.
• The fourth year of theology in the Theological Seminary mentioned in
the Ratio foresees that those who study in Rome should return to India after their
third year, and should continue their Pastoral Theology formation in the
Seminary of Poonamallee.
• The Province should consider about some confreres who, after some
years of priesthood, may go to Rome for Master degrees or special courses.
• At
St. Joseph’ Seminary in Cuddalore, it is necessary to separate the
different groups in formation by giving them their own programs, timetable,
prayer time, and different formators who will be in charge of those formees who
are
in the Initiation, in the plus 1 and plus 2, in College and in postulancy.
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• The proposal that Postulancy should take place during a period of time
without attending any academics after 3 years of College is accepted. It could be
started with a small group already this year. Therefore, among the actual
postulants, only some of them may enter the novitiate once being found ready.
• Privilege the “tutorship” for the young priests, arranging meetings for the
young confreres in their first year of priesthood with their Provincial: prayer,
measuring themselves before the Word, dialogue and friendship as a good
support in time of difficulty.
• Urgent necessity of opening a new Seminary at Vatluru (A.P.).
3. Economy
• The role of the Provincial Econome was outlined with clarity: The coordi-
nation of the economy and the administration of the whole Province belongs to
him; he has to collect and revision the accounts of
the houses which should reach
him through the local administrators; he is the direct point of reference before the
General Council and the General Econome; the supervision of the administrative
archives of the Province and of the individual nations belongs to him.
• In India, where there are three societies, it is necessary to appoint a
Treasurer who has to work in close contact with the Provincial Econome.
• It is agreed upon to promote the use of the computerized program for
accounting, already utilized in the past years, insisting on a weekly or by-weekly
updating of the accounts. When confreres are not able to do it, we should hire
expert lay people. Soliciting the constant updating and regular sending of the
accounts to the General and Provincial Econome.
• Regarding the annual budget, it is the task of the Provincial Econome to
prepare them, to collect them, to watch over them and to give the necessary help
so that they are prepared on time and in the correct way.
• With regard to extraordinary expenses, it is agreed upon to follow the
existing procedures followed also by the other Provinces: request to the
Provincial Superior on the part of the Superior and Council of the local
community; authorization of the Provincial Superior and his Council if the
expense falls under his authority (for example, when a construction is below
$ US 300.000); request for contribution on the part of the Provincial Superior
and his Council to the General Council for all the interventions not under his
authority. The authorization has to be forwarded, however,
always when any
contribution is requested from the General House.
• Regarding the annual dues: The financial support of all the houses of
formation is confirmed, after the presentation of their budget. Instead for the
houses with a charitable activity only what is received from benefactors for
Adoptions or other purposes will be sent.
• It was accepted by all that finding alternative income sources (local
income) that could support of our works has to be encouraged.
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