DIREZIONE GENERALE OPERE DON BOSCO
Via della Pisana 1111 – 00163 ROMA
General Councillor for Formation
Rome, 25 November 2008
Prot. 08/0800
To the Rev. Provincial Formation Delegate
at his address
By way of information:
To the Rev. Fr. Provincial
at his address
Dear Provincial Delegate,
We have just completed meetings with the eight Regional Formation Commissions in the Congregation which took place in an atmosphere of interest, motivation and commitment. I thank you for your participation, for the contribution of your experience, for the proposals and suggestions, for your readiness to share; all of this led to great success. I also thank the Provinces which hosted us in such a welcoming manner and in this way encouraged the family spirit.
Now I remind you of the tasks which together we assumed and which form a part of the Project for the six-year period. If you should find any difficulty with regard to the dead-lines indicated please let me know. In carrying out these tasks you will surely find that the Provincial Formation Commission will make a valid contribution to the reflection and planning process.
The Project of the Rector Major and the Council for the six-year period asks us to strengthen the prenovitiate and therefore to revise the text of the “Ratio” regarding this phase. We have spoken about this during the meeting of the Regional Commission; in this regard you have already received the letter with the suggestion for a new text. Your reply has been asked for before 31 March 2009.
The drawing up of the Provincial Formation Plan is at a good stage in all the Congregation. To bring this work to a conclusion you now also have at your disposal the reflection on the formation requirements of GC26 and the Project of the Rector Major and the Council regarding formation. Within a few days you will be able to find on the Direzione Generale site the practical aid for the drawing up of this Plan together with some examples of already completed plans. I would ask you to send me a digital copy of your Province’s Formation Plan by 31 May 2009.
In the next few days you will receive the letter and the questionnaire for the evaluation of intellectual formation. We also spoke about this at the Regional Commission meeting. It is a question of the beginning of a demanding process, which we hope can be of benefit to everyone. The date for the submission of this evaluation is set for, at the latest, 31 December 2009.
In conclusion you are invited to arrange in the course of the year a meeting of the Provincial Formation Commission with the Provincial Youth Ministry Commission in order to study the third key issue of the GC26 regarding the “need for vocation ministry.” It is a question of considering at greater depth, how in the Province to take care of vocations to Salesian consecrated life and to accompany the aspirants. Next year starting in September, we shall be having meetings of the two Regional Commissions for Formation and for Youth Ministry on this same topic, with the presence of the two Departments.
The occasion of the 150 anniversary of the Founding of the Congregation will certainly see you involved in helping the Province to celebrate this moment of grace, which will culminate on 18 December with the renewal of religious Profession. Mamma Margaret, the anniversary of whose death we keep today, saw the first steps taken by the Congregation; may she support us with her intercession.
Already I thank you for your collaboration and send you heartfelt greetings in Don Bosco.
Fr Francesco Cereda