Ongoing Formation
There is still confusion between ongoing formation/renewal and sabbatical. The
latter doesn’t exist in Congregation. Some confreres have preconceived ideas
about “being sent for renewal.” However, the ongoing formation is a necessity and
a lifelong process according to the Guide for Spiritan Formation (GSF). The notion
of ongoing formation needs to evolve. It can be structured but each one of us is
invited to take opportunities around for his own ongoing formation in the
following areas: human, intellectual, spiritual, pastoral and professional
leadership. There are many online programs and seminars in the dioceses or
places we work on some of these areas. Oftentimes online webinars are organized
and advertised in our Spiritan websites.
The Province per se doesn’t have fixed places and funds to allocate each year for
the ongoing formation of individual confreres. A confrere has just begun a four-
month renewal program at Chemichemi College in Nairobi. It is a joint effort with
his former circumscription of appointment, where he served for many years.
We are fortunate to have the Inter-Congregational Formation Programme (ICOF)
in Tanzania, even if many of us are not yet familiar with it. The upcoming
presentation will give us an opportunity to learn more about the program. We
sincerely thank the General Council for sponsoring one participant from each
union each year. At the same time, this does not prevent us from organizing
renewal programs at different levels.
We have an ongoing UCEAF formation program for confreres with less than five
years of ministry experience, which takes place every two years in one of our
circumscriptions.
In 2022, the majority of members of the Province received safeguarding training.
In the meantime, the Congregation Safeguarding Guidelines were updated. The
Provincial Safeguarding Policy is yet to incorporate the new elements as directed
by the Generalate.
- Spiritual Formation
Our annual retreats are very well attended. There are three groups. These retreats
also provide an opportunity for ongoing formation. At the request of the confreres,
the themes of our annual retreats align with the phases of the Congregation’s
animation plan. For this reason, we try to be directed by Spiritans as much as
possible during our retreats. The added advantage is not only familiarity with the
Congregation, but also a recap of useful information for otherwise “busy”
confreres.
- Vocation animation
There is an appointed vocation director but vocation promotion is a co-
responsibility with zone vocation coordinators and all confreres where we are
present (SRL 107). Just like it is the reality in any society, applicant come different
and often complicated family backgrounds. We insist on knowing better the family
background of those we admit in formation. It was a UCEAF decision that we hire
professional psychologist for one-on-one meeting with candidate to help us in the
11Theme: “Let us cross to the other side of the lake” Luke 8:22
selection process. We have many applicants, unfortunately, we can only receive a
limited number.
We haven’t been successful in the recruitment of candidates for brotherhood. This
has been a recurring item for reflection in our gatherings but there isn’t a
straightforward response.
- ANIMATION OF THE PROVINCE
We use the canonical visitations for community animation. The leadership gets the
opportunity to listen to confreres, encourage and invite them to embody our
religious missionary identity and cultivate a corporate sense of ownership of the
Province and Spiritan mission. Bagamoyo II, 99
We are organized in four zones: Coastal, Northern, Western and Southern. Zones
were created to serve as platforms for animation in the Province. Zonal leaders
are supposed to work in tandem with the Provincial leadership on matters related
to our life and mission.
We applaud the efforts of zonal members to attend scheduled meetings around the
key events of the Congregation. It is a good thing that confreres meet, pray and
socialize. However, it is important that these meetings discuss serious matters that
can contribute to the development of the Province. There is a need