MARIANISTI - AMMINISTRAZIONE GENERALE - Via Latina, Roma - Italia

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1 MARIANISTI - AMMINISTRAZIONE GENERALE - Via Latina, Roma - Italia S.M. 3 OFFICES Number 108 Rome, 6 January 2004 TO: FROM: SUBJECT: Members of the Society of Mary and other interested persons in the Marianist Family Thomas F. Giardino, SM -- Executive Director: International Center for Marianist Formation Progress Report on the International Center for Marianist Formation Progress Report on the International Center for Marianist Formation Introduction 1. This issue of Three Offices offers information and perspectives regarding the activities of the International Center for Marianist Formation (ICMF) as one resource for ongoing formation in service of re-creating Chaminade s missionary dynamism in today s world. 2. Our formation as Marianists at any specific time in our life and in a particular branch of the Marianist Family always takes place in the everyday reality of our existence. This means that the

2 characteristics of our contemporary context may cause us tensions. For example, we are never only an individual. But the present evolution of economic, technical and social realities in the global context allows most of us to be more individual than ever before with its limitations and benefits. Even so, to be Marianist is to emphasize relationships and community as key dimensions of our particular gift from God to the Church and world. Hence we often find ourselves struggling to establish and sustain an authentic Marianist identity. 3. We are not bereft of resources in the quest. We hold ideals and hopes that arise from our faith and its expression in the Christian scriptures and the Marianist lived traditions. 4. For example, we believe as Christians: And he gave some as apostles, others as prophets as pastors and teachers to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain faith, knowledge, mature personhood, the full stature of Christ Ephesians 4 5. As members of the Marianist Family we have said: The missionary project which we wish to energize as a result of this Chapter calls us to make progress in our life commitment and in our relationships of mutual collaboration with the whole Marianist Family Develop programs of joint formation on a national level, especially in regard to the Marianist charism and spirituality (Sent by the Spirit 37) 6. Father Chaminade believed that direction and formation were among the most important gifts that the Society of Mary (or any Marianist community) gives to its members. In the Society of Mary we have said that all formation is about helping the brothers acquire and deepen an identity proper to a Marianist religious, that is, to help them arrive at conformity with Jesus Christ, son of God, become son of Mary for the salvation of all people. (Guide for Formation in the Society of Mary 6) 7. The ICMF was mandated by the Society of Mary General Chapter of 2001 to respond to the serious and recognized need of ongoing formation in service of the mission. The seriousness has arisen both because of the pushes and pulls of the contemporary context in most cultures as well as our renewed intention to live the missionary dynamics of Father Chaminade. To this end, the mission of the ICMF is to promote growth and development in the Marianist charism within the entire Marianist Family as we strive to live our missionary vocation. Taking advantage of global and intercultural perspectives and resources, the Center understands its mission to include the spiritual and apostolic dimensions of the charism and their relation to contemporary cultures. 8. The ICMF ordinarily focuses, within the religious institutes, on the period after perpetual vows. We seek to provide ongoing formation resources that complement the particular formation that happens in each of the units and the branches of the Marianist Family as needed or desired. 9. In the year and a half since its establishment, the ICMF has developed initial themes that form a framework for its activities. The three major concerns or dynamics that presently form this framework for the majority of our work are: Life Development concerns, Role Responsibilities and Marianist Themes. These three themes relate well to the topics suggested as the content of ongoing formation in the Guide for Formation in the Society of Mary: Anthropology (the inner 2

