Local Government

The Superior of the Community

152. The Superior of a community¹ is at the service of his Brothers in the accomplishing of their personal, community, and apostolic vocation. He offers to each Brother the support of his collaboration, advice, and authority.

He governs with the help of a Council. In the communities where there are at least six Brothers, this Council is made up of the number of Brothers determined by the Brother Provincial, with the consent of his Council. Where no Council exists, its place is taken by the whole community.

152.1 The Superior takes an interest in each of his Brothers, and together they seek what is for the good of all. He shows that he is available to spend time with them and to listen to them. He should take the initiative, when necessary, to confirm a decision made in community, or to take action himself when something cannot be put off till later. (c 619)

152.2 He authorises the personal expenditure of the Brothers, within the limits of his power.

152.3 He is responsible for having the community meet at regular intervals.

152.4 He sees to it that the Brothers have access to an adequate library. He provides for the safe keeping and the classifying of archive documents, and he sees to the upkeep of buildings and furniture.

152.5 He can dispense, for a time, a Brother or the whole community from some particular point of discipline of the Constitutions.

152.6 The local Superior cannot act without the consent of his Council when there is question of:

1. taking decisions that flow from the plan for community life;

2. apportioning tasks and responsibilities not specified by the Brother Provincial;

3. preparing the annual budget, and the financial report as at the end of the financial year, and submitting them to the Brother Provincial for approval (cf 150.2.9);

4. deciding on expenditure and on important alterations, within the limits of the approved budget;

5. drawing up plans that call for the approval of the major Superiors (cf 150.2.8);

6. attending to matters arising from the Provincial Chapter (cf 151.1).

152.7 The Brother Superior convokes his Council at least once a month.

152.8 Whenever it seems useful, the Brothers involved in the matters under discussion are invited to the Council session. This invitation can be extended to the whole community. None of these invited Brothers has the right to vote.

152.9 The Minutes of the Council sessions are approved and signed by the Brother Superior and the Councillors. The book of these minutes is made available to the major Superiors when they are making the canonical visit. The community is informed of Council deliberations by receiving a summary of proceedings.

153. The local Superior is appointed by the Brother Provincial¹ for three years, after a suitable consultation². He must be perpetually professed for at least one year³. He can be re-appointed. For a third term of office, the approval of the Brother Superior General is required.

For serious reasons, and with service to the Province in mind, the Brother Provincial can shorten a local Superior's term of office⁴.

153.1 It is desirable that, after several consecutive terms of office, a Brother have an interval of time before once more being entrusted with responsibility for a community. (c 624, 2)

154. The community has a deputy Superior, who takes the place of the Superior when he is absent or prevented from fulfilling his role. The deputy Superior is the first Councillor. He is chosen according to the regulations laid down by the Provincial Chapter. (cf 151.1.4)

Brothers in Charge of Apostolic Works

In certain situations, it can be an advantage to have different Brothers filling the role of Superior of the community and that of Director of the apostolic work.

The Brother Provincial decides on the way in which the Brother Director of the work is to be appointed, the term of his mandate, and the powers to be allocated to him. The same holds true if there be question of other posts of responsibility, such as bursar, co-ordinator, councillor. (cf 150.2.16)

These men give vitality to the apostolic spirit of the work that they have charge of. They should see to it that the work is well organised. Avoiding all ostentation, they ensure that Marist simplicity is in evidence.

As religious, these Brothers are subordinate to the Superior of their community. They must keep in mind that their decisions may involve the responsibility of the Institute, hence they must act with all necessary prudence and within the strict limits of the powers given them.