From 16 to 24 January the fifth Meeting of Formators and Vocations Animators was held at the friary of San Fortunato in Montefalco, in Umbria, which is the house of welcome for vocations to the Franciscan life in the Holy Land Custody. The theme chosen for this year’s meeting was: "Adult vocations: how to accept and accompany them." The main speaker during the Meeting was professor Zbigniew Formella SDB, a Polish Salesian, who is Director of the Institute of Psychology at the Pontifical Salesian University in Rome.
All the formators of the Custody participated for the meeting, together with the vocations animators of the various regions and other brothers who work hand in hand with brother Bruno Varriano in the pastoral care of vocations at the welcome house of Montefalco.
On Thursday 22 January brother Francesco Bravi, Visitator General, met the participants during an intensive day of meetings, to which the Father Custos was also present. During the meetings the Visitator listened to the participants, who spoke about their experience in the camp of initial formation and vocational animation, particularly during the last six years. They also discussed with him new proposals for the future. During the week the Council for Formation and Studies also met in order to programme the report that the Secretary for Formation and Studies will present to the upcoming Custodial Chapter.
On the evening of 20 January the Archbishop of Spoleto, Renato Boccardo, paid a visit to the friary of Montefalco and celebrated the Eucharist with the participants. This was his first visit to the friary during his first year of ministry as Archbishop of his diocese.
The theme discussed during the Congress regards both vocational animation and also formative work, since the Custody has always accepted adult vocations. The "Ratio Formationis Custodiae" states that the age limit to accept candidates for the Franciscan life in the Custody is 35 years, but many a time justifiable exceptions to the rule are made. For this reason the participants felt the need to address this problem which is a challenge to the work of formation, and to see how they can offer a formative iter also in these cases.
The main speaker proposed a formative iter of welcome, discernment, verification and decision making regarding admission of such candidates. This plan could be of help to the superiors and formators, as well as to vocational animators.
On Wednesday 21 January brother Bruno Varriano, Custodial Animator for Vocations gave a series of lectures regarding the theme of the formative meeting between the formators and the formandi, with the help of psychological techniques.
The participants during the meeting were also welcomed for lunch at the Portiuncula friary in Assisi, and celebrated Mass in the principal Franciscan sanctuaries of Assisi, especially the tomb of Saint Francis and the Portiuncula Chapel. They also visited the Eremo delle Carceri and the novitiate house of San Damiano.
All the formators of the Custody participated for the meeting, together with the vocations animators of the various regions and other brothers who work hand in hand with brother Bruno Varriano in the pastoral care of vocations at the welcome house of Montefalco.
On Thursday 22 January brother Francesco Bravi, Visitator General, met the participants during an intensive day of meetings, to which the Father Custos was also present. During the meetings the Visitator listened to the participants, who spoke about their experience in the camp of initial formation and vocational animation, particularly during the last six years. They also discussed with him new proposals for the future. During the week the Council for Formation and Studies also met in order to programme the report that the Secretary for Formation and Studies will present to the upcoming Custodial Chapter.
On the evening of 20 January the Archbishop of Spoleto, Renato Boccardo, paid a visit to the friary of Montefalco and celebrated the Eucharist with the participants. This was his first visit to the friary during his first year of ministry as Archbishop of his diocese.
The theme discussed during the Congress regards both vocational animation and also formative work, since the Custody has always accepted adult vocations. The "Ratio Formationis Custodiae" states that the age limit to accept candidates for the Franciscan life in the Custody is 35 years, but many a time justifiable exceptions to the rule are made. For this reason the participants felt the need to address this problem which is a challenge to the work of formation, and to see how they can offer a formative iter also in these cases.
The main speaker proposed a formative iter of welcome, discernment, verification and decision making regarding admission of such candidates. This plan could be of help to the superiors and formators, as well as to vocational animators.
On Wednesday 21 January brother Bruno Varriano, Custodial Animator for Vocations gave a series of lectures regarding the theme of the formative meeting between the formators and the formandi, with the help of psychological techniques.
The participants during the meeting were also welcomed for lunch at the Portiuncula friary in Assisi, and celebrated Mass in the principal Franciscan sanctuaries of Assisi, especially the tomb of Saint Francis and the Portiuncula Chapel. They also visited the Eremo delle Carceri and the novitiate house of San Damiano.