39 participants from all the EAO provinces

By Bro Raymond Callo, SDB

Yamanaka, Japan, 23 November 2018 -- This year's formation of formators for our EAO region was held at the FMA retreat house at Yamanaka, Japan hosted by GIA Province thru the kindness of Fr. Hamaguchi Hideaki the provincial the formation team headed by Fr. Noby Tamura the delegate formation.

We were blest to have a beautiful location with Mt Fuji at the back and with Lake Yamanaka in front and with the warm and homely welcome by the Salesian Family of Japan. There were 39 participants for the formators' course coming from all the provinces and 3 delegations of Cambodia, Pacific and Services.

The formators' course this year was conducted by Emmaus Center Philippines with Ms. Eva Galvey a lay person and founding partner of the Center and Fr Roy Ragas a Jesuit priest. The course is on Formative a Processing Skills. Emmaus defines “formative processing” as a means of deepened reflection wherein an individual in the context of formation is helped to arrive at an expanded perspective, greater understanding, acceptance and owning of a significant personal experience.

Although the course is originally offered as an 8 day course, we had it for 3.5 days only but we benefited much from the inputs, sharing, and group processes. The learnings in the conference room were complemented by the informal sharing at table and during the outing as well as the moments of praying together. It was an experience of being an EAO community.

---

---