3 connection between thought, affectivity and life-experience ); Scripture and Theology; Marianist Charism; Ministry. Similarly, the apostolic exhortation on the consecrated life in Religious Institutes, Vita Consecrata, speaks of the four dimensions of ongoing formation as the human and fraternal apostolic cultural and professional the charism. 10. The ICMF has provided services in a number of ways: a. The design of varied ongoing formation programs, sponsored by the ICMF or others in collaboration with the person or unit responsible. b. Implementation of programs as presenter or facilitator or coordinator. c. As coordinator for the selection and preparation of presenters in programs developed by others. d. Consultation that often serves as a catalyst for units and groups to develop their own programs. 11. To make the ICMF s services known, I have met with the various groups within the worldwide Marianist Family, including Zonal groups in the Society of Mary, such as CLAMAR, CEM and the Provincial Council of the USA Province (as part of the Marianist Conference). Also, I have had several meetings with the General Administration of the Daughters of Mary. An animated and fruitful gathering was the meeting of all the leadership of three branches of the Marianist Family in Latin America. This also gave me the opportunity to meet individually with the leadership of the Daughters of Mary and Marianist Lay Communities in that area. During our first year of existence, I met with the World Council of the Marianist Family along with the leadership of the International Organizing Team for the Marianist Lay Communities. These meetings were both to listen to the needs of these groups as they expressed the desires for their membership, as well as to inform them of the existence and activities of the ICMF. Life Development Concerns 12. Life development concerns include the preparation for Marianist commitments, renewal and sabbatical programs for various age groups. 13. Perpetual Vows. A major project that the ICMF has undertaken at the request of the General Administration of the Society of Mary and in conjunction with the Daughters of Mary has been the development of proposals regarding the preparation for perpetual vows. Following a survey soliciting the policies and practices of the various units, the ICMF has prepared a set of proposals which will be deliberated by the participants to the General Leadership Assembly of the Society of Mary and also the General Administration of the Daughters of Mary. Subsequent to these deliberations and decisions, the ICMF will most likely be involved in the carrying out of the decisions for enhancing this critical dimension of formation. 14. Horizons The ICMF has gathered a coordinating team for the third instance of this popular program. The team has met and developed the major orientations, outlined the sessions and secured the place and dates for the program. It will take place from 2 July to 30 July 2005, at La Solitude, a retreat house in Martillac, France, just outside of Bordeaux. Letters to unit administrations have been sent out with the call for participants and the majority of those participants have been confirmed. 3

4 15. Renewal Programs in Collaboration with the Marist Brothers. Presently, the ICMF has coordinated participation of members of the Society of Mary in third age (senior religious) renewal programs and midlife renewal programs for English-speaking members of the Society of Mary, in Manziana, Italy. We are presently negotiating for collaboration with the Marist Brothers for Spanish-speaking Marianists, for third age, midlife and young adult religious. 16. Senior Religious. An area under consideration is a program to deepen formation of directors of communities or health care centers with senior religious. As this reality grows in various parts of the Society, such ongoing formation could be of significant use. Role Responsibilities 17. The area of role responsibility includes the formation of formators and animators or directors of local communities, leadership training for unit leaders and for councils and formation for recently ordained priests. 18. The ICMF has collaborated with the international team that is planning the International Formators Meeting in June-July 04. The ICMF serves as facilitator for parts of that meeting as well as making presentations regarding ongoing formation as an integral and continuous part of formation, beginning in the period of initial formation. Similarly, presentations regarding the role of the formator will be one of our services. 19. In collaboration with the General Assistant for Religious Life in the Society of Mary, the ICMF has helped to design The Tabor Experience. This program is for recently ordained priests in the Society of Mary. The ICMF will be part of the team facilitating and making presentations for this program that will take place in July-August of At the request of various units, the ICMF has developed leadership education and strategic planning programs for groups of directors of local SM communities as well as unit councils and assemblies. 21. The Marianist Family Council of North America invited the ICMF to serve as a resource in the design and development of its Initiative for Community and Culture, a project for the development of animators of Marianist Lay Communities in North America. 22. The area of formation of Marianist Family Councils is one that the ICMF has been discussing with various zonal groups within the Society of Mary and other groups. This is still in the exploratory stages for possible programming. 23. Mutual formation, that is, ongoing formation inclusive of various branches of the Marianist Family in a specific area is one of particular interest for the ICMF. Recently, I met with the Marianist Family Council of Korea to explore matters of formation for local community animators and directors, e-learning courses and developing a method of education in faith for their particular reality. The conversation also included strategies to help prepare the future generation of Marianist Studies specialists in Korea. 4

