First Formation chance for the Novice Directors after 23 years

By Fr. James K. Hoe, SDB

Generalate, Rome, 3 December 2016 -- Twenty three Novice directors of the English speaking provinces got a golden opportunity for their formation from November 19 to December 4, 2016. This course was organized by the Formation Sector after 23 years break (previous in 1993!). There were also 8 of the EAO Novice directors from AUL, FIS, GIA, ITM, ITM-Indonesia Delegation, KOR, MYM and VIE. Our EAO novice masters were born in Indonesia (1), Myanmar (2), Korea (1), Philippines (1), Timor Leste (2) and Vietnam (3) - two of them living out of the EAO Region (Mozambique and USA - California) Among the large number of resource person for this course was also Br. Raymond Callo, the EAO formation coordinator.

The most senior among the EAO Directors of Novices, Fr. James Kyaw Hoe (AUL - Fiji Islands, Suva) shares in the name of the whole group his experience:

"The moment I was met at the airport by Fr. Cleo (Formation sector) and came to the General House (Via della Pisana, 1111) where I met the confreres in residence and fellow directors of the novices, I felt I had finally come home… after a long time in the wilderness. The sessions began with Fr. Pascual Chavez on the first day, the Rector Major on day two followed by others – all presenting concentrated material that needs time to digest and absorb. The group sharing was enriching and affirming.

At the core of all the presentations was one message. Christ is the center of our life and the unique way Don Bosco configured Christ to and for the young and the poor is the prophetic calling and mission we have inherited as Salesians. This personalization of Christ as Don Bosco showed us has over the years become our own way of living and serving. This is the service of love that the directors of novices are entrusted to impart to the candidates in the year of novitiate that they too may be configured to Christ, the Good News of Joy!

These two weeks were like a second novitiate for me. It was a time of special grace that the directors of novices were so privileged to have to help them this important ministry for the Congregation. My sincere thanks to the Rector Major, to Fr Ivo Coelho, Fr Silvio Roggia, Brother Raymond Callo and Fr Cleo Murguia for putting together this formative seminary for the directors of novices.

During the 3 weeks absence the seven novitiates (49 novices) in the EAO region were run by the remaining formators or even with the presence of some provincials: FIS & GIA in Cebu - Lawaan, ITM - Fatumaca, KOR - Naeri, MYM - Anisakan, VIE - Ba Thon. Only Fr. Boonlert, the novice director of THA province (5 novices) participated in the same course for Italian speaking already last April.

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