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PRESENTATION |
With the satisfaction of an objective achieved, we are presenting these Statutes of the organization TRINITARIAN INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY (SIT = Solidarietà Internazionale Trinitaria). They are intended to be a guide and stimulus for the common action of and in communion with the whole Order in the field of redemption, open to the collaboration of the entire Trinitarian Family (cf. Extraordinary General Chapter, Ariccia 1999).
In this sense, the representatives of the Trinitarian Family, assembled in Ariccia (August 1999), propose 'to take up the organization Trinitarian International Solidarity (SIT) as the work of and in communion with the whole Family' (III International Assembly, 1. C). in his audience of 26 August 1999 granted to the Trinitarian Assembly, the Holy Father said to us: ''you have thought of establishing an international organization - by means of which you can intervene more effectively in defese of those persecuted or discriminated against because of religious belief and faithfulness to the values of the Gospel or to their conscience'' (John Paul II, Message to the Trinitarian Family on 26 August 1999, n.3).
This project is born at a moment which is especially significant for the Order and for the Family: the celebration of the 8th centenary of the foundation of the Order and 4th of its reform. It is the fruit of the wish for faithfulness to the specific charitable-redemptive mission. The celebration of the upcoming great Jubilee of the Year 2000 invites us “to a renewed commitment of liberation” (John Paul II, Message to the Trinitarian Family, 4). The drawing up of these Statutes for SIT has required considerable effort, time, dedication, comparison of opinions, working out texts, etc. In each instance, there was the search for a better compilation and effectiveness for putting the Statutes into practice in the future. The approval of these Statutes by the Extraordinary General Chapter of the Centenaries is certainly a point of arrival, but especially a point of departure. In the journey which we are about to begin, there are so many things that are hoped for.
May the Holy Trinity bless this initiative which begins precisely in the year consecrated to the Trinity. With the works of charity and redemption, we wish “to make God’s merciful face, revealed to us in the Incarnation of Christ, shine among men” (John Paul II, Letter to the Trinitarian, 7 June 1998, n.4). Our Lady of Good Remedy, our Fathers John de Matha, Felix and John Baptist of the Conception will be our protectors and models. Like them, we make our lives “a sacrifice of love for ransoming the victims of every form of material and spiritual slavery” (John Paul II, Letter to the Trinitarians, 7 June 1998, n.3).
Fr. José Hernández Sánchez, O.SS.T.
Minister General
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STATUTES
STATUTES OF
TRINITARIAN INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY (SIT)
OF THE ORDER OF THE MOST HOLY TRINITY
"The spirit of the Lord is upon me;
...He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives;
...To let the oppressed go free" (Lk 4,18) |
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Preamble
On the occasion of the celebration of the VIII century of its presence in the world, renews the Trinitarian Order is renewing the commitment to fidelity to its specific charism. Returning to the freshness of the Gospel roots expressed in the Rule approved by Pope Innocent III on 17 December 1198, the motto always present in the heart of every Trinitarian is taken up again: Gloria Tibi Trinitas et captivis libertas - Glory to you O Trinity and liberty to the captives.
In our world, people and nations suffer oppression because of new and old forms of slavery, and they are wounded in the fundamental values of faith and justice. The Trinitarians, together with the Trinitarian Family, choose to heed the yearning for liberation, and the cry of hope, and offer a service of mercy and of redemption to the oppressed of our society and, in a special way, to the persecuted and discriminated against because of their religious faith, of fidelity to their conscience or to the values of the Gospel (Letter of John Paul II to the Trinitarians 7-6-98, n. 4: Cf. Dich. Fam. Trinit., Madrid 1986, n. 7).
True to our redemptive mission the Trinitarians wish to be an epiphany of Christ the Redeemer among men of today, credible witnesses through whom God works and reveals His merciful and redemptive love (Letter of John Paul II to the Trinitarians 7-6-98, n. 4).
Constitutions and purpose
1. With the decree of the extraordinary General Chapter of 1999 on the occasion of the celebration of the VIII Centenary of the foundation of the Trinitarian Order and the IV of its Reform, the organism Trinitarian International Solidarity (from here on designated in these Statutes as SIT) was established.
The said Organism has its central headquarters in Rome, at the General Curia of the Order of the Most Holy Trinity - Via Massimi, 114/C - 00136 Roma - Tel. 06 35 34 14 65 -Fax 06 35 34 16 73, and with offices in other countries.
