Asia- Pacific Formators’ Training highlights understanding of culture and lived realities</br> in formation

The 50 participants of the Asia-Pacific Formators’ Session finished the first of  the six week- training scheduled October 17-November 27, 2011 in Maryridge, Good Shepherd Convent in Tagaytay City, Philippines. 

Photo: Sisters gather around the statue of Our Lady. 

The themes of the first week included: Day 1) Entering into the Sacred Ground of Formation, Day 2) Gathering the Lived Realities of Formation, Direction of Formation Today, Day 3) Setting Directions in line with the Holistic Approach, Day 4) Understanding Culture, Day 5) Cultural Context of Formation in the Unit, and Day 6) Religious Life Today- Call of the Spirit for Mission Vitality.  A day is also devoted to Integration.

Photo: The centerpiece

In dealing with the daily theme, the facilitators – Good Shepherd Sisters Susan Chia and  Elaine Basinger, Religious of the Cenacle Linda Lizada, invited the participants to enter into the sacre

d ground of formation, to know those they will journey with during the next six weeks and to be familiar with the open space of conversations. Srs. Paulina Diez and Tarcila Abaño of the Congregational Spirituality Center and Donal Kirk of the Christian Brothers are present as resource persons.

Sessions were held in plenary and small group discussions allowed sisters from the various units to interact and share their concerns with others. Each province shared the realities of formation as experienced in the unit.

Photo: Asian delicacies

The participants also spent time reflecting on the Direction of Formation in the Congregation which was articulated during the 2009 Congregational Chapter:

“To respond to the urgency to nurture new life through holistic and relevant formation that prepares, renews and sustains us for the challenges of today’s realities.”

An important factor that shapes formation was also highlighted --culture – given the diversity of Culture in Asia. The participants experienced the culture of the region by sharing and eating their local food and listening to the richness of music and appreciating movements through dance. The cultural night with each participant wearing her country's national and local costume is scheduled on October 27. While in small group discussions and in plenary, the formators shared the impact of culture in their lives, the richness of Asian Culture also flowed into the liturgy which weaves together the many fruits gathered in listening and hearing the others, in expressing the tenderness of the Shepherd who calls each one to wholeness.

The  Provinces of East Asia (Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam), Japan, Indonesia, India/Nepal, Northeast Asia (China, Hongkong, Macau, South Korea, Taiwan), Philippines, Singapore/Malaysia and Sri Lanka/Pakistan will share during the six weeks of training reflections experienced each week.

Photo: Sr. Shalini responds to a question while Sr. Elaine and the participants listen.

The various units present are also in solidarity with the ninth member of the Asia-Pacific Region—the Province of Australia/Aotearoa/New Zealand – whose representatives are gathered for the Province Chapter being held October 24-28 in Melbourne.

(Photos were contributed by Srs. Maria Dipal, Shalini Podimattam, Paulina Diez and Regina Kuizon)

The following is a reflection shared by Good Shepherd Sisters of the Province of Sri Lanka Pakistan.

 

The first week of the Asian Pacific Formators’ session has been one of creating a sacred space among us -- the participants. It has been a space of co-learning, wisdom, sharing, searching, supporting and transformation.

Photo: Flags of Asian countries at the centerpiece 

We were invited to make a covenant with each other so as to experience each other, including ourselves, as unique and precious persons with our strengths and weakness; to listen carefully to what each person has to say. The atmosphere was very conducive as we started our writing our journals and forming our home groups of 3 with whom we could share intimately our daily experiences of the journey.

This setting helped us very much to look at ourselves as well as the formation programs of our Provinces and the criteria for the acceptance of candidates to religious life. We began gathering the lived realities of formation and looked at the call of our Congregation to make formation relevant for today.

Photo: Small group sharing

Each unit presented the formation programme and came together, in discerning the concrete ways of bringing newness into their Formation.

Two days of cultural interaction was so enriching. We felt the richness and the diversity  of cultures in Asia- Pacific.   We could not help but respect each other’s culture for its sacredness. The culture cafe was exciting and educative.

We became aware of how the negative and positive aspects of our cultures have an impact on our Formation. This experiential model of learning has stirred the participants from deep within, as they continue to search for what is calling for transformation from within.

- Good Shepherd Sisters of the Province of Sri Lanka/Pakistan

Apostolic Sisters Marie Roshanti Ranwatta, Dhammi, Fernando, Francine Muthugala, Josita Corera, Doreen Epitawela, Sriyakanthi Rathnasekara and Contemplative Sisters Francina Yessiah and Patricia Perera.

 

Overview	First Week - October 17-22	Second Week October 23-29
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