CHAPTER VI

GOVERNMENT

Prologue

179.
Dominican government, communitarian and democratic, has as its final end the enhancement of the Order's mission.

The basic elements of this government are the Word of God, common life and the tradition of the Order, always attentive to the situations and changes of the times.

Government calls and animates all the brethren to be responsible. This responsibility is shown in the ability to listen and to serve, and also in sharing Dominican life with the brethren.

Our brethren are becoming ever more conscious of participating in projects of collaboration, not only at the moment of their planning, but also in their accomplishment.

Recognizing these attitudes and desires, this Chapter would like to make some clarifications regarding some points in order to develop more fully our life and mission.

The progress made in collaboration since the Chapter at Caleruega:

Declaration

180.
The unifications already accomplished:

1) In July 1996 the Province of St Dominic in Italy was set up after the unification of the Province of Lombardy and the Province of St Peter Martyr.

2) In July 1997 the Province of St Thomas in Italy was set up after the unification of the Neapolitan Province of St Thomas and the Province of Sicily.

3) In July 1997 the Province of France was set up after the unification of the province of France and the Province of Lyon.

4) In August 1997 the Province of St Catherine in Italy was set up after the unification of the Province of Rome and the Province of St Mark and Sardinia.

5) In January 1998 the Province of Bartolomé de las Casas was set up after the unification of the Province of St Thomas (Brazil), the Vicariate of St Catherine (the Province of St Dominic in Italy), and the Vicariate of St Martin de Porres (the Province of Malta).

181.
Other steps taken:

1) The regional organisations (I.A.O.P., I.E.O.P. and C.I.D.A.L.), with their respective statutes.

2) The N.G.O. Verapaz project of the Spanish Dominican Family.

3) The N.G.O. and the permanent office before the Human Rights Commission in Geneva set up by the Justice & Peace Commission of the Order in collaboration with the Franciscans.

4) The coming together of the three Italian provinces to set up the common studium of philosophy and theology.

5) The co-operation between the vicariates of the Province of Betica and the Province of the Holy Rosary to set up a new entity of the Dominicans in Venezuela.

6) The missionary project, common to the Dominican Sisters of Bethany (Venlo/Holland) and the brethren of the German Province, in Leipzig (East Germany).

7) The meeting in Istanbul between the brethren and the sisters of the Mediterranean basin who work in dialogue with Islam, and the creation of the two networks 'Islam in Europe' to improve collaboration between the brethren and sisters who live and work with Muslims in Europe. One of the networks was set up in Genoa bringing together the brethren and the sisters from the Mediterranean basin. The other network was set up in Brussels for northern Europe.

8) The project in Istanbul between the Province of St Dominic in Italy and the Iraqi Congregation of the Sisters of St Catherine.

9) The work shared in Albania between the friars of the Province of Malta and the Iraqi Congregation of the Sisters of St. Catherine.

10) Some provinces have covered the expenses for the formation studies of some brethren in the vicariates.

182.
Other steps being taken:

1) The project between the Province of Switzerland and the Province of St Dominic in Italy for the establishment of a new house at Lugano (Switzerland).

2) The project for the establishment of an international novitiate between the provinces of Columbia, Ecuador and the vicariates of Venezuela and Bolivia.

3) The project of the International Community to be set up at Brussels between the South-Belgian Vicariate and the Provinces of Toulouse, France, St Dominic in Italy, Germany, England, the Province of the Netherlands, Ireland, Flanders.

4) After the temporary interruption of the activities of the Pedro de Cordoba Centre in Santiago, Chile, the meeting of C.I.D.A.L. and C.O.D.A.L., in February 1998, at Cochabamba, Bolivia, has decided to recommence this project. The centre is once again in operation, and classes are expected to start in February 1999.

5) The common formation, from pre-noviciate up to institutional studies, between the Peruvian Province of St John the Baptist (Peru) and the Regional Vicariate of Puerto Maldonado of the Province of Spain.

6) The project DOMUNI (University of Humanities and Religion on the Internet), begun by the Province of Toulouse, and available for the participation of the whole Dominican Family.

7) The project for the establishment of a common novitiate for the Spanish provinces.

Government and Collaboration Between Provinces

Recommendation

183.
We recommend that the provinces and vicariates of the Order, at their Chapters take into account and integrate projects and concrete forms of collaboration that have been, or are to be, established with other bodies of the Order or in the framework of the regional structures of the Order. Thus together we can enable the Order to be established in those places where it is not present, and ensure that it continues or is renewed, especially in places where its presence is still weak or has become weak. Thus we can also pursue apostolic ministry essential to the vitality of the mission of the Order and create projects that respond to new needs.

