A LOOK AT THE WORK OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, 2006

The Paulist General Assembly addressed many issues in May, 2006. Among those issues was the Paulist Associate Program. About 15 Associates were able to attend the pre-Assembly and their input was invaluable. Here is what the Assembly had to say:

The 2006 Paulist General Assembly is grateful to our God for the life and presence of the Paulist Associates. We recall the wisdom of the 2002 Paulist General Assembly in distinguishing Paulist Associates, Collaborators, and Lay People in Ecclesial Ministries. The 1998 Assembly specifically noted these distinctions and the 2002 Assembly reinforced them and made room for other initiatives, including a Paulist Missionaries Program. We remind ourselves that, currently, Paulist Associate membership does not require involvement in Paulist outreach ministries, but it does not preclude it either. Indeed, we notice happily, and commend, that the vast majority of current Associates are involved in ministries in our foundations. At the same time, we would not want to create Associates programs with two tiers: one for those who are active in Paulist foundation ministry and another for those involved simply in an ongoing process [of] reflection on Paulist writings and other materials reflective of our charism and faith-sharing among Associates and Paulists with whom they gather. (2002 Paulist Assembly)

To build on this positive experience and to discern the Spirit's direction about the Associates' future, we call on the General Council to form a committee within the next year to oversee the experience of, and prospects for, our Associates' program. This committee would be composed of a member of the Presidential Board, two other Paulists, and two or more Associates. We request that this committee prepare a report on the state of the Associate Program for the General Council for Spring 2008.

We are aware that groups of Associates, often with creative Paulist leadership, are growing in different ways: in prayer, in meditation on the writings of Hecker, and apostolic zeal. We wish to avail ourselves of the Associates' acquired wisdom of these past few years by recommending the following to the Presidential Board:

That it-- the Presidential Board--designate a Paulist Coordinator for our Associates Program;

That, as part of the above-mentioned Status Report for 2008, the Paulist Coordinator of the Associates report to the General Council and the Community at large on what has been most meaningful and in what directions they recommend for the future;

That, the Paulist Coordinator, in consultation with the Associates, develop common formation materials;

That the Paulist Coordinator, in consultation with the local foundations, General Council and Associates, help houses currently without Associates to develop Associate programs;

That the Paulist Coordinator, in consultation with the Associates, develop an Associate email list;

That Paulist Associates have a visible part in the celebration of our Sesquicentennial;

That the Paulist Coordinator, in consultation with the Associates, work towards a national identity and develop resources and programming for Associates not directly connected to Paulist foundations;

That the Paulist Coordinator, in consultation with the Associates, present to the 2010 Assembly a Status Report and recommendations for future movement and amendments to the current Associate program.

This resolution does not prejudice local Associates exploring deeper and meaningful ways of living out their own self-understanding.

Questions for Discussion:

1. The Associates have been viewed as a group of people connected with the Paulists who wish to bring the ideals of Fr. Isaac Hecker into their own various vocations. Do you feel that is affirmed in the Assembly's decision? Do you think that is adequate?

2. In some places there has been a desire to move the idea of "Associates" toward the idea of "Volunteers"== that is, a group that works alongside the Paulists in our ministry. The Assembly, for a variety of reasons, did not feel that was a direction to pursue. However, it did talk about leaving options for mission open to individuals and groups as the Spirit leads them. What do you think of this direction of the Assembly? What is your sense of Associates working alongside Paulists?

3. What does your Associates group see in terms of its immediate future? What is the next issue on your agenda?



Contact:
Frank DeSiano, CSP
Associate Coordinator
8611 Midland Parkway
Jamaica Estates, NY 11432
(718) 291-5995




SUGGESTED (ONLY) FORMAT FOR THE NEXT MEETING

1. Welcome and check in
2. Prayer from the Paulist Prayer Book
3. Reading from "The Paulist Vocation" on pp. 225-236, "Social Imperatives Today"
4. General reflections on the passage from Fr. Hecker
5. Review of Questions raised above in terms of the resolutions about Associates in the 2006 Assembly.
6. New Business
7. Individual Reports: Apostolic opportunities that have come my way. (Encourage members to share situations in which some of the Paulist vision and Fr. Hecker's charisms were exercised.)
8. Plans for the next meeting.
9. Closing Prayer (For vocations, p. 411 in Paulist Prayer book.)



Fr. Michael Kallock was present, as one of his last acts as Paulist Vice President, at the 2006 Associates Retreat held at Oak Ridge, NJ, June 16-18. 27 Associates were present. The themes were organized by the Associates themselves, focusing on the patron saints of the Paulists. Four of them were selected for particular review, but the Paulists actually have 13 patrons, including Mary, the Mother of Jesus.

RECENT PAULIST EVENTS

1. The 2006 Assembly
2. Opening the new Paulist Office of Reconciliation in Washington, DC, under the auspices of Fr. John Hurley.
3. Relocation of the Paulist Development Office to Washington, DC, under the direction of Ms. Gail Battle
4. Opening an office for the Celebration of the Paulist 150th Anniversary (2008) in Washington, DC. With Ms. Stefani Manowski
5. Deciding to pursue the Cause of the canonization of Fr. Isaac Hecker--a resolution of the 2006 Assembly.

For many years, the Paulist Fathers have worked together with lay people in their foundations and ministries. To allow them to have an even more intimate connection with the Paulist Fathers, the Paulists created the Paulist Associate program. Men and women - even non-Catholic Christians - are invited to freely associate themselves with the Paulist spirituality and charism by making a commitment to embody the ideals of the Paulist in their daily living. With these associates, the charism of the Paulist - incarnating the Roman Catholic faith in North American culture - is extended beyond the limited membership of the Paulist community itself.