The following day, it was SAFC meeting with 23 participants that included the Provincial formation delegates, vice provincials, the formation collaborators, and the General counsellor for formation.
The documents for the study were made available on google drive. The programme was arranged in a way to give time for personal study and reflection. The meeting dealt with the situation of Provinces marked by pandemic, particularly major concerns that affected the formation sector. There was also personal sharing on what helps the delegate to give his best and the challenges encountered. The best practices were also shared.
The members also took stock of disseminating “Animation and governing the community – The ministry of the Salesian Rectors” and “Young Salesians and accompaniment – Orientations and Guidelines”. The foreseen or planned follow-up were also shared.
Fr. Ivo Coelho addressed both in the beginning and at the end of the meeting. His sharing reflected the experiences and expectations of the congregation. The important topics discussed were the regional situation by presenting the six-year plan, sharing about the revision of the ratio and other ongoing processes concerning the entire congregation. Finally, as the way forward, it was explored what should be the primary focus about formation in the provinces in view of the Provincial Chapters 2022. The statutes of the SAFC also came up for redrafting, and the members voted to agree on the same.
Salient points discussed in the forum were; attention to be given for the poor in formation, spiritual guides of young people and the stress on pastoral formation, formation programmes on a shared mission, the inclusion of laypeople (particularly women and families) in the formation team and the connection to be made with other regions concerning formation.
In his final remarks, Fr. Ivo urged that there should be a shift in the formation model, that is, from external to internal, from conformity to conviction and a preventive system based model.
The four-day programme was arranged efficiently as a tool of animation and accompaniment for the formation delegates by Fr. Silvio Roggia and Fr. Jose Kuttianimattathil, the Regional Formation Commission Coordinator. They hosted and moderated the programme respectively.
