[35]Through the Founder the Lord gathered us into one religious family that
the church, the new brotherhood in union with Christ, may be made present among
non-christians. As a family, we share all: faith, mission commitment, hopes,
joys, concerns, spiritual and material goods. The members entrusted with
authority roles within the family are primarily signs and agents of communion.
35.1General Direction, sign of union:
The General Direction, as the heart and center of the Congregation, fosters
its family spirit, and promotes mutual respect and esteem. It maintains
personal contact with members and provides for the fullest realization of
their potential. It transmits, in the principal languages, Society information
of common interest to all.
35.2The Regional Direction fulfills a similar role on its own level. It
fosters harmony within the regional community, it promotes collaboration and
union with the General Direction and with Xaverian communities in other
nations.
35.3In the spirit of family and responsible concern we are interested in
the various activities of the Society and follow happenings in the various
communities. We rejoice and encourage the good accomplished and seek to avoid
whatever may weaken our fraternal spirit.
Local
communities
[36]We provide a visible and credible sign of our brotherhood by living in a
local community. It is there where we share, forgive, celebrate, experience
conversion. Brotherhood in community is built upon faith, love and listening to
God's word. Its strengths are many: appreciation of others, their gifts and
limits; honest and open relationships; capacity for forgiveness and correction;
friendship and gratuitous sharing. Our communities are marked by mission
openness toward the immediate social milieu, local church we serve, and other
Xaverian communities.
36.1Life project of the community:
Each local community prepares its own community project to regulate the
internal life of the group and to organize apostolic activities in keeping
with the social milieu where it is located. This community plan establishes
moments of prayer; times for meetings, programming, evaluation, study,
relaxation, social events; and provides criteria for the lifestyle of the
local community.
36.2Rights and duties:
Every Xaverian enjoys the right and duty to live in community. The small local
communities usually have three members.
36.3Various types of community:
Diocesan priests, missioners of other congregations, and laity may be a part
of Xaverian communities. Communities of this type may be formed in accordance
with the Regional Superior and the members concerned.
36.4A Xaverian, who lives in a non-Xaverian community, for reasons
permitted by our charism, is to have a Xaverian community and its superior as
a point of reference. Arrangements of this nature require the agreementof the confrere, approval of his Regional Superior and, if necessary,
the consent of the local ordinary.
36.5A clear and more striking witness to our preferential option for the
poor is given by communities which are located in the midst of the people,
identify with the local situation, and walk together in solidarity along the
road to liberation.
36.6Creation of communities:
It is the task of the Regional Superior and his council to form viable local
communities in dialogue with all concerned. The capabilities of the individual,
the common good, and overall commitments of the Congregation are to be kept in
mind. The communities are to be open and welcoming to new members who in turn
are to be properly and gradually introduced to the work awaiting them. Everyone
should be ready to assume different tasks, and accept transfers from one
community to another within the rotation plan of the Regional Direction.
Evangelizing
community
[37]The Xaverian community is composed of members of different ages,
nationalities, formation. Like the early Christian communities it gives
testimony to Christ's presence, offers more credible witness to gospel
proclamation, encourages the birth and growth of new Christian communities. Our
life style, which reflects fraternity, spirit of service, warm hospitality,
provides a constant invitation for others to join our Xaverian family in
response to the Lord's call.
37.1International communities:
Since we are an international Congregation we favor the formation of
international communities for the gospel witness value and cultural
interchange which they offer. The language to be spoken in these communities
will be determined by local norms.
Service
of love
[38]Inspired by the Lord's new commandment, "love one another as I
have loved you", we regard love as essential to our life.The sincere and deep love we nourish for our Xaverian family are the
underlying motive force for the special attention we reserve for our aging and
ailing confreres. This loving care extends to our families and benefactors
whom we consider to be spiritually bound to us.
38.1Aging and ailing brothers:
We guarantee our sick confreres that nothing will be lacking to them nor left
untried, they will have the most loving, affectionate and best care.We reserve like concerns for the elderly. By their prayers and
sufferings the elderly and the sick contribute much to the work of
evangelization carried out by the Society.Their presence and experience are highly valued gifts in the community.
38.2Hospitality and community:
Our communities extend hospitality according to local usage. The preservation
of our family spirit requires that times and places be reserved for the
community in the house. These matters may be determined by the community life
project and then implemented by the Superior in keeping with regional
legislation.
38.3Our relatives:
We treasure our family ties and remember our loved ones in prayer, by
correspondence and visits, mindful as well of the detachment which kingdom
service demands.Should parents
or family members of a confrere find themselves in serious difficulty, the
community, in agreement with theRegional
Superior, will decide how and what help is to be given.
38.4The families of Xaverians elsewhere:
We show interest in the families of other Xaverians also. We share their joys
and sorrows, visit them, provide occasions which keep them united with the
Society.
38.5Benefactors:
Our benefactors are instruments of God's providence and they deserve our
personal attention. Nonetheless our relationships with them should not be
allowed to become disadvantageous to the community life and its interests.
Confreres
in particular need and community
[39]Perseverance in our vocation is a gift of grace. We pray for this
constantly and hope that the faithful fulfillment of our obligations may help us
attain it.This gift finds valid
support in community.There may be
times of crisis and struggle. The community and Superiors are to show a
willingness to listen, understand, affirm, offer wise suggestions to anyone who
find himself in a particular situation or need.
39.1Fraternal assistance:
Our communities need be the first in extending an understanding ear and
fraternal assistance to confreres who may be trying to discern the will of God
for them and direction for their lives. Superiors ought to provide time,
space, professional, psychological and spiritual help so that a confrere in
particular need may find conditions favorable to solutions for himself.
Separation
from the Society
[40]Whenever a confrere decides to leave the Society, either for a time or
definitely, canonical norms and procedures are to be followed.
40.1The Major Superior, spoken of in canon law in these matters, is the
Superior General.
Dismissal
from the Society
[41]Before proceeding to a formal dismissal of a member, the Superior General
is to explore every possible way to keep him within the communion of the
Society. When this does not prove to be possible the Superior General will
proceed in conformity with canonical prescriptions for dismissal. A person who
has been dismissed from the Society can never be re-admitted.
