117.
The exercise of authority, service of love in the example of Jesus Teacher,
is a vital task in the life of fraternal communion and of apostolic ministry
of the Vocationist.
118.
The Superiors should exercise their authority in a spirit of service toward
the confreres in order to express that love with which God loves them.
They
should establish a rapport of friendly trust with the confreres and should
promote their cooperation in seeking the good of the Congregation and the
Church.
119.
The accomplishment of this duty requires constant prayer, meditation, and
consultation; but also, courageous decisions in the awareness of one’s
responsibilities before God, the Church, and all the confreres who expect
this service of love.
120.
Every Superior should give a good example in their Religious observance;
should be the first to every Community act without exception or
dispensation, save real necessity. Should he habitually need dispensations
from some of the Community acts, it would be better for him to resign, save
always the approval of the Major Superior.
121.
The Superior should make sure that each Religious, according to his
abilities and the needs of the Congregation, are well trained for the
various positions and ministries, as determined by special guidelines, for a
well organized activity and for the most complete observance of the
Constitutions.
122.
The Superiors, with joy and sweetness of supernatural love, should be firm
in demanding the observance and wise in allowing full freedom for every good
initiative.
123.
The supreme authority of the Congregation is ordinarily exercised by the
Superior General with the assistance of his Council and extraordinarily by
the General Chapter when it is legitimately convened.
124.
The Congregation is divided into Provinces and Regional Delegations
A) The Province is
governed by a Provincial Superior and his Council, according to common and
particular law. The Province is subdivided into local Communities governed
by a Superior with his Council.
B) The Regional
Delegation is governed by a Delegate with his Council appointed by the Major
Superior. The Regional Delegation consists of groups of Local Communities in
particular situations.
125.
The Major Superiors are the Superior General and his Vicar, the Provincial
and his Vicar.
126.
The Major Superior and his Council express and promote the particular
charism of the Congregation within the Church in its three fields of
apostolate; Parishes, Missions, and Schools, and especially in its own
characteristic work, the Vocationary.
Return
to Top
127.
The Chapter is an organism consisting of several physical persons operating
on a level of equal collegiality, representing and expressing the entire
Congregation.
128.
The Chapter has the task of protecting the spiritual heritage of the
Congregation, looking after its common good, promoting its apostolic life,
making its charism better known, protecting its unity, keeping abreast of
the constant renewal of aggiornamento of both structures and members; it
elects the Superior General and his Councilors, the Representative to the
Holy See; treats questions of major importance, and establish norms which
are binding to all members of the Congregation.
129.
The Ordinary Chapter:
1. Is convened by
the Superior General with the deliberative vote of his Council. It is held
every six years or whenever the position of Superior General becomes vacant.
In this case, it is convened by the Vicar General.
2. An Extra
Chapter can be convened by the Superior General with the deliberative vote
of his Council whenever it is deemed necessary for the good of the
Congregation.
130.
The General Chapter is presided over by the Superior General and consists of
both ex officio and elected members:
1. The ex
officio members are: the Superior General, the General Councilors, the
Provincials, the former Superiors General, the Regional Delegates appointed
by the Superior General, and the Representative to the Holy See. The ex
officio members may not compose more than one third of the participation at
the Chapter.
2. All of those in
Perpetual Vows enjoy active and passive voice in the election of the
Delegates to the Chapter.
3. The methods
used for the election of the Delegates, and that used for the convocation of
the Chapter are described in special By-Laws which are revised from time to
time by the same General Chapter.
131.
It is the duty of the Superior General to communicate to the entire
Congregation, as soon as possible, the complete list of the Chapter’s
members and their substitutes.
132.
The decision made by the General Chapter remain in force until the following
Chapter.
133.
The General Chapter:
1. Examine the reports
presented by the Superior General and the Treasure General. In the light of
these, the General Chapter examines the spiritual and apostolic life,
observance of the Constitutions, and the financial status of the
Congregation.
2. The General Chapter
examines the ordinances of the previous Chapters in order to ascertain the
observance and the feasibility of same.
3. It studies the
problems, and the proposals prepared by the pre- Chapter committee, and by
individual Religious; it also makes plans for the growth of the Congregation
in the Church.
134.
It is not permissible to change the proper characteristics of the
Congregation, modify articles of the Constitutions, add or maintain on a
permanent basis, activities that are not mentioned in the Constitutions,
without a qualified majority (2/3) vote of the General Chapter and the
approval of the Apostolic See. The authentic interpretation of Constitutions
is reserved to the Apostolic See.
135.
