DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT
This draft is very rough. It was prepared by Jim Bolner using the S.T.'s Directory as a guide. --- May, 2000.

Directory of Legislation

Missionary Cenacle Apostolate

 

NOTE: Words in italics are direct quotes from Father Thomas Augustine Judge, C.M.]

1. Our Lord had very much at heart the creating of a spirit, a missionary spirit, an evangelical burning that would sweep over the whole world. He came to cast a fire on the earth, and he willed that it would be enkindled (Lk 12:49). The Holy Spirit has enkindled this fire in our hearts. This is our heritage: an apostolic spirit, a Gospel spirit, a Catholic spirit. The Missionary Cenacle spirit is charity, charity aflame.

 

Identity

2.1 The Cenacle Family is presently composed of four distinct corporate bodies: the Missionary Cenacle Apostolate. Missionary Servants of the Most Blessed Trinity. Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity and the Blessed Trinity Missionary Association.

2.2 In origin the Outer Cenacle founded by Father Thomas Augustine Judge, C.M. , call led today the Missionary Cenacle Apostolate, was first chronologically. In this Outer Cenacle the three other bodies find their primitive roots.

2.3 We see our participation in the growth and development of the Missionary Cenacle Apostolate not merely as a fulfillment of our commitment to the development of the laity, but rather as partners with that branch in fostering the development of the laity in general.

2.4 All four branches of the Cenacle Family share a common origin. spirituality, mission and vision.

 

2.5 Membership

2.6 The Association may develop a program of affiliation whereby individuals not called to membership in the formal branches of the Missionary Cenacle family may share in our vision, mission and spirituality in ways appropriate to their and our capability and willingness.

2.7 Associates wear the Missionary Cenacle Apostolate emblem (pin) as a sign of their service to the Triune God.

 

 

Relations with The Church

 

3.1 The exercise of personal responsibility under God demands that each one confidently propose plans and expose needs in the apostolate, while remaining ready to accept the final decision of those who have the obligation to make it. The willingness to obey out of love for God and to accept the mandates of the Association and the Church as a mysterious expression of the Will of God is to emulate the obedience of Christ.

3.2 We see ourselves as collaborators with bishops. They have welcomed us into their dioceses and have cooperated in our work. They have a sense of what we are trying to accomplish and the commitment we have made in personnel and financial help in our work.

3.3 The Administration of the Association is urged to foster in a positive way relationships with bishops in whose dioceses we work. They should confer regularly with them and not wait until times of crisis. Efforts should be made to create an atmosphere of mutual trust, cooperation and collaboration with the bishops. It would be well, particularly, to review periodically the work of the Association in each diocese with the Bishop and to clarify our aims, our methods of accomplishing those aims, and especially our charism as Missionary Cenacle Apostolate

3.4 Recognizing our prophetic role as a lay Association, we should have the willingness to involve ourselves in issues before they become commonly recognized.

 

Apostolate: Spiritually Neglected and Abandoned

4.1 We understand the spiritually neglected and abandoned to include:

4.2 Our mission efforts are to be distinguished by being apostles and missionaries in the providence of our everyday lives. Wherever possible, we should collaborate with other members of the Missionary Cenacle family in carrying out our apostolate.

4.3 We recognize that the special concerns of local Missionary Cenacles within the Association will vary greatly from place to place and reflect cultural differences.

 

Apostolate: Economically, Culturally and Socially Deprived

5.1 In the light of the history of our ministries with and to peoples of various races, nationalities and cultures, we understand the focus of our apostolates to be the poor, the hungry, the homeless and unemployed. the orphans, the handicapped, and the lonely; our often aimless and always searching youth, the used and abused of our society, the neglected and rejected, the "least of our brothers and sisters." The focus of our apostolate also includes the hurting people and people longing for healing; those who have not heard the Gospel, alienated Catholics, those in danger of losing their faith, those in need of a Gospel, apostolic dimension to their lives and anyone trapped in the cruel cycle of poverty.

5.2 We should be present where there are indicated attitudes contrary to social justice, both among those suffering social injustice and those responsible for it.

