The chief problem concerns personnel. When it comes to finding personnel, very often the burden falls on the host province, and all too often there is little advance planning and preparation.

The solution offered by the Ratio is the Curatorium:

FSDB 173: “When the study centre is interprovincial, the Provinces concerned shall give their responsible collaboration to enable it to achieve its aim.” [R 84]

Interprovincial collaboration for a studentate or study centre implies the creation and proper functioning of an entity holding shared responsibility (for example, a “curatorium”). Such an entity is made up of the Provincials directly concerned, the president, the Rector of the formation community/communities, the administrator and other members as envisaged in the statutes. It has the following tasks:

• to define clearly the rights and duties of the Provinces involved, the role of the local Provincial of the centre and of the other Provincials concerned;

• to spell out in practical terms the areas and forms of collaboration between the study centre and the Provinces supporting it;

• to follow the arrangement of the studies and academic activity;

• to study and offer guidance to the competent superiors concerning the teaching personnel and students;

• to see that the guidelines and norms of the Holy See regarding centres for ecclesiastical studies are followed;

• to maintain contact with the General Councillor for formation.

FSDB 224: The obligation to ensure a proper formative setting, not only in terms of the number of the members but also in terms of the quality of the formation team, suggests and in some cases requires that some provinces join forces to establish interprovincial communities.

In communities that depend on more than one province, the sharing of responsibility for formation on a durable basis requires the establishment of a “curatorium” or other mechanisms, and the presence of formation guides from the different provinces. Care must also be taken to foster a sense of belonging to one’s own Province; helpful for this are frequent visits by the Provincial or other confreres, the exchange of news and every other means of communication, and other possible ways of keeping in touch.

FSDB 300: In more than one situation the conditions for ensuring the consistency of formation centres in terms of quality and numbers are such that it is not easy for a single Province all by itself to meet them. In such cases, it is desirable that a few Provinces, especially if they belong to the same cultural context, pool their resources to set up interprovincial formation structures.

Interprovincial collaboration must be translated into a real sharing of responsibility and be expressed also through the implementation and functioning of intermediate structures (such as the “curatorium”, commissions, etc.) which make it possible for the Provinces to take an effective part in determining the direction of formation (the formation plan), ensuring the conditions and means for realizing it (personnel, structures, finances, etc.) and carrying out the proper assessments. [cfr. GC21 277, 250b.]

We may note that article 84 of the Regulations mentioned in the text above speaks only about interprovincial study centres, and does not mention the curatorium. It is therefore the Ratio that has proposed “intermediate structures” to ensure “real sharing of responsibility” – one of them being the Curatorium.

Presumably since the promulgation of the Ratio, curatoriums have been set up in various interprovincial formation communities. We must note that the implementation is not uniform: in certain regions, the curatoriums meet regularly and function well; in others, they have yet to become established.

In the last couple of years, we have begun the process of strengthening the curatoriums in order to make them more effective, especially in terms of preparation and commitment of formators and teachers. This was a way of implementing the concern of the Rector Major, Fr Angel Fernandez Artime, to ensure formation teams that are consistent in quality and quantity.

In the interprovincial (and inter-regional) formation houses in Italy the Rector Major, in dialogue with the provincials, asked the Regional of the Mediterranean region to preside at the curatorium meetings, with the Regional of Central & Northern Europe present. These curatoriums have established a way of finding Rectors and key formation personnel: the presiding regional sends out a letter in advance, asking provincials to come prepared with one name from their own province and one from outside. The matter is discussed in the curatorium, and three names (terna) are proposed to the Rector Major, to whom belongs the nomination. This procedure has worked reasonably well. It would work better if all participating provincials were to be personally present. Their participation would probably improve if both regional councillors were to be present, as also the General Councillor for Formation.

