On-Going Formation
Note: This document was prepared for the General
Chapter by the General Staff, 4 June 1997.
A. The Need for On-going Formation
1) For a long time people thought that one's study time was
finished once the initial formation had ended. Only professors
and teachers kept up with their professional literature; for others
there was hardly any question of further formation.
2) Times however have changed and there are so many new developments
in a short period- We see it in industry and in science and also
in society and the Church.
3) Also philosophy and theology and society experience a rapid
change. The study and the application of the Second Vatican Council
present regularly new ideas about religious life and pastoral
approach.
4) We see that in practically all dioceses or Conferences of
Bishops there are study centers to keep priests, religious and
laity informed about new developments. This has become a necessity
in order to know, to experience and to pass on religious ideas
in a contemporary and adapted way. It is important to make a good
selection to be really up to date. Most of the time these courses/workshops
take place in groups so that one can learn from each other.
5) Some of the larger religious institutes have their own center
for on-going formation, where the members can spend some time
for upgrading. Smaller Orders and Congregations can join the centers
of diocese and of other religious institutes.
6) Of course on-going formation remains a 'must' for the rest
of one's life as it is also stressed in the Guidelines for Formation.
This applies certainly for the confreres who are still in the
active apostolate, but also for those who are retired, who have
more time available to refresh their spiritual life and to pass
this on to others to a degree of what is possible-
7) For on-going formation it is not sufficient that there are
many possibilities available; there has to be the will and the
courage to see the need of on-going formation and to make use
of the opportunities.
B. Recommendations
1) We recommend that the General Board continues to point to
the need of on-going formation and continues to inform the Provincials
about worldwide formation centers and their specialities. One
of the Assistants should be assigned to this task.
2) We recommend that the Provincial Board advises confreres
and at times even forces them to follow an adjusted on-going formation
program. The Provincial Board should not only refer to the available
opportunities, but also speak to confreres about these. It should
put pressure in a modest but insisting way on the retired confreres
to continue to study.
3) We recommend that the local superiors and local Boards follow
as much as possible the directions of the General and Provincial
Boards in regard to on-going formation and that they - in as much
as possible - motivate the confreres to participate in this-
4) We recommend also that regularly (to be determined by the
community itself) a house chapter be held. In this house chapter
moments of formation should be inserted.
5) The sabbatical year (or part of a year), which is accepted
in some Provinces, must be well organized in consultation with
the Provincial Board and the local superior. The sabbatical year
should be directed toward a serious renewal and re-creation of
the person, especially via human, spiritual, religious and professional
formation.
6) At times the local Board must force a confrere to follow
a certain program for his own physical and spiritual health-
7) It pleases us that in almost all (Pro)Provinces special
days are organized in which some formation is inserted, e.g. an
introduction and discussion or Provincial Days for everyone. It
pleases us too that in some communities yearly a retreat is held
and monthly a day of recollection- These are fixed forms of formation.
It is especially important that almost all parts of the Order
send in particular young confreres to universities in their own
country or abroad for further formation. In this way they work
on a construction of a braintrust in the Order and they aid in
this manner to obtain leaders and specialists in e.g. spirituality,
history of the Order and the thinking of St. Augustine.
8) To repeat, the General Chapter calls upon all members of
the Order to take heed what is written above- It demands the WILL
to cultivate on-going formation.
Quid leges sine moribus?
