The Interview with Fr. Provincial

THE CHALLENGES OF FORMATION, MISSION AND INTERCULTURALISM

Interview with Fr. Javier González, OP (Jan 2012)

Fr. Javier Gonzalez, OP, is a Dominican Priest from Spain. Born in Acera de la Vega, Palencia (1949), and ordained a Dominican Priest in Madrid in 1973, he is at present the Prior Provincial (since 2009) of the Dominican Province of Our Lady of the Rosary. He is also a professor at the University of Saint Joseph School of Christian Studies, Macau. He holds a Licentiate in Theology from the Institute of Theology, San Pedro Mártir, Madrid (1974), and a doctorate in Canon Law from the Angelicum University (1981). He was a professor of Canon Law at the Faculty of Canon Law of the University of Santo Tomas, in Manila, from 1983 and the Dean of this Faculty for nine years.  At present (January 2012), he is staying at our St. Dominic’s Priory in Macau and teaching at the USJ School of Christian Studies.

(Our questions to Fr. Javier are in bold-italic letters.)

 

Fr. Javier, it is good to have you here at St. Dominic’s Priory, in Macau. From Hong Kong, where you reside at the Province’s St. Joseph House in Kowloon, you visit this house of formation often. How important is formation for our Prior Provincial?

Formation is of prime importance for me, as it should be for any Dominican. I mean a formation that is integral and comprises the whole person. The reason is simple: Formation is at the service of mission and of the proclamation of the Gospel, and henceforth essential for any Dominican –members of the Order of Preachers – and with more reason for us  missionaries –members of Our Lady of the Rosary Province. St Dominic wanted the best education possible for his children. So do we today. That is why, like parents who generously invest in their children’s education, the Province of Our Lady of the Rosary is currently doing a great effort in providing the best education possible to the numerous young people presently engaged in the various stages of their institutional formation. As Provincial I sincerely appreciate such generosity, both at the personal and the institutional levels, and fully support such on-going trend of the Province. Similar importance and diligence should be attached also to the continuing formation of the brethren, an intrinsic requirement of religious consecration.

This time you will be with us for a longer period. For three weeks. Main reason: because you are teaching Canon Law at the University of St. Joseph School of Christian Studies, where our Dominican students (20 of them) pursue their institutional studies. How important is it today the intellectual dimension of Dominican formation? 

Dominican formation is intellectual by its very definition. Doctrinal by nature, it has always been associated with study, which in the Dominican tradition appears as a “sacred obligation” and as one of the essential elements of Dominican spirituality. It is not difficult then to understand why study has enjoyed such prominent importance among the Dominicans. Paraphrasing Humbert of Romans, study is not the end of the Dominican Order, but is extremely necessary to secure its twofold end, namely, preaching and the salvation of souls; for without study neither can be achieved.

My teaching experience in Manila for nearly 30 years has convinced me that this academic activity, going hand in hand with study, is very much in line with the Dominican charism and apostolate. For study, consisting not just in knowing many things (information), but rather in knowing them well (reflection), is basic in the harmonious formation of any person. Being a learning process, I cannot conceive any genuine formation that is not truly intellectual, at least in its origins. On the other hand, it is my conviction that learning is a liberating experience: nothing probably gives so much freedom to a person than a good education. The reason is obvious, for how can our will take free decisions unless it is first knowledgeable of the matter to decide upon? I consider the scholastic philosophical principle nihil volitum quin precognitum (“nothing is willed unless it is foreknown”) a travelling companion that finds realization continually in our everyday life. These premises alone, leaving aside other dimensions of Dominican study, make me understand the primary importance attached to the intellectual dimension of formation in our Dominican tradition.

On behalf of the whole Province of Our Lady of the Rosary, you will inaugurate on January 28, 2012, the Feast of our brother Saint Thomas Aquinas, the Centre of Institutional Studies of the Province (to be called “St. Dominic Center of Studies”), recently approved by the Master of the Dominican Order, Fr. Bruno Cadoré, OP. What is the specific significance of this Center of Studies for the Province?

