FORMATION SECTOR MEET – ROME
25, February 2019

With the hearts of thanksgiving for the gift of life and surrenderingourselves to God Our loving Father and Mother we woke up to start the day with enthusiasm. At 6.45 a.m. after the Angelus and entrustment prayer, Rev.Fr. Stalin SDB the Director of SIGA began the celebration of the Holy Eucharist with Lauds inserted in the Holy Mass. Before the proclamation of the Word of God, as the meaningful hymn “Oh the word of the Lord” intoned, the Lectionary was carried to the altar and solemnly enthroned accompanied by arathi and garlanding by Sr. Maria Nirmala Lazar the Provincial. During the Homily the celebrant stressed on the aspect of faith to overcome evil in us and around us focussing on the day’s Gospel, Jesus curing a deaf and dumb boy possessed by demon.

During breakfast Sr. Mathew Alice thanked Rev.Fr. Stalin SDB for his brotherly availability, to break the Word of God and Bread of life and imploring God’s blessings on each one of us and on our meetings. The Provincial offered him a small gift as a token of Our gratitude. At 8.45 a.m. Sr. Kanickaraj Shanthi Selvi gave a good start inviting the Holy Spirit amidst us to enlighten us, pervade us and to guide us, as the lighted lamps were placed in the beautifully decorated Cana wedding Icon at the side of the Conference Hall. The session began projecting the points of discussion and proposals of 4 groups, the outcome of the group discussions of outline No:6 on the previous evening with regard to guidelines for action, concrete and verifiable ways and also points of eventual integrations and modifications to the text. We had open discussion and clarification in the general assembly.

Then Sr. Maria Nieves Reboso continued commenting on the role of community and animator for the formation of the temporary professed period. This was followed by the group work on Outline No: 7 considering the choices relative to the Animator and formative community. The groups were asked to propose the experiences, conditions and difficulties in assuming formative responsibility. Again, gathered for the General assembly the discussion and mproposals were discussed and clarified.

At.3.00 p.m. another small hand out on “Live in ongoing Formation”: Foundation of impassioned and joyous growth in FMA identity especially the new terminology “Docibilitas” at length beautifully and clearly giving indications; which was a great stimulus and inspiration giving us insight how to integrate one’s experiences both negative and positive explained and handed over to us.

At 5.20 p.m. Sr. Maria Nieves Reboso explained the role of Mother Provincial in the formation of temporary professed. This was followed by the group discussion on outline No:8 with regard to the orientation Criteria for the provincial in choosing the community and for the cultural formation and for the choices to carry out. After the Group discussion the 4 groups presented the proposals and points of attention for the formation of the temporary sisters.

At.7.15 we had the evening prayer guided by Sr. Arulanandu Arockia Mary. At 8.30 p.m. once again the participants were asked to assemble in themeeting Hall and the new guidelines for the formation of New Animators were given to each one of us. Sr. Maria Nieves Reboso presented to us the Dandelion flower which is taken as a symbol for this new document. She proceeded to explain Formative paths that are outlined for the new animators for the effective implementation of the mission entrusted to them in the community. With the good night prayer the group dispersed to take rest and to start again a new on the following final day programme.