The affairs of the General Chapters are decided by a majority of (50% + 1)
of the votes.
136.
The Superior General will promulgate the decrees of the Chapter.
Interpretation of and dispensation from some of the Chapter’s decrees is the
responsibility of the Superior General with the permission of his Council.
Return
to Top
137.
The Superior General is the visible sign of the unity of the Congregation.
Every Chapter member should elect to this office a Religious who is worthy
not only for his talents and experience, but also for his piety, deep
spirituality, fidelity to the Church and its visible head, to the
Congregation, and to its Constitutions and ministries.
138.
The Superior General must be a Religious priest in Perpetual Vows who is at
least forty year old, and has been Perpetually Professed for at least ten
years.
139.
His election is achieved by an absolute majority of votes, If after the
third ballot, that majority has not been attained, there will be a fourth
ballot containing only those Religious who, in the previous ballot have
obtained the largest number of votes and who will have passive but not
active vote. If the fourth ballots results in a tie, the one who is senior
in vows is considered elected; however, if they took their first vows on the
same day, the older one is considered elected.
140.
The Superior General is elected for a six year term, and can be elected only
for a second term without interruption.
After
he has accepted the election, he will make a Profession of Faith in the
presence of the entire Chapter.
141.
He who has been legitimately elected Superior General should, in humility,
accept this serious and sensitive appointment, trusting in the grace of God
which never fails us. However, if after serious reflection, before God, he
should decide because of serious personal reason, not to accept it, the
Chapter in the same session, will decide the day for a new election.
Return
to Top
142.
The Councilors express the participation of all the members for the
well-being of the entire Congregation. They must effectively and
harmoniously assist the Superior General in governing the Congregation;
giving their deliberative or consultive votes in those decisions that must
be made, and proposing to the Superior General, all those measures that,
before God, they deem as most appropriate in each case.
143.
In order to be elected to the office of General Councilor, a Religious must
have been in Perpetual Vows for at least five years, and must be at least
thirty years old.
144.
There are six Councilors; the Vicar General, the Assistant for Parishes and
Vocationaries, the Dean and Assistant for Schools, the Assistant for the
Missions, the Secretary, and the Treasurer. The Vicar General, the Assistant
for the Parishes and Vocationaries, and the Assistant for the Missions must
be priests.
145.
In the election of the General Councilors, the same procedure is followed as
the that used in the election of the Superior General.
They
are elected for a six year term, and can always be re-elected.
146.
The Representative to the Apostolic See, has the task of dealing with the
Sacred Roman Congregation for the affairs of the entire Congregation, and of
the individual houses and members, always under the guidance of and
dependence from the Superior General.
Return
to Top
147.
The Superior General
1. Has authority
over the entire Congregation, its houses and members;
2. Promotes the
moral, intellectual, spiritual, and apostolic growth of all Religious;
3. Presides at the
Profession of Vows, either personally or through a Delegate, saving the
rights of the Provincial;
4. He is the first
to take responsibility for the well-being of the Congregation;
5. He authorize
all extraordinary expenditures within the limits of his power;
6. He assigns
personnel to Communities which depend from the central government, according
to the Constitutions;
7. He visits all
of the Communities either personally or through a Delegate at least twice
during his six year term;
8. He address
letters of instruction or exhortation to the entire Congregation, according
to
circumstance, on the subject of Religious Life, in harmony with the laws
and decrees of
the Holy See.
9. He can direct
individual Religious and Communities through appropriate initiatives of
formation and direction;
10. He can appoint a
Visitor for part of the Congregation or for some particular affair;
11. He can dispense,
for a limited amount of time, individual Communities and Provinces from the
observance of some rule of the Constitutions for reasonable cause;
12. He convenes the
General Council;
13. He gives
permission to Religious to preach in the churches and chapels of the
Congregation.
Return
to Top
The General Council
148.
The General Council is convened at the request of the Superior General or
through the request of at least three members of the General Council.
149.
The Superior General submits the following to the deliberative vote of the
Council:
1. The establishment
of Province and Regional Delegations, the approval of the By-Laws of the
Delegation, and the appointment of Novice Masters, saving only the right of
the Provincial.
2. The appointment
of Delegates, Regional Councilors, and Local Superiors for those Communities
depending from the central government, after suitable consultation.
3. The opening of
new houses with the written consent of the Diocesan Bishop, and the closing
of existing houses, after consultation with the Bishop.
4. The
establishment, transferal, or closing of Novitiate houses through a written
decree.
5. The admission to
Novitiate, and Temporary Vows, for members of those Communities depending
from the central government.
