“FORMATION PROJECT”

THE 2^nd INTERNATIONAL ROME COURSE - MARCH 2007
A BALANCE OF THE PROJECT TO DATE

Though with some delay, I offer a brief report on the 2nd international formation course for national formators for the initial formation held in Rome this past March 2007, for the Spanish and French languages.  

The course followed the same format as that of its preceding 2006 course, for the English and Italian languages and took advantage from experiences gathered from the earlier course to improve the quality of the contents and their presentation.

In attendance representing the Presidency and the Formation Commission were: Marie-Odile Blanty, OFS (France); Fr. Martin Bitzer, OFM Conv. (Argentina) and Benedetto Lino, OFS, who along with Anna Pia Viola, OFS (theology - Italy) and Fr. Felice Cangelosi, OFM Cap. (Italy), formed the teaching “faculty" of the course.

24 brothers and sisters from 18 countries participated in the course.

The joy of being together for 8 days in a shared experience of intense work, prayer and fraternity was the main characteristic of the course. This joy was increased by the fact that numerous brothers from Africa and Vietnam were able to participate, in spite of the adverse conditions of their respective countries.

Thanks to the economic contribution of several benefactors (individuals and institutions), to whom goes our gratitude, the CIOFS Presidency made it possible also for the representatives from poor countries who had applied, to take part in the course. 

As in our preceding course, in addition to the lectures, to the working groups, to the plentiful moments of prayer and of fraternity sharing, we celebrated a pilgrimage to Assisi where we all had the privilege and the intense emotion of renewing our Profession at the foot of the tomb of our Seraphic Father, St. Francis.  

All the participants bade farewell to one another with a renewed fervor after having shared a unique genuine experience of international Fraternity, and determined to reproduce in their own countries the same experiences lived in the course. 

We have much to be thankful to our good God and to those who have contributed to make this course a special moment of grace for the growth of our Order in the world.  

In concluding this second course, we can try to draw a preliminary balance of this “Formation Project”, which we may consider as the beginning of the necessary “re-foundation” of Initial Formation in the Order, according to the priorities established in the General Chapter of 2002: 

“(Formation) was by far the theme that received the most attention. The importance of formation has emerged as the essential element to guarantee an authentic and deep sense of belonging, rooted in a clear notion of identity and knowledge of the true nature of the SFO and of its place in the Franciscan Family and in the Church. The Chapter has manifested the urgency of finding new, original and efficacious ways to give to formation the completeness and uniformity which an Order, spread around the whole world, deserves to accomplish the fundamental role of mature and authoritative apostolate it is called to offer, in collaboration with the rest of the Franciscan Family”.

 (Conclusions, General Chapter of 2002)  

The International Formation Course of Initial Formation for National Formators, has involved 45 representatives from 33 countries to date:

 -the number next to the country, indicates the number of participants in the course.

-the asterisk indicates that a National Fraternity is “emerging”.

The same course (or parts of it), has been brought to the following countries that have specifically requested it: Canada (Toronto), Sweden, Great Britain, Slovakia, (courses held in 2006 and 2007), Hungary, Mauritius Island, Spain, and Italy (Regional Fraternity of Toscana, triennial project).

 The results have always been outstanding.

 In Slovakia, the National Council has already translated and published the first lessons in a dedicated book.

 The same is being done in Hungary.

The translations in the 4 official languages are being carried out.

The balance, therefore, has been extremely positive, and I dare say, even beyond our most optimistic expectations. We have much to thank Our Lord and our brothers and sisters.  

Nevertheless, the process of re-founding, re-qualifying and unifying the initial formation has barely begun; we need to dedicate every effort to consolidate what has already been done and to accomplish what still needs to be done with patience, effectiveness and competence. 

However, one of the greatest problems we have to underline, much to our regret, has been the absence of many national fraternities, which in some cases have not even responded to the Presidency circular letters. In some instances, we believe that perhaps it has not been understood that the Course was not, (and is not), a simple, generic, formation session as the ones that are currently organized in every national Fraternity. The main objective was, instead, to provide a fully shared common basis of identity and initial formation which is necessary to give us the sense of belonging and awareness to be the same“ true and unique Order”, throughout the world. 

This “project”, which has just begun, aims at making our Fraternities concretely feel and be “one body”, to finally fulfill the role and the mission that belongs to OFS as an “Order”, in every part of the world. 

The experiences of study, of prayer and of fraternity developed in the two Courses celebrated in Rome have been confirmed as exceptional experiences of communion in diversity.

It would be wonderful, in this regard, if those who read this article and have not participated, would ask information on the Course to the brothers and sisters who have participated, and if those who did live this experience, would send their testimonial to be published in the Bulletin CIOFS.

This exchange of experience could be providential in giving a deeper breath to this essential initiative and towards including in the course also those who have not yet participated. 

Representatives of 34 (33+1) countries (the course has been reproduced almost entirely in the Mauritius Island) have participated in the International program. When the project was inaugurated, the Order existed in 104 countries (we now count 106). In 60 of these countries there are constituted national Fraternities. In the remaining 44, there are emerging national Fraternities. It is evident therefore, that 70 national Fraternities failed to respond to the call.

Many emerging fraternities, however, are just starting and still do not have any type of national organization. Therefore it is understandable that they have problems in participating. Nevertheless, 7 emerging national Fraternities did participate in the Course. Thus, out of the 34 fraternities that have participated only 27 were constituted national Fraternities. Therefore, 33 constituted National Fraternities failed to respond to the call! More than half of them !

We understand that some Fraternities experience conflicts in their countries, or are lacking in freedom, or have traveling difficulties. These Fraternities are, obviously, more than justified and we will have to find ways to help them. All the absences have been equally felt, but some of them were absolutely incomprehensible to us, as they had to do with “ancient” Fraternities, with a long and glorious history, not necessarily having economic problems to participate.

In this connection, it is important to re-emphasize how the Presidency did take on itself the responsibility to assist those who did not have sufficient resources to participate in the Course. Our brothers and sisters who have come from Africa and Latin America can bear witness of this !

We sincerely hope that these absences were not a consequence of a lack of sense of belonging and of an unfounded sense of self-sufficiency.

Some national Fraternities (some are as old as the Franciscan movement), have not even responded to any of the circular letters concerning the Course !  Indifference can at times hurts more than criticism !

We strongly hope to be able to welcome all these absentees in a forthcoming Course and, in this sense, we invite those who have not participate and/or have not responded, to get in touch with the undersigned.

I conclude by giving thanks to the Lord once again for having accompanied us with the abundance of His Grace in the realization of this project, to the brothers and sisters who have participated and have “believed" in this essential project, and dulcis in fundo, to our benefactors (Mission Zentrale der Franziskaner at the top of the list), who have contributed in a decisive way to make it possible for those who were in greater need to participate.

Benedetto Lino
CIOFS Presidency Councilor
Formation Commission Coordinator