Another process was begun in the Africa – Madagascar region: modification of the statutes of the curatorium. A draft of such modifications was framed through a consultative process, and then approved by the Conference of provincials and superiors of the region (CIVAM) (see appendix 1 below). (1) Each province must now go through the process of “defining” its choice of formation houses, even if it retains the freedom to send confreres to other houses. Such definition involves membership in the Curatorium, with corresponding obligations. (Provincials may participate in curatoriums of other – “non defined” – formation houses, but they are not obliged to participate, and are not obliged, e.g., to contribute personnel.) (2) The curatorium of each house must then go through the process of modification of its statutes, making use of the suggestions approved by the CIVAM. (See letter of the Councillor for Formation, 19/0025, dt 15.01.2019)

Another key point is to define who presides at the Curatorium. Up to now, it has fallen to the host provincial (the province in which the formation house is situated, and to which it juridically belongs) to be the president. It is far more effective, however, if the Regional councillor is the president. It is true that the workload of Regional councillors often makes it difficult for them to participate in all the curatoriums. In this case, it would be good to choose to be present at least in those houses that are in particular need of attention.

We have been talking about personnel, but the other problem regards finances and contributions towards structures (buildings, library, means of communication, means of transport, etc.) This also needs to be defined in the statutes of the Curatorium.

Besides the curatoriums, there are also other ways of governing interprovincial realities. The Jesuits in India, for example, the POI – the Provincial of India, with ordinary authority over formation houses. The interprovincial formation houses, therefore, do not fall under the purview of the provincials. Formation personnel, once assigned to a formation house, cannot be easily “taken away” and assigned to other duties: they are directly under the authority of the POI. This gives a certain stability and quality to the academic personnel and institutions.

What about the finding of personnel for the common houses? The Jesuits have six ‘Conferences’ – structures corresponding to our regions. Each conference has a president, and the conferences meet periodically to discuss needs and promote collaboration. In addition, Jesuits have a great deference to the wishes / orders of the Superior General, which also facilitates sharing of personnel.¹

This is an alternative way of governing interprovincial realities which is very different from ours. As far as stability is concerned, however, it is interesting to note a little implemented note in our Ratio – even though, strictly speaking, it has in mind only Salesian study centres and not formation communities:

FSDB 170: The Salesian study centres need to be supported, and steps have to be taken to ensure that they maintain their excellence in academic matters and in formation, that they are sufficiently staffed by teams of qualified personnel, and that this personnel enjoys a certain permanence in the institution. To transfer confreres who form part of the permanent teaching body of a Salesian study centre the Provincial needs to have an understanding with the Councillor for formation.

Should we attempt to implement this provision, extending it also to formation houses?

The Jesuits have a long tradition of interprovincial formation houses. These houses handle the problem of large numbers of formees by means of “colonies,” each with its accompanying formator. This kind of tradition is also quite common in diocesan seminaries, and we have found it also in some of our own formation communities.

Speaking of interprovincial situations, it might be good to note also that the provincial council of origin is to be consulted when the confrere is outside his own province:

FSDB 301: The pattern for admission to profession, to the ministries and to orders should include the following stages, while making provision for the variety of situations:

• a talk between the person concerned and his Rector and the submission of his application;

• the opinion of the community,² and, respecting the norms of prudence, possibly of those members of the educative and pastoral community who are in a position to make a significant contribution;

• the opinion of the Provincial Council of origin (when the confrere is outside his own Province);

• the opinion of the local Council;

• the vote of the Provincial Council and the decision by the Provincial.

This is an important provision of the Ratio that is not always implemented. It is only right that the provincial council of origin be involved in the admission process. When the opinion is asked in good time, several odd and difficult situations can be avoided.

The Ratio also insists on cultivating the sense of belonging to one’s own province:

FSDB 290: Let the sense of belonging to one’s Province be cultivated during initial formation. For those confreres who are sent to formation communities that belong to other Provinces, it not only helps that there are personnel from their own Province on the formation team, but also that they receive visits from their Provincial or from other members of the Provincial Council, they have an exchange of news, meetings are arranged for communicating information and fostering communion with the confreres of their own Province, the programme of their activities during the period of their academic vacation is agreed upon by the Rector of their community and their own Provincial, and other forms of communication are available to them.

