PedroAguado

WHATISCONTRIBUTINGANDWHATCOULDITAKA-ESCOLAPIOSCONTRIBUTETOTHEORDEROFTHEPIOUSSCHOOLS?

I.INTRODUCTION

1. The importanceof thequestionandthedynamismsthat itprovokes: to recognizeandtogiveaname/tothank/todream/tobuild.Andtherecouldbemanymore.Infact,theyare.

2. ThepointsofviewfromwhichIwanttodevelopmycontribution, lookingtocomplementwhat has already been shown in this Advisory Council, assuming the content of thecontributionsmade by those who precededme (from the direction of the Network andfromtheFraternity):

§ The consolidation of the new Piarist subject, of a more involved andresponsiblePiousSchools.

§ TheaccentsthatarenowapriorityintheOrder.

§ Theimpulseofthe"KeysofLife"ofthePiousSchools.

§ Tobetonarenewed"Piaristculture"

3. Thegoalofmyintervention:thatwecangodeeperintothequestion,markingnewcluesorhighlightingthosethatseemessential.

II.ADDINGtoDEVELOP

10 "Contributions" from ITAKA-Escolapios have been raised to the Order and 10 to theFraternity.Maybewedon'thavetoaddmore,andwhatwehavetodoistokeepdeveloping.Someexamples,thinkingonlyofthosecontributedbyJaviinrelationtotheOrder.Ithinktheyaremutualcontributions,andfromthispointofviewwecanenhancethemmuchmore.

1. Gettingmoney.Achieving that theOrdercharge thebatteries togenerate, seriously,teamsthatcandevelopandproposeprojects.Fora"structuralquadrennium".PrioritybetoftheSSMM.

2. Helpingtoorganizethemission.Dedicatingayearto"diagnose"ourorganizationforthemissionandtheneedsithas.

3. A Piarist network. Living it as a network. The annual campaign is not enough.Attention, for example, to "missionary sendings," something that we can enhancemuchmore.Andworkthoroughlytoensureallmissionprojects;noneofthemshouldbeleftwithoutcoverage.

4. Volunteering and convocation. Multiplying by X the number of partners, both in

people and in institutions. How many partners do we have in the variousdemarcations?Nowwehave772.

5. StrengtheningtheFraternity.Itisnecessaryto"complicate"someFraternities,whoseparticipationinthenetworkisevenmoreaffectivethanreal.WehavetofindwaysforFraternitiestogrowinthatawarenessofbelongingandstewardship.

6. StrengtheningtheProvince(andtheOrder).Tobetstrongly,andinacreativeway,forthechallengethatITAKA-ESCOLAPIOScontributessignificantlytotheinitialformationofthereligious,bothineconomicresources(itisoneoftheprioritynecessitiesoftheOrder) as in mentality and spirit of "new subject ". High level theme in the PiousSchools.

7. Legalframework.Guaranteeingtheclear legalcoverageonallourmissionplatforms.Supportinthistask.

8. The current Piarist culture. ITAKA-ESCOLAPIOS contributes a lot in this "culturalrenovation".Iwilltalkaboutthisissueinaspecificway,becauseIconsideritessential.

9. Thenewsubject.Likewise,thispointwillbespecificallylookedatlateron.

10. Tothinkofnewpotentialities.IthinkinaspecialwaytosupporttheexpansionoftheOrderofthePiousschools.Canwemakean"expansionagreement"?Thatistosay,anagreement"abovetheDemarcations",an"agreementforDynamisms".Andthisisoneofthegreattopics.

III.CONSOLIDATINGTHEBET.Notonlywewanta"newpiaristsubject",butweknow"howwewantit".Towardsanew"Piaristculture"

The topicof the"newPiarist subject” is somethingalready"quiteold".But it is true that itwilltake time todevelop it, and itwill be carriedonat various speeds. I'mnotworriedabout this.Whatworriesmeisthatwedonotgetoutoftheidea,theimaginary,andwedonotmoveinaconcrete way in what this means. I would like to cite some specific "advance tracks" that weshouldarticulate,andinwhichITAKA-ESCOLAPIOScanalsohelp.

