International seminar of practical trainees 

from five countries in Borongan

By Our Own Correspondent

Borongan, the Philippines, 21 March 2019 -- The long-awaited annual formation gathering of practical trainees fromthree provinces(Philippines North-Malaysia, Philippines South-Pakistan and China) was organized this time in the FIS 'periphery' of Don Bosco Borongan (Eastern Samar) from 19 to 23 March 2019, under the aegis of the FIS provincial formation commission (Delegate Fr Mel Racelis) and with the logistic support of the Borongan Salesian Community (Rector Fr Julius Sanchez).

The majority of the twenty five participants heading from three provinces and five countries (Philippines, China-Hong Kong, Timor Leste, Indonesia and Nigeria) found themselves with their novitiate batchmates from different provinces. Among the main resource persons were: Fr Ronel Vilbar (FIS, Life as Prayer), Ms Joji Orendain (Lay Mission Partner, Psychology-Counselling), Fr Joriz Calsa (FIS, Youth Ministry delegates), Fr Renato De Guzman (FIN, 2018 Synod: Youth, Faith and Vocation Discernment) and the EAO Regional Councillor also led one session.

The participants especially appreciated the great enrichment through the workshop style of the seminar, personal enrichment with skills needed for their ministry among the young (youth counselling and personal EQ assesment), the opportunity for sharing in smaller groups, an opportunity for sports and outings in the pristine Samar nature (forest, river and seashore) and especially the 'bonding' - strong peer group support experience.

On the morning of March 21 the practical trainees shared responses to two questions:

'What helps you in your vocation growth during practical training?'

• Accompaniment by my rector
• Community aspect is the first strength in our life, quality of the accompanying Salesians. Does not matter really the numbers of our community, but if my confreres listen to you!
• Prayer and trust given by my community, in spite of my mistakes, I'm still given trust to be creative
• Regularity in 'rendiconto' and spiritual direction, sacrament of reconciliation
• Join practical trainees seminar with confreres from other provinces
• Live and work with lay mission partners

If you become provincial, how would you arrange more formative experience during practical training?'

• I'm very grateful to be here for 5 days, since in our province we have only 2 hours session twice a year
• Joint meeting brings a different view point, input. At home I listen only to one voice, of the rector
• Arrange the help to discern missionary vocation through exchange of other provinces/ delegations
• Provincial plan for the practical trainees – what is expected from us, or concrete local community plan
• Our rectors would assume that we are OK, but we expect at least once a month spiritual direction and since we are always busy and the whole month we don’t see our confessor: guarantee monthly recharging
• Regular rendiconto during the practical trainee meeting (3 times a year), with our provincial present
• Minimum of two practical trainees in one community, it would lessen our stress and burden (survival)
• Care for each confrere in practical training. Usually the perpetually professed confreres think we are already perfect, we are capable … and not allowed to commit mistakes
• Assign practical trainees as groups, never single trainee in one community alone
• One day for reflection and recollection at least every month (Ratio requires reflection during pract.training)
• Seminars for the rector (seminar for parenting), not all the rectors know, how to accompany us!
• Joint formation of rectors and practical trainees, since we need to bridge the age gap
• High time to promote the missionary vocations – we should be more immersed in other cultures
• Give a chance for practical skills - coaching

This joint formation session is part of the 3 annual formation sessions for the practical trainees between the two Filipino provinces. We congratulate the formators and give thanks to all resource persons who made this refreshing experience possible.

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Joint Practical Trainees’ Seminar:
Preventive System and Assistance

By Youth Ministry FIS

The Salesians in practical training stage of formation from different provinces of the EAO gathered in one of the farthest locations in the Philippine South province, that is, in Borongan, Eastern Samar and is considered a periphery, for a five-day seminar-workshop in line with their need as accompaniers of the youth and to answer their journey for ongoing discernment.

The first session was an emphasis on the practice of the preventive system through quality assistance and presence. The speaker-facilitator was Fr. Joriz Calsa, SDB, FIS Youth Ministry delegate, and he shared reasons why Salesians have the preventive system and the very reason Don Bosco emphasized on the assistance and presence. Part of the process was the giving of 20 practical and doable tips in doing assistance. The young Salesians in turn were given ample time to reflect and deepen their experience on Salesian assistance, and here are some of their sharing:

John SDB (services)

• To be tolerant with their (youth) mistakes. They will test your credibility.
• There was a boy who lost his parents and was entrusted to the center; he has nothing to lose and so he does a lot of foolishness. And this boy was struck by the goodness of the young Salesian by not holding on his mistakes and gimmicks. Reflection: We are in the family and in our own families we tolerate simple mistakes. Let us do the same in our centers. This will capture their heart. Shock them with your goodness of heart.

