Remember...

Going through the heart a

“The Constitutions are "the work of God,

non-invention of men
and as such we must respect them...
I have put nothing out of my head,
I have only been a useless instrument
that our Lord used"
(M. A. Paris)
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Dear Sister,

The Spirit, he continues to speak, continues to insist on the path

of renewal. Pope Francis tells us: "To new wine, new wineskins";
there is no need to fear changing things according to the gospel law
which is always novelty (n. 10).

Faithful to our charism, we are called to a constant updating to

respond better to the reality of the changing world, to the geographical
and cultural expansion of the Congregation, to each new generation
that has to confront its missionary journey from our legislation, and so
that we may all live the spirit of the Founders in new ways, guarding
the identity and congregational unity. Both the Constitutions and the
Directory are places of reference in the discernments of our Claretian
life.

We are the Constitutions and Board of Directors

Commission formed and convened by the General Government on
May 17, 2022: Ana María Mandrile, María Soledad Galerón, Luisa
Emilia Argañaraz, Catherine Tulengi, Hildelgardis Ghele and Beatriz
Mª Pereiro.
Through this letter, we communicate with you to make you a
participant in this proposal for deepening and reflection of our
Constitutions and Directory, and to ask for your collaboration in
order to present to the consideration and discernment of the XVIII
General Chapter, the points or issues that require it, or the study of
their renewal if necessary.
We consider that, in response to directives of the Church, in
several years and Chapters, the Congregation was looking for ways
and committing itself to reread and interpret the original inspiration of
the Founders. She has made a great effort in the search for identity,
lifestyle and mission embodied in our legislation, to adapt it in a way
that responds to the signs of the times.
Constitutions are a form of rereading of the Gospel made by the
Founders responding to the illumination of the Spirit. "They are the
expression of the action of God, who calls us to follow and imitate in

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his Church the evangelical life of Christ, as our Founders carried

it out under the action of the Holy Spirit" (Const. 6). In the words
of the M. Foundress they are: "the work of God, not the invention of
men and as such we must respect them... I have put nothing out of
my head, I have only been a useless instrument that our Lord used."
We remember that it all began with the Initial, transformative and
profound Experience of Maria Antonia Paris, which changed her life
and shaped her according to the Gospel. She herself tells us: "Here
Our Lord gave me the design of the whole Order" (Aut MP 7).

Mother Foundress understood, feeling with the Church, that the

Constitutions contain the foundation of Claretian life, which is why
their approval was so important to her. Father Claret, aware that this
foundation had to be reflected in the legislation that configures the
internal and external life of the institute, asked Maria Antonia "to put
in order the original points of the Order" that she had written in 1848
since when she arrived from the visit, she would work to send it to
Rome (Cf. Aut MP 228).
The Constitutions contain principles, essential elements, that give
us a sense of belonging and unity. For this reason, the adaptations
that can be made must not affect the cores most proper to our
charism.

Likewise, the Irrevocable Day is the set of norms of a general

nature for the whole Congregation which, systematically ordained,
constitute the organic complement of the Constitutions (Dir.13). It is of
great importance and is frequently used to consult the daily progress of
life. Anything that may be subject to possible changes must be
included in the Directory since it can be modified directly by the
Chapter.

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As a team we want to point out that we must take into

account criteria for this delicate work. We know some that can
help you:

- Constitutions must be broad and open as far as possible. They

cannot represent excessively local aspects verbatim. We must
take into account languages and cultures, but we must give it unity
in the structure of language.

- It is about updating what we already have, not making new

Constitutions. We have "entered" to be part of something that
already exists, already has life, has identity, has roots and fruits.
We must not fall into the temptation of the "ex-novo", to let
ourselves be influenced by the current culture for which everything
is "old", everything must be changed, everything is "disposable",
the current "is the maximum"; change for change's sake.

- The update is born of a need. The Institute has to perceive it from

the grassroots, it is not enough for only governments to see it. Its
purpose is to respond adequately, in a transparent, credible,
attractive way, to the needs of life and mission of the Institute in
fidelity to the Church.

- It should serve to internalize, revitalize the Charism, to live it and

express it better; to bear in mind that we are not legislating for
"others", but for us, who are part of that whole. For this we need
to make a confrontation, personal and communal.

- The updating of our legislation is a moment of grace that we are

granted to live today. We live faith and openness to God, not to
what "you want for the Congregation, but to what 'God wants for
it'. Openness allows us to live a dynamism that constantly grows,
enriches, strengthens, broadens the vision, deepens the
experience. It offers, therefore, a process of ongoing formation.

- Itis not a technical job, which has no life, nor can it give life. It has
to be a juridical, theological and spiritual process; with a

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participatory methodology, since all the Claretian Sister

can express its experience, her feelings, it’s part of truth in
the reading of the Charism, because it dwells in it.

And now... How to go through the heart of the Constitutions and

Directory?

We invite you to a personal work and response

a. Take a sufficient time, privileged and do a cordial reading,

reflective and prayerful, charismatic and ecclesial structure of the
Constitutions and Directory, letting you be questioned. These
documents are a mirror that reflects your identity, your image as
a Claretian Missionary.

b. We request your courageous and valuable contribution by

answering and sharing these questions:

1. Do the Constitutions and the Directory illuminate, guide,

give meaning, are they present in your inner itinerary
and in your daily practices? How?

2. At what points in the Constitutions and Directory do you

experience difficulties in your life? Why?

3. What points do you suggest modifying so that they

better express our Claretian identity and define their
deepest and most authentic practice?

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c. Send your replies to the following email address:

coconstdir@gmail.com

or by filling out the Google form

https://forms.gle/fTo8LRG4P4pRUDsi7

or by writing on behalf of the Commission of Constitutions and

Directory to the postal address of Via Calandrelli 12, 00153 Rome,
Italy.

d. The maximum date is 15 January 2023.

SUGGESTION
It is important to share in community your personal reflection to
enrich yourself and the sisters with your contribution. It can be
held as a community study meeting, an prayer space, a
celebratory one... a time that helps us to revitalize the gift
received.

And remember... that the work that the Commission will present,
based on the contributions of all, will be only propositional and
facilitative, since it is the General Chapter that decides and can
accept it or not.
We send you a big hug and invite you to put this Project in the hands of
our Immaculate Mother together and work on it, with responsibility and
joy.

Constitutions and Board of Directors Committee

October 2022

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For my personal reflection …

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