1. To collaborate in the launching ofmechanisms of impulse of the PARTICIPATION inthoseplacesoftheOrder inwhichthis"keyof life" is lessdevelopedor ispracticallynonexistent.

2. Thereisno"Piaristsubject"if it isnotarticulated(atleastminimally), justasthereisnoOrderwithout its organizational structure. ITAKA-ESCOLAPIOS can help to betterlocate the Fraternity in the life of the Province, and the Province in the life of theFraternity.

3. ITAKA-ESCOLAPIOSbecomesanentitythatissummoned,assuch,intheprocessesofthedemarcations,especiallyinthechapterprocesses.

4. We seek a "Piarist culture" based on stewardship, participation, missionary spirit,passion for the constructionof the Pious Schools, etc. In all this, ITAKA-ESCOLAPIOScancontribute.

5. How do we want this new Piarist subject? What progress levels can we markprogressively?Howtodoitinabalanced,sustainableandconstantway?

IV.Embodyingtheaccentsthatemergewithforcetochange

IbelievethatthisAdvisoryCouncilshoulddevotesometimetogrowinginawarenessofsomedynamismoftheOrderthatarebeingdrivenwithstrengthandclarity,andthatarecalledtogive a "new tone" to the Pious Schools. Obviously, they are all in the "Calasanctian geneticcode,"butit'sgoodtomakeusawareoftheir“forcetochange."

1. Themissionaryandthedevelopmentofthemission.Wearecommittedtogrowinginmission in all the presences, in the demarcations and in new countries. Andwe arecommittedtorespondingtothedynamicsof"periphery"thattheChurchisproposingwithstrength:theperipheryofthepoor,theperipheryofeducationandtheperipheryoffaith.

2. Multiculturality,whichismorethanjustasimplerealizationthatwearedifferent.Itisthestrugglefortheconstructionofa"multiculturalidentity".

3. A "Pious Schools going forth", decisively promoting the two previous keys (themissionaryandthemulticultural),andwithanopenmindtodiscovermorekeysthatpromotethisdynamismof"goingforth".

4. Building the network. AnOrder is a network. Butwewant a network thatworks assuch.Thenetworkhasalsospiritualandcharismaticdynamisms;it’snotjustamodeloforganization.

5. Livingandworking fromprojects.Weneed tomakeaclearmove in thisdynamic. Itremainsa"pendingsubject"

6. The"NewPiaristsubject".ThequestionistostrengthentheOrder,tostrengthentheFraternityand to strengthen its relationship. There isnootherway, andone cannotneglect,norpassivelycontemplate,anyofthethree.

7. TheVocationalCulture,andespeciallythecommitmenttoreligiousvocations.Wewillanalyzeitinthe"KeysofLife".

8. Thededicationtothepoorchildrenandyoungpeople,treasureoftheOrder. It'stheprioritywewanttokeepaboveeverything.

9. ToassumethattheworkforarenewedcultureofOrdercannotbelefttothehandsof"chaptersways".Wemustworktoconsolidatethedynamisms.

V.CollaboratingwiththeimpulseoftheKeysofLifeoftheOrder

1. VOCATIONALANDFORMATIVECULTURE(VFC).� I think itwouldbe good todevelop a reflection,within thenetwork itself, onhow to

collaborateintheconstructionofthisVFC.

� Thevocationcallmustbepartofall theprojectsof thenetwork.Wehavetogive itacardofcitizenship.

� To clearly include vocational dynamics in all processes of volunteering, working inprojects,accompanyingpeople,etc.

2. QUALITYINITIALFORMATIONANDINCOMMUNION

� SearchforresourcesfortheconstructionandoperationoftheformationhousesoftheOrder.

� Presenceofthenetworkintheformationprocessesoftheprovincesinvolved

� Formation of young Piarists in all matters relating to projects, teams, resourcegenerationandnewPiaristSubject,amongothers.