5.3 In concert with our program of shared ministries, we should work in every possible way in conjunction with clergy and religious in addressing ourselves to social justice needs.

5.4 We recognize our responsibility to eliminate any form of discrimination by our active involvement as individuals and as an Association in the field of race relations, human rights and social justice.

5.5 We shall be, both as individuals and as an Association, religious men actively involved in studies, causes and movements advocating peacemaking.

5.6 The General Custodian and his Council shall make it one of their priorities to initiate apostolates in areas where there are large concentrations of Hispanic or persons of Hispanic extraction.

 

Apostolate: Lay Development

6.1 The laity enjoys an indisputable place in the mission of the Church. This role of the layman should be both understood and implemented by each associate. Each should become skillful in the training and formation of lay leaders. In carrying this out, special attention should be directed toward cooperating with other branches of the Missionary Cenacle Family, but not to the exclusion of cooperating with other Christian missionaries.

6.2 Shared or collaborative ministries, as an ideal and as an evolving concept, is the way in which all Associates should strive to serve.

6.3 Each Associate shall be encouraged to enter into shared ministries with fellow workers and with the people served, forming with them a community of faith that will give him a sense of community in his apostolate to sustain and to energize this vision they have in common.

 

Apostolate: Mission Planning and Evaluation

7.1 Regular mission planning and evaluation, based on our Association's apostolic values, shall be conducted by the General Council. This process should be under the special care of the General Custodian.

7.2 All apostolates. including the supporting services and the formation programs, should be reviewed in the light of our apostolic values.

7.3 New works should be undertaken in the light of our apostolic values. Prior to any commitment to undertake an apostolate those with whom we will be working should be made aware of our values and our manner of implementing them.

7.4 When the administration of a work is to be transferred to others, effort should be made to plan sufficiently far ahead to make d smooth transition, which would include discussion with the Associates in the area whose work would be impacted by the change.

 

Apostolate: Missionary Cenacle Family

8.1 Each Associate shall have a special concern for the development of vocations to the Missionary Cenacle Family in the area in which he or she works.

 

SPIRITUAL LIFE

9.1 Each Associate shall make a weekend retreat annually.

 

Praying for the Dead

10.1. Each Associate shall offer prayers on a daily basis for the deceased members of the Association.

11.2 A current list of the deceased Associates shall be prepared under the direction of the General Custodian and distributed to the Associates.

11.6 Throughout the Missionary Cenacle, particular and appropriate prayers shall be offered for the Holy Father in illness and at his death. Similar prayers shall be offered for a local Ordinary in each Missionary Cenacle in his diocese.

 

CONSECRATED LIFE

12.1 Each Associate should have a proper regard for his or her own health and show care, without anxiety, for its maintenance. Our commitment to the Cenacle Family demands that we show interest in each other's physical and emotional well-being. Without violating the privacy and independence necessary for harmonious community living, an Associate shall not hesitate to take prudent action to insure the well-being of other Associates, especially in regard to those illnesses which the individual may find difficult to recognize.

12.2 Associates should recognize stewardship as the active contribution of time, talent and treasure to the Missionary Cenacle and be disposed to practice stewardship responsibly.

 

Material Goods

13.1 We should show care that material goods are used where they are most needed without making material consideration the primary criterion in determining apostolic activity.

13.2 Although the Association may support a given mission or apostolate this does not relieve the missionary of the obligation to strive for self-support.

13.3 Those engaged in fund raising should see their activities in a broad framework. Their work is not only a support function; it is also an apostolate.

13.5 The Associates are urged to be generous and hospitable in sharing their resources and facilities with others engaged in missionary work.

Ministry of Authority

Local Missionary Cenacles

14.1 Local Custodians may be reelected f in the interest of developing leadership I the Association, it is recommended that this provision not be abused.

14.2 In particular, the local Custodian has the following responsibilities:

14.3 Associates shall show interest and responsibility concerning the administration of the local missionary Cenacle. In every way they shall be active agents of peace, unity and charity.