5 Marianist Themes 24. This area includes a variety of content and approaches with a particular focus on the dialogue between faith and culture and furthering the initiative started in the project regarding Contemporary Theology and Marianist Spirituality. 25. E-learning. Providing content and interaction regarding various Marianist topics via classes through the Internet or on CD ROM is an area that is growing as a means of ongoing formation. The ICMF is committed to providing the development and the coordination of e-learning classes in various languages. 26. E-learning Courses in Spanish. Presently, we have secured an e-learning coordinator for Central and South America and one for Spain. These persons (both MLC members) will assist the ICMF as it produces and provides e-learning courses in Spanish. This will include coordinating the design, publicity and implementation for the e-learning courses. Here, we are working closely with Ediciones-SM, who have graciously agreed to provide the technical infrastructure for this effort and the Ágora Marianista, a group from the Marianist Family Council in Spain, who have already developed a marvelous Web site for its constituency. We will soon be developing courses which will be available for Spanish-speaking members of the Marianist Family. 27. E-learning Courses in English. There is presently one course, The Founders of the Marianist Family: Their Lives and Time, that has been available to English-speaking Marianists for over a year. The ICMF has joined the North American Center for Marianist Studies (NACMS) and the Institute for Pastoral Initiatives of the University of Dayton in their initiative to provide Marianist studies e-learning courses. Presently, we are working closely with NACMS to develop two more courses, one on Marianist community and a second on the Marianist spirit. 28. E-learning Courses in French. I am presently exploring with leadership of the French-speaking Marianist Family regarding how we might begin some initiatives along similar lines for Frenchspeaking Marianists. 29. Contemporary Theology and Marianist Spirituality Project. The project initiated some years ago by the Society of Mary General Administration entitled, Contemporary Theology and Marianist Spirituality, has yielded several fine books on important dimensions of the general topic. These books were published in their original languages, either Spanish or English, and have been distributed throughout the Marianist Family. The ICMF has sought to continue harvesting the fruits of this project in a variety of ways. We have worked with individuals and groups regarding a translation of the original versions into another language, thus making it available to more members of the Marianist Family. Here, again, we have worked with the North American Center for Marianist Studies and also are in consultation with the Maison Chaminade in Bordeaux in this regard. 30. Study Guides. The Center has been trying to encourage persons to develop study guides for the above books as a way to help individuals and groups to delve more deeply into the topics. 31. Marianist Studies Experts and Popularizers. As we look ahead in the life of the Marianist Family, it is important to attend to the next generation of persons who will be doing serious research 5