A.: The establishment of our “St Dominic Center of Studies” in Macau on January 28 of this year 2012 is a historical event that will be kept in the annals not only of Our Lady of the Rosary Province, but also in those of the Dominican Order and, I dare to say, in those of the Catholic Church in Macau. Centers of Studies have always been attached great significance in the Dominican tradition to the point that it is mandated that each Dominican Province is to have its own Center(s). We, the Province of Our Lady of the Rosary could not be an exception: we have always had one and even more than one at a given time in history, in different parts of the world (Spain, USA, Hong Kong, Philippines…). Our latest Center of Institutional Studies was in Madrid (“San Pedro Mártir”) and for the past 50 years has fulfilled a splendid mission in the formation of this present generation in the Province. But today the situation has changed and our provincial studentate is in Macau. This explains why, in an attempt to provide new solutions to the new situation, our latest Provincial Chapter (2009) sought the establishment of a Center of Institutional Studies “in the Macau-Hong Kong region” (cf. ACP, 160). Such was the petition that I, on behalf of the Province, submitted to the Master of the Order, Brother Bruno Cadoré, once he had approved, on the 1^st day of July 2011, our new Ratio Studiorum Particularis. It was a joy to see that hardly three weeks later (on the 4^th of September) we had already a Decree from him establishing “the Center of Institutional Studies for the Province of Our Lady of the Rosary in the Convent of St. Dominic, Macau in China.”

            In answer to the question on the specific significance of this newly created Center for the Province, three main points come to my mind that speak of its vital significance: (1) In the first place, it addresses our academic needs at this moment in history, bound as we are to provide our numerous students a basic philosophical-theological formation, complemented with subjects related to Dominican spirituality and tradition; (2) In the second place, this Center is called to become a reference point for the Province in this part of the world in fulfilling the important tasks of promoting scientific learning and of keeping us in touch with other academic institutions and with the university world in the Asian region; and (3) Finally, this Center has also for us an added significance, with practical connotations: to serve as a coordinating platform to oversee the studies of those students of ours who are taking their institutional courses in other nearby places, serving likewise as an instrument to facilitate transcript of records, accreditation of studies, required documents for visa purposes, etc. The establishment of this Center is indeed, apart from a historical event, a much needed institution by our Province at this point in history.

Fr. Javier, how do you envision St. Dominic’s Priory and St. Dominic Center of Studies as part of the Diocese of Macau, as participants in its pastoral project and planning? How do you see our future here regarding our pastoral presence?  

It is for me clear that the presence of a religious institute in a place has to be accompanied by concrete fruits of dialogue and collaboration with the local church. Thus, for as long as we Dominicans are present here in Macau, we are called not only to faithfully accomplish our main apostolate which is the witnessing to our consecration, but also to get increasingly involved in the pastoral life of the diocese. Modesty aside, something is being done already: The help extended by our student-brothers on some important religious events of the diocese; the pastoral assistance provided to Sisters (Masses, confessions…); the teaching by our brothers at St Joseph’s Catholic University, School of Christian Studies; the administrative-educational presence at St Paul’s School; etc., are important missionary activities which, together with our physical presence as an ecclesiastical institution, contribute to support the mission of the Catholic Church in Macau.

Obviously, much more could still be done, and hopefully will be done in the future. Thus it is not surprising that the current Bishop of Macau may expect some greater Dominican involvement in the pastoral work of his diocese. However, the current unique situation of Macau makes this involvement somehow difficult in practical terms, as it also demands a lot of prudence on our part… The language (Cantonese) is by itself another great obstacle: If learning Chinese may result difficult to our young student-brothers who are struggling with their English while completing their institutional studies, for us, grownups, it is simply impossible. Far from seeing in this fact an excuse, I see rather an opportunity to learn a profound lesson in humility, as our apostolate is reduced in many instances to mere presence. Another important point is the urgent need which our theology students have of some pastoral exposure as part of their formation training; this urgent need alone calls for a greater involvement of our Dominican brethren in the pastoral life of the diocese, and even for a stable work of some brothers in Macau. These issues are new and requiring proper attention.

