{"id":96676,"date":"2023-11-16T10:10:54","date_gmt":"2023-11-16T09:10:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lasalle.org\/?p=96676"},"modified":"2023-11-16T10:10:54","modified_gmt":"2023-11-16T09:10:54","slug":"formation-at-the-heart-of-the-relaf-meeting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lasalle.org\/en\/formation-at-the-heart-of-the-relaf-meeting\/","title":{"rendered":"Formation at the heart of the RELAF meeting"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Within the framework of the Meeting of the Lasallian Region of Africa-Madagascar (RELAF) with Brother Superior General and his Council, which is being held in the city of Abidjan (Ivory Coast) from 13 to 17 November, the formation of Brothers and Lasallian Lay Partners was one of the key issues in the reflection and discernment <\/strong>of the 37 participants, among whom were the Brothers Visitors, Auxiliary Visitors, Bursars and those responsible for the Lasallian Educational Mission in the five Districts and the Delegation.<\/p>\n

“Brothers\u2019 formation is a huge challenge in all the places where we are present and blessed by vocations to the Brother’s life<\/strong>“, assured Brother Carlos G\u00f3mez, Vicar General of the Institute, reflecting on the matter. Nevertheless”, he continued, “for several decades the Institute has made clear choices that have led us to understand that the formation of the laity is equally important\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/div>

Formation programmes as \u201cleaven\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

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While deepening on the challenges regarding the Brothers\u2019 formation, Br Carlos stressed that “the first challenge is to ensure that our formation houses and our formation programmes are, in the full sense of the word and in all their implications, ‘Leavening Projects'”, claiming that “if there is a place and a space where we have the opportunity to transform leaven into life, it is in the formation process of our young Brothers<\/strong>“.<\/p>\n

Likewise, the Brother Vicar General also evoked some of Pope Francis’ reflections on the care for life and its safeguarding<\/strong>, as “artisans of peace ready to generate processes of healing and re-encounter with creativity and audacity”, as well as on synodality<\/strong>, an expression which means ‘walking together’ as baptised members of the People of God, because “the Church is not a pyramid, but a community, where each Christian fulfils his or her mission, as a pastor, lay person or in religious life”.<\/p>\n<\/div>

The Formation of the Brothers<\/strong><\/p>\n

Similarly, clericalism and ‘worldliness’, frequently denounced by the Bishop of Rome, represent an essential challenge in the Brothers\u2019 formation, understanding that “clericalism is not exclusive to priests or bishops; it also exists in the female and male consecrated life when we reproduce worldly patterns and live our vocation as a relationship of power<\/strong>“, asserted Br Carlos G\u00f3mez, proposing, likewise, the need to address some specific challenges in the Brothers\u2019 formation:<\/p>\n

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  • To have competent formators <\/strong>and, above all, ‘witnesses’ with “a story to tell”, with moral authority, listening skills and respectful of personal processes. “Brothers ‘with the smell of the sheep'”.<\/li>\n
  • To assume the pastoral ministry of vocations <\/strong>based on the centrality of the catechumenal processes (catechesis, ecclesial life, sacraments of initiation…) and the importance of getting to know the candidates through an adequate plan of accompaniment that includes interviews, and visits to the family and their environment.<\/li>\n
  • To take on formation programmes in the Districts <\/strong>for Brothers, with their specificity in the stages of Postulancy, Novitiate, Scholasticate and time of temporary Profession; but also, for the formation of lay associates, through systematic and sequential processes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>