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FORMATION
The Chapter accepted the following proposal:
The Chapter accepts the Formation Guide as part
of our Proper Law in accordance with Canon 659 2 and Constitutions 95.1.
The Formation Guide is published separately.
The reference text is in Spanish
Formation
commission
The work
of the Formation Commission focussed principally on the Formation Guide. It
contains all our convictions about Formation today. The commission believed
that it was better not to introduce any additional doctrinal elements, but
rather to propose some urgent practical strategies pertaining to the whole
Institute. These strategies are the kernel of our report. They are preceded,
however, by a simple statement of the challenges and convictions we see as
particularly relevant for Formation today.
The six
topics are presented in the order of priority we agreed on when we studied the
current state of Formation within the Institute.
I. Challenges
1.
The reality of our world
— the
sense of solidarity and inter-relationship among the peoples of the world is
calling us to a new vision of Formation, and to partnership with lay people.
— new
ideologies and the crisis of values are challenging us to a new Formation in
discernment.
— socio-cultural
challenges and changes are influencing not only contemporary youth but
ourselves as well.
2.
The reality of Formation throughout the Institute
We recognise that in recent years
strong efforts and advances have been made in the area of Formation. However,
we also perceive that:
— while
in some places vocations are increasing, in others they are diminishing;
— frequently
enough young Brothers find themselves in an isolated situation, and without the
help they need;
— the perseverance rate among young Brothers is
low;
— the
development of our spiritual life has been minimal;
— many
Brothers have taken little interest in their own ongoing Formation.
II. Our convictions
3.
We believe:
— that
the Formation Guide is a sure path of growth for a Marist Brother regardless of
his age.
— that
experience is showing us more and more clearly that interprovincial and
regional collaboration in Formation is a vital policy for us today.
— that
lay people share a common mission with us in the Church, and that we must be
ready to share responsibility with them.
— that
there is an urgent need to form community and ministry leaders taking
Champagnat as model.
— that,
with regard to the promotion of vocations, we feel called to change from a
passive attitude to one which is dynamic and active .
— that
senior Brothers have a rich contribution to make to the vitality of our
communities and ministries by their spirit of joy and their active apostolic
presence.
III. The strategies we propose
4.
Leadership Formation
At
General Council level
— a
course for Masters of Novices (within 5 years)
— a
course for those in charge of post-novitiate programmes (first stage)
— a
manual of guidelines for leadership Formation in the Provinces.
At regional (interprovincial) level
— a
course for local superiors
— meetings
of formators
At Province level
— a
plan for leadership Formation (superiors, principals and leaders in other
ministries, those in charge of catechetical and pastoral Formation, bursars
etc.; Both Brothers and lay people in such roles.)
— Formation
of lay people in Marist spirituality.
5. Post-novitiate (second stage)
At General Council level
— a
course for Brothers accompanying young Brothers.
At regional (interprovincial) level
— course and meetings of young Brothers (e.g.
On Marist education)
— retreats
for those preparing for final profession.
At Province level
— concerning
a plan for the Formation of young Brothers:
— a
Brother named to be responsible for their accompaniment.
— periodic
meetings between the Provincial (or the co-ordinator of Formation) and the
superiors who have young Brothers in their communities.
— regular
meetings among the young Brothers.
— promotion
of the "personal life plan", and its regular evaluation.
— mutual
support among young Brothers by arranging, if possible, for them to live either
in the same community, or close by.
6. Discernment and accompaniment
At General Council level
— prepare
guidelines to form Provincial Councils in the practice of discernment.
— prepare
guidelines for communities in:
— discernment
for their community plan
— discernment
for drawing up the community budget.
— prepare
a bibliography for discernment and accompaniment
At Province level
— annual
retreat focussed on the "personal life plan"
— motivate
Brothers to experience "being a disciple" by means of following a
programme of accompaniment.
At the personal level
— revitalise
the practice of the Review of the Day.
7. Formation for solidarity and
inculturation
At General Council level
— Formation
Commission: to prepare guidelines for studying the theme of "culture"
(one’s own culture, popular culture, post-modern culture etc), and the theme of
"solidarity", at the various stages of Formation.
— co-ordinate
research on our spiritual patrimony in order to deepen the Gospel roots of our
charism with a view to its inculturation.
At Province level
— propose
a programme of experiences in soldarity suitable for both initial and ongoing
Formation.
— foster
a critical analysis of the realities of the world.
— develop
a sensitivity in Brothers to the values already present in different cultures, and
to the challenges of modernity.
8.
Vocations ministry
At
General Council level
—
accompany the implementation of each Province’s vocations plan.
At
Province level
— Work
closely with lay people in encouraging vocations to the service of the Church,
particularly in the promotion of Marist vocations, both Brothers and lay.
— ensure
that we have an active presence in the vocations teams of the local Church,
both diocesan and parish.
— establish
a serious programme of accompaniment for the vocational discernment of our
candidates.
9. Senior Brothers
At General Council level
— continue
the courses for senior Brothers
— follow
up these groups of Brothers afterwards.
At Province level
— develop
a plan for the accompaniment of senior Brothers.
— promote
inter-congregational meetings among senior Brothers.
— invite
senior Brothers to make a specific commitment to pray for
vocations, the Province etc.
IV. A suggested structure
10. The creation by
the General Council of a structure responsible to it, which would consist of :
Either an international Formation Commission
Or a Formation Secretariat
Or "ad hoc" commissions
Or some other suitable structures
11.
They are means of accomplishing the following tasks:
— Draw
up suggestions which will help Brothers to know and understand the Formation
Guide
— prepare
some annexes for the Formation Guide on, for example:
Accompaniment,
Formation in the experience of God,
Initiation into prayer,
Apostolic experiences.
— distribute
a bibliography on discernment and accompaniment.
— gather
and share information regarding significant experiences in the areas of
Formation and vocations ministry.
— send out items published by different
Provinces.
— evaluate
our international programmes for spiritual renewal.
— assist
in the discernment and support of existing projects and new initiatives to
restructure our houses of Formation and to create post- novitiate centres.
— draw
up guidelines for the implementation of the "personal life plan".
V. Modification of a statute
In the
"Constitutions and statutes", article 103.2 is modified to read as
follows:
The first
stage lasts at least three years. The first year, at least, is made immediately
after the novitiate (pc 18, 1).
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