There is a considerable number of members of our Province pursuing complementary or post-graduate studies in different cities of the world: in Hong Kong, Manila, Seoul, Bangkok, Rome, Madrid, Avila… Why do you send them to so many different countries? What is the point? 

Things which seem to be “extraordinary” in other Provinces of the Dominican Order are “ordinary” for us, members of Our Lady of the Rosary Province, due to our unique configuration. The mentioned fact of having students pursuing studies in different cities of the world (Macau, Hong Kong, Manila, Seoul, Singapore, Yangon, Rome, Madrid, Avila…) is one of them. The reason is because of the international setup of our Province, currently present in twelve different countries. Having religious houses in those mentioned cities (and in others) with the possibility for our students of pursuing further studies and of obtaining academic degrees, it is then normal that we take advantage of it and send some of our students there. The additional reported benefits of our young brothers´ presence in those places are not less important: Enrichment of the local communities, learning of languages, knowledge of the Province, exposure to an intercultural environment, etc.; factors all these quite decisive in the present juncture of our Province.

The Dominican Province you lead is the missionary Province of the Order of Preachers. What is specific in our Province regarding the current challenges of mission?

The Province of Our Lady of the Rosary is truly unique in the Order and represents well the missionary dynamism that ought to be present within the whole Order and within the Church. Essentially missionary as it is, our Province has some specific elements which are not found in other Dominican Provinces, like for instance its non-territoriality, its international structure, its centralized organization, etc., all of them in order to better serve its missionary objectives. Even the promise added to our religious profession “to go to the missions of the Province if required by the Superiors” is uniquely ours; and although it adds nothing to our consecration, however, it is an important reminder of our missionary call, whose answer requires openness, great love and readiness to leave behind mother and father and homeland for the sake of the Kingdom. The former Master of the Order told us concisely: “Your Province exists for the mission; and the commitment to the mission urges you to overcome narrow provincialisms.”

Thinking in the line of our current missionary challenges, it is a fact that for the past few years the Province of Our Lady of the Rosary has become more “international” and “multicultural” than ever because of the vast prism of nationalities where its new members come from. The great missionary challenge of interculturalism has made its presence felt in our midst, putting to a test our capacity of living together with brethren from different cultures. Experience tells us that such fraternal life in common is not easy due either to differences in character, linguistic barriers, human limitations, misunderstandings, or simply selfishness. The only alternative left is to assume the positive values existing both in ours’ and in other cultures, and to purify them in the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This Gospel which all of us, missionaries, are to announce throughout the world.

The Province of Our Lady of the Rosary is composed of members from different countries, including Spain, the Philippines, Japan, China, Taiwan, Venezuela, Korea, Myanmar, and Vietnam. How are you facing the growing challenge of interculturalism? With so many cultures intertwined, is it difficult – if not very difficult – to shape fraternal communities?

Difficult, very difficult, it is; impossible, not. Miracles do happen and I believe they are actually happening in the increasing number of our communities composed of members from different countries. I am not naïve as to think that genuine intercultural communities may just happen by chance or by simply putting together under the same roof brothers from different nations or cultures. Not at all; a true intercultural community needs to be consciously created and intentionally promoted; it requires some basic personal attitudes and a particular spirituality. Prayer, forgiveness, active patience and time are only some of the key elements in this process. For allowing the different cultures of our community members to interact with each other, enriching the individuals and the community as a whole, is indeed a lengthy and laborious process.

How am I facing the growing challenge of interculturalism? Honestly, I could not imagine ten years ago that interculturalism was going to become the main challenge of the Province at this point in history. But it has become. And providentially, I should say. My conviction is that this challenge has to be seen (and lived) as a GIFT, not as a threat! That is why there is on our part the serious obligation to look to the future with optimism, and not to give up in our intent to transform our multicultural communities into intercultural ones. Some of our brothers may think that this is an impossible dream; I understand and respect their opinion, but I do not share it. Besides, the Province as a whole represented in the Provincial Chapter saw the current pluricultural reality of the Province as an invitation to the brothers to live together in unity and mutual loving acceptance “in a world hit by divisions and differences, broken by excessive nationalism, ethnocentrism, racism and other forms of discrimination which lead to tensions in human relationships” (ACPHK 2009, n. 110). Living intercultural relations is at the core of the mission which we, as members of a missionary Province, are called to bring to fulfilment. Along with the grace of God, this is also the best testimony to our strength and missionary work.

