An apostle?

The apostles of Jesus, as listed in the Gospels, can more or less be divided into three groups

1. The ones closest to Jesus, headed by Peter
2. the ones who had the most number of contacts with the non-Jews, under the leadership of Philip and
3. those who were very strict about the Judaic tradition. 

Though they had their ideological differences, they worked as a team, a community. However, human as they were (including Jesus himself), there were some squabbles, differences and misunderstandings among themselves on various occasions - not only after Jesus' time, but during his time itself.

Now for the questions: Can I add my name too to the list?  After all, the apostles were called upon to witness Jesus.  And by my profession, am I too not called to witness Christ and the Kingdom?  And if my name is on the list, to which group would I belong?  

The 'how' of formation

An insight from today's homily by Fr Ivo...

Jesus' temptation was not about his identity as the Son of God or the Messiah but as to HOW to be the Messiah.  

In our formation scenario too, there are many who are passionate about the way our youngsters need to be formed to be 'good' Salesians, all with noble intentions.  However, the differences are not so much about the need for formation or the importance of it, rather differences are due to the mode of formation to be offered.

I think this is where the formation delegate and the respective rectors play a great role.  One can be very eclectic or too monolithic, but the ideal would be to follow a very comprehensive outlook and then a specific mode. Of course, the animator also needs to rope in all involved in the process, especially the formees themselves. 

Christian paradoxes

Some paradoxes of our Christian life and mission: 

• Christians: We have Christians who are baptised but not evangelised
• Salesians: There are members who have professed but not committed
• Priests: Clerics who are ordained as Priests but not Spiritual
• Religious: Persons who have come forward voluntarily and professed to a life of committed dedication but insipid in their relationship, especially to those whom they have committed their life to (God and His people)

May sound quite pessimistic, but there is some truth in these statements. 

Saint and Martyrs

An amusing quote from our discussions...

If we have a saint in the community, then the rest are martyrs! 

Don Bosco and Psychological Sciences

There is a lot of talk about the utility of psychological testing especially in the pre-novitiate.  The argument is that it is not for sending someone away but basically to help someone better in their vocational journey.  I myself have seen what good psychological sciences can bring in for the formation process - also the trauma it can cause in some cases!

What I am now asking myself is how did Don Bosco manage?  His time there was hardly any psychological tests or sciences at hand to use.  But he did well.  The boys did well.  The confreres did well.

Another perspective on the same could be that he may not have used psychological sciences but he did use the available sciences and means to enrich the quality of his Salesians and boys.  So why not use presently available means to enhance the quality of our life and mission?

Another take: What of the simple traditional but guaranteed methods and strategies?  

Discernment and Decision

At what time does a youngster with us 'decide' that he is to be a Priest or Brother?
The aspirantate? But isn't that still a forum or platform for discernment... so much so it does not even come under the formation commission. It is placed under the youth pastoral department. (that is something I learnt only today!) Salesian formation commences only with the pre-novitiate!

The pre-novitiate? But that's only to discern whether or not, I have a vocation to religious life. Perhaps also to know more about the Salesian congregation and Don Bosco.

Novitiate? Well this could be a place where one finally makes a decision. But one only becomes only a temporarily professed member of the congregation at his first profession. This too is not the final decision-making moment.  It is again a trial period (lasting 6 to 9 years)!

Well, the final preparation for perpetual profession (for a Brother) or Ordination (for a Cleric) could be the final decision-making moment.  That means, from the time a youngster enters the Salesian house (at the age of 18 or so) till this moment (say, age 29) what the hell is he doing???  Already decided?? Or discerning??!

Isn't discernment a process? And at some time, a decision. Yes! But open to review by self and others! If my decision is so fixed and finalised that I am not willing to let it be challenged, neither by self nor others, then I am not even letting it grow. I'm only fanatically preserving it (my vocation), – mostly out of fear that in case something damages it, I would no more be a Priest or Salesian – not living it out recklessly and joyfully.

