0
0
“The ground has been tilled. It is now time to sow the seeds by our noble actions,” were the concluding words of the Provincial Chapter VIII (PC8) moderator, Fr Thathireddy Vijayabhaskar. The last lap of
the Chapter proceedings which began on February 4, 2013 concluded with the declaration by Fr Raminedi Balaraju, the Provincial, on February 7, 2013 at 5 pm. Acclaimed to be very serene and truly fraternal in its proceeding, the PC8, did indeed bring to its own awareness several important aspects of our own spiritual, fraternal and apostolic dimensions.
The final day of the Chapter witnessed a renewed vigour among the members as everyone was keen to bring to closure the various aspects discussed and deliberated over the last few months in the communities, and more intensely in the last four days. The day was spent mostly in voting on the three main documents of the Chapter theme and the approval of the varia discussed earlier. The session immediately after b'fast witnessed the election of Fr Thathireddy as the Province delegate for the General Chapter 27 (GC 27) to be held in Rome the following year. Fr Gopu Anand was elected as the substitute.The Chapter also approved the need for the appointment of a full-time delegate for the Commission for Social Communication and the Salesian Cooperators. The proposal to shift the intermediate studies batches from Gunadala to Chandur was accepted and approved almost unanimously. On the financial front, the Chapter agreed to study the possibility of setting up some revenue generating structures in the Salesian settings where feasible. An annual amount of Rs 5000/- per head would be contributed by each community towards the health fund of the Province (which would be used for some major medical expenses of confreres, whenever necessary).
The members also discussed at length the concern expressed about the scale of b'day celebrations of confreres in some regions and the expenses incurred therein. “Prudence and witness are the key virtues,” were the final words of 
the Provincial, in this matter. By way of suggestion to the GC27, the Chapter proposed a revision the text/terminology of the Constitutions to be more gender friendly.
Proposing the vote of thanks, Fr Thathireddy, the moderator, sincerely thanked the members of the pre-capitular commission, the two external secretaries (Frs Benny Joseph and Gopu Peter) who tirelessly assisted him much before the Chapter and all through, and the community of the Provincial house for the encouraging support and assistance. On behalf of the Chapter members Fr Thottiyil Thomas praised the Moderator for his efficacious style of animating the Chapter proceedings and reaffirmed the sentiments of the Moderator towards those who assisted him.
After the concluding Mass, a book on Mamma Margaret, written by Fr John Lens, the veteran and only foreign missionary of the Province of Hyderabad, (who is just 88 years young!) was released by Fr Provincial. The presence of Fr Lens at this occasion was greatly welcomed by the Chapter members too. As the Chapter concluded, Fr Provincial reminded that the spirit of the Chapter would not end. In his rather long homily during the concluding Mass, he exhorted the confreres to carry the good spirit shared and experienced in the Chapter, back to our respective communities.
Br. Vincent Castilino
