【慈幼通訊社 ─ 2014 年 02 月 20 日羅馬慈幼會總部訊】 ─ 大會成員正齊集一起，將選出鮑思高神父第十任繼承人，在未來六年指導修會的方向。在他們展開工作前，首先於2月22日至24日，前往慈幼會聖地朝聖。

鮑思高慈幼會第27屆全會代表大會(GC27)，將於3月3日至4月12日在羅馬總部舉行。大會主題為「見證福傳的徹底性」。大會將審視總會長所給的格言：「工作與節制」。

大會開始之前，舉行為期數天的活動，有助成員在人性、屬神及慈幼會特質方面作充分準備，投入大會的氣氛。2月22日至24日，大會成員前往都靈及慈幼會聖地朝聖，象徵他們回到鮑思高神恩的發祥地並從中汲取其神恩。接著，2月26日至3月2日將舉行退省，由慈幼會聖經學者 Juan José Bartolomé 神父主持。

大會在修會的生活上是其中一項最重要的活動。對慈幼會來說，全會代表大會是最高權力機構，除了可能發生的特別大會外，慣常每六年召開一次。這是「慈幼會士兄弟般的聚會，作出團體的檢討，為能忠於福音及會祖的神恩，並敏銳地辨認出時代及環境的需求。」（會憲第146章）

GC27成員包括總部議會成員，以及所有慈幼會省會長及長上，及一至兩個代表 ─ 按每個會省的會士人數；慈幼世界共有九十個會省及準會省。大會參與總人數為220，包括207名大會成員，以及13名由總會長邀請，但沒有投票權的人士。

GC27: All set for the 27th General Chapter of the Salesians of Don Bosco

(ANS - RMG –Roma, 20 February 2014) – The Chapter members are coming together to elect the tenth successor of Don Bosco and to direct the future of the Congregation for the next six years. Before they begin their work they will go on pilgrimage to the Salesian places from 22 to 24 February.

 The 27th General Chapter (GC27) of the Salesians of Don Bosco will take place at the Generalate in Rome from 3 March to 12 April. The theme of the chapter will be "Witnesses of Gospel Radicalism." It will examine with particular attention the motto given by the Rector Major: work and temperance.

 Before the official opening there will be some days of human, spiritual and Salesian preparation to help participants to enter the spirit of the occasion. From 22 to 24 February, the Chapter members will be on pilgrimage to Turin and the Salesian places, symbolizing their return to the places where it all started and drawing from the sources of the charism of Don Bosco. Then, from 26 February to 2 March, there will be a Retreat preached by the Salesian biblical scholar, Fr Juan José Bartolomé.

 The General Chapter is one of the most important events in the life of a religious congregation. For the Salesian Congregation it is the supreme authority and, apart from a possible extraordinary convocation, it is held every six years. It "is the fraternal meeting in which Salesians carry out a communal reflection to keep themselves faithful to the Gospel and to their Founder’s charism, and sensitive to the needs of time and place." [Art. 146 of the Constitutions].

 The participants at GC27 are the members of the General Council, all Salesian Provincials and Superiors and one or two representatives - depending on the number of confreres - for each of the 90 Provinces and Vice-Provinces of the Salesian world. They will number 220 ​​in all: 207 are Chapter members plus thirteen who are invited by the Rector Major but are not entitled to vote.