South and East Asia Postnovitiate formators meeting in Hua Hin

By Our Own Correspondent

Hua Hin, Thailand, 1 September 2018 -- From September 1 to 4 in the Don Bosco Retreat House in Hua Hin the 30 formators and teaching staff of the Salesian Postnovitiates and Philosophy study centers across Asia came together to read the formation experience in the light of the article 114 of SDB Constitutions (immediate postnovitiate).

The first profession is followed by a period of religious maturing which continues the formative experience of the novitiate and serves as a preparation for the practical training phase.

The deepening of the life of faith and of the spirit of Don Bosco, together with an adequate philosophical, pedagogical and catechetical preparation that interacts with the prevailing culture, disposes the young con­frere to a progressive integration of faith, cul­ture and life.

Animated by the General Councilor for Formation, Fr. Ivo Coelho and his assistant Fr. Silvio Roggia, together with the two regional Coordinators - Fr. Jose Kuttianimathatil (South Asia) and Br. Raymond Callo (EAO) the participants durin g the first day introduced own personal and formation experience with respective joys and challenges.

Group sharing brough out many common challenges related to internalization of the formation process, impact of social media, need to facilitate the openness of our young confreres and bridge the generation gap. Rich multicultural formation experience from India, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Korea, Japan, Indonesia, Timor Leste, Vietnam, Thailand and Myanmar is a wonderful treasure to discover. Indeed more than 75% of the Salesians in initial formation are rooted in Africa-Madagascar and two regions present in Hua Hin - South Asia and EAO.

On the sidelines of the meeting were shared the recent Salesianity books from the Bangalore Kristu Joti Publications, exchanged many formation plans and materials from different study centers and postnovitiates and some football fans also didn't miss the finals of Asian Games between Japan and Korea (1:2) in the evening time.

In the first good night talk Fr. Raj (INT province) appreciated the excellent Thai hospitality expressed from the first moments after landing at Bangkok airport until the arrival to Hua Hin in very touching way. The rector of the ponstovitiate in Yercaud (India) highlighted the prophecy of Don Bosco's meeting with Bartolomeo Garelli in the sacristy. Indeed the constant presence of Fr. John Bosco Theparat (THA provincial) and his team with a constant care makes all participants feel at home.

During next 3 days the formators will continue the group and assembly sharing, will be enriched by their good practices in various aspects of postnovitiate vocation growth as well by one special speaker Fr. Armand Robleza (FIN) about youth ministry formation in the world of millenials. The whole process will be concluded on September 4 with drafting the integration model of the Salesian consecration in the formation process.

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