We have regional centres for ongoing formation now in practically all the regions: Don Bosco Renewal Centre, Bangalore (South Asia), the mobile Formation Team (East Asia – Oceania), the Centro Salesiano de Formación Permanente – America, Quito (Interamerica and America Conosud), the new Salesian Formation Centre for Africa-Madagascar (SAFCAM), Nairobi, and the proposed centre / team for the formation of Salesians and laity (Mediterranean and Central & Northern Europe).

The Ratio mentions such centres in the chapter on ongoing formation, as part of the initiatives at inter-provincial level:

FSDB 550. Some initiatives for the animation of ongoing formation on a wider scale are:

– different kinds of linkage between the Provinces for sharing experiences, organizing programmes and initiatives, preparing animation materials, and supporting the work of animators;

– establishing – at the level of a Region, a linguistic grouping or Provincial conference, and according to possibility and convenience – centres for ongoing formation. These centres offer their services to the Provinces, the communities and individual confreres in a variety of ways, organizing, for example, courses or programmes, preparing and distributing materials for the animation of communities or arranging for the translation of Salesian texts;

– creating – at the level of a Region or Provincial conference – groups of people who are qualified in Salesian studies and able to offer their services, publishing, holding seminars and specific courses of updating for confreres in the phase of ongoing formation.

FSDB 551. The Regional Councillors follow up the implementation of the inter-provincial programmes of ongoing formation and keep in contact with the Provincials responsible for them. To this end they foster a greater collaboration and coordination among the Provinces.

The General Councillor for formation has the care and responsibility for the integral and ongoing formation of the confreres. He encourages and supports the efforts made by the Provinces. In agreement with the respective regional Councillor, he asks them to plan and implement the practical guidelines concerning the formation of the confreres; he follows with particular care the progress of the centres of ongoing formation.

A proposal that has been repeatedly made in recent years is the need and the usefulness of greater contact and sharing between the centres. The present Consultation would be a good occasion to think about this and to work out concrete ways to promote such sharing.

In general, greater contact between the regions – which are really so different despite the real communion in the spirit and mission of Don Bosco – would be something to be greatly encouraged. We can see that the Ratio already envisages and encourages this kind of initiative.

We need to recognize and acknowledge the possibilities for basic formation and for higher qualifications offered by our international formation houses and centres in Italy and in Jerusalem – including in a special way the UPS.

To benefit from these houses and centres is not merely “to study in Rome” or “to study in Jerusalem” but to enter into living contact with the diversity of the Congregation, and this itself can be extremely beneficial for formation and growth. Those provinces that systematically avoid making use of these centres “where the Congregation gathers” are surely missing something by way of interaction with other parts of the Congregation.

Our international formation houses and centres are therefore an important element in inter-provincial collaboration and in the building up of a sense of Congregation and of Church.

There are various kinds of meetings at regional and world level: team visits (ratified in GC27 89); the present World Formation Consultation and other such meetings of the other departments; world level formation seminars or courses such as the ones conducted for novice directors; the annual meetings of the Regional Formation Commissions; the regional level seminars or courses such as the ones for prenovice directors and for the postnovitiate formation personnel; etc.

A special kind of meeting is that of the provincials of a region or of the provincial conferences of a region. A number of general councillors participate especially in the regional meetings of provincials. These are also occasions for animation, but which need to be better planned and used.

GC27 invited greater collaboration between the sectors or departments of the Congregation at world level, and this has been a concern for us (GC27 86). The Vicar of the Rectors Major never fails to convoke meetings of the sector councillors and meetings of the regional councillors before every plenary session of the council. Further, specific projects have been taken up jointly by certain sectors, such as the study of Salesian personal accompaniment in the processes of initial formation that involved the youth ministry and formation sectors. Our most consistent collaboration is at the present moment with the youth ministry sector.

