The provisional plan for the next three years, particularly in the South Asian countries, is based on a project of the Rector Major. This was the first item on the agenda. Members were invited to work specifically to draw up the guidelines for the years ahead. On the same day each delegate presented a brief report from the last annual meeting held in Chennai.
On the second day the participants focused on the role of the Rector and on an analytical study of the statistics regarding initial formation. The following day there was an opportunity to reflect on one of the dimensions of the Salesian vocation, that of the Salesian Brother. This proved to be an enriching exercise that helped the members to understand our primary vocation, that of consecrated persons who live the Salesian life in fraternity and not simply in the one form of priesthood.
Among the decisions already proposed and approved by the members was one relating to the organization of a course during the next three years on the Salesian vocation in its two forms, for vocation promoters and Rectors. The intent is to strengthen the pre-novitiate, and to this end a course for directors of the pre-novitiate is planned in the next two years, something similar to the course that will be held in Rome for the directors of novices. The group also strongly supported the idea of preparing manuals to assist in the healthy psychosexual growth of the members, on the basis of the first two volumes already published for the various stages of formation.
