Continental formation assemblies: July-September 2014

Fr. John Baptist Keraryo Opargiw, mccj
Secretary General of the Formation.

1. Continental Assembly VP and BF (Europe) – Granada-Spain
All the Circumscriptions were represented except London Province (absent with apology) and Poland. The theme of the Assembly was: "Towards new ways to present the Comboni missionary vocation to young people in Europe today." Participants emphasized the following points:

• We need to cultivate a culture of vocations at all levels, that is to have communities defined as "Come, see and live," where we bear witness to the joy and enthusiasm for our missionary vocation; where there is hospitality and openness to the youth and commitment to the poor.
• We need to draw up a Project for youth ministry in every Circumscription and to have  a coordinator of youth ministry and  vocation.
• We have to take better care of training and preparation of vocations promoters.
• The internationalization of the vocations promotion team.
• We shall organize every two years a youth and vocational camp Comboni at the continental level.
• We have to think more in terms of “inserted” Provincial postulancy than a Continental postulancy for Europe.
• According to our experience of vocations promotion in Europe, we propose that aspirants up to the age of 35 years be considered for admission.
•  Next Continental Formation Assembly: July 2016 in the DSP. Yet to be confirmed.

Continental Assembly VP and BF
(Anglophone Africa / Mozambique),
in Layibi-Uganda.

2. Continental Assembly VP and BF (Anglophone Africa / Mozambique) – Layibi-Uganda
There was a total of 26 participants, and all the Circumscriptions of the sub-continent were represented. The theme: "Youth Ministry and vocational accompaniment and discernment in our sub-continent APDESAM." Here are the highlights:

• Vocations promotion should be done in the context of a well-organized youth ministry. Ensure that our parishes and communities have youth ministry among their priorities.
• Cultivate a vocations culture  beginning with of our communities.
• Inculturation of Formation: more reflection has to be done in this regard and guidelines be laid out in each circumscription. Help can be sought from specialized persons in this field (ref. Nairobi 2011).
• Look for ways to involve families and parish communities in the formation of our candidates.
• Ensure that formators in the postulancies with a large number of candidates are full-time (without too many external commitments) or add a third formator to collaborate in  vocational  discernment and accompaniment of the postulants.
• The duration of the Pre-postulancy should  be at least three months in residential format

• Age limit of the Candidates:  for those who come directly from secondary schools for admission to the Postulancy,  keep it at 25 years while the other applicants will be considered case-by-case.

• Interprovincial Postulancy for Comboni Missionary Brothers: the APDESAM Major Superiors have indicated  Layibi – Uganda. What remains now is to implement that decision.
• The study of English for the pre-novices. Criteria: this should be done in a formation community in order to facilitate the accompaniment and the transition to the novitiate; a good and serious language school with the possibility of obtaining the Proficiency Certificate from the British Council. Proposal: Layibi.
• Next Meeting of the sector: in July 2016 in Lusaka or Maputo. Yet to be confirmed.

Course for vocations promoters
(Francophone Africa),
in Lomé-Togo.

3. OGF Course for vocations promoters (Francophone Africa) – Lome-Togo
The course was organized in accordance with the Chapter Acts 2009  no. 100.3 "An up-dating course on youth culture is to be offered every two years to vocations promoters at the continental level."  Ten vocations promoters from the four Circumscriptions of Francophone Africa attended the OGF course. The facilitators were Fr. Joseph Ngumba Lelo  and Fr. Elias Sindjalim. Looking at the group of participants one could note that there is little stability and specific preparation for the confreres assigned to the sector. The participants made the following proposals:

• That the Provincial superiors and  vocations promoters undertake to sensitize the communities by inviting them to be open and welcoming to young people.
• That each Circumscription establish at least one center to promote vocations (see RF 126, AC 09). That there be a team of vocation promoters with at least one full-time confrere if possible.
• That we encourage the promotion of vocations to Brotherhood.
• That we invest in vocations promotion and establish a budget for the sector.
• That the competent authorities organize the specific preparation of vocations promoters (in youth ministry and vocational discernment ).
• To maintain the necessary stability and continuity it  important to establish at least five years as term of office for vocations  promoters before changing them.

Fr. John Baptist Keraryo Opargiw, mccj
SECRETARY GENERAL – FORMATION
Rome, October 9, 2014