14.4 When the local Custodian cannot be present, the Assistant Custodian shall exercise his authority in whatever measure is necessary.

14.5 The Custodian shall listen to the opinions of the Associates and shall not be at all displeased if they differ from his own, but rather show that he is disposed to adopt their views in preference to his own, unless in conscience he judges otherwise.

 

The General Custodian

 

15.1 The primary task of the ministry of the General Custodian is to be a sign of unity. He or she is to be concerned with the overall welfare of the whole Association and each Associate. The General Custodian is responsible for encouraging each of the Associates to spiritual. apostolic growth. Regular communication with those engaged in apostolates should be one of the primary means for his review of the progress of each apostolate and ministry. The General Custodian is to encourage each Associate toward individual responsibility

15.2 The exercise of the ministry of the General Custodian should be marked by a willingness to pursue ongoing communication with all his Associates and especially with the Assistant General Custodian and with the Regional Councilors.

15.3 The General Custodian is empowered to authorize expenditures by the General Office or by the General Custodian or other Associates. Expenditures in excess of $2,000 must be approved by the General Council. The General Council may be consulted by telephone conference, letter, or electronic mail.

15.4. The General Custodian shall make a special effort to have the Association recognized as a peer among lay missionary organizations.

 

The General Council

16.1 The General Administration is made up of the General Custodian, the Assistant General Custodian and the General Council. 

16.2 The General Administration and Council are elected as follows:

General Custodian and Assistant General Custodian:

16.3 The incumbent office holders shall be responsible for the orderly and fair conduct of the election process.

16.4 Nominations may be made in two ways; the General Council shall decide which method will be used:

16.5 Persons my not be nominated for both positions (General and Assistant Custodian); voting for the General Custodian and Assistant General Custodian shall be separate;

16.6 If in the first round of balloting no person receives a majority of votes for General Custodian and/or no person receives a majority of votes for Assistant General Custodian, there shall be a second round of balloting between the top two candidates;

 

The Regional Councilors and Assistant Regional Councilors

 

16.7 In each region Councilors and Assistant Regional Councilors shall be elected every four years by a majority vote of the Associates in the region.

16.8 The incumbent officers shall be responsible for the orderly and fair conduct of the nomination and election process; the Regional Custodian and the Assistant Regional Custodian shall be elected by the rank and file of Associates.

16.9 The incumbent Regional Custodian and Assistant Regional Custodian shall be responsible for calling for nominations by the Associates prior to February 1; the voting shall be completed two weeks prior to Pentecost; the newly elected officers shall assume their office on Trinity Sunday.

16.10 Persons my not be nominated for both positions (Regional and Assistant Regional Custodian); voting for the Regional Custodian and Assistant Regional Custodian shall be separate.

16.11 If in the first round of balloting no person receives a majority of votes for Regional Custodian and/or no person receives a majority of votes for Assistant Regional Custodian, there shall be a second round of balloting between the top two candidates;

 

General Provisions

16.12 The election of the General Custodian and Assistant General Custodian shall be held at the same time; the election of the Regional Councilors shall be held at the same time, but the General Administration will so schedule elections that the elections for the Regional Councilors be held during the latter part of second year of the term of the General Custodian and the Assistant General Custodian.

16.13 The conduct of the elections, including the nomination and balloting, may be by regular or electronic mail, fax, telephone, or any in combination as decided upon by those conducting the election.

16.14 Every Associate shall be free either directly or indirectly to bring any important matter to the notice of any member of the General Council. 16.15 The General Custodian shall be responsible for seeing that minutes are kept of the proceedings of each Council meeting and that the minute shall be circulated among Council members within the two months following the Council meeting. The Assistant General Custodian

17.1 It shall be the duty of the Assistant General Custodian to notify the General Custodian of matters which may escape the latter's notice. 17.2 The Assistant General Custodian shall see to the well-being of the General Custodian and, should the latter be negligent of his health, the Assistant General Custodian, after consulting the Council, shall encourage him to take such care as is judged necessary.

