The General Chapter has its moderators who direct the proceedings. The current moderators are Fr. Kevin J. O’Neil, C.Ss.R. (Province of Baltimore), Fr. Joaquim Parron, C.Ss.R. (Province of Campo Grande) and Fr. Giovanni Congiu, C.Ss.R. (Province of Rome). Scala News has asked Father Joaquim Parron to comment on the role of the moderator of the Chapter, his role, and his responsibilities during the General Chapter.
Fr. Joaquim, is this the first that you have been entrusted with the role of a chapter moderator?
I participated in the 24th Chapter, in 2009, as Provincial Superior of Campo Grande and I was one of the moderators in the 25th General Chapter, in 2016. So, this is the second time that I have been serving as a moderator in a General Chapter. In 2016 I was glad to be a moderator with Fr. Kevin O’Neil and Fr. Clement Campos and now I am also happy having Fr. Gianni Congiu with us in the moderation of the Chapter. I have enjoyed working as a community with them, which is exactly what Constitution 21 asks of us.
Who assigns the moderators for the General Chapter?
The assignment to the moderator is made by the General Council. Normally the conferences make suggestions of names, and finally the General Council makes the appointment.
What is your primary responsibility during the Chapter gatherings?
We, as moderators, are members of the Central Preparatory Commission of the General Chapter. The chair of this commission is Fr. Brendan Kelly. So, we participate all the preparation meetings before Phase I and Phase II of the Chapter. We have helped to produce the Working Document and worked on other issues.
During the Chapter our main responsibility is to moderate and to help our confreres to discuss the topics for discussion and to contribute with ideas and proposals to strengthen the mission of our loved Congregation.
Would you share a small comment about the challenges and joys that you have experienced during the first few days of the General Chapter?
I feel that our main challenge is to evangelize in this “changing world” as Pope Francis says: “More than an epoch of change, we are experiencing a change of epoch”. Values are changing, and we need to strengthen our identity as Redemptorists and, at the same time, know how to approach and dialogue with this constantly changing world. As a moderator, I feel that, during the Chapter, I must facilitate the confreres in their discernment of their Redemptorist mission of following Jesus Christ as missionaries to a wounded and changing world. Our hope is that they may take concrete steps to improve our missionary work in each Conference and each Unit.
The great joy is meeting confreres coming from 80 countries, with the same dream of St. Alphonsus: “Evangelizing the poor and being evangelized by them”, that is, sharing the Copiosa Redemption with all. Also, seeing so many confreres being truly faithful to the Redemptorist Charism and Spirituality in the five Conferences. Also, it is a joy to work with of our dear confreres Kevin, Gianni, Brendan and the other members of the Preparatory Commission.
Thank you very much.
(interview by Fr. Grzegorz Ruszaj, C.Ss.R.)