UNIFICATIONS

Declaration

184.
The purpose of the unifications that have taken place in Italy, France and Brazil was the creation of provinces capable of serving the mission of the Order in the countries concerned. They were realised under good conditions of dialogue between the Master of the Order and the bodies concerned, as well as between the bodies themselves. We wish that these experiences, which are new in the Order as regards their importance and number in the past few years, be welcomed as possible perspectives for certain regions or countries, to respond better to the needs of the mission.

REGIONAL STRUCTURES AND INTERPROVINCIAL COLLABORATION AND THEIR LEGISLATIVE FOUNDATION.

Declaration

185.
Collaboration today demands a greater openness of all the brethren towards other institutions of the Order at work in the same country or region. The common efforts have given birth to regular meetings between provincials on a national level and, at a regional level, permanent structures of collaboration (CIDAL, IAOP, IEOP).

At a national or sub-regional level

Recommendation

186.
We recommend that provinces or vicariates make full use of the possibilities given in the Constitutions (LCO 390 to 395) by establishing contracts, approved by the Master of the Order and thus having force of law, in order to make collaboration more effective and permanent, as some parts of the Order already do. These contracts can stipulate:

1) the creation of priories or inter-provincial houses (cf. Caleruega n.181, LCO 391, 5°)

2) regular meetings between provincials and provincial councils,

3) the simultaneous celebration of provincial chapters and consequently of meetings of definitories, with a view to promulgating common declarations and ordinations.

They may specify the obligatory nature for all the brothers of the decisions made during these different common assemblies.

Particular agreements, approved by the Master of the Order, may also prepare the way for the possibility of assigning brothers from one province to another without recourse to the Master of the Order, as is the case in certain provinces already.

Other types of contracts may also be drawn up for:

  • periodic meetings between different provincial officials, formators, students, professors or promoters,
  • projects such as a common noviciate or studium

On a regional level

Ordination

187.
Where regional institutions do exist: in order give greater efficiency to nominations and decisions, and in order to allow collaboration to last for long periods and adapt to new conditions and needs, it is advisable that particular statutes determine precisely how decisions are to be made and on the obligatory nature of declarations, ordinations and projects that are adopted. The statutes, once they are approved by the Master of the Order, have juridical status. We ordain that before the next General Chapter, the superiors of the various bodies who are members of any regional assemblies evaluate how efficient the adopted regional structures and statutes are.

Recommendations

188.
We recommend that those regions who have not yet done so, should establish statutes adapted to their situation and to the needs of collaboration.

189.
We recommend that in the framework of regional structures, the provincials should pay attention to the particular needs of the weakened provinces. They shall reflect on these situations and look for perspectives that would support their apostolic presence there, thus allowing communities to function harmoniously in places where there are many elderly brothers (cf. Caleruega no. 45).

CONTRACTS FOR COLLABORATION ON SPECIFIC PROJECTS

Declaration

190.
We take note of the need to launch apostolic projects that respond to new realities. These projects are often beyond the means of the body of the Order present in these areas. Collaboration between several provinces appears inevitable in order to get these projects off the ground. This collaboration can be accomplished in two ways: either different entities participate equally in the project, or it becomes a case of other entities co-operating in the project of that entity in whose area the project is to become a reality and which therefore has the responsibility for the project.

Ordination

191.
To make this collaboration more explicit, we establish the following points:

1. Selecting projects for collaboration belongs: either to two or more bodies; or to regional structures of collaboration when the projects concern one specific region; or to the Master of the Order when projects take on larger dimensions or when he appeals to the provinces of the Order for particularly important projects.

2. These projects must be concrete and well systematised, having clear objectives. The human and material means necessary must be specified. There must be sufficient means for projects to last. The authority whose job it will be to follow the development of these projects shall be designated explicitly from the start.

3. The major superiors must have preliminary contacts, especially where projects belong to regional structures of the Order. In order to establish the required precision, they must obtain written statements of commitment for collaboration and for the manner of assigning those brothers called to collaborate. Regular evaluations of these projects shall be planned.

4. The brothers who will have to set up these projects will be sent by their major superiors for the jobs indicated and for a specific length of time.

5. Inasmuch as possible, these projects must be open to other branches of the Dominican family. Written contracts shall be established in order to specify the conditions of collaboration.