6 in Marianist foundational documents and contemporary cultures, along with persons who will take that research and make this available in retreats, workshops, seminars, etc. The Marianist Family has been blessed in the past with persons who have devoted time, energy and talent to this critical area. It is important to look to the future, especially in those areas of new implantation along with stimulating Marianist studies experts and popularizers among Marianist Lay Community membership. To this end I have been in dialog with various individuals and groups to help awaken concern and action. 32. The Marian Survey and Pedagogy of Faith Development. Some years ago the Society of Mary developed a survey regarding the understanding and position of Mary in the lives of members of the Society of Mary. The results were published including a document with suggestions of pastoral orientation for implementation. A review of the documents of the survey and orientations reveal that there is still much valuable information that could be used for initial and ongoing formation programs. In a related area, the General Chapter of the Society of Mary in 2001, stated that a fuller development of Father Chaminade s method of Pedagogy of Faith (faith of the heart) needs to be added to the Guide for Formation as a part of initial formation SBS 40 e. The ICMF has been in dialog with the General Assistant for Religious Life as to how we might integrate these two areas of the Marian survey and pedagogy of faith development for the benefit of the Marianist Family. Other Items and Areas of Activity 33. The ICMF has continued to be in dialog with other religious institutes regarding ongoing formation. I have learned many things from these international congregations and their initiatives and we have been of help to some in their projects, particularly in areas of e-learning. 34. In the original proposal for the ICMF, there was an idea of developing something like continental coordinators for ongoing formation, who would form a team or staff of the ICMF. I am still exploring the feasibility of such a dimension of the Center. Related to this matter, the Center is looking at some form of an international board of advisors, which would offer guidance, input and act as a sounding board for the executive director and staff in overall strategic planning. Such a board might also assist in the initiation, planning and evaluation of the ongoing operation of the office and the development of its programs and projects. I am still considering the feasibility of developing such a group in light of the limiting variables of expense and distance. 35. The envisioned role of a continental coordinator would be to assist the ICMF in developing, implementing and assessing programs and processes of ongoing formation within the mandate of the ICMF for a particular geographical area or perhaps language group within the Marianist Family. The responsibility of the person (probably a part-time position) would be to assess the developments in the area of responsibility and assist in planning and implementation as part of the staff of the ICMF. This person would meet periodically with relevant groups, such as the leadership of various Marianist Family branches, to assess needs, stimulate interest and report progress for ongoing formation activities according to the ICMF mandate and plan. Further discussion about this would probably happen at the General Leadership Assembly of the Society of Mary regarding feasibility and possible implementation. 36. The Center is exploring the development of a Web site as an aid to its work. Presently, the use of this is not yet clear and we are still in the research and reflection stage. 6

7 37. Part of the mandate of the ICMF is to collaborate with the centers of Marianist study, such as the Maison Chaminade in Bordeaux and the North American Center for Marianist Studies in Dayton, Ohio. I have been very pleased with my conversations and collaboration with the directors of the centers and look forward to how together we might better serve the Marianist Family in its ongoing formation needs. 38. The ICMF is a ministry of the General Administration of the Society of Mary. However, from its inception its mandate included an openness to serving all the branches of the Marianist Family, as well as including members of the various branches as part of its staff. The General Administration assumes the operating expenses for the staff and the functioning of the Center itself. Each program is to have its own plan for financing. 39. The ICMF is international in its mission and its scope of activities. The physical offices of the Center are presently in Dayton, Ohio on the campus of the University of Dayton. We have been greatly aided in our international functioning by various persons and groups at the University. The context of resources available at the University of Dayton and the willingness of administrators and staff and other personnel to be of service to the ICMF have been very helpful. For example, such areas as consultations regarding programming, international contacts, cultural adaptation, computer hardware and software matters, and online programming have been invaluable. The ability of Roser Williams, secretary to the executive director, who works in Spanish and French in the development and translation of documents has been an important resource in serving various language groups. Conclusion 40. We should look not only at the work, but also at ourselves, so that we may choose those strategies that will help us advance the mission of Father Chaminade (SBS 6). 41. This orientation from the General Chapter has stimulated the ICMF in the Marianist methodology of formation that reaches out to the world, ponders and discerns in a communal mode, and acts strategically and imaginatively. We are still very much at the beginning of our life of service to the Marianist Family and we look forward to continued conversation regarding possibilities for the future. I also look to feedback from any of those whom we serve, and in particular the participants from the General Leadership Assembly for their wisdom in discerning the course for the work of the ICMF. 42. As the Guide to Formation states regarding ongoing formation: Ongoing formation cannot be reduced to a vague, general desire or wish to grow. To facilitate this growth structures and means are necessary Among the means, some more directly involve the responsibility of each religious; others depend more on superiors (Guide to Formation 200). 43. The ICMF hopes to assist individual religious as well as leadership in moving beyond general desires to imaginative and fruitful programs for this crucial time in our lives, all in service of recreating Chaminade s missionary dynamism in today s world. 7