CONGREGATION OF CHRISTIAN BROTHERS Fratelli Cristiani

23 February 2005
 
Dear Brothers,
 
Greetings to you from all of us on the Congregation Leadership Team gathered at this time in Rome.
 
Our time here has enabled us to look at a number of issues that face our Congregation and also to set in motion certain mechanisms that hopefully will help us deal with them.
 
One of the questions facing us deals with the canonical and constitutional implications that arise out of restructuring. We have tried to see how our new structures enhance our call as Brothers and how they would further new life in mission and ministry. Once we have been clear about this we have tried to see how all this fits in with our current Constitutions and the requirements of Canon Law. We sought clarification on a number of points, have met with a canon lawyer in the Vatican and finally have asked Michael Colasuonno to come to Rome and discuss matters with us.
 
As a result of all of this we have asked Michael to undergo a short study for us and to prepare a document dealing with definite items that we need addressing.
 
* To look at changes that will have to be made in our Constitutions as a result of the new structures across the Congregation.
* To look at possibilities for a different approach to Chapter representation at the Congregation Chapter of 2008, which would reflect the new reality of restructuring around the Congregation.
* To clarify how the new structure of Pan-Africa may be understood.
* To define the term ‘district’ as it is being used in Africa.
* To clarify the status of the leadership roles in Africa such as District Leader and African Leader, and to see where their authority is derived from.
* To see if the responsibilities laid down for the African Leader cover all the duties of a Canonical Leader.
* To see whether the Charters for Africa are in accordance with our Constitutions
 
We are notifying you, our Province, Region and District Leaders, not only so that you may be aware of what is happening, but more importantly that you may take part in the process. It is critical that you avail yourself of the opportunity to participate in the creation of the document that Michael is preparing because this may eventually entail a change in our Constitutions. If you have any questions that arise out of your own dealings with restructuring please write to Michael (mcolasuonno@hotmail.com) and copy it to Jack Mostyn (jackmostyn@aol.com). This will ensure that the report becomes more comprehensive and embracing of many of the concerns from around our Congregation. Michael’s postal address is:
Christian Brothers,
House of Hospitality,
17 Synge Street,
Dublin 8,
Ireland.
 
Michael has been asked to give us a briefing on the African items on the agenda before our meeting in Lusaka in the first week of April 2005. He hopes to be able to give us a more detailed report by the end of August 2005. This report will be sent out to you with the belief that we can table it at our Leadership Conference in January 2006.
 
Thanking you, and with every good wish,
 
Yours sincerely in Jesus and Blessed Edmund,

 
Philip Pinto