2. Established within the General Secretariat of the Apostolate, SIT is committed to actualizing the Trinitarian charism in the specific field of liberation, which is open to collaboration with the others Institutes and with the Laity of the Trinitarian Family. And so, in the spirit of St. John of Matha and in genuine Trinitarian-Redemptive tradition, SIT works on behalf of those who are reduced to slavery and are oppressed or excluded, or who suffer persecution because of their religious faith, or because of their fidelity to Christ and for the values of the Gospel (Cf. Letter of John Paul II to the Trinitarians 7-6-98, n. 4; CC 5; DG 87).
3. The purpose of SIT is solidarity and not the pursuit of profit.
4. SIT works through means respecting the freedom and dignity of the person; SIT favors dialogue and tolerance and is open to participation and collaboration with non-government organization (NGO), with other religions traditions, or with any other kind of organization working for the same objectives.
5. SIT is established by the Order of the Most Holy Trinity. Participants in it are the Institutes and Laity of the Trinitarian Family who look to and recognize in the Minister General of the Trinitarian Order, the successor of St. John of Matha, the Order’s first animator who presides in charity.
Eligible for associations with SIT are those organizations and associations which recognize themselves in the spirit and letter of SIT’s Statutes, and accept its the principles and objectives. Said organizations and associations may present their written request to the Directive Council of SIT and receive a document of acceptance signed by the Minister General of the Trinitarian Order. As for individuals, they may present their request for admission and receives the document of acceptance according to that which is established in the various jurisdictions.
6. In order to create sensitivity to, and to sustain and advance its specific purpose and activities, SIT:
a) promotes a great activity of prayer and redemptive charity:
b) promotes the specific formation needed to qualify ever better its own redemptive action;
c) offers information on the situation and urgencies in the field of new forms of slavery;
d) programs concrete actions of liberation according to its abilities and always in accord with its purpose;
e) diligently provides information about what has been done regarding these aforementioned actions of liberation;
f) uses means of communication in an appropriate manner;
g) shares formative and informative material with the organisms which work in the field of liberation and with those who are committed to help those persecuted because of their faith.
7. SIT is under the protection of the Holy Redeemer Jesus of Nazareth. The feast day, October 23, is the world day of prayer, of sacrifice and redemptive charity.
The organs of SIT
SIT is composed of:
A) The General Assembly
8. The General Assembly is the highest level of SIT, a sign of unity, communion and collaboration. It can be ordinary and extraordinary, and has the following duties:
a) to look after the formation and spiritual animation of the members;
b) to plan and check on its activities;
c) to examine and approve the three-year project of the International Directive Council;
d) to examine the cases which are to be considered and adopted, with regard to the more appropriate resolutions and initiatives;
e) to approve the ordinary and extraordinary quotas, presented by the Directive Council;
f) to review the accounts of the preceding term and to approve the budget of the following three years;
g) to elect the reviewers from among the members of SIT, who belong neither to the Directive Council nor the Executive Committee, whose specific duty it is review the financial statements and administrative work of SIT.
9. The ordinary General Assembly meets every three years, according to the calendar established by the International Directive Council. It is convoked by a letter from the Minister General of the Trinitarian Order at least six months prior to its meeting.
In special cases and for special reason,the extraordinary Assembly will be convened by the same Minister General, with the consent of the International Directive Council, at least three months prior to its meeting.
10. The participants of the ordinary or extraordinary General Assembly by right are:
- The Minister General or the Trinitarian Order;
- the President of the Secretariat of the Apostolate;
- the President of SIT;
- the Directive Council of SIT;
- the Executive Council of SIT;
- the Presidents of SIT of the various jurisdictions of the Trinitarian Order together with a delegate, if they wish to send one;
-a member of each Institute and of the Laity of the Trinitarian Family which have chosen to belongs to SIT;
- a representative of the organisms and associations which have chosen to belong to SIT;
- other members, from 3 to 5 in number, invited by the Minister General of the Trinitarian Order, after consultation with the Directive Counci.
B) The Directive Council
11. The Directive Council is the highest level of SIT outside of the Assembly and is elected for a three-year period with the possibility of reelection.
It is composed of:
a) the International President of SIT;
b) the Presidents of SIT of the various jurisdictions of the Order;
c) a delegate from each Institute and from the Laity of the Trinitarian Family which have chosen to belong to SIT.
d) the members of Executive Committee of SIT.
12. The Directive Council ordinarily meets once a year and is presided over by the Minister General of the Trinitarian Order or his delegate.
