Rome (Italy). From 10 to 24 November 2024 in Rome, at the Generalate of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, the World Meeting of Formators was held on the theme, “Being Formators today: how to accompany and personalize formation by activating new formative processes”.
For the first time in the history of the Institute, sixty-two FMA formators of the stages of Aspirantate/Verification and Orientation and Postulate from five continents met to reflect, share, and strengthen the “network” with the Institute’s Center, promoting a style of collaboration at the level of inter-provincial conferences and between individual Provinces.
These interactions are a choice to be made, deeply charismatic and the basis of effective work, because experiential formation requires continuity and shared commitment. It is a synergy donated and made possible by the spiritual and active support of the communities from which the Sisters arrived in Rome from all corners of the Salesian vocational mission.
The meeting began with a solemn opening and presentation by the General Councilor for Formation, Sister Nilza Fátima de Moraes, and the Sisters of the Sector. With so much dedication, energy, and competence, the formators felt accompanied at every step of this journey. The Superior General, Mother Chiara Cazzuola, and the General Councilors, speakers, and translators all mobilized to offer their formative contributions with great competence and in various ways, arousing great gratitude.
The aims of this formation, which included reflection on current formation, redefining it to face the challenges of a rapidly changing world, were presented from the beginning. As the days passed, the extraordinary time of formation lived in the chapter room took shape and manifested itself, thanks to the contents of the various speakers, the Good Night gifts from Mother Chiara, the Vicar General, Sister María del Rosario García Ribas, and the Councilors present.
The objectives also aimed to strengthen the formative capacities of those responsible for the aspirants and postulants in the light of the guidelines of CG XXIV and the new emerging needs, emphasizing the importance of a personalized formation from the beginning of the journey.
The emphasis was placed on the ‘community’ as a welcoming and generative place, capable of accompanying and making vocations grow. The formators were encouraged to work in communion with all members of the community at the local level, and to network together at the Institute, Salesian Family, and Church levels.
During the two intense weeks, participants had the opportunity to rethink, pray together, and share experiences to strengthen their mission of formation. “As in that meeting between women a dialogue was born, a new and fruitful song, so also among the participants a new relationship was born, a new way of forming oneself to guard and make grow in order to be present and create a shared mentality that does not align but rather, helps each one to conform to Christ,” affirmed one of the formators.
The central themes of the meeting included discernment and formative accompaniment, the formative community, and fundamental aspects for human development and spiritual growth, with Mary as the model. Among the illuminations, guidelines were provided on abuses in religious life, contributing to a greater awareness of this controversial aspect, recently emerged with great relevance. The content of the interventions was truly a great wealth, which left the participants with the certainty that they were, as formators and despite their fragility, instruments in the hands of the Lord and people capable of letting themselves be formed by the Spirit to become adults in the faith.
The ultimate mission is therefore, to help young women in formation respond generously to the call of the Lord. Accompanying them requires availability, generosity, openness, and trust, recognizing that it is a daily journey, never fully reached. The dialogue with the speakers was mediated by the “Slido” platform where whoever thought it necessary, could ask questions freely.
The task of the formators is seen as a gift of love that requires humility and a continuous request for help from the Holy Spirit, focusing on the reality of every young person on her way to maturity. This task is also shared within a community, where the formators do not work alone. The importance of different formative instances and the need for a stable, qualified, and motivated formation team is recognized at the various levels of the Institute.
Forming oneself and forming together is a great asset, but there are also difficulties to be overcome in creating conditions for future-oriented formation that can interact with and manage change. Being a ‘presence’ that educates implies a personal relationship, which can only happen through human contact, impossible to replace with techniques. As Salesian formators, we live the preventive system through a pedagogical presence that promotes the integral growth of young women.
In the second week, the group visited the places of the charismatic origins: Turin, Nizza Monferrato, and Mornese. In these places, the group of formators had the joy of being guided with competent teachings on the founder Don Bosco and on the co-founder Mother Mary Domenica Mazzarello. This gave rise to moments of silent prayer and reflection, in order to elaborate a personal synthesis. The opportunity to be in front of Mary Help of Christians, to talk with Her about the many things kept in our heart, especially to ask for help for the formation communities, the Provinces, and young women in formation, and spend time with Don Bosco and Mother Mazzarello. They were occasions to recharge and renew love for the charism.
At the end of the meeting, the general atmosphere was filled with a sense of gratitude towards the Institute, which made it possible to organize meetings/encounters/gatherings, and pilgrimages to the Salesian places. The Generalate Community of Mary Help of Christians was thanked for adapting its programs, welcoming, and serving the Sisters with joy. All the formators expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to live formation and grow together, strengthening the bonds of belonging to the Church and the Institute.
These moments lived as a group made us understand that where there is formation, there is a future. “It is time to rekindle the fire”! The journey continues, trusting in the presence of Grace, so that what was begun in these days may be fruitfulness in the concrete today of each participant, and the seed of future vocations for the good of the young women who feel called to be ‘women of God’ in the Salesian mission, for the good of the Church, and of the world.
Photos: Flickr FMA
