Chapter VI

A) Priorities for the next six years

133. In the course of the next six years the number of young confreres will probably decline. To increase personnel in some provinces it will be necessary for others to have less.
The XVI General Chapter establishes the following priorities:
133.1 the GC must discuss with each province a sound plan of requalification of commitments;
133.2 give more prominence to MA in the provinces of the North;
133.3 ensure the training of personnel for the running of the centres for sick confreres;
133.4 for evangelisation, give priority to Africa (Sudan);
133.5 gradually consolidate our presence in Asia, assigning enough personnel at least to maintain the commitments taken on;
133.6 give preference to structures of BF/VP in provinces that have vocations.

B) Provinces and delegations

134. Considering the favourable situation of our presence in Poland for the MA of the local Church and the promising nurturing of vocations, and in order to give it more autonomy and operational scope, the GC is asked to approve, within the next three years, that it be erected into a delegation.

135. With the prospect of a greater autonomy of the delegation of Central America, and for greater impetus in the activities of MA, VP and BF, since there is the necessary number of communities and confreres and a sizeable number of radical members, the GC is asked to approve its erection into a province.

136. As a preparation for a future peace, the two provinces of Sudan – Khartoum and South Sudan – should introduce initiatives of reflection and some areas of collaboration.
The Chapter calls on the province of South Sudan, with the support of the GC, to give substance to an initiative with the aim of preparing Sudanese Catholics to play a part in the politics and in the future transformation of their country. This initiative should be planned and carried out in cooperation with the Comboni Missionary Sisters.

C) Continental coordination

137. The XVI General Chapter confirms the process begun by the ’97 Chapter to work towards contextualising our missionary service. In the exercise of authority shared responsibility and subsidiarity at all levels must continue to be encouraged. Each Continent will determine the concrete methods for carrying out the general principles.

Continental coordinator
138. Each continent will select a provincial to serve as continental coordinator (cfr. CA ’97, No.168.4), with the following functions:
138.1 to call together regularly (once a year or whenever necessary) the continental assembly of provincials, and to preside over the meeting;
138.2 bring about forms of inter-province communication and sharing, such as common projects, exchange of personnel and means (cfr. CA ’97, No. 168.4);
138.3 ensure that sectoral activities are carried out regularly;
138.4 in case of emergencies in the continent, identify and programme initiatives of solidarity, to be carried out together with the assistant general responsible (cfr. CA ’97, No. 168.4).

Continental assembly of provincials
139. The continental assembly of provincials is made up of the provincials of the continent and the assistant general for the continent, with the possible participation of the Superior General or other assistants.
These are its tasks:
139.1 to elect the continental coordinator;
139.2 to foster subsidiarity, aiming for contextualisation of missionary work;
139.3 to check on the regular execution of the activities of sectors;
139.4 to encourage groups of reflection at continental level, according to the needs of the continent;
139.5 to agree with the assistant general in charge the modes of collaboration, of presence in the continent, of visits and their frequency;
139.6 to programme sectoral continental assemblies.

Provincial who oversee the sectors
140. Within the continental assembly of provincials, the nomination takes place of those entrusted with the task of following and animating the work of the sectoral continental councils.
140.1 The nominated provincial convokes the assemblies of the sector he is following, as programmed by the continental assembly of provincials, and collaborates with the respective general secretary and provincial secretaries in the programming and carrying out of that sector’s continental councils and assemblies. (cfr. DGA No. 49.7).
140.2 The said provincial is part of the continental council of the sector in his charge. Number 51.1 of the DGA will consequently be updated.

Sectoral continental councils and general secretariats
141. Continental councils will be reconstituted, and their links with the general secretariats will be reinforced, following the indications of the DGA.


D) Spiritual Patrimony of the Institute

142. The three Causes of Beatification already before the Congregation of Saints (of the Servants of God, Bishop Antonio Maria Roveggio, Fr. Bernardo Sartori and Fr. Giuseppe Ambrosoli) will be carried forward.
The Postulation will continue to be ready to collect and examine the requests of the Institute and of local Churches regarding other confreres (e.g. Fr. Ezechiele Ramin) who are considered to be of special ecclesial significance.

143. Studium Combonianum will complete its critical study of the writings of Daniel Comboni, and set in motion the compilation of the History of the Institute.