Sundries

Declaration

192.
Taking note of the recommendation of Caleruega (Acts n 91.4) suggesting that the minimum number of brothers required by the Constitutions (LCO 253) to determine a province be raised to sixty, we declare, that taking account of the actual situation of the Order, it does not appear opportune to us to make this change.

Recommendation

193.
We recommend that, in the provinces, there should be no house with less than four brothers.

THE GOVERNMENT OF THE ORDER

GENERAL CHAPTERS

Recommendation

194.
General Chapters must be prepared in such a way that their duration not exceed twenty days and twenty eight days for an elective chapter. We recommend to this effect that precapitular commissions be constituted which can work with modern means of communication and which can submit reports, along with the petitions, to the capitulars at least one month before the beginning of the Chapter's work.

Ordination

195.
We ordain that petitions addressed by the brothers and by members of the Dominican family to the general chapter (LCO n 415, § II) be clearly written and identified; that they make a precise request, developing arguments and, eventually, proposing a clear solution to the problem brought up; that they be dated and signed in such a way that their origin be easily identifiable; that they be sent within the time limits set by the constitutions, in such a way as to be addressed to the capitulars before the chapter, in accordance with LCO no. 415, § V. 1.

Recommendation

196.
We recommend that the Master of the Order name, for the General Chapter, an expert in juridical matters, if, among the capitulars, there are not enough brothers competent on this matter.

THE ASSISTANTS OF THE MASTER OF THE ORDER AND
THE GENERAL CURIA

Recommendation

197.
The functions and manner of designation of the assistants to the Master of the Order are determined in the Constitutions at nos]\. 395 §II and 425 to 429. In particular, they must pay great attention to the functioning, working out and evaluation both of regional structures and of apostolic and intellectual projects taken on by the different entities.

Petition

198.
Taking into account the importance of study in the Order and of the intellectual responsibilities which are ours (illustrated by the Provincial authorities provided by the constitutions: Regent of Studies, Promoter of Permanent Formation, Conventual Lectors, Commission for the Intellectual Life), we ask that a Commission for the Intellectual Life of the Order be created in accordance with LCO § II to help the Assistant of the Master of the Order in his task, and to enable the regional structures and provinces and houses of study under the jurisdiction of the Master of the Order to participate in the promotion of the intellectual life in the whole Order. This commission could regularly work together with the commission De missione Ordinis.

Canonical Visits of the Master of the Order

Recommendations

199.
For visits of the Master of the Order to have their maximum efficacy, they have to be carefully prepared in advance by the councillors of the province (or vicariate), in accordance with the pointers which the Master of the Order himself can give.

In this planning, preference has to be given to meetings with the brothers, with the Provincial or Vicariate Council, and with provincial commissions, in addition to the most significant situations of apostolic presence. Meetings are also to be envisaged with the Dominican Family, but unnecessary protocol visits are to be avoided as much as possible.

In large provinces where a personal meeting of each brother with the Master of the Order is not easy, the provinces together with the Master of the Order should give priority to community meetings, if need be grouping the brothers by apostolic and/or geographic proximity.

At the end of the visit, the Master of the Order will meet the Provincial or Vicariate Council to make a general evaluation and to give appropriate directions, which all the brothers will have to take into account.

A year after the visit, the Provincial Council will evaluate the implementation of the conclusions of the visitation.

The Use of Languages in the Order

Ordination

200.
The official languages of the Order are English, Spanish and French because of their international character. These languages will be used in all the documents of the Order and of the Master of the Order. They will be spoken in General Chapters. For juridical texts, the language remains Latin.

Recommendation

201.
Revoking Caleruega no. 83, we recommend that, during institutional studies, each brother should learn one of these three official languages, and that those whose mother tongue is one of these languages should learn one of the others.

Situation of the Brothers who Remain Deacons

Recommendation

202.
We recommend to the Master of the Order to set up a study-group on the permanent deacons in the Order, especially those cases of brothers who were ordained deacons with a view to priesthood, but who, for different reasons, have not been or do not wish to be ordained priests. This study-group, composed of qualified brothers, will be given the task of examining the ecclesiological and canonical aspects of this question, after consulting the provincials about their particular situations. It will make proposals at the next General Chapter with a view to establishing a solid policy of the Order in this domain, as well as the role and function of the deacons in the life and mission of the Order.

New Edition of the Constitutions

Ordination

203.
Since the last edition of the Book of the Constitutions of the Friars of the Order of Preachers was made in 1986, we ordain that a new edition be made for the year 1999.

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