1423 Initial formation Korea
austraLasia 1423

Initial formation Korea: seminar on sexual awareness in vocational  growth

DAEJON: 2nd February 2006 -- Some 60 aspirants, prenovices, novices and men in temporary vows, along with two deacons and other seminarians took part recently in a four day seminar organised by the Provincial Formation Commission.  The aim of this winter session was to help young Salesians in initial formation discover and be clearer about the role of sexuality in vocational growth.  To undersand the Korean context, young men come to the Salesians with two and a half years of compulsory military service behind them, and would be mainly between  20-30 years old.  The facilitator for the theme was a counsellor and psychologist, who is a member of a secular consecrated group, AFI.
    Miss Gemma Shin is a skilled presenter in this area, her expertise being particularly in presenting the dynamics of sexuality in personal growth within consecrated life.  With her and within the warmth of the atmosphere she created, young Salesians were able to freely discuss the difficulties and tensions arising from integration of their sexuality into consecrated life.  The plenary and group sessions were an opportunity for participants to get beyond the 'this is my personal problem' issue and explore answers to questions such as 'how do I best accept my sexuality as a consecrated person?', 'Does God want my celibacy?', 'How can we educate young people to understand their sexuality as part of their growth?', 'How can we as consecrated persons convert our sexual energy into self-giving?'.
    The tradition of summer and winter seminars began some twenty years ago in the Korean Province.  As many in initial formation attend non-Salesian centres, the seminars are seen as one opportunity to explore Salesianity and Salesian criteria as outlined in the Ratio.

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