“You will find life by giving life, hope by giving hope, love by giving love” Pope Francis.
The ‘Formators meet’ of Mangalore Province was held on 27th July 2017 at Bethany Provincialate Vamanjoor. The Formators and the Superiors gathered together to review and to have a focus. Sr Roshel the Province Coordinator for Formation welcomed the gathering and said ‘Formators have a privileged place to enter into the sanctuary of the young people in order to accompany then in their faith journey. Sr Cecilia Mendonca, the Provincial Superior invited each one to become the mediators between God and formees like Moses in the Old Testament. Later Fr Ivan SJ highlighted the topic on Religious life in the present context: Its relevance and challenges.
Quoting various Church documents and Popes He said that -
Consecrated life is a gift to the Church, it is born of the Church, it grows in the Church, and it is entirely directed to the Church.”
Every religious need to become a Guru – “deep in the experience of God”.
Perfectae Caritatis mandated the Religious Congregations to, “a constant return to the sources of their foundations and to adapt themselves to the changing signs of the times”.
Religious men and women are prophets,” says the pope Francis “They are those who have chosen a following of Jesus those imitate his life in obedience to the Father, poverty, community life and chastity.”
For all the challenges we face, together Benedict and Francis are reminding us that religious life remains a place of hope and promise. In a short phrase that brings to mind Evangelii Gaudium, Francis insists that Gospel joy is only discovered in service to others: “You will find life by giving life, hope by giving hope, love by giving love” (Apostolic letter §4).
What is the future of consecrated women and men? The apostolic letter calls us to look to the past with gratitude, to live the present with passion, and to embrace the future with hope.
The reports of various stages of formation were presented and the implementation of formation plan was discussed. The Action plan was drawn for the year 2017-18. Provincial Superior thanked all the Formators and the superiors for taking care of the Formees and assisting them to carry on their life with hope and courage. The programme was concluded by giving thanks to the Lord through a hymn.
Sr M Rekha BS
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