Does our Province have plans to open other places of mission in the near future?

Yes, apart from consolidating and expanding our presence in some of the countries where we currently are, particularly in Myanmar, there are also plans to soon open a mission in East Timor. In saying this I am not revealing any secret. Just two months ago, at the beginning of December, 2011 I received a letter from the Master of the Order, Bro Bruno Cadoré, in which he formally asked me and the Province of Our Lady of the Rosary to take the responsibility in bringing the presence of the Order to the land of East Timor.  He asked also the Brothers of the Asia Pacific Region to help us to make this Mission of the Order in East Timor successful. On my part, I humbly accepted the responsibility hoping that with God’s help we may carry out this important task with fidelity to the Order. Without promises of any kind at this very moment, since I have not yet been there in East Timor, I assured the Master that we will soon try to do something about it. He gave us his blessing with highly encouraging words: “May the Blessed Virgin Mother of the Holy Rosary, St Dominic and the Holy Martyrs of the Province intercede for you and help you to continue to carry the Missionary Spirit of the Founders of the Province into the New Frontiers of the Order. “

In all the General Chapters of the Order and of our Provincial Chapters, there is a consistent recommendation for greater and deeper interprovincial collaboration. How do you see the current collaboration of our Province with other Dominican Provinces, in particular with Provinces in the Asia/Pacific Region?

I think we are in a process of integration and of good relations with all the Dominican Provinces or entities. Our recent hand-over of the Basilica of Wan-Chin to our Chinese brothers in Taiwan and our welcome to them in Hong Kong; the integration of the Australian novices with ours for several years now; our acceptance to other entities of the Order in those territories where the Province is established; our generous hand extended to the Province of Chile; the sending of our Venezuelan brothers to study to the Province of Colombia; the collaboration with the Provinces in the Iberian Peninsula in the JIP project; our excellent relationship with the Vietnamese Province translated in mutual appreciation and scholarships; the good understanding with the Province of the Philippines, where some of our brothers are learning English or taking post-graduate studies; the many particular instances of collaboration with the Dominican family within the Vicariates, etc. etc., are only a few examples that illustrate this fact. Obviously there are also some shadows or indications that much more could and should be done. That is why the Province in its latest Provincial Chapter urged the promotion of dialogue among all Dominican entities and the collaboration in the mission. Indeed, dialogue, planning and collaboration with the different branches of the Dominican Family, both at the level of Vicariates and at the Provincial level, is necessary. In last year meeting of Asia-Pacific Provincials in the Philippines, in the presence of the Master of the Order, I requested the Provincials present there to send some formators to work with us; I received enthusiastic promises, but their fulfillment have not yet materialized. In this matter, like in most others, deeds are what count, not just good words or beautiful reports!

Last question: Would you like to make other comments?

I enjoy having given this opportunity to share some thoughts with others; and for this my gratitude goes both to you who advanced the questions and to the readers who may have the patience to read my answers. I know others would have answered the same questions in a much better fashion than me, expressing even different points of view on the same matters tackled. How I wished to be enlightened by them! After all, holding the Provincial’s office does not carry with it the prerogative of being right. Thanks God in the Dominican Order most of our decisions are taken democratically through councils and chapters, and that alleviates my responsibility as Provincial and somehow guarantees God’s providential guidance of the Province in these challenging moments of its history.

Having said this, instead of adding more comments regarding formation, mission, etc., I prefer to end with a word of encouragement: Let us walk in the Spirit and aspire to perfection, which to my mind consists not so much in doing great things for the Lord as allowing Him to do great things for us. Holy be His name!

Thank you very much.

Dear brother Javier, thank you very much for your open and candid answers. It is good to walk together in these exciting times, full of dangers and opportunities for working for mission – for the Kingdom. May we, united, turn the dangers into opportunities for preaching the Gospel today in our different cultural, historical and sociological contexts! (Fausto Gómez, OP)