32 of the New Rochelle
Province’s leaders met at Don Bosco Retreat Center in Haverstraw, N.Y., on
September 19-20. They included the provincial and his council, the directors of
most of the communities, and confreres with various province responsibilities. Bro.
Rob Malusa, just arrived from his mission in Zambia, also attended.
Fr. Tim Zak, provincial,
presented printed copies of Fr. Tim Ploch’s extraordinary visitation report,
introduced by the Rector Major’s letter and followed by the 2019 Provincial
Chapter’s documents. He said that the province’s project for the coming year
will be to implement the findings of the chapter, especially in the light of
Fr. Ploch’s report and the Rector Major’s letter. The directors took copies to bring back to
their communities.
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| Fr. Steve Ryan, vice provincial, addressing the assembly |
Discussion from the floor
included observations about the implications of the aging of the province—the
effects of aging on the confreres, on our relationships with the young, and on
the mission to the young. In part, that’s why the province needs a serious “lay
project,” which Fr. Zak prefers to call “formation for ministry.”
Presentations and discussion followed
on formation for ministry, formation in the Salesian charism in our schools,
networking with other Salesian schools in the region, and ongoing formation of
Salesians themselves.
Fr. Steve Ryan led a review of
the province’s safe environment policies, procedures, and issues.
In the afternoon there were
presentations on the missions, including a talk by Bro. Malusa, on the status
of the province’s educational-pastoral plan and youth ministry in general, on
province finances, and on a pastoral proposal from the New Delhi Province.
Copies of the Province Handbook,
approved by the 2019 Provincial Chapter, were delivered and distributed—a copy
for every confrere in the province.
On the second day of the
meeting, the assembly was joined by nine young adults from several Salesian
works, the men in formation from Orange, Fr. Bill Bucciferro, and Sr. Maryann
Schaefer, to contribute to an extended day dealing with the accompaniment of
young people.
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| Morning youth panel |
Fr. Abe Feliciano offered a
reflection on Christus vivit, which was the day’s guiding light. He
clarified two terms used in that apostolic exhortation: when Chapter 7 speaks
of “youth ministry,” it really means “ministry of the young” (or “by the
young”); references to a “popular youth ministry” mean “grassroots youth
ministry.”
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| Afternoon youth panel |
Throughout the day’s
presentations, reflections, and discussions, the importance of personal
relationships was brought out. Accompaniment depends upon relationships, on the
other’s feeling that he or she is cared for. The ultimate purpose of our
accompaniment is to lead the young to heaven.
Finally, small group discussions
and whole group discussions considered how to improve our accompaniment of the
young as individuals, communities, and province.
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