It has the following responsibilities:
a) to elect the members of the Executive Committee;
b) to attend to the animation of the membership and the preparation of the candidates for the various projects;
c) to review and evaluate the annual work of the Executive Committee;
d) to review and evaluate the annual reports of SIT of the various jurisdictions of the Order;
e) to study the three-year program of the General Assembly;
f) to make some concrete directives to put into practice the program of the General Assembly;
g) to provide information about local projects which accord with the direction of the General Assembly;
h) to approve the financial statements of the previous year and the budget of the following year:
i) to present urgent cases for study and for action in accordance with the norms of the Statutes and according to the directives of the General Assembly;
j) to examine and to accept the request for admission from organizations and associations;
k) to expel organizations and associations belonging to SIT which do not act in conformity with the purpose and objectives of SIT
C) The Executive Committee
13. The Executive Committee, elected for three-year period, is composed of the International President of SIT, nominated by the General Council of the Trinitarian Order, and by four members elected by the Directive Council. It has its permanent headquarters at the General Curia of the Trinitarian Order.
In its first meeting, the Executive Committee elects from its members the Secretary and Treasurer and decides the times and the places of its meetings.
14. The executive Committee has the following duties:
a) to execute the programs and to carry out the decisions of the General Assembly and of the Directive Council:
b) to evaluate the functioning of SIT;
c) to study urgent cases and make provisions for them, according to the instructions received from the Directive Council;
d) to promote the communications and the collaboration with SIT in the various jurisdictions of the e) to approve the annual report to be presented to the Directive Council;
f) to prepare the annual meeting of the Directive Council and the ordinary and extraordinary General Assembly;
g) to animate and care for the expansion of SIT;
h) to publish periodically an information bulletin and to distribute promotional material on the purpose and activity of SIT;
i) to provide for translation of material for formation and information in a timely fashion;
j) to carry out the administration of SIT,
k) to prepare the budgets and financial statements to be submitted to the Directive Council for approval.
15. The President:
a) convokes the meeting of the Directive Council;
b) prepares the order of the day with the Secretary;
c) promotes the communication of the members and coordinates the work of the Committee;
d) attends to the relations, collaboration and communion among SIT’s organization in the various jurisdictions;
e) represents SIT in the international conferences and meetings;
f) prepares the annual report with the Secretary.
16. The Secretary:
a) prepares the minutes of the meetings;
b) takes care of the archives;
c) takes care of the activities of Secretary's office of SIT in all the aspects.
17. The Treasurer:
a) attends to recordings of the incomes and expenses;
b) pays the ordinary expenses established by the Executive Committee and the extraordinary expenses authorized in writing by the same Committee;
c) keeps and administers the ordinary funds of SIT according to and under the direction of the Executive Committee.
The funds of SIT
18. The assets of SIT are used for the works of mercy and redemption according to the purposes of the same organization.
These assets come from:
a) funds of solidarity of the Order, set up in the spirit of the tertia pars according to the Trinitarian Rule;
b) contributions of the SIT in the various jurisdictions, determined by the Directive Council;
c) free contributions given by the members;
d) future contributions from national and international corporations and organization;
e) grants from associations, individuals and benefactors in general;
f) donations and wills;
g) revenue from assets, fixed and otherwise, which bring income to SIT in any way whatsoever.
19. The funds are dispensed in a bank by Executive Committee are done writing by the President of the Executive Committee, countersigned by the Secretary, and executed by the administrator according to the instructions of the same Executive Committee.
20. The financial operations carried out by the Executive Committee is done in writing by the President of the Executive Committee, countersigned by the Secretary and executed by the Administrator according to the instructions of the same Executive Committee.
21. Whatever is given for a concrete project will be completely used for such a project (cf. RT 13).
Particular norms
22. Subsequent modifications, additions and changes of these Statutes must be studied by the General Assembly and proposed to the General Chapter and, outside the General Chapter, to the General Council of the Trinitarian Order for approval. The General Council is the competent forum for all contentions.
23. The suppression of SIT is the competence of the General Chapter of the Trinitarian Order. In this case the assets of SIT will be completely used for works of mercy and redemption.
24. The various translations of the Statutes will be made by referring to the original Italian text.
25. Keeping in mind these General Statutes, SIT in the various jurisdictions will draw up their own Statutes, which will be approved by the Provincial Council and presented for review to the General Council.
The aforesaid jurisdictions which in the same country can have a single national organization with its own Statutes approved by the Provincial Councils and presented for review to the General Council
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