3. COMMUNITYLIFEENRICHEDFROMTHEESSENTIAL

I think it is important to know the community dynamisms that theOrder is fighting for,regardlessofthenatureofthecommunity.

Iquotesomeofthem:communitysouloftheMission, inwhichweareall responsiblefor everything, although there are people in charge of each thing/ communities thatenhancetheircommonprayer,surpassingthetraditionalbordersoftheirusualschedules/communities that accompany the process of people/ communities looking for ways toconcretize theircentrality in theLord/Communitieswithproject/communities thatworktogrowintheirmentalityofcommunionwiththeOrder,etc.

4. APERMANENTFORMATIONTHATHELPSTOLIVEINPROCESSESOFVOCATIONALGROWTH

To count on the network and on the Fraternity in certain opportunities of permanentformationthattheOrderorganizes.

5. TODELVEINTOCALASANZ

� We all need it, but so do the people who live and work on a daily basis in ITAKA-ESCOLAPIOS.

� Isitpossibletocollaborateinpublications,coursesanddissemination?

6. APIARISTMISSIONINIDENTITY,EDUCATIONALANDPASTORALQUALITY,SHAREDANDFORTHEPOOR.

� It is evident that this is the clearest of all. The potential that this opens and thepossibilitiesofgrowthareformidable.Iquotesomeofthem.

� TobetindepthfortheCalasanzMovement

� Formationofeducatorsandcollaborators

� Theimpulseofvolunteering,accentuatingtheaspectsthataremostnecessary

� To consolidate the network itself as a good example of sharedmission. Advancing ineachplace.

� Neweducationalprojectsforpoorchildrenandyoungpeople.

7. ECONOMICSUSTAINABILITY

� Ithasbeensaidthatthisiswhatisseenatfirstsight.Butithasalsobeensaidthatwearenottakingfulladvantageofit.

� ConnectionwiththeGeneralSecretariatofProjectsManagementandSustainability

� Collaborationinmakingthedevelopmentof"ambitious"projectspossible.It'snotabout

"waitingforthemtocome",butaboutbuildingthem.

� Accompany(andfighttobeabletoaccompany)sothatnothingisatrisk

8. DEVELOPMENTOFPARTICIPATION

� The network has to think (or to do) in its own growth. And the dynamism of"participation in the Pious Schools" is fundamental in this issue. Collaboration andcontactwiththeGeneralsecretariat,offeringideas,suggestions,etc.

� Topreparereligiousandlaypeoplecapableofparticipatingwithanewmindset.

9. DECISIVE AND SIMULTANEOUS IMPULSE OF THE DYNAMICS OF THERESTRUCTURING,CONSOLIDATIONANDEXPANSIONOFTHEPIOUSSCHOOLS.

� Thenetworkis,initself,anewstructure.TheparticipationofthenetworkinthePiaristsstructures,especially throughthePiaristpresencemodel, is fundamental.Wemustbecreativeinthismatter.

� o consolidate is to guarantee the integral sustainability of what we have (not onlyeconomic). The expansion is the newmission projects, the new communities and thenewfoundations.

� Toensurethat"awarenessofexpansion"growsintheOrderandonthenet.Wehavetoinformefficientlyonthenewsofeveryyear,whicharemany.

� To have contactswith other Piarist networks and foundations, smaller but active andinteresting.

VI-WhatdoestheOrderbringtoItaka-Escolapios?

1. Firstofall,itmustbeclearthatITAKA-ESCOLAPIOSisadaughteroftheOrder,adearanddesired daughter. TheOrder has brought her to be born, and it has sought,withmuchvision,forittohavemore"fathers-mothers"(thePiaristFraternity).TheOrderhadclearlyseen that for ITAKA-ESCOLAPIOS to bewhat it has to be, it needed a reference greaterthantheOrderitself.

2. TheOrderprovidesacharismthatisalreadyshared.HistoricallyembodiedintheOrderforfourcenturies, today isassumedby the ITAKA-ESCOLAPIOSnetworkas itsmain treasureandasitsraisond'être.

