DAY 3 REPORT:

THEME: FORMATION FOR CONSECRATED LIFE

To begin the day, we had our morning prayer in the form of a prayer service on a theme, “Formation for consecrated life”. The speaker of the day was Rev. Fr. Peter Laast from the congregation of Holy Ghost Fathers also known as Spiritans. He started the presentation by saying the word formation should reform as conversion because is primary and allowing one to be connected with God. 

In order to be formed or converted is a way of change of mind and heart. To convert or form young men we need to ask ourselves in what areas do we need to be formed. Am I an alternative? The alternative that could touch and change people’s lives. An alternative that can bring people closer to God or am just joining the crowd? How do we Identify ourselves when we no longer have control or power over our apostolate areas? How do I witness?

Consecrated life a life of ministry, a life as a pilgrimage  

Consecrated life is a partnership with the Lord to be witnesses and prophets in the world. To be a true consecrated person, you need to see Jesus as your focus, model and inspiration. There is a dwindle of vocation may be we are not an alternative because it does not longer attract youths. Religious vows are divine because they are directly talking to God. As consecrated person if we allow the modern world to draw an agenda for us, we will lose our values and identity.

The path of choosing consecrated life is high which restrict some not to respond to the call.

CHANGES IN THE WORLD VIEW ON THE PART OF FORMATION

Forming young men to be witnesses in the world should not be taken for granted. It is an undeniable fact that the changes of the world in a way affects the consecrated life. The three effect of consecrated he mention are the higher individualism, crises of identity in individual and discouragement to witness the gospel value.

What is our calling? It is a call you have to listen to it. It needs self-attunement and inner listening. A call into the religious life is a call to relationship with God. The love of God motivated us to respond the call. Vocation is not something one choose but a call to conversion to minister. A calling and apostolate stands in the shadow of the cross. Gradual discernment and cleaning our motives is important. 

THE WAY FORWARD

We must set up structures to march with the current situations. The morning session ended with lunch and brothers go into groups to share their experiences on the questions given them.

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION 

At 5:00 PM, the groups came together to present some the questions given for discussing and sharing. These are;

1. Bearing in mind the Charism of the immaculate conception Brothers (FIC), how may we be true witness of God’s love and the service of the FIC so that others may become enamored and choose consecrated life?
2. What can we do to make vocations promotion in the FIC the responsibility of all the brothers and ensure it is at the service of vocations through witness and prayer?

Below are some outcome of the sharing.

1. Commitment to our apostolate which identifies our charism
2. We need to intensify our apostolate at the youth ministry at the Parish level only being in the classroom.
3. Living a simple life style i.e. being authentic
4. Each brother should be conscience of the values and ideals of the congregation
5. We should try as much as possible to draw inspiration from our founders.

QUESTION 5

1. As a province we should regularly talk about vocations by planning to see how best we can do it.
2. Individual brothers should have the congregation at heart. i.e. being positive by our calling.
3. We should try as much as possible to be simple in life.
4. We should intensify our individual and communal prayer for vocations.
5. We should try to be hospitable to people who visit us.

QUESTION 6

1. We need to have regular retreat, recollection to implore on our spiritual life.
2. We need to intensify our spirit of witnessing
3. As consecrated people we are called to live out the gospel values
4. Being alternative, different back to the basic, original inspiration of our founders. 
5. Option for the poor, answering the needs of the society.

GROUP B

QUESTION 1

The outcome of the session, the good things we can put to use in our formation process and personal contribution to build up formee.

1. Configured in the image of Christ.
2. Conversion of heart and mind.
3. No one has pure motives. As a formator, one should bear in mind that no one has it at all.
4. The role of a formator should be like the action of the catalyst.

QUESTION 2

As religious is there some risk that Jesus Christ may be inviting us to take for him in our present era?

1. Daring to be different is a great risk.
2. Being counter-cultural society does not want change.
3. Making use of social media as a means of evangelization.

QUESTION 3

. How do you exhibit virtue in your daily life as consecrated person?

1. Start the day with God i.e. the celebration of the Eucharist and prayer
2. Commitment to apostolate.
3. Fraternal living