Can Salesian Brothers be rectors

Can Salesian Brothers be rectors?

The question itself is wrongly posed. Rather than ask whether ‘Can SB be made rectors?, one should ask, ‘Who should be rectors?’ It is not about priests or brothers, but persons with charisma, with the passion of DB, with leadership skills who need to be appointed rectors! And in that list of qualities needed to be a rector, if priesthood is not a non-negotiable, then so be it. 

Let the holy ones among us, pray for us; the intelligent ones, teach us; and the prudent ones, lead us. (Fr Agilan)

What one needs to work on is the attitudinal change; a change about the perception of a leader.  In that sense I appreciate the GC 29 placing this question, under the structural proposals, rather than in the core topics of discussion. The argument of rectorship on the basis of priesthood and brotherhood, and whatever decision we arrive at on the basis of that criterion, is only doing a disservice to the congregation and the society at large. One direct negative outcome of it would be that the apprehensive and pessimistic attitude we live and exhibit towards the Salesian collaborators will continue! 

For example, if I’m genuinely interested in the welfare of the young people of a school, I’ll ensure that one who is best suited for them would be appointed as principal. Even if that person is a lay person, who is imbued with the spirit of DB. Why should we deny the young, the competence and spirit of a capable lay person; that too purely to give the ‘cassock’ or ‘my friend’ or ‘a titled SDB’ a chance? But if I have no objection to someone passionate about DB and academically competent, as the principal of a school, then what has changed is the attitude; not the role, not the position. My ‘position’ as an SDB, far from being ignored or denigrated, has only been enriched because I have acted in the best interest of the children. We need to strive for such an attitudinal change rather than engage ourselves in power games. 

To those who fear that tomorrow a Salesian collaborator will be proposed and appointed a rector, we need to educate him or her to see that only a Salesian is to be the rector of a house. Therefore, it is then to clarify the identity of a Salesian (as consecrated to God and committed to the young). A Salesian collaborator however committed to the young he or she may be, is not a consecrated religious. 

Again, as a Salesian what marks me out is not my priesthood or brotherhood but my CONSECRATION (something most of us Salesians ourselves either do not know, or understand or are unwilling to accept). So even without being a priest I can be a Salesian – this no one can dispute (and if someone does, then the Salesian Brothers are not Salesians at all; so no question of whether he can be a rector or not!). 

Last of all, I joined the congregation because I loved Don Bosco and wanted to live and work like him. I did not join the congregation to become a rector or principal or administrator or (least of all) the role that I'm now carrying out. Moreover, when I made my profession AS A BROTHER, I was very well aware that a brother is not appointed as the superior. So, the ongoing debate – amusing as it sounds – is something I’m the least bothered to break my head about! I only take this opportunity to see how the Brothers identity, and all the more, the Salesian identity, was, is and will be defined...!