General Council, five Coordinators and Moderators of the General Chapter together in Rome

The Coordinators from the 5 Conferences of Congregation met with the General Council from 30 May to 3 June 2016 in Rome.

The main goal of the meeting was to evaluate the process of restructuring of the Congregation which was started six years ago and to look forward. The Moderators of the XXV General Chapter were present for parts of this meeting in order to give and receive input which might help them in their work during General Chapter in Thailand.

The participants are convinced that the process of restructuring needs to continue, although it is recognised that this is a complicated and complex process. The restructuring process has helped to create awareness of belonging to the wider Congregation and has helped to developed consciousness of the Redemptorist family. It has also fostered mutual relationships and dialogue among Superiors and others who participate in the various Assemblies, building trust. However, this has not reached the grassroots membership.

It was also clear that there is no real possibility of meaningful restructuring without conversion. The crucial moment for this process is to change the point of interest from “restructuring” to “renewal”.

There are still many questions about the process; and the goal of restructuring needs to be further clarified during the General Chapter. Is this about management around a period of decline or is it about restructuring around opportunities?

In some areas of the Congregation the need to change the present situation is not apparent – and this point of view is especially present in stronger Units.

The participants (Coordinators) were: Manuel Rodriguez (Latin America and the Caribbean); Joventio Ma (Asia-Oceania); John Kingsbury (North America); Guy-Arnaud Agbossaga (Africa and Madagascar); Jacek Zdrzałek (Europe)

Fr. Jacek Zdrzałek