VI Assembly of General Formation Office

“We must value what we have, and look ahead with great hope as we tackle the issues in the Order’s life”. This was the message of our General Minister Br. Mauro Jöhri in his homily at the closing Mass of the International Formation Council. It was also a rallying call for the General Formation Secretariat, at its sixth general assembly held in Frascati from May 2-6 2011. Both the General Minister of the Friars Minor, Br. José Rodrìguez Carballo, and our own Br, Mauro, shared their views on the challenges, prospects and starategies facing the Order in the area of formation, and provided much material for reflection and a lively debate. Br. Mauro’s presence throughout the 5 days of the assembly was particularly appreciated.

The Assembly produced a first draft of the Statute of the General Formation Secretariat, which will be submitted to the General Definitory. This was a major step forward in defining more clearly the identity and function of this body, which animates one of the key areas in the life of the Order.

Experiencing Reconciliation

SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO - “We are called to be credible ministers of reconciliation. This means not only experiencing God’s mercy ourselves, but also obtaining it for others through prayer and a lifestyle that is a sign of that fatherly presence of God which is so much needed today”. These were the closing words of Mgr Michele Castoro to the participants at the International Week of Reconciliation, held at San Giovanni Rotondo from March 14-18, 2011. Over a hundred Capuchin friars and diocesan priests attended, from Italy, Romania, Spain, Portugal, Slovachia, Poland, Malta, India, Ethiopia, USA, Argentina, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Colombia. The meeting was organised in partnership between the Capuchin General Secretariat for Formation and the Shrine of Padre Pio. Against the backdrop of the example of the great “apostle of the confessional”, Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, the meeting provided useful ideas for enhancing the confessional ministry and making it a true experience of reconciliation, at a time when so many obstacles, not the least of which arise from our secularised societies, have made the sacrament of reconciliation something of a “forgotten sacrament” for many people. At the same time, there is a deep and widespread hunger for peace and reconciliation, which is why this sacrament is a vital part of the Church’s ministry and an occasion of genuine inner renewal.

Visit to Formation houses in Puerto Rico

The visit to the formation houses in Puerto Rico took place from January 24-28, thanks to the interest and planning of Br Francisco Garcia, Vice-provincial minister of the circumscription.

It was an opportunity to make contact with the brothers most closely involved with formation, both directors and the young brothers themselves. The fraternity of the Vice-province as a whole showed great interest in current developments in the formation field and a desire to tackle the challenges involved.

Program of events

Monday 24th Meeting with formators and brothers interested in the topic

Tuesday 25th Visit to “San Antonio” Fraternity – Post-novitiate

Wednesday 26th Visit to “Santa Teresita” Fraternity – Postulancy

Thursday 27th Visit to “Madre del Buen Pastor” Fraternity

New Bibliographis

• Cucci Giovanni, Maturità dell'esperienza di fede, Elledici 2010
Questo libro tratta la problematica della possibile maturità dell'esperienza di fede dal punto di vista filosofico, psicologico e spirituale. Scopo del lavoro è di aiutare a fare chiarezza circa il percorso di vita della persona, riconoscendone desideri ed eventuali ostacoli o ambiguità, tenendo presente in particolare tre finalità fondamentali: descrivere il soggetto nel suo sviluppo affettivo, cognitivo, relazionale; notare se esso sia consapevole delle sue aree problematiche, valutando le relative capacità di autocontrollo; mostrare i possibili riflessi nell'esperienza spirituale e nella sua rappresentazione di Dio.

• Kijas Z. OFM Conv, Życie zakonne. Turystyka czy pielgrzymowanie, WAM 2010

Wejrzenie w naturę zakonnego powołania, szczególnie we współczesnej kulturze, wydaje się trudne. Jego właściwy sens zdoła odczytać wyłącznie ten, kto wierzy. Tylko wiara objawia treść powołania i tylko ten, kto wierzy i szuka ciągłego pogłębienia swojej wiary, jest w stanie podjąć powołanie. Jak ma je realizować współczesny zakonnik / współczesna zakonnica?

Książka stanowi próbę odpowiedzi na to pytanie, próbę odczytania na nowo – w kontekście dzisiejszego świata – istoty zakonnego powołania. Jest zredagowanym na nowo zapisem rekolekcji, które zostały przeprowadzone przez autora w 2010 roku dla sióstr sercanek w Krakowie.

Address of his Holiness Benedict XVI

Address of his Holiness Benedict XVI to the Union of Superiors Generals

New Bibliographis

• o. Franco Imoda SJ, Gdybym miłości nie miał... Emocje i uczucia w wychowaniu i formacji (płyta CD audio), WAM 2010

Wydaje się, że po ostatnich wiekach dominacji rozumu ludzkość na nowo odkrywa zapomniany wymiar serca i jego mądrości. Stąd rodzi się oczywiste pytanie o rolę uczuć i emocji w wychowaniu, formacji dzieci, młodzieży i dorosłych. Franco Imoda odsłania przed nami subtelne powiązania woli, rozumu i serca, wykorzystując do tego nie tylko mądrość płynącą z nauki, ale także swoje bogate doświadczenia kapłana i kierownika duchowego, wychowawcy i terapeuty.

FORMATION COURSE FOR THE GUARDIANS OF CECOC

Formation Course for the Guardians of the conference of CECOC was held from 8 to 20 November 2010 in Frascati and Assisi. 43 Guardians from 11 Circumscriptions (Bielorussia, Republica Ceca, Croazia, Polonia-Cracovia, Polonia-Varsavia, Bulgaria, Romania, Slovacchia, Slovenia, Svezia and Ungaria) gathered together to reflect and share with each other their experiences in realizing the service of authority. The spiritual animation of the fraternity as the primary task of Guardian was highlighted very often. It is animation that permits each brother to accept the works of the Holy Spirit in the heart. Only then one can speak of a true fraternity. The moments of relfection, fraternal sharing, prayer, visit to the places that are significant to our faith and vocation, and even simply being together have brought us to the conviction that greater the love of God in us, closer the hearts unite.