6. The admission to
Sacred Ordination, saving only the right of the Provincial.
7. The election of a
General Councilor whose term will extend to the next Chapter, whenever a
position becomes vacant due to resignation, death, removal, or prolonged
incapacity.
8. The appointment
of a substitute for any General Councilor who is temporarily absent or
incapacitated.
9. The removal of
any General Councilor and the Representative of the Apostolic See, with the
previous concurrence of the Holy See.
10. The Convocation
of the General Chapter and determination of the time and place where it will
be celebrated.
11. The transfer of
the General Curia, after having informed the Apostolic See.
12. The appointment
of a Visitor General for the entire Congregation.
13. The designation
of houses of study for members of the Congregation.
14. The transfer or
removal from office of a Local Superior during his term of office, for just
reason, according to the Constitutions and Directory, for those Communities
depending from the central government.
15. The approval of
the financial reports of the entire Congregation that must be prepared by
the General Treasurer at specific times as per the Directory.
16. Contracts of
alienation, debt, acquisition, and any other financial obligation stipulated
by the Congregation and by the individual Provinces, observing always the
prescriptions of Universal Law.
17. The affairs of
major importance, which are defined as such by the General Chapter, and all
cases that according to common law and Constitutions require the consent of
the Council.
18. Any decision of
serious and extraordinary importance that affects the entire Congregation.
19. The
authorization of apostolic or Community experiences which are not considered
by the General Chapter, always provided that they are in harmony with the
specific goal of the Constitutions.
20. Presents to the
Bishops, for appointment, the Pastors for those parishes entrusted to the
Congregation, saving only the rights of the Provincial.
Return
to Top
Service
of the Councilor
150.
The First Councilor, as the Vicar General, replaces the Superior General
whenever he is incapacitated or absent, succeeds him in governing the
Congregation, when, for whatever reason, his office is vacant.
The
main task of the Vicar General is to convene the General Chapter, which must
be held within six months of any vacancy in the office of Superior General.
151.
The General Assistant for the Parishes and Vocationaries, coordinates the
various activities of the Vocationist pastors, in harmony with the pastoral
and vocational plans of the Dioceses.
He is
the general coordinator of the Vocation Directors of the Congregation.
152.
The Dean of Studies updates and implements and Ratio studiorum Generalis
of the Congregation, as approved by the Apostolic See. He oversees the
focus of studies and makes sure that the Ratio is faithfully followed
in every house of study.
He
also oversees the efficiency and order of libraries and school records. He
coordinates the educational programs in the Vocationaries and boarding
schools.
He
coordinates the work of the various Deans of Study in the Provinces of the
Congregation.
153.
The General Assistant for the Missions, Promotes and coordinates the
activities of the Vocationist missions, with programs that are harmonious
with the spirit of the Congregation and the needs of the Church, as
expressed in the various organizations of the same Church.
154.
The Secretary General takes the minutes of sessions of the General Council,
and prepare letters and acts which are to be signed with the Superior
General. He prepares and preserves, in the Archives, all of the documents of
the history of the Congregation.
155.
The General Treasurer, aware of his sensitivity mission, renders his service
in a spiritual and apostolic perspective.
156.
While administering with a spirit of freedom and generosity, the fruits of
the works of the Confreres, he tries to be a living witness of justice,
realism, and equilibrium in the evaluation of all things. Above all, in
difficult situations, he must witness a great trust in the Providence of the
Confreres.
157. The General
Treasurer administers all the goods and real estates of the
Congregation as such, under the guidance of the Superior General, and the
control of the Council to whom he will supply any explanations when
necessary.
Return
to Top
158.
The Province is a reality of communion. In its function of mediation and
link between the local Communities, both among themselves and the rest of
the Congregation, it safeguards the unity of vocation and mission in the
multiplicity of geographical expressions.
159.
A group of Communion in a particular territory that has the capacity for
it’s own administration and government may form a Province.
160.
It is within the powers of the Superior General, with the deliberative vote
of his Council, to erect, modify, or suppress a Province, or merge it with
another Province.
161.
In the Province, the authority is exercised ordinarily by the Provincial and
his Council, extraordinarily and collegially by the Provincial Chapter.
162.
The Provincial Chapter expresses the participation of all members in the
life and growth of the Province. It is regularly convened every three years
by the Provincial with the consent of his Council.
163.
A Provincial Chapter must be held before every Ordinary or Extraordinary
General Chapter.
164.
The Provincial Chapter is made up of both ex officio members and
elected Delegates.
<
