Provincial Chapter 2013

Province Concludes Chapter
in Preparation for GC27

Fr. Tom Dunne's closing remarks as the chapter ended on Mar. 18

The province’s chapter in preparation for the Society’s 27th General Chapter next year concluded at 3:11 p.m. on Monday, March 18.

The chapter lasted 8 days, beginning March 11. See http://sdbnews.blogspot.com/2013/03/provincial-chapter-2013.html

Daily liturgy (Eucharist, Hours) was a vital part of the chapter's activities; on the last day we all renewed our religious profession at Mass.

The chapter prepared and approved—with abundant discussion in small groups and in general sessions—three documents to send on the GC27’s preparatory commission. Each document deals with one of the general chapter’s themes:  the Salesian as mystic, as prophet of fraternity, and as servant of the young. Each document is also brief, less than two pages.

On Sunday night, March 17, elections were held for the province’s delegate and an alternate to attend the general chapter. It took three ballots for Fr. Mike Pace, pastor of St. Benedict’s Church in Etobicoke, Ont., to be elected by the narrowest of margins, 23-21 (had there been a tie, runner-up Fr. Steve Shafran would have been elected by virtue of his seniority).

Fr. Mike Pace, elected to represent the N.R. Province at GC27; Fr. Tom Dunne, provincial; and Fr. Steve Shafran, alternate delegate

Fr. Shafran, president of Don Bosco Cristo Rey HS in Takoma Park, Md., needed just one ballot to be elected, overwhelmingly, as the province’s alternate, should Fr. Pace not be able to attend the chapter.

The chapter also heard presentations from Fr. Abe Feliciano on the Salesian Youth Movement, including early planning for Don Bosco's bicentennial (2015); Fr. Dennis Donovan on finances; Fr. Mark Hyde on missionary animation; and Fr. Dominic Tran on vocations animation.

One of the chapter's 5 discussion groups going over one of the topics

Fr. Tom Dunne spent a lot of time outlining and discussing many topics of interest to the province, such as maintaining ties with the families of deceased confreres; structure of the provincial council; restructuring the province; communications ministry; personnel; and missions animation.

Fr. Tom also presented to the chapter the Province Organic Plan, the result of several years of study and discussion by the provincial council and other leaders in the province. After some discussion and an amendment, the chapter approved the plan, which now goes to the Rector Major and his council for their review.

The chapter's work on March 13 was interrupted by the Church's work in Rome