The internet is a formidable instrument of communication and collaboration, which we are only now beginning to make use of.

I take the occasion to point out the web page of the Formation Department: https://formazionesdb.org/ which already contains a large quantity of useful material generated through the meetings and initiatives of the current sessennium, etc. eventually, it will probably be linked to the new official site of the Congregation.

There is the whole possibility of webinars and other virtual meetings that we should not ignore.

The production of good didactic material – e.g. a presentation of the two forms of our Salesian vocation – is another direction that we need to take, perhaps something that the regional formation centres could think of.

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QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

1. How to govern interprovincial houses of formation?

2. How to ensure preparation of formators and teachers on the part of all the provinces?

3. Feel free to comment on other elements in the presentation.

APPENDIX 1:

Indications for the CURATORIUM STATUTES

for Africa and Madagascar

The Rector Major has insisted urgently on the qualitative and quantitative consistency of the formation teams of interprovincial formation communities, with the full commitment and participation of the provinces involved. This proposal of points to be included in the Statutes of the Curatorium of interprovincial formation communities is an attempt to implement this insistence.

The draft, prepared by a team including Alphonse Owoudou, Jose Elégbédé, Jean-Luc Vande Kerkhove, Augustine Sellam, Innocent Bizimana and Silvio Roggia, has been circulated to all the provincials and to the formation teams of the interprovincial communities of the region and the feedback received has been integrated.

KEY POINTS that the Statutes have to include

1. WHO ARE THE MEMBERS AND WHAT IS THEIR RESPECTIVE LEVEL OF REPRESENTATIVENESS AND DELIBERATIVE AUTHORITY

1. At a first level are invited the Provincials (or their official representatives) whose students are at that moment part of the formative community; all the key roles holders in the Formative communities, both in reference to community life (Rector, Economer, Pastoral animator…) and academic life (Dean of studies); formation delegate of the hosting province.

They participate in the first session of the curatorium, where the current situation of the community (and study centre) is presented and attentively considered. It is the ‘listening and reading the signs of the time’.

2. A second level, the Regional councillor – president of the curatorium or his delegate; the Provincial of the hosting community; and the Provincials who have chosen in the Provincial Directory that interprovincial house as preferential option.

§1. This level has the responsibility for governing and making decisions according to the statutes.

§2. The statutes will determine the quorum needed to make the decisions binding and whether it is possible for members to vote even when for grave reasons they cannot be physically present or represented by an official delegate. The statute will also establish the modality for the validity of this contribution.

2. DEFINITION IN THE PROVINCIAL DIRECTORY OF PREFERENTIAL INTERPROVINCIAL HOUSE OF FORMATION.

In its Provincial Directory every province must indicate one house for every phase as its preferential option, while retaining the possibility of sending their candidates also to other formation communities.

In the case of interprovincial houses indicated in the Directory, this implies a special responsibility of the Province in their management. In this case, the Provincial or Superior attends the Curatorium as a member of the decision-making level (see 1b above). In case he is impeded, he may officially appoint a delegate for that session. This applies even if he happens to have no students from his province in that community in some particular year.

Any change in the choice of the preferential interprovincial formation house is the competence of the provincial chapter.

In the case of interprovincial formation communities not indicated in the Provincial Directory, participation in the Curatorium is encouraged but not obligatory (see 1a above).

3. OFFICIALS

The president of the Curatorium is the Regional Councillor. In case of impediment, the hosting provincial presides.

For the first level (1a), the Curatorium appoints a secretary for a period of three years.

The Councillor for Formation always has the right to be present either personally or through a delegate.

4. MATTERS ENTRUSTED TO THE DECISIONS OF THE CURATORIUM

1. The nomination of the Rector of the Formation House, which has to take place not less than six months before the expiry of the mandate of his predecessor, according to the following procedure:

• Each Provincial with his council proposes two names, one from his province, and one from outside his province.

• A discernment is done within the curatorium session (1b) and a name is chosen by secret ballot.

