The theme of ongoing formation, which already began in the main hall during the afternoon of June 4, Monday, was developed today, the 5th, at two levels. The professorial presentations by Fr. Hugh O’Donnell and the process of construction on the basis of the groups, took place under the technical guidance of Fr. Patrick McDevitt.
Fr. O´Donnell yesterday presented Ongoing Formation as a process that has to move from what is basic. He indicated how this should be done without losing the good that we have already attained, that we should not be confined within it, without being always attentive to the signs of our time, but advancing to other new realities. He based his reflection on our Constitutions, which present to us the following of Christ, Evangelizer of the Poor, as the goal of our Congregation. These Constitutions always affirm that the Congregation, always attentive to the Gospel, to the signs of the times and to the more urgent calls of the Church, should open new ways and apply means adapted to the circumstances of time and place, and should try besides to examine and order our works and ministries, thereby always remaining in a state of continual renewal. Today, Fr. O’Donnell described for us the way of Saint Vincent, the process of developing a life, which is a process of ongoing formation. His person continually makes real for us the ideal of following Christ, the Evangelizer of the Poor. His way is also our way, our path.
The process for group study is moving along slowly but surely. Starting from what we live and from our hopes for the future, we are refining the principles that have to be the foundation of our ongoing formation, in the various steps of our own personal development. In a scholarly presentation of developmental psychology, Fr. McDevitt presented to us today the various stages of personal development, so that we could keep in them in mind when we describe a process for ongoing formation. The communications from the small groups and in the large group were very abundant and rich. Let’s hope that the process will continue well.
The program of the meeting also includes other activities, among which is what is being called the Agenda of the Superior General. Today the Superior General wished to present two activities that, with his council, he is making his own.
First, he gave the floor to Fr. John Rybolt, who presented the status of the History Project of the Congregation as of April 2007. It is moving along well, and it allows us to hope that in the near future we will have a complete History of the Congregation.
Then, the Superior General presented CIF as the most important institution that the Congregation has for the ongoing formation of our members. Recalling that it is an institute depending on the Curia, which has as its delegate one of the assistants general, Fr. Ubillús, he then left the presentation in the hands of Fathers Hugh O’Donnell y Juan Julián Díaz Catalán, who presented to us what it is, what it does, what it costs, and what the CIF can accomplish for the Congregation. They did this with clarity and beauty.
