SEMINAR On VIII Plenary Council of the Order of Capuchin Friars Minor
Theme - The Grace of Working A seminar on the theme, “The Grace of Working” was organized at Darshan
Institute of Theology, Bengaluru on Saturday, 20th of February 2016. Br.
Arun Lobo OFM Cap was the resource person. He was one of the four
representatives from the CCMSI for the VIII – Consiglio Plenario dell’Ordine`-
La grazia di lavorare held from 26th October to 19th November, 2015 at
Collegio San Lorenzo da Brindisi, Rome, Italy.
The half day seminar began at 9 am with a brief welcome to the resource
person given by Br. Salvador, the dean of studies. It was concluded at 12.45
pm with a vote of thanks given by Br. Joel Lobo, the dean of DSA.
Br. Arun Lobo highlighted two points in particular: 1) Procedure of PCO; 2)
Propositions.
At first Br. Arun briefly explained the reasons for the VIII PCO on “the
Grace of Working”. He cited the VI PCO on “Living Poverty in Brotherhood”,
and the VII PCO on “Fraternal Life in Minority” as well as the “Instrumentum
Laboris” of the VIII PCO as the supporting documents. Br Arun also alluded
to the Testament of St. Francis of Assisi Nos. 20 -23 and the Later Rule V
as the basic principles on which the VIII PCO relied upon.
Br Arun mentioned that the discussion points of the PCO were like:
How can we help the friars
to reflect on work in the various aspects inherent in it, keeping in
mind the rapid changes different societies are undergoing?
What proposals can we
present to the friars so that, founded on the Gospel and on the charism
of St. Francis, work can be lived truly as a grace?
How do we “counter the
challenges of individualism and the tendency to reduce work to a tool of
mere economic profit” (Constitutions 78,7) in order to preserve our
identity as brothers and minors?
He then briefly dealt with the
procedure of the PCO which had two moments: “Listening to Experts” and
“Listening to Each Other”.
The 74 Propositions of the PCO which were finally voted upon by the
participants of the PCO and approved by the General Council on 25th January
2016 were the most important part of Br. Arun’s presentation.
The Propositions were considered under the following aspects:
Called to participate in
the work of creation 1-6
Learning to work 7-15
Formation
The first work 16-17
Minors at the service of
all 18-23
We live from our work 24-33
Brothers who work together
34-50
In a spirit ready to
exercise every type of apostolate 51-70
Let us bring the
announcement of salvation 71-74
The descriptions were
interspersed with questions, clarifications, suggestions and reflections.
