FORMATION NEWS – NOVEMBER 2002

FORMATION COMMITTEE MEETS WITH PROVINCIAL COUNCIL

 Washington, D.C., was the site of the October 14 joint meeting of the Provincial Council of the United States Province with the province’s Formation Committee.  Members of that committee include Fathers Jim Allen (Province Formation Director), Jim Brobst (Superior of the scholasticate in Chicago), Louie Lougen (Director of Novices),  Andy Knop (Vocation Director), Leopoldo Perez (Director of the Affiliate Program), and Tom Rush (Director of the Pre-Novitiate in Tijuana).  Two council members also serve on the Formation Committee: Dick Sudlik (Council Liaison for Formation) and Sal DeGeorge (Vicar for Vocations).

 While the Formation Committee meets twice a year, periodic meetings with the Provincial Council have proven helpful in keeping everyone abreast of what is happening on the formation scene in the province.

 While we may not have the number of candidates we had in the 50’s and 60’s of the 20^th century, nevertheless, there is optimism among the formators and the provincial administration concerning the numbers we do have in our programs and the quality of candidates and formators.

 The joint meeting covered a number of topics.  What follows is a sampling of some of the issues that were discussed by the group. 

1.         Criteria for accepting candidates.  This was a review of what is currently included in the Province Formation Directory approved last winter by the General Administration.

 2.         Perspectives on psychosexual integration and other issues related to mental health.  In view of the recent and ongoing crisis in the American Church, we wish to do all that we can to assure that our candidates are healthy and whole in every way.  The Formation Committee is working on a curriculum to be covered throughout first formation in the area of formation to psychosexual maturity, celibacy and chaste living.

 3.         Future formation personnel.  There is, at every meeting, an effort to come up with names of Oblates who might be willing to prepare themselves to serve for a few years in formation and/or vocation ministry.

 4.         Inter-regional collaboration in formation.  Jim Allen will represent the United States Region at a meeting of the International Formation Committee of the Oblates in Sao Paolo, Brazil, in February, 2003.  The topic of that meeting will be cooperation among provinces and regions in the area of formation.  We already have an Inter-Regional Novitiate with several Canadian provinces.  After the restructuring of provinces in Canada and the likely North American Region to come out of the next General Chapter, further cooperation and exchange of formators and candidates is possible.

5.         Spanish/English language proficiency in our candidates.  There is an ongoing  discussion about how to facilitate the learning of English as a second language for our candidates who are coming to us from other cultures (primarily from Mexico, but recently from Haiti and Tahiti too.)  Our goal is that these candidates learn English well enough to continue their formation in the United States (novitiate and scholasticate) and to minister in both their native language and English.  At the same time, we have a policy that our English-speaking candidates should prepare themselves to minister not only in English but also in Spanish.  There are many practical ramifications to these goals and policies which the formators continue to review and implement according to the particular needs and skills of each candidate. 

6.         Summer ministries and pastoral internships.  We believe it is important for our Oblates in first formation to get a good experience of ministering with Oblates.  At the same time, the summer programs of these men are usually filled with such things as CPE, language studies, preparation for internships, etc.   We are always on the lookout for Oblate ministry sites that will welcome our men in formation.  Values for these assignments include interaction with Oblates in community, ministry which is consonant with Oblate values, and effective supervision.  The Area Superiors will be helping the formators compile a list of such possible sites. 

The formators wish to emphasize the importance of the presence, friendship and example of many Oblates in the life of candidates in formation.  Visitors are always welcome at our formation houses.