Vocation as my choice

Don Bosco was not the Rector of a formation house... he was a 'father' to a group of young boys who had none. He was the head of an oratory. In this context the confidence that boys had on him made a big difference. The boys felt comfortable and free to open up, pour out their hearts and souls to Don Bosco because they had nothing to lose – they knew well, they stand to gain!

As with regards to our discussion, we claim to be formators, perhaps Rectors of formation houses. The boys in our care are candidates for our Salesian way of life. The matter of confidence is applicable here too. However, what acts as a hindrance, affecting also the confidence factor, is the matter of choice. In very many instances, the candidates with us have already 'decided' – the process of discernment is often skipped – that they are to become Priests, continue being Salesians. So in this context, the decision is already made. And the Rector (or the formation staff) is seen as a threat to this 'survival' because he/they can terminate my decision. The lifeline of this decision is therefore in the hands of the Rector. 

That brings me exactly to the heart of my concern: Whose vocation? Whose choice?

If the vocation is mine and so is the choice! It is basically my choice to respond to what God wants of me. In such a context, the Rector (and other formation guides) will be seen as facilitators or persons who help me grow in this response, in every way possible – certainly not as threats!

Spiritual animation vs Administration

Only in 1901, with the Vatican decree that the Rector cannot be the ordinary confessor of the boys and confreres, did the portfolio of the Spiritual Director emerge in the Salesian community. The role of the Rector, who so far was the ordinary confessor too, now had to be reinvented. Given the increasing workload, the Rector got practically swamped by the legal, administrative, and organisational work. This did lead to the Rector leaving the spiritual animation part to the confessor and taking up other responsibilities.

The current phenomena which sees Rectors not take up the spiritual animation of the community could be traced back to this historical event. However I think it has another reason too: spiritual animation is more demanding than taking care of administrative matters. Another way of putting it: administration is more lucrative than spiritual animation. This calls for an introspective of our values, our virtues, what we as religious find 'lucrative'. And if helping a person grown holistically is not my primary option, rather I choose do some 'petty' service which is fulfilling for now then I need to rethink what my true vocation is!

A piece of history: Crypt Tabernacle

I learnt of an interesting piece of history this morning after Mass. As I was helping Br Richard D'Souza, a veteran Salesian Brother from Mumbai Province working in Uganda, he narrated the following incident. In 1945 the tabernacle, the one presently in the crypt of Don Bosco's Shrine, Matunga arrived in Mumbai from Italy. However, it was not cleared by the customs. Fr Maschio, of happy memory, then called young Br Bob, gave him Rs 500 (a huge amount in those days) and sent him to meet a certain man named Mr Eddie Pereira. The next day, the tabernacle reached Matunga. For many years it was kept in the School community Chapel. Today one can view it in the crypt of the Shrine.

At Don Bosco, Matunga

Stepping into Mumbai - Matunga, to be particular - is like stepping into another world altogether. I reached here this morning for the South Asian Formation Commission meeting.  Sundays is all the more special for this place. One thing that one cannot miss is the number of youngsters who flock this place, especially for games. Right since early morning, till late into the night there are scores of boys who come to make the most of the vast grounds of the campus.  This is something we hardly get to see in any of our settings back in the Province.

In the morning attended the Mass in the Shrine, recalling coming into the Shrine with the boarders, a decade ago.  The singing, the hymn books, the announcements, the serenity of the place and of course, the brevity of the whole service.

In the evening I took a walk around the campus recalling to mind all those past experiences during my one year of stay here (2003-2004).  Most of all remembered and missed Fr Ronnie! God rest his soul. As I came infront of the primary section (presently the IGSCE wing), I remembered the afternoon Fr Ronnie couldn't stop laughing at lunch. He narrated how a small boy came running to him right before the classes began and told him that his Mummy has come to meet him.  Surprised he let himself be led to the entrance, only to find a Sister dressed in a habit (a similar looking garment worn by the Nuns, just as Priests have their cassock).