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VINCENTIAN STUDIES COURSE
BOQUERON, CHIRIQUI, PANA
JOHN P. PRAGER, C.M. 1995
5. THE CONSTITUTIONS: COMMUNITY LIFE
GOAL: Understand the value of community life in the C.M.
READINGS FOR THE TEACHER:
Antonello, E., "Le Missionnaire et le Vie Communitaire," Vincentiana
28 (l984), p. 812-824.
Dodin, A., "La Organización y el Espíritu de la
Vida Común según San Vicente," in Vicente de Paúl:
Inspirador de la Vida Comunitaria, (Salamanca:CEME, l975),
p. 139-160.
Gallastegui, V., "La Vida Comunitaria," in Reflexiones
sobre la Identidad de las Hijas de la Caridad, (Salamanca: CEME,
l980), p. 89-105.
Gaziello, J.F., "La Communauté selon St. Vincent," Vincentiana
28 (l984), p. 616-653.
--, " La Vie Communitaire dans la C.M.," Vincentiana 31
(l987), p. 684-705.
Jorda, J., "Comunión Fraterna," in Don Total Para el
Servicio, (Salamanca:CEME, l982), p.223-228.
León, M., "Reflexiones sobre Vida Comunitaria," CLAPVI
30 (l981), p. 20-30.
Lloret, M., "La Comunidad Vicenciana: Realidad Viva de la Fe,"
in Identidad Vicenciana en un Mundo de Increencia, (Salamanca:
CEME, l990), p. 161-180.
Martínez, B., "Vida Fraterna y Misión," Vincentiana
37 (l993), p. 489ff.
Morin, J., "St. Vincent et la Communauté," Bulletin
des Lazaristes de France 41 (l973), p. 46-65.
Pérez-Flores, M., "Reflexiones sobre la Vida en Común
del Misionero Vicenciano," Vincentiana 34 (l990), p. 126- 137.
Romo, B., "La Comunidad para la Misión," CLAPVI 50
(l986), p. 38-51.
Spisla, E., "Comunidades Renovadas," CLAPVI 67 (l992),
p. 250ff.
Suescun, J., "Vida Fraterna para la Misión," in Don
Total, p. 155-179.
Terezinha, R.M., "La Comunidad Apostólica y Fraterna,"
CLAPVI 41 (l983), p. 362-383.
"La Vida Comunitaria según San Vicente y en la Actualidad,"
Anales 85 (l977), p. 381-418.
READINGS FOR THE NOVICES:
Constitutions No. 19-27; Statutes No. 13-16.
OPTIONAL READINGS:
Claffey, J., "New Communities," Vincentiana 36 (l992), p. 419-428.
Community Life in the Time of St. Vincent and Our Own,
(Document of the Preparatory Commission for the l980 General Assembly).
Maloney, R., "Community Living and the Community Plan," Vincentiana
27 (l983), p. 74ff; also in The Way of Vincent De Paul,
p. 130ff.
Rybolt, J., "As Good Friends," Vincentiana 37 (l993), p.475-
489.
Slawson, D.," St. Vincent's View of Common Life, "Vincentian Heritage
13 (l992), p. 1-12.
CASE STUDY
Joe, the superior of St. Anthony's parish, called the house meeting to
order. "As you all know, this is our annual meeting to devise the house
plan. I hope you all have brought some ideas for the things that we
ought to include."
The oldest confrere, Tom, exclaimed with some humor: "In my day we never
had to do this sort of thing. Every house in the congregation had the
same schedule, the same practices. Life was so much simpler then."
Frank, a middle-aged man, jumped in:" Yeah, I know. We were taught
the same thing. Keep the rule and the rule will keep you, etc."
Mark, the youngest of the group, asked:" Didn't all that uniformity
drive you crazy?"
Joe responded: "It did some people.Most just took it in stride and learned
to live with the situation. In any case, let's get back to the present.
The task at hand is to commit ourselves to certain values and practices
for the coming year. Any ideas?"
Lou, a man in his late forties suggested: "I took some of the key elements
of our life and tried to think of some ways to live them concretely.
Perhaps we could us that as a schema?"
"Let's see what you've got," said Joe. "I used the Constitutions as
a base and followed the chapter outlines: Apostolate, Community, Prayer,
Use of
community goods."
Tom interjected: "I think the format is too broad. We need a few more
specific categories like recreation, meals, etc."
Mark offered: "We really have to think about the common life angle some
more. We need to share more, be more like a family."
"Wait a minute. I'm not going to be sitting around holding hands all
day. Thecommunity exists for the mission." responded Frank.
"You're right.", answered Joe. "But Mark does have a valid point. We
have to think about the quality of our life together." "Anyone else
have any ideas?"
Reading from his notes Lou brought up: "We should try to give some
thought to how we want to pray together."
After writing down the last comment in his notebook, Joe said. "We've
certainly got a lot of ideas to work with here. Let's take a short break
while I try to organize some of the suggestions"
The following questions might be discussed:
1. What do you think of the process the confreres used in the case?
2. What do you think community life means for each of these men?
3. What does it mean for you?
4. If you were part of the group, what would you have added or subtracted
from the list?
5. What do you think are the key elements for forming a good local community?
6. How can these key elements be promoted?
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