Letter for the Feast of Letter for the Feast of the Sacred Heart 2011the Sacred Heart 2011

SOLIDARITY SOLIDARITY AND FREEDOM AND FREEDOM

IN THE IN THE ADMINISTRATION ADMINISTRATION

OF GOODSOF GOODS

God gives us the means necessary for living and carrying out our mission

The economy is a basic dimension of the life of every person

In our life as consecrated persons too After the summons and example of

Jesus, who being rich, made himself poor for us, so that we might be enriched by his poverty (2 Cor. 8:9)

Solidarity and Freedom in the Administration of GoodsLetter for the Feast of the Sacred Heart 2011

FREELY HAVE YOU FREELY HAVE YOU RECEIVED ...RECEIVED ...

ATTENTIVE TO THE CRY OF THE ATTENTIVE TO THE CRY OF THE POORPOOR

1.1. FREELY HAVE YOU RECEIVED ... FREELY HAVE YOU RECEIVED ... ATTENTIVE TO THE CRY OF THE POORATTENTIVE TO THE CRY OF THE POOR

1.1.1.1. Participants in the hopes and Participants in the hopes and drama of our timesdrama of our times

The divine economy is very different from the human economy

The catastrophic results for billions of people when detached from principles of ethics and solidarity

We are especially called to be in solidarity with those who have been excluded from the goods God created for all

Solidarity and Freedom in the Administration of GoodsLetter for the Feast of the Sacred Heart 2011

1.2.1.2. Faithful to our Charismatic RootsFaithful to our Charismatic Roots We have a structural dimension of our

vocation in the Church when we consider the social consequences of economic activity

“It is necessary that the worship of the Heart of Jesus begin with the mystical life of a soul so that it can then flow out and penetrate the social life of peoples” (OSC, vol. I, pg. 3)

The economy of man cannot be maintained apart from the economy of God

Solidarity and Freedom in the Administration of GoodsLetter for the Feast of the Sacred Heart 2011

2.2. DO NOT GATHER UP RICHES ...DO NOT GATHER UP RICHES ...THE HEART OF A POOR PERSONTHE HEART OF A POOR PERSON

2.1.2.1. Open to the Treasure of the Father’s LoveOpen to the Treasure of the Father’s Love Jesus himself made such examination of this

reality essential to the life of human beings Jesus always sees the goods of this world in their

relationship with persons and the Father’s plan The beatitude of the poor in spirit, who

deliberately understand and accept into their lives the power and love of the heavenly Father

Without the presence of the true Lord of the universe, other lords intervene: a beatitude of possession, pleasure, and dominion

Consecrated life seeks to respond to this invitation to live this freeing, human, and joyful rapport with the goods of creation

Solidarity and Freedom in the Administration of GoodsLetter for the Feast of the Sacred Heart 2011

2.2.2.2.Called to the freedom and joy of a Called to the freedom and joy of a heartfelt solidarityheartfelt solidarity

The beatitude of the poor/children of God is the source of a great freedom and existential joy

This joyful freedom grows in the measure in which one is able to shed dependence upon things and power in a renunciation that goes so far even as one’s own life

In consecrated life, we are called to live this invitation. We are not speaking about a thoughtless and reckless attitude, what is a denial of the gospel imperative

Solidarity and Freedom in the Administration of GoodsLetter for the Feast of the Sacred Heart 2011

2.3.2.3. Industrious Administrators of God’s Industrious Administrators of God’s GiftsGifts

Freedom before the goods of earth is at the service of sharing

The option for evangelical poverty in consecrated life does not dispense anyone from the duty to contribute according to one’s abilities to the needs of the community and of those with need

God expects each one to develop and make fruitful what he has received by not thinking about things as exclusively his own

Solidarity and Freedom in the Administration of GoodsLetter for the Feast of the Sacred Heart 2011

3.3.THEY HELD EVERYTHING IN COMMON … THEY HELD EVERYTHING IN COMMON … SHARING OF GOODS IN COMMUNITYSHARING OF GOODS IN COMMUNITY

3.1.3.1. Ready to pass from I to We and from Mine Ready to pass from I to We and from Mine to Ours to Ours (I)(I)

The Congregation follows the model of the first Christian communities in their sharing of goods (Acts. 4:32ff). We put everything at the disposition of the community: material goods, time, talent, and plans are not only mine but ours

The deceit in the management of material goods in the community is a radical denial of the gospel option expressed in religious profession

The sharing material goods is concretely expressed by: a simple and temperate lifestyle; turning over to community use all that we possess; depending on the community for all that we need to live on and work for; Actively collaborating in obtaining and managing the goods

Solidarity and Freedom in the Administration of GoodsLetter for the Feast of the Sacred Heart 2011

3.1. 3.1. Ready to pass from I to We and from Mine to Ours Ready to pass from I to We and from Mine to Ours (II)(II)

The common burse is one of the essential pillars of the Religious Life of our Institute. In it we turn over absolutely everything and from the same common burse we receive what we require according to each one’s needs and the demands of the ministry

The common burse is practiced at various levels: at the level of each local community, in the various communities belonging to each entity, in the entire Congregation

Knowledge and observance of the Norms for the Administration of Goods (NAB) is everyone’s duty

Solidarity and Freedom in the Administration of GoodsLetter for the Feast of the Sacred Heart 2011

3.2.3.2. Co-responsibility in the Pursuit and Co-responsibility in the Pursuit and Management of Material GoodsManagement of Material Goods

The matter of material goods and economic activity always has a relational dimension that ought to involve the entire community

We are co-responsible: by a conscious effort of each one to find the

resources necessary and responsibly to care for and use the means made available for each one’s use,

by giving the community accurate accounts of one’s revenues and expenses,

by participating with the entire community in the financial discernment and planning process,

local and entity counselor require being heard before any financial decisions are made

Solidarity and Freedom in the Administration of GoodsLetter for the Feast of the Sacred Heart 2011

3.3.3.3.Careful Administrators of Community Careful Administrators of Community GoodsGoods

Management of materialities are given to Treasurers under the direction of the Superiors. They are the complimentary roles and functions

The service of Treasurer is an essential element in the life and mission of every community

It requires ever greater competence and specific preparation (cf. the course for treasurers scheduled for 2012)

The training challenge has special significance in the field of finances

Solidarity and Freedom in the Administration of GoodsLetter for the Feast of the Sacred Heart 2011

We wish to learn from Him the love he had in solidarity with mankind

“Rich as he was, he made himself poor for your sake, in order to make you rich by his poverty” (2Cor. 8:9)

It is from him that we learn the free and simple lifestyle, which lead to communion and brotherhood among us

We put all our gifts from God together and we place ourselves in solidarity

Solidarity and Freedom in the Administration of GoodsLetter for the Feast of the Sacred Heart 2011

WE WISH YOU A WE WISH YOU A VERY HAPPY FEAST VERY HAPPY FEAST OF THE HEART OF OF THE HEART OF JESUS!JESUS!

Fr. José Ornelas CarvalhoFr. José Ornelas Carvalho

SCJ Superior GeneralSCJ Superior General

And his CouncilAnd his Council