Xaverian Asian Formators Meeting. Final message

Xaverian Asian Formators Meeting

Animation and Vocational Promotion, Introductory Year, Novitiate and Philosophy

Manila, March 11-16, 2019

Final Message

“We no longer say that we are ‘disciples’ and ‘missionaries’ but rather that we are always missionary disciples” (EG 120)

Dear confreres,

with the presence of our General Superior Fr. Fernando Garcia and the Counselor Fr. Eugenio Pulcini, the formators and vocational promotors from Bangladesh, Thailand, Indonesia and Philippines, in continuity with the Xaverian Asian Formators Meeting  held in Jakarta in 2016, spent one week of reflection, sharing and study on how to qualify the collaboration among the different stages of formation in the  circumscriptions of the Asian Continent.

Since our arrival, we received a joyful welcome from all our confreres working in the Philippines. The activities were held at Villa Consuelo Retreat House, Caloocan City, run by the Augustinian Sisters. During this time, we also enjoyed the visit, the presence and animation of the formative communities of Philosophy, Postulancy-Novitiate and Theologate for the Eucharistic celebrations, dinner and recreation. As formators we received their visit as a sign of hope, and we believe that for both students and formators, it was an expression of sense of belonging and spirit of family.

We received the first encouragement from some inputs shared by Fr. Fernando Garcia during the first day of recollection in which, through the Gospel of Mark, we were invited to reflect on Jesus as our model of formation; on how the journey of the disciples has to reveal with clarity what Jesus teaches and how the disciples receive and live it.

This dimension was deepened further by Fr. Eugenio Pulcini through the presentation of the Ratio Formationis Xaverianae where Missio Ad Gentes must be the fundamental criteria of formation, the daily norm, the motivating ideal, the goal dreamed, the point of reference and concrete comparison.

As formators working in Asia, we paid special attention to listening to some Filipino experts on the new challenges for formation in Asia. Fr. Samuel Canilang, Claretian, presented the reality and offered some insights for the integral renewal of the Consecrated life in the context of a Church that “goes forth”. On the other hand, Fr. Chito Dimaranan, Salesian, talked about “Millennials, generation Y and Z” and the challenges these new generations pose to formation of the young people.

In the light of the XVII General Chapter (see nn. 28-30) we reflected first in groups and then in assembly on the three fundamental questions emerged from three kinds of fragilities regarding: Xaverian identity, family spirit and interculturality.

The richness of the insights offered during these days helped us to grow in awareness and discernment on the new attitudes we are called to cultivate every day:

1. reaffirming the centrality of Missio Ad Gentes in our formative project;
2. avoiding any automatism in which an almost mechanical process based only on the sequence of academic and/or chronological stages, in favor of a more personalized and diversified formative growth of the student. It is important to consider much more both the reality of the young people and the concrete needs of mission today.
3. stressing the constant presence of the formators among the students as one of the most powerful gifts we can offer to these new generations. Presence is almost second-nature to formators for that is the essence of formation: the art and craft of attending to the young people and the personal daily witness.
4. qualifying the formation of the formator at a professional level and also founding it on a daily process of knowledge of oneself, conversion, and the need to cultivate his personal growth;
5. improving our community life in terms of collaboration, capacity of listening and discerning together, fraternal correction, and respect for each person;
6. recognizing that interculturality is not an obligation for a Xaverian but rather a choice of faith and of charismatic identity. The need to acquire the spiritual and human skills in a continuous journey of conversion, without forgetting that the first intercultural interest of a missionary is always evangelization;
7. strengthening and qualifying a direct and constructive synergy between the Rectors of the Theology communities and the previous formative stages, particularly Novitiate and Philosophy. It is important to promote a better exchange between the Theologates and the formators of the two previous stages that have been accompanying the candidates.
8. encouraging a closer collaboration between animation and promotional vocation at a level of formators and with all the Xaverians working in the pastoral and academic field;
9. being aware that the daily lifestyle of the Xaverian communities has a great impact on the formation either in the positive or negative dimension. Our formandi listen to the insights of the formators but look at the real life of the Xaverians.

The words of Jesus “new wine in new wineskins” (Mk 2,22) accompanied us in these days. They suggest and demand the docibilitas to rediscover the Xaverian charism Ad Gentes as “new wine” all the time, alive, dynamic, creative and responsive. The change of wineskins does not come automatically, but demands daily commitment, ability, availability to personal and community changes, renunciation of what is old to embrace something new, capable of responding to the demands on life and mission among non-Christians. It is conducive for renewal, promotive of common discernment, decision making and teamwork.

The words of the Risen one make us appreciate the newness brought forth by the Holy Spirit through the charism of Saint Guido Maria Conforti, welcome it with gratitude and conserve it up to its full fermentation. We feel encouraged to continue our service as “missionary disciples” with our new generations of candidates in Asia with humility, hope and trust.

Your brothers:

Manila, Philippines, March 16, 2019