Elvino SDB (timor)

• We need to be available to help everyone and not just choose some. (no favorites)

Miko SDB (fin)

• “Wasting time” with the young as a first approach.
• Some form of handshakes (sign of closeness)
• Visit them in their time of grief and loss
• Smile. Sit down to spent time.

James SDB (Fin)

• Know them and their names
• Go to the places where you can be seen easily so that when they want to you it will be easy for the students.

Nikolas SDB (services)

• Break preconceived impressions of young people by discovering it yourself. Start with a smile. Create a mutual understanding to create trust and confidence, not only for the young but also reaching out to the parents.

Jojo SDB (fin)

• Being with the young during their retreats and recollections to know more about them. Listening to understand and not just to respond.
• Correcting the young personally (and right after the wrong deed).
• Be the first to approach.
• If you Influence the leaders, you influence the member.
• They love pick-up lines.

Jay-Jay SDB (fin)

• Be present during the breaks but also and especially during dismissal. They are more spontaneous with the sharing they narrate.
• Sincerity and authenticity build trust.
• Know their context.

Gerondio SDB (fis)

• Be friendly to young who are difficult to handle in the classroom and playground… gradually, they will have a change of heart.

Robert SDB (fis)

• Active, physical, and sincere presence.
• Create a less judgmental atmosphere
• Assistance goes beyond when the boys are already sleeping but “bring” them to the chapel…entrust them to the Lord.
• My assistance will be more grace-filled if we ourselves pray or communicate with the Lord; the grace of unity.

Adrian SDB (fin)

• Be authentic Salesian.
• The best practice of Salesian assistance is when the whole community assists.

Jojo SDB (fin)

• Know their concerns and their stories
• Be true to them and give the reason why we correct them
• Empower the leaders.

Biboy SDB (fis)

• Prudence. Doing the right things at the right time.
• Physical order. Be a good model; do chores and work, too. Be orderly- they will be inspired to do more; more on psychological aspect, they can think well in a good orderly atmosphere.
• Plan everything and in relationship with the community formation plan.

Julius SDB (fis)

• Don’t be cruel. Cruelty doesn't work especially for boys who have experienced much cruelty in life. Be loving and reasonably correct the boys.
• Positive “punishment”, you did something bad, then do something good especially to the community.
• Idleness is the workshop of the devil; make the boys busy through sports or skills.

Kerwin SDB (fin)

• The best way to apply the preventive system to others is to put into practice the preventive system to ourselves first

Leo SDB (services)

• To be extra patient. Do not expect too much from the young. The process is more important than the result.
• Young people are “victims” and we have to be compassionate.

Ton-Ton SDB (fis)

• In the context of the novices, the most difficult is how to correct especially if one is older than the assistant. Rehearse or think about the proper words before correcting.

Edlazir SDB (fis)

• Be there ahead of time. Think of the safety of the students/trainees. Prepare the place, remove hazards.

Enzo SDB (fin)

• Love what the young loves. Find the commonality. Building it from the ground up, emphasize on the human connection. We connect with jokes (like well-versed in their language) which is an initial bridge to the youth.

Andrei SDB (fis)

• To search for the last, least, and lost.
• Quality time means giving importance to young people thus we give love.
• Balanced love and not impartial.

Genson SDB (fis)

• Follow the handbooks (is also an expression of our preventive system).
• All of the Salesians are teaching and assisting.

Nathan SDB (fin)

• Know more the boys outside the classroom.
• During the conduct deliberations one can say more discoveries about the boys; here you can save them by doing positive remarks.
• Young people are not bad, but they are just forgetful.

Francis SDB (services)

• Learn from the seasoned Salesians how to assist and learn from their wisdom.

Umbu (ina)

• Know the local bad words so you can connect them.
• Right venue for corrections can be done in the goodnight talk.

Aside from this beautiful sharing the young Salesians also aired out the need for two things: accompaniment by a senior young Salesian (buddy system) and for the new ones, a sort of handbook for practical trainees. We hope and pray that these young Salesians will persevere to become full-fledged members of the congregation. Let us pray for them.

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