At the recent consultation for the appointment of our new provincial, one of the questions that was asked was: “What qualities should the new provincial possess?” One of the first qualities that was mentioned was this: “He should not only be good at animation but also at governance.”
What is governance? What does it imply?
During the discourse on Maundy Thursday Jesus said: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). In this statement of Jesus, we have the three fundamental functions of the Church. Jesus is the truth, and the Church has the duty to bring to the world his message of salvation. Jesus is the life, and the Church has the mission to transmit grace through the sacraments. Jesus is the way, and the Church has the responsibility to lead people to God. These are the three functions of the Church: the function of teaching, sanctifying and governing (traditionally called, ecclesiastical powers or sacred powers). These correspond to the three messianic offices of Jesus: Jesus the prophet, priest and shepherd (Lumen Gentium, n. 21:2). While all the baptized share in these three functions, the superiors share in them in a way proper to their office, through the instrumentality of the Church (Canon 618-19). Here we concern ourselves with the function of governing.
In general, governing means steering or directing a group of people. More specifically, governing may be described as the process of pastorally managing and directing the people of God, in accordance with the power bestowed on the Church by Christ, for the attainment of their temporal welfare and their final end, which is eternal life. Governing is the exercise of power or authority for realizing the goals of a congregation and the total well-being of its members.
Fr Jose Kuttianimattathil SDB
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