The word of the superior general

For the government of the Congregation, the Superior General is assisted by a General Council and the Council of the Congregation. (R of L art. 200)

In order to avoid falling into such extremes,  important decisions taken by superiors of consecrated life need to have recourse to councils. Canon Law requires every Major superior to have a council. In the case of our Congregation there are councils at three levels: the Vicar Regional’s council also known as the council of the vicariate, the Superior regional’s council known as the regional council, and the superior general’s council known as the general council. In days gone by there was also a local council with the local superior, the communities being more important.  As article 282 specifies, particularly in smaller communities “two religious with perpetual vows will assist the superior.”

Before reaching certain decisions, the superior major is bound to seek the advice of his council: according to the matter under consideration, he must ask the advice or the consent of his council (RoL 201 & 241). The Superior is not a member of the Council and does not participate in voting when this takes place. His councillors only cast their vote in order to help him to take a decision. According to the issue under consideration, this vote may be:

- an advice vote: the Superior General or Regional isn’t obliged to assemble his council, rather ask each councillor for his opinion before taking any decision at their level.

- a consent vote:  The Superior General or Regional is bound to assemble his council with at least half the members present, in order to expose the situation as clearly as possible, to listen to the different opinions, and to submit the whole question to a secret ballot; for this decision an absolute majority of those present is required.

In both cases the councillors must express their opinion on the decision to be reached which must remain secret.

The General Council (Rule of Life 200 – 216) is constituted of four religious elected by the general chapter and for 6 years.  The Vicar General (R of L 208 – 210) and the General Bursar (R of L 211 – 215) reside in Rome with the Superior General; they also assure the role of Procurator and General Secretary.  Two other councillors join them at least once a year for a council meeting.  The Superior General consults them constantly.  The areas in which the consent vote is required are specified in article 205 and in article 206 for the council.

The Regional Council (R of L 240 – 260):  as part of his function the Superior Regional is assisted by the Regional Council, constituted by the regional vicars; each one is in charge of a vicariate (R of L 240).  The council is therefore formed by all the regional vicars, appointed by the Superior General on the advice of  his own council and the advice of every religious of the vicariate. Their mandate is for 6 years.  One of the regional vicars is appointed “first regional vicar”, and becomes a major superior (R of L 251)  The sectors requiring a consensus vote by the regional council are stipulated in the articles 244 and 245.  For those mentioned in article 244 the approval of the Superior General and the consent of his council are required.

The vicariate council (R of L 261 – 267):  Each regional vicar works in collaboration with a council composed of all the superiors of the vicariate communities.  Should they be missing they will be replaced by two councillors elected during a meeting of the vicariate assembly. (R of L 262).

The function of the vicariate council is to favour the links between the communities of the vicariate, to have an eye on the life and mission of the communities and to favour communication between all the religious on the life and mission of the vicariate as well as of the region (R of L 263).  Decisions are not taken in the vicariate council with the exception of the admission of postulants (art 264).  This can allow great freedom for analysing the situation and mission of the communities, to inform the regional superior of the advice and conclusions so that with his council he can take the necessary decisions.  There is also the function of assessor to the regional vicaire in his role as representing the congregation before the civil authorities (R of L 265) and the administration of the goods of the vicariate (R of L 266).

In the 1969 rule there was also the Council of the Province and the Council of Congregation. The Council Council of the Province was abolished by the Holy See because of the new organisation in regions. The Council of Congregation has survived because of its competence which is listed in article 217: it checks, lists the tools, indicates, and examines but takes no decisions.  This does not take away its importance in the life of the congregation.  It is here that the major superiors meet with the general council to feel the reality of the congregation; it is here that the life of the religious and communities find ways of thinking over projects as well as plans for future animation and government which will facilitate inculturation and the development of the charism.

Gaspar Fernández Pérez, scj