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Jesuits - Assistancy
PCFs meet in Patna
When Jesuit formators meet one may expect a lot of
animated discussion. This and more took place at
Navjyoti Niketan, Patna, from 30 Sept 30 to 4 Oct, when 19 PCFs
(Province Coordinators of Formation), along with Frs Edward
Mudavaserry, the POSA (Provincial of South Asia), Gratian
Carlo, the ADF (Assistancy Delegate for Formation), Orlando
Torres, the General Assistant for Formation,and the Superiors
of the Common Houses of Formation met to review and realign
formation processes within the Assistancy.
We began with an input on ‘Affective Maturity and
Psychosexual and Spiritual Integration’ by Jose Kunnumpuram,
SJ of AtmaDarshan, Patna. Jose first highlighted the larger
spiritual context within which psychosexual development needs
to be situated and then administered an instrument by which the
PCFs could measure their own affective maturity. Senior members
of the group seemed to fare better on the scale provided, proving
again that wisdom is often directly proportional to age. After
this introductory workshop, the ADF, the General Assistant for
Formation and the POSA in turn drew our attention to a variety of
opportunities and concerns regarding formation, each according
to their own area of expertise and experience. The Superiors of
the three Common Houses then enlightened us about the unique
structures and developments in their Houses, and how the men
entrusted to their formative care have been faring. Each PCF then
had the floor, briefly pointing out significant areas of strength and
concern with regard to formation in their provinces.
Perhaps a key phrase that best symbolizes the meet is
‘procedural standardization,’ based on a sharing of the best
formative practices. Over the past couple of years, we have
settled upon standardized criteria with regard to the selection of
candidates, the raising of levels of English proficiency in the pre-
Novitiate, Novitiate and Juniorate, and the formulation of general
profiles for both candidates and Staff members in early formation.
The need for this early formation to feature a well-differentiated
and graded inter-disciplinary syllabus is now one of the initiatives
on the anvil. We agreed that we need to encourage our young men
to take greater responsibility for their own formation by an ongoing
personal review and strategic planning. A standard format to
facilitate a more personalized, professional and mission-oriented
approach to formation is in the offing.This will include a list of
comprehensive and graded skills needed to work efficiently and
efficaciously in our challenging, complex and professional world.
Finally, key ingredients within the Pre-Ordination Programme
(POP) - called the ‘Arrupe Month’ in other Assistancies - were
finalized. A few issues that demanded more systematic evaluation
were the recent requirement for a three-year B.Ph. programme
and how this is to be factored into our present formation process,
the comparative fruitfulness of the different approaches in
theological formation in the Assistancy, and the need to balance
localized formation with a more universal outlook, which includes
the study of foreign languages and the need for a few Scholastics
to be sent to do Regency and studies abroad.
An area of concern was the abrupt manner in which some
drop out of the Society, and so the need for more guidance on
the part of the Society. We need to provide more systematic
accompaniment especially during the stages of college studies
and Regency, so that one may not be easily disoriented during
these less structured periods of formation.
Much credit for the gradual standardization of our way of
proceeding with regard to formation in the Assistancy, as well to
the high levels of positive energy at the annual meetings over
the past few years, needs to go to Gratian Carlo, the ADF. The
induction of younger PCFs across the board has also added
verve and zest to these meetings, with a good deal of optimism
and a concerted, collaborative spirit clearly emerging.The warm
hospitality extended by Joe Maripuram(Patna PCF) and all of the
Patna communities we visited also added to our joy. This was the
last such meeting attended by the present General’s Assistant
for Formation, Orlando Torres, as he comes to the end of ten
long and productive years in this ministry. We will miss him - his
simplicity and warmth, his clear and succinct interventions,and
his illuminating insights.
The topic chosen for next year’s meeting is “A Changing
Personal Profile in a Changing Social Context: Implications for
Jesuit Formation.” If the world and those joining us are not quite
the same as before, formative policies and practices would need
to be suitably revised. As we attempt to do justice to these new
demands in the area of formation, we pray to the Lord of the
harvest to send us plentiful men to work creatively in his vineyard,
with and for his people.
- Keith D’Souza, SJ
JIVAN: News and Views of Jesuits in India NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2012 12