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VINCENTIAN STUDIES COURSE
BOQUERON, CHIRIQUI, PANA
JOHN P. PRAGER, C.M. 1995
8. GOVERNMENT AND STRUCTURE
GOAL: Understand the structures that the C.M. has developed
for its government.
READINGS FOR THE TEACHER:
Contassot, F., St. Vincent de Paul: Guide des Superieurs, (Paris:l964)
Crawford, R., The Local Superior in the C.M.:A Commentary
on His Rights and Duties, (Rome: Angelicum, l954).
Corera, J., "Ideas de San Vicente sobre la Autoridad en la Vida
Comunitaria," Diez Estudios Vicencianos, (Salamanca:CEME, l983),
p. 107-128.
Koch, B., "El Superior Vicenciano," Anales 92 (l984),
p. 502-513.
López, M., "Relación del Procurador General," Vincentiana
36 (l992), p. 516-531
Molina, E., El Superior Local en la C.M., (Salamanca:
l960).
Palú, L., "O Oficio dos Assistentes Gerais," Vincentiana
36 (l992), p. 509-511.
Pérez-Flores, M., "La Asamblea Provincial," Vincentiana
33 (l989), p. 459-470.
--, "El Consejo Provincial," Vincentiana 33 (l989), p. 425-445.
--, La Figura Constitucional del Superior General, Vincentiana
36 (l992), p. 489-506.
--, "El Oficio del Vicario General," Vincentiana 36 (l992),
p. 507-508.
--, "The Superior General of the C.M. and the Daughters of Charity,"
Vincentian Heritage 5 (l984), p.1-41.
"Los Poderes del Superior General y los Visitadores," Vincentiana
37 (l993), p. 537-540.
Rigazio, A., "La Función del Visitador según el
Pensamiento de San Vicente y los Documentos de la Iglesia, Vincentiana
33 (l989), p. 401ff.
"The Visitors in Service of the Mission," Vincentiana
34 (l990), p.37-46.
READINGS FOR THE NOVICES:
Constitutions No. 96-147; Statutes No. 51-99.
CASE STUDY
At the beginning of the monthly house meeting, Joe, the superior at St.
Anthony's parish, reminds the confreres that his three years as superior
will soon be up. "The provincial will be coming next month," he adds,
to consult the house."
"I thought we might look at some of the things we expect in a local
superior."
Mark, the youngest member of the house, jokes: "I still don't have passive
voice so that leaves me out."
Frank, about twenty years senior to Mark, says with a laugh: "You needn't
worry!" He continues more seriously: "Joe, you've only finished one
term. Can't we just ask him to give you another three years? That way
we can cut the meeting short."
Joe replied:"He can give me another term. But, even if he decides to
do that, I'd find it helpful knowing what you all want in a superior."
Mark asked, "Why do we need a superior? Why can't we all be responsable
for the running of the house?"
Lou entered the conversation saying:"We all share a certain reponsibility
for the house. However, canon law and the Constitutions require a superior."
Tom, the oldest confrere, said with some emphasis: "That's right. The
community has always had superiors. I want someone who will make good
decisions for us."
Mark, reddening a bit, "That's my point. Why do we need someone to tell
us what to do?"
Joe interposed, "To be honest, I haven't found myself making many decisions
for the house- at least not without consulting. I think the superior
is more of an animator rather than a boss."
Lou seconded the thought saying: "That's right. The job of the superior
is to unify the house, especially with regard to the mission. I want
someone who will bring us together and help us work together.
Mark jumped back in: "I'd like to see someone like Joe who knows how
to listen and is concerned about the confreres."
"Well, let's think about it some more.", said Joe. "Wecan talk again
before the provincial comes."
The following questions can be discussed:
1. How do the confreres in the case understand the
role of superior?
2. Which idea is closest to that of the Constitutions?
3. What qualities should a superior have?
4. What do you think of Mark's suggestion that everyone should be responsable?
5. What should be the role of authority in the C.M. on the local level?
Provincial level? International level?
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