From Monday 19 November through Friday 30 November 2018 the International Formation Center (CIF) gathered about 70 Vincentian confreres, representing 90 countries from around the world, at the Motherhouse in Paris to share and learn how they might better create and promote a culture of vocations in the Congregation of the Mission worldwide. All of the men who gathered were engaged at some level with vocation promotion.
Day 8: Monday 26 November 2018
MORNING SESSION: Fr. Javier Álvarez, C.M., vicar general, lectured the group with a presentation of the ministry of vocations in the Ratio Formationis. Topics covered included pedagogical elements, the scope and limits of the Ratio with regards to a culture of vocations and its challenges, delayed vocations and the challenges they present, and the relation between the vocation director and the other members of the vocation team.
There is a Ratio for the Church (2016) and a Ratio for the Congregation (2014); the 2014 Ratio is in the Vincentiana for 2014. For Vincentians we are to follow Christ evangelizer and servant of the poor. The C.M. Ratio has more details. In the second chapter of the C.M. Ratio it talks about vocations and it is important because it helps us work in conjunction with the various stages of formation. 1. Vocation ministry occupies chapter 2 of the C.M. Ratio: it is the gateway to our formation program and the first discernment of a Vincentian vocation. 2. There is variety in the number of vocations worldwide; it is wonderful when young people want to devote themselves to a life of service; this sensitivity for the poor should be there from the beginning. 3. Vocation ministry should be connected to the charism of the Congregation and less to the institution; this will result in the quality of the person we bring in. 4. All members of the Province should be committed to work for promoting vocations; it is a “choral” action.
The Practical Guide for Superiors indicates commitment to pray for vocations.
Three Challenges: (1) A style of vocation promotion: a personalized one; address the unique needs that each candidate has. On the road to Emmaus, Jesus goes out and meets and walks with the men; afterwards the men themselves decided to go on to Jerusalem. This is more demanding of us; it is a different style of vocation ministry; (2) A Background discovery: the person of Jesus Christ, the servant of the poor; it is not so much the institution that attracts young people but the person of Jesus Christ; renewal happens when we find Jesus at the source of our lives. (3) A methodology of vocation promotion concretized in these three actions: a. initial invitation “sow seeds and propose.” We must actually invite people to join us in our mission and allow them to come and see how we live: our works, our community life, our prayer. b. Active Discernment: “today we are increasingly aware of the need for a better process of selecting candidates for the priesthood.” (EG 107). If a province has no vocations, it needs to change its ministries, even if we are doing a lot of good (big churches, universities, etc.) but move to popular missions where there is direct contact with the poor: ministries that are ours, unique to our mission; c. Request for admission in order to begin the initial formation.
Practical Concerns: 1. Late Vocations, or better, adult vocations, and the challenge of forming them, considering their age and experience. No person should be excluded just because of his age; God can call whenever he wishes. 2. If there is a history of sexual relationships with children or an inclination towards such, they must not be allowed into the formation process. 3. Physical Health: they should have sufficient health to be able to exercise their ministry normally within the Congregation. This also includes concerns for those who have a history of drug abuse, including alcohol abuse and gambling; 4. Mental Health: A significant psychological illness can undermine the person’s capacity for a vocation in the C.M. This would include problems with the internet such as pornography.
Questions: Are there any contradictions with this presentation and the previous presentations? What are the real problems in vocation promotion ministry in your Province? What would you suggest to the Congregation in order to concretize this priority?
The group discussed many things including a change of attitude that is needed amongst many confreres and houses to create a more welcoming attitude and good example for new candidates. However, in many provinces there seems to be a greater awareness of the need to promote and invite candidates to the C.M. There should there be a commission in the C.M. that will continue internationally the focus on vocation promotion. Our formators need to be good balanced people, good human beings who are well trained. The vocation to brotherhood and to priesthood are distinct; each is a specific calling; you can’t just suggest brotherhood to someone who may not make it through the studies for priesthood.
AFTERNOON SESSION: Fr. Frédéric Pellefigue, C.M., from the Berceau, lectured the group about vocational pedagogy and accompaniment: the stages of vocational development, accompaniment and canonical obligations of vocation ministry.
St. Vincent is a “superhero” for our vocations (Fr. Frederic offered a picture of Vincent dressed as a “superman.”) Three topics: Stages of vocation process and accompanying. To whom can this be addressed? Youth are usually considered those between 13-24 years of age. In France very few young people come to Mass so the question is how do we motivate these young people? In Vincent’s day there were 4 minor seminaries. Many vocation directors reported working with the youth as part of their vocation work as well as dealing with problems that the youth are facing. What missionary profile do we want to promote? We want a man of prayer, a virtuous man, practicing faith, hope, and charity, a man who can life in community and who has a love for the poor and who can bring the gospel to the poor.
There is the step of initial contact and here we want to use the media to help us get the message of Vincent known and make person-to-person contact, accompaniment of the candidate, once we welcome the candidate we get to know them and they get to know us and search for a final decision as to whether he will continue in the formation program or not. This decision is based on many elements. The formation program needs to have a process that will help the discernment. Can this person make a commitment and make a life-commitment to the community and to the church? Discernment needs to have a deadline; it should not continue on forever.
Vocational Promotion: He is a guide, a help to assist the candidate. In the gospel of John, Felipe is called to follow Jesus, “Come and see.” John 1:43-46 There is also room for laughter in the discernment process.
Jim Osendorf, C.M.
USA Western Province
