XVIII General Chapter: Thematic Synthesis for Discernment

Comboni Missionaries of the Heart of Jesus
XVIII General Chapter

Comboni missionary disciples
called to live the joy of the Gospel in today's world

Rome 2015

Thematic Synthesis
for Discernment

Dear Capitulars,
A warm welcome to each and every one of you from the members of the Pre-Capitular Commission.

It is a grace for each one of us to be here on behalf of the whole Institute to celebrate our XVIII General Chapter.

The work of this Chapter does not start now. We are here to reap the fruits of a long journey of preparation which started with the Inter-Chapter Assembly of 2012. This continued in the month of February 2014 with the meeting of the newly elected Superiors of Circumscriptions at the beginning of their mandate. It was in these two meetings that among other things, the directive emerged of engaging the help of a facilitator with the purpose of having someone to accompany us in this process.

On June 27, 2014, the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart, the General Council sent the letter of convocation of the XVIII General Chapter to all the members of the Institute and announced the inspirational theme: Comboni missionary disciples called to live the joy of the Gospel in today's world, sending also Instruments for reflection and participation in the XVIII General Chapter.

Guided by the challenges of the mission today and in respect for and continuity with the last General Chapter, the General Council invited us to prepare this XVIII Chapter starting with the four dimensions that shape our lives as Comboni Missionaries. These dimensions – Persons, Spirituality, Mission and Reorganization – were already identified in the guide to the implementation of the 2009 General Chapter.

Each Circumscription has therefore elected its delegates to the Chapter while, thanks to the questionnaire sent, reflection began first at personal, at community and, later, at circumscription level. The Continental assemblies tried to put together all this work done by the Circumscriptions respecting the particularities of each local reality and reflection. A significant number of confreres, personally or as groups, sent us their reflections and proposals reminding us that the Chapter is not just about Capitulars but all the members of the Institute.

The working instrument that you have in your hands is thus a result of this long journey of preparation to the Chapter. In a synthesis, it collects all contributions coming from individuals and groups of confreres, Circumscriptions, continental assemblies and from the General Direction.

For each dimension we present a working guideline divided into four parts:

1. Reality and challenges;
2. Lights and shadows of the last six years;
3. Open questions for the Chapter discernment;
4. Some emerging proposals.

A list of other proposals is attached to this working document.

In this way, this thematic synthesis has the objective of providing the Chapter with some data and stimuli to accompany the work of the study groups and to facilitate discernment, with no intention of substituting the Chapter’s work or influencing its outcome.

We wish you good discernment to make decisions that help the Institute continue and be a Cenacle of apostles that lives and proclaims and bears witness to the joy of the Gospel to the ends of the earth.
The Pre-Capitular Commission