Final Message from the Two-Week Ongoing Formation in Asia
Dear Confereres, these two weeks of formation were an intense and grace-filled journey of personal and communal renewal. We began with a spiritual retreat that invited us to go deeper into ourselves and into our relationship with God. Through reflections on gratitude and human weakness, we came to see how God's power is made perfect in our vulnerability. Far from being a limitation, our fragility becomes the sacred place where healing begins and grace takes root.
We were reminded of Pope Francis's call to walk alongside the poor — not merely to assist them, but to recognize in them the face of Christ. Their presence challenges and transforms us. In Mary, Mother of God and of Evangelization, we found a model of listening, humility, and courageous availability to God's plan. Her life is a living gospel of trust and openness.
Throughout the formation, we explored how spirituality can sometimes become rigid or fear-driven — what we might call a “saving spirituality,” based on merit, guilt, and performance. Instead, we were called to rediscover a “blessing spirituality”: one that embraces grace, relationship, and the joy of being loved unconditionally. This shift in perspective fosters true freedom and compassionate service.
Hope emerged as a central theme — not a passive waiting, but an active stance rooted in trust. In a world marked by despair, we are invited to be witnesses of a hope that never disappoints because it is grounded in God’s promise.
The testimony of Sister Angela was a profound moment. Her work with children living with disabilities, and her ability to bring families together in love and understanding, was a powerful reminder that what the world often sees as brokenness can be a deep expression of divine love. Her courage during the civil war in Sierra Leone — choosing to stay with the people, to share their fear and pain — was a living witness to the Gospel in action.
Finally, we were confronted with one of the deepest wounds within the Church today: the reality of abuse. This moment of formation did not avoid the hard questions. Instead, it offered us clear guidelines and tools to respond with justice, compassion, and truth. We were reminded that our vocation demands vigilance, integrity, and the creation of spaces where everyone — especially the most vulnerable — can feel safe and valued.
As young Xaverians working in Asia, we have become deeply aware of the challenges awaiting us in the mission entrusted to us in this part of the world. Our older brothers are fewer in number and advancing in age. We commit ourselves to continue and strengthen what they have begun, in the spirit of our dear founder, Saint Guido Maria Conforti. We are not afraid to face these challenges. Instead, we dedicate ourselves to making Christ known to all — even if, at times, we cannot speak openly.
This formation was a moment of grace and growth. It opened new paths in our spiritual journey and reminded us of the beauty and responsibility of consecrated life. We are grateful to the organizers, the Thailand Region, the facilitators, the participants, and the confreres who shared their experiences. May we continue to walk together, inspired by faith, shaped by love, and strengthened by hope.
From the young Xaverian Missionaries working in Asia, gathered in Bangkok from June 1, to 15, for the ongoing formation.
God bless!