Committees

17.3 The General Council may appoint committees, standing or ad hoc, at its discretion as needs arise.

Regions

18.1 Generally, the regions are geographical areas within which our associates live and minister. Periodic gatherings of all Associates within a region for prayer and discussion have a positive value in promoting the spiritual life, communication and awareness of issues concerning the region or the Association. Attendance at these meetings should be considered a personal responsibility by each Associate, and as a legitimate expectation on the part of the Association.

The Regional Councilors

18.2 The Regional Councilor is the liaison between the region and the General Administration. It is his responsibility to insure the preparation of the agenda for regional meetings. In this task, he has the right to expect help and cooperation from the members of his region. He should also try to promote good relationships among the associates in his region and with other members of the Cenacle Family living in his region.

Membership

Vocations

19.1 Each associate is to assume personal responsibility for active involvement in discovering and in developing qualified candidates, lending full support to the organized efforts of those in the Missionary Cenacle Family who are charged with vocation work.

19.2 In talks and in literature concerning vocations, there should be proportionate stress on the religious and priestly states of life in a missionary Association as well as on the apostolic works of the Association in a manner suitable to the maturity level of the prospective candidates.

19.3 Our vocation effort should be characterized by an openness to people of all cultures.

19.4 In the selection of formation personnel. the General Custodian and General Council shall consider it among their most serious responsibilities to choose only those who are specially trained and who demonstrate willingness, competency, virtue and the ability to communicate ideas and attitudes in a meaningful fashion according to the level of the program.

19.5 Candidates entering our education and development programs shall be exposed to the various cultures and environments in which we labor. They are strongly encouraged to pursue the necessary academic preparation for their missionary lives. Because of the present needs of the Church and the Association. the English-speaking are encouraged to gain a reasonable proficiency in Spanish, the Spanish-speaking are encouraged to gain a reasonable proficiency in English. As other specific apostolic needs arise, corresponding cultural and language training is strongly encouraged.

19.6 The recommendations of the Vocational Development Committee affecting major policy shall be communicated throughout the Association prior to their approval by the General Custodian and his Council.

 

Candidacy

 

20.1 The General Custodian and General Council are to determine the length of time and the nature of the candidacy. The normal period of candidacy shall be two years.

20.2 The desired goals of candidacy will be pursued according to the program prescribed in the Formation Handbook.

20.3 Formation programs of the Association should be open to visiting associates and lay people at the discretion of the General Custodian and the General Council. It should offer service in its own unique way to the community of people in the area. The person responsible for formation is to use discretion in deciding the amount of contact the candidates have with other members of the Association.

20.4 Candidates in danger of death may be authorized by the General Custodian or by his local Custodian or by one delegated by either of them to make his profession so that they may have all the benefits of membership in the Association. If afterwards they recover, their profession no longer holds and they must complete their candidacy and formation observing the normal schedule.

20.5 About a month before the time set for making the Act of Consecration, the candidate shall present a written request for admission to the Association to the General Custodian. This request together with the report of the person who has been responsible for the formation of the candidate shall be considered by the General Custodian and the General Council. . The General Custodian and General Council shall be guided by the d report of the formation director. If there is some doubt concerning the fitness of the candidate, the General Custodian may prolong the time of candidacy

21.1 A record of each Act of Consecration, stating the day, month and year shall be maintained by the General Custodian. The record shall include the name of the candidate, the person responsible for his or her formation, and the date and place of the Act of Consecration.

21.2 Each Associate of the local missionary cenacle to which the candidate belongs has the right to express his judgment as to the suitability of the candidate for making the Act of Consecration.

21.3 Because of the importance of the Act of Consecration, it shall take place during an appropriate Eucharistic celebration.

 

Continuing Formation

22.1 As part of our ever maturing life in God, the Associates are expected to engage in ongoing programs of spiritual and apostolic growth. There should also be longer periods of time provided for more intense development and study. The primary responsibility for personal continuing formation and development is that of the Associate. The General Custodian, Assistant General Custodian and Regional Councilors shall facilitate the Associates' participation in this process.