Consecrated Life: Salesians in Portugal approved reference document for “all projects and programming”

Provincial Chapter also elected Father João Chaves as delegate to the general chapter of the congregation

Lisbon, May 7, 2024 (Ecclesia) – The Salesians of Dom Bosco of Portugal, gathered in Provincial Chapter 2024, between May 1 and 4, in Lisbon, approved the ‘Provincial Organic Project’ and elected the national delegate to the General Chapter of the congregation , in 2025.

“The assembly studied and approved in these days the ‘Provincial Organic Project’, a document that is the reference for all projects and programming of the animation and government bodies of the communities and works of the Province”, informs the Portuguese Province of the Salesian Society, in a statement, sent today, May 7th, to the ECCLESIA Agency.

The Salesians of Dom Bosco of Portugal held their Provincial Chapter 2024, which was “an experience of co-responsibility and synodality”, between the 1st and 4th of May, at the Provincial House, in Lisbon; with the provincial superior, Father Tarcízio Morais, 26 chapter members from all Salesian presences participated, “representing all the consecrated brothers”.

At this national meeting, which deepened the theme of the next General Chapter (GC29), ‘In love with Jesus Christ, Dedicated to Young People – For a faithful and prophetic life of our Salesian vocation’, they also elected Father João Chaves as the delegate of the Portuguese Province to this “major meeting” of the religious congregation, which will take place from February 16th to April 12th, 2025.

The 29th General Chapter of the Salesian Congregation will choose the new main rector of the Salesians of Don Bosco, who will be the 11th successor of the founder, Saint John Bosco; this meeting was called following the current superior general, Father Ángel Fernández Artime (Spain), having been named cardinal by Pope Francis, on July 9, 2023, the consistory took place on September 30, in St. Pedro.

In the 2024 chapter of the Portuguese Province of the Salesian Society, the general theme was reflected in three background nuclei: ‘The animation and care of the true life of each Salesian’: ‘Together, Salesians, Salesian Family and Lay People, with and for young people’ and ‘A courageous assessment and reorganization of Congregational governance at all levels’.

The statement also highlights the participation of “four lay people” in this Provincial Chapter 2024, who “enriched the various themes” with their perspective of lay people “committed and co-responsible in the Salesian mission”.

The Salesians of Don Bosco of Portugal explain that the Provincial Chapter of the congregation is “the fraternal meeting” in which local communities “reinforce their sense of belonging to the provincial community, through common concern for general problems”; According to the constitutions and regulations of the Society of Saint Francis de Sales, the ordinary Provincial Chapter of Salesians “is convened by the provincial every three years, and whenever there is a General Chapter”, and extraordinarily, when the national leader “deems it convenient for the good of the province”, with the consent of its council and after having consulted the rector-major.

CB/OC