“I am very happy to present to you this Practical Guide for the Local Superior. I hope that it will be helpful both in the formation of superiors and in their everyday service to the confreres in our houses.” Robert Maloney, C.M.To the members of the Congregation of the Mission
My very dear Confreres,
I am very happy to present to you this Practical Guide for the Local Superior. I hope that it will be helpful both in the formation of superiors and in their everyday service to the confreres in our houses.
In fact, this Guide speaks of more than just the superior. It emphasizes the role of all the members of the local community in promoting its life and ministries. I trust that it will be useful to the whole Congregation as we strive, together, to create life-giving, supportive, service-oriented communities.
I ask that this Practical Guide be used in the initial and ongoing formation of our superiors and that the members of our local communities use it too, from time to time, to reflect on and concretize the various aspects of Vincentian life together, particularly as they formulate their community plan.
May our local communities be living bodies where we are “of one mind and one heart” (Acts 4:32) in the evangelization and service of the poor.
Your brother in St. Vincent,
__http://www.famvin.org/cm/curia/vincentiana/2003/nu4/index.html
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Practical Guide for the Local Superior
Table of Contents
Presentation by the Superior General, Robert P. Maloney, C.M.
Introduction
Chapter I Foundation stones for good practice
· The role of authority in the New Testament
· The role of the superior in the writings of St. Vincent
· The role of the local superior within a model of communion
· The role of the local superior within a community “for the mission”
Chapter II The local superior: nomination, formation, term, job description
Chapter III Practical guidelines concerning ten important relationships of the local superior
· With the Visitor and his council
· With the local community “ad instar Consilii” (S 79 § 3) or with the house council (if one exists)
· With the domestic assembly
· With the assistant superior
· With the local treasurer
· With the members of the house as individuals
· With the poor
· With the members of the Vincentian Family
· With guests
· With the local ordinary and the local clergy
Chapter IV Practical guidelines concerning seven key moments in the life of the local community
· Apostolate
· Prayer
· Meals
· Meetings
· Relaxation
· Nurturing new life
· Formulation of the Local Community Plan
Appendices
I A list of all the references in the Constitutions and Statutes to the local superior
II Some models of the local Community Plan
III Books and files kept in the local community
IV Profession of Faith and Oath of Fidelity
V Citations from St. Vincent about the local superior
Bibliography
