Comoro, Dili, 12 December 2020 -- The TLS Commission on Formation headed by fr. Manny Pinto, sdb conducted a two days of formative meeting for the quinquennial priests held in the IFFS (Instituto Filosófico de São Francisco de Sales) Comoro. Eleven priests and one deacon participated in this annual meeting. The facilitator of this meeting was fr. Jojo San Juan, sdb, another great salesian missionary who has completed his study in the area of psycho-spirituality in the Philippines. He was one of the most awaited confreres prepared by the TLS Vice- Province in order to accompany the candidates to become religious and priests in our congregation. The previous plan was to invite Fr. Henry Bonetti, SDB, once more but unfortunately he couldn't come due to Covid19.
This annual formative meeting started with an opening remarks from the provincial, Fr Apolinário Neto, sdb. He reminded and called the participants to go back to their personal motto when becoming a Salesian in their first religious profession. Since we are Alter Christi then let us think on how we present Christ to others. He thanked fr. Jojo San Juan for accepting the task. He encouraged the participants to strengthen their dignity as a pastor and a salesian. Furthermore, there should be an openness of heart, to speak out, to challenge in order to know better oneself to live in the community and in fulfilling the mission entrusted to our care.
The topic offered by the facilitator was Erikson's eight stages of personality. Since it was like a seminar, fr. Jojo did not share only from the psychological point of view, but mostly from his learning experiences during his study. There were two sessions in the morning and in the afternoon, Mass before lunch, a basketball game in the afternoon and the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in the evening before dinner. For the participants, it was also a moment of sharing and enjoying the company and friendship of others.
What was shared by Fr. Jojo was not only from his knowledge but his life changing experiences.It was compelling and truly appreciated by the participants.
He recalled how he dealt with his personal experiences within these 3A's. To be AWARE of what is happening, ACCEPT it as it is and most importantly undertake an appropriate ACTION. In another part, as what has been shared and he reflected the 3C's which mean God gives us CHANCE in order to be CHANGED, yet it depends on what is our CHOICE. Considering the aspects human and divine in the life of a person, Fr Jojo combined the elements of psycho and spirituality. The best example presented was Jesus Christ who was 100 percent human and 100 percent divine. Tracing the idea from the apostolic exhortation Pastores Davo Vobis, it was so important to follow-up the quinquennial priests since the whole work of priestly formation would be deprived of its necessary foundation of it lacked a suitable human formation. From here, Christ was presented as a model for human development since 'living as a man among and with men, Jesus Christ offers the most complete, genuine and perfect expression of what it means to be human' (PDV 72).