• This name is forwarded to the Rector Major, accompanied by a presentation of each candidate and the indication of the voting.

• The Rector Major and the Council will make the final nomination and appointment of the Rector.

2. Each Province participating in the second level of the curatorium (level 1b) has the responsibility of finding the formation personnel, formators as well as teachers, according to the following criteria and procedure:

• A six year plan for the personnel is approved by the curatorium, after due consultation with the local council, the provincial councils, and the Formation Department.

• Basing himself on this plan, each provincial with his council commits himself in writing to prepare and contribute formators and teachers.

• A fundamental criterion to keep in mind is the quality of the formation team and not just the personal talents of individuals. C 104 and 105 are the main criteria to be followed in this discernment.

3. The endorsement of the formation plan of the community.

4. Approval of the budget and the annual financial report of the community.

5. Assumption of responsibility for the running costs of the community, which includes

   1. Definition of the basic fee for each student both for community and academic expenses, and the items to be included within it.

   2. Study of how to meet extraordinary expenses and projects, with the possibility of endorsing projects to be presented to donor agencies.

5. INVOLVEMENT OF THE STUDENT SALESIAN CONFRERES

Each curatorium devises appropriate ways of listening to the candidates / student confreres before its meeting, and of later communicating the outcomes.

Some suggestions:

1. The report of the community is prepared by the house assembly and the local council.

2. Members of the Curatorium, especially the provincials, come some days before the meeting so as to be able to meet and listen to their students.

3. One of the provincials will take the responsibility of communicating some of the decisions of the Curatorium to the community assembly.

APPENDIX 2:

Modification of Criteria and Norms 105

Though this is not directly concerned with our topic, the new interprovincial reality of initial formation, it would be good to take this occasion to make known an important modification of Criteria and Norms 105, which speaks of the procedure for admissions. In 2007, the Rector Major modified this text omitting reference to mention of the Rector’s agreement to the making of the application.⁴ The text should now read:

CN 105.While respecting its personal nature, the application addressed to the Provincial and given to the Rector, should contain the following elements:

• the name and surname of the applicant and the date on which it is made;

• reference to talking with the Rector;

• reference to the discernment undertaken and to seeking the opinion of the spiritual director and of the confessor;

• the purpose of the application, clearly expressed, that is: entrance to the novitiate, the first temporary profession or its renewal, perpetual profession, the ministries or the orders;

• a declaration of awareness of the public nature of the act that one intends to perform and of the freedom to perform it, together with the fundamental motive.

The letter of Fr Cereda communicating this decision reads:

Through this letter I wish to communicate to you the decision of the Rector Major and the General Council to modify number 105 of “Criteria and norms for Salesian vocation discernment”.

This number of “Criteria and norms” speaks of the elements that ought to be contained in any application for admission: to the novitiate, to first profession, to renewal of temporary profession, to perpetual profession, to the ministries and to sacred orders. Among these elements is mentioned “reference to talking with the Rector and to his agreement with its being made”.

A provincial formation commission found the expression, “to his agreement with its being made”, problematic and asked for it to be suppressed.

Decision. To avoid restrictive or juridically binding interpretations with regard to the freedom in making the application for admission, the Rector Major and the General Council acceded to the request to eliminate “to his agreement with its being made” from number 105 of “Criteria and norms”, and at the same time reiterated that in this number the expression, “reference to talking with the Rector”, ought to be retained.

Motivation. In the process of admission it is the one in formation who must first carry out a discernment to ascertain whether he judges himself suitable or not for the Salesian vocation. In this discernment he receives help from the Rector and the confessor, and if he happens to be a person other than the Rector, from the spiritual director. Since these persons have been accompanying him, they are in a very good position to offer him their opinion, be it positive or negative. It is then up to the individual to take their advice into consideration with all due seriousness, assume his own responsibility before God and decide in his conscience whether he should, or should not, make his application. Therefore, he does not need the agreement of the Rector to make his application.

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