3. TheOrderbringsnewvisionsofmissionandfuture,throughprojects,foundations,people,communities,dreams.Itbringsthesenseofthenetwork,todayalreadydeeplysharedwiththeFraternity.

4. TheOrder provides security, reference, ecclesiality,moral ancestry, values and styles. Itbringspeople,challenges,questions,needstoanswer.

5. TheOrder contributes adetermineddesire to grow froma style andwayof functioningthatisalreadyconsolidatedinthenetwork.

6. TheOrder"contributes"problemsandcertaincontradictions,sothatthenetworkwillnotfallasleepandwillkeepmoving.

VII-Whatdowehavetochange?

Ithinkthis isoneofthequestionsthatcanguideourreflectionsnotonly inthisCouncil,butespeciallyinthedailydynamicsandinthemostsignificantonesofourwork.Itisnotwrongtoaskyourselfthisquestion,and itwouldbegoodthat inourCouncilswewouldabletogivesomeanswers.

VIII-BARNABAS,"theonewhobringsconsolation".

OurpatronsaintisSaintJosephCalasanz.HeisthepatronsaintoftheITAKA-ESCOLAPIOSnetwork. But I thought that our network could verywell use a "co-patron."We do notneedtomakeitofficial;Isimplywanttomakeareflection–inthistimeofEaster–aboutSt.Barnabas,"aLevitenaturalfromCyprus".

BarnabasappearsforthefirsttimeintheBookofActswithhistruename:Joseph.Itistheperson,quotedinchapter4oftheActs,whosellsalandandgivesthemoneytotheapostles, so that they could assist the poor. He is the first donor for the cause of theKingdomthatwehaveconstancy.Then theychangedhim thename,and theygavehim"theonewhobringsconsolation".

Heisneveraveryfamouscharacterinthetaskofevangelization.Somesaythathewasan"excellentcastactor" in the filmof the fight for theKingdomofGod.WeknowPaul,Peter,Mark...butweknowlittleaboutBarnabas.Eveninhisowncountry(Cyprus),hehaslittlefame.Butthereheisalways,givingthebestofhimself,withoutanyoneseeinghim,withoutappearingonthefrontpage.He'saserver.Butanessentialserver.

WhenPaulbecameawitnesstoJesus,thecommunitydidnottrusthimverymuch.Itwas Barnabas who sought him, believed him, and presented him to the apostles. Andeverythingchanged.WhenMarkcommittedamistakeandPaulbecameangrywithhim,BarnabasaskedPaul tocountonMark,butPauldidnotwant to.ThenBarnabasbetonMark, recovered him for the cause, and embarked with him.Mark ended up writing aGospel. Between Paul andMark, thanks to Barnabas, half of theNew Testament bookswerewritten.WhentheapostlesneededtoaccompanythecommunityofAntiochtohelpthem discern what was really important in the project, they sent Barnabas. And there,after that journey, the name of "Christians" was born. When the Holy Spirit needed(becausetheHolySpiritneeds)someonetobetontheevangelizationoftheGentiles,hechoseBarnabasandsenthim.AndwhentheBookofActsspeaksofhim,itsaysonly(11,24)thathewasagoodman,fullofHolySpiritandfaith.

Today we would say that Barnabas is the best example of what we call "serviceleadership."He is thepatronofpeople-and institutions-whodoextraordinary things fortheKingdom,butnooneknowsitandperhapsfewappreciateit.Butwithouthim,nothingwouldhaveworked.Hewasasimpleservantofthechurches,adecidedcomforteroftheexcludedandanactivepromoteroftheKingdom.Butwedonotrememberhimneitherassolemnitynorasafeast;hehasjustamemory.Andfewremembertheday...

I liketothink inthatway ITAKA-ESCOLAPIOS.Asan institutioncreatedbyCalasanztomake possible his dream, which works from behind the scenes, but carrying out thoseessentialoptionstocarryoutthePiaristmission.

IendbygivingthankstoITAKA-ESCOLAPIOS,andtoallthosewhomakeitpossible,onbehalfofthechildren,theyoungpeople,thepoor,andSaintJosephCalasanz.