Provincial chapter of 1851 decrees

Page 1

7/3/13 Decrees of the first Provincial Chapter of the Anglo-Belgian Province of St Joseph held in Bereau of St Wilfrid, Chesalle, Staffordshire 1851. 1. With regard to the perishes attached to our Bereaus the Ven. Chapter decreed (1) The Beater or Superior of each house are charged with the care and spiritual direction of the Secular Congregation attached to each respective Church. (2) That in quality of Superiors of the offision, they alone are responsible to the respective ordinary and to the higher superiors for the apostolic direction. (3) In the absence of the Beater or Provincial Superior the F. Vice Beater or Vice Superior or even another priest appointed by the Beater or higher Superior shall assume the said care till the return of the Beater complying with the orders and instructions left by the latter. (4) The F. Vice Beater and the other priests may according to necessity be employed in particular ministries for the spiritual advantage of the Secular Congregation. They cannot, however, be permanently charged with the instruction the responsibility of which remains always with the local superior. 2. (1) The Beater or local Superior will fix some day of the week on which men and women separately will be instructed on different days in the batechism by the Superior himself or by another priest appointed to the office. (2) The instructions shall be given in the Church, Sacrificy or another fit place at a time suited to the circumstances of persons, care being taken to conclude the instruction the signal has been given for the end of Becceration. (3) If any Protestant cannot assist at this common instruction another time shall be assigned him by the Superior or with his permission. (4) If in any house what is prescribed in the preceding members 18 & 2 cannot be practised by reason of the distance, the Superior shall appoint a convict place where they who wish for instruction may assemble. In this case, however, the instruction shall terminate at such a time as will allow him who gives it to return at eight in the evening. (5) In case women require instruction privately, the superior is recommended to interest them to the school mistress or other fit person of the same sex before however must