A New Pedagogy for Integral Human Formation

A New Pedagogy for Integral Human Formation

The resource person Fr. Joe Mathias SJ, Director of NVSC Pune, stressed the on the integral formation of the person for the all round development. Lack of integral formation would lead the person to undergo a lot of difficulties in persevering his/ her vocation. Responding to the participants Fr. Joe gave a clear explanation on different dimensions of Motivation in order to inculcate and channelize the right motivation in the formees in their following of Christ.

Most of the Major Superiors and the Formators themselves working in Andhra Pradesh felt the need for renewal and updating programmes so that, effective formation can be given in the local regional context.

The APCRI Formators Forum organized a three day seminar on “A New Pedagogy for Integral Human Formation of Candidates to Consecrated Life in India.” from 28-30, September, at Anandha Jyothi, a Jesuit’s Retreat centre in Guntur, AP.

66 participants from all over A.P and one from Odisha, belonging to 28 different Congregations of both men and women including 3 from diocesan seminaries.

He gave inputs to make the personal profile of the formees thus to lead and guide them to the realization of their vocation. Explaining about the New Pedagogy for integral formation he stressed on the importance of the Inductive Method which goes deep into the discernment of vocation. He helped the formators to discern the vocation of various types of personalities.

The seminar had three fruitful days of input sessions, discussion, interaction, and a common sharing. Each day of the seminar was coloured by presence of different Religious officials.

The inaugural session was officiated by Sr. Leena CSSA, the Vice President of APCRI and Rev. Fr. Antony SJ, ex-officio of APCRI Formators Forum. In their address, both of them pointed out the importance of integral formation of the future priests and religious.

They exhorted the formators to undergo courses like formation for formators, counseling, psycho-spiritual integration… Fr. P. Selvanayagam HGN, President of the Formators’ Forum pointed out the present changing scenario where it is a big challenge for the formators to give a holistic formation to the young boys and girls of today who are the children of this world of technology and globalization. He urged and invited the formators to participate frequently in different updating seminars, organized by the APCRI FF.

The second day of Seminar was blessed with the eminent presence of Most Rev. Bishop Gali Bali, Bishop of Guntur. In his homily, he pointed out the distinction between the religiosity and the spirituality, he said that mere ritual practices and following up rules and regulations will not make the formees to encounter Christ but rather spirituality which is an experience of God in one’s life will make the person to be more human and divine in her/his thoughts, words and actions.

The Mass on the last day was celebrated by Fr. Yesu SVD, ex-officio of Formators Forum. He too exhorted the formators to be human and well equipped in their domain in order to form the young girls and boys according to the Gospel values to help them to become credible witnesses to Christ.

The seminar enriched the participants to render their service more effectively. The participants were grateful to Fr. P. Selvanayagam HGN, the President of the Executive Committee of the Forum and his team for their hard work and skill to arrange this seminar. The seminar was well supported and applauded by many Major Superiors.

Source: CRI, Sr Elsy P Joseph sccg APCRI