Rome, Sept. 9, 2024. The weekend of Sept. 7 and 8 was set aside for a pilgrimage to the Franciscan holy places in Assisi and La Verna. There, the friars were able to renew their vows and draw inspiration by retracing the paths of the Seraphic Father, especially to La Verna where he used to go to pray, and where he received the gift of the stigmata on September 17, 1224. For many friars this pilgrimage remains a sign that will remain in their lives as a precious treasure.
Back in Rome, the friars devoted the morning of Monday, September 9th to exploring the theme of Collaboration and Formation. Presenting it were Br. Charles Alphonse and Br. Jaime Rey Escapa, Secretary and Vice Secretary of the General Secretariat of Formation. The report they gave described the formation journey undertaken by the Order over the past six years, the slow but beautiful process of implementing the Ratio formationis, the challenges and opportunities of collaboration and formation, and some recommendations and perspectives. What they expounded to the capitulars is the fruit of a patient journey of visiting formation houses around the world throughout the sexennium, of meeting with formators and listening to the formandi, of reflecting on and delving more deeply into the data collected, and of many other matters affirmed by the values of our Franciscan vocation. Collaboration between circumscriptions and conferences for initial formation is a vitally important value for the Order today.
Br. Charles said as an introduction to the presentation that for an authentic journey of formation and collaboration, the friars (both the formandi and the formators) must be rooted in their culture from which they can weave an intercultural dialogue. Br. Jaime then took the floor to present some aspects for the guidance of formation. We emphasize the following: authenticity in way the charism is imparted, the formation of formators, the need to rethink formation models to avoid clericalism, the theme of poverty, the use of social media, the creation of spaces for personal and fraternal communion, our manner of being in the world.
Then, the two secretaries moved on to talk about the number of young people in formation: the Order, according to the latest statistics, has 2,385 formandi (including 1,570 post-novices, 315 novices and about 500 postulants and aspirants). Considering these figures, Br. Jaime, acknowledged the Lord’s blessing, but in order for a fruitful return, the Order needs to make a considerable effort to prepare a sufficient number of formators. He then recalled that “formation being the art of discerning and accompanying in fraternity” needs, not only individual “formators,” but also fraternities duly prepared for this service. The best fruit of the Collaboration in initial formation occur where teams of formators who work well together can be set up, where existing structures work in tandem for a sustainable allocation of formation houses, and where hearts are opened with generosity to support, from all points of view to the formation of young people.
At the end of the presentation, the friars gathered in their conference groups to explore the topic further, expecting to return to the Aula Magna in the afternoon for the usual time of sharing and discussion.
