Assembly of Major Superiors
The
in-presence Assembly of Provincial Superiors was held in Rome from 3 to 7
September 2022, after a two-year break due to the Covid-19 pandemic. We recall that the Assembly is a forum for
sharing, collegiality and synodality, to deal with matters of concern to the
Hospitaller Family of Saint John of God.
The theme chosen this year, in the wake of the Provincial Chapters was: Leaders
of Hope: Having been convoked by a synodal Church,
we are being urged to seize on the new challenges of how to practise hospitality
Objectives:
1 - To reflect on our leadership style in order to promote a joyful commitment
to the Charism of Hospitality and to be able to accompany the life and
comprehensive development of each Brother according to their state of life.
2 - To reinterpret
the service of leadership in the light of the changes taking place in the world
and the Church today, embracing diversity and allowing new institutional and
management models to flourish.
Main themes: 1 - The synodal way of the Church:
general characteristics, mysticism and spirituality
2 - The
leadership of Jesus, and leadership in the synodal Church today
3 -
Leadership, organisation, management, accountability, relationships and
systemic networks
4 -
Presentation of certain essential leadership skills: listening, dialogue,
discernment.
Methodology: Experiential / Participatory /
Evaluative
In
his homily on the Gospel text for the day, which by a happy coincidence was on
"The Good Samaritan", the Prior General, Brother Jesús Etayo, draw attention
to the question the lawyer had put to Jesus, "Master, what must I
do to inherit eternal life?" It is eternal life, said the Prior General,
that gives sense and meaning to our faith and vocation. Without the
resurrection, our faith is vain, as Saint Paul has told us.
In
his opening address, Prior General had noted that Authority and Government in
the consecrated life must be exercised, at every level and in a synodal style,
with fraternal love, in dialogue, giving each other mutual support, and depending
on one another, listening to the Brothers and Co-workers, the guests and all
those around us. We must walk with everyone, especially the most vulnerable,
and see with them how to handle distressing situations. Sometimes giving encouragement
will be necessary, or correcting people, but this must always be done by
listening and discerning, and at all times with charity.