5217_First EAO Workshop on Religious discipline

October 2, 2019

By VIE SC

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, 1 October 2019 -- At the request of the 2019 EAO Salesian Provincials meeting in Seoul (4-8 March 2019), the 12 SDB Vice-provincials, 7 provincial secretaries, 2 canon lawyers, 4 Vietnam-Mongolia province formation house rectors with the council of Mongolia delegation are gathered at the provincial house from 1-3 October. Two main resource persons - FABC Commission on Clergy, Fr. Philip Lazatin (FIN, currently the novicemaster in Cebu, FIS) and the SDB Procurator General, Fr. Pier Fausto Frisoli - are taking care of the main input sessions and workshop dynamics. Both groups had a parallel program during the first day, but they have joined each other for lunch and recreation time.

The EAO workshop was prepared for by an 8 question survey about the present situation and challenges facing religious discipline in the 12 provinces. Lack of human and institutional resources to accompany confreres in difficulties, lack of Child protection guidelines and lack of experience experience in the canonical procedures of preliminary investigation or cultural challenge (human respect and difficulty of fraternal correction) were shared in the groups.

Religious discipline means basically a fidelity and consistency in our journey of discipleship as consecrated Salesians. Both speakers involved the participants with inter-active dynamics and offered many valuable resources. The Vice-provincials benefited from the FABC seminar given by the Pontifical Commission on the Protection of Minors (https://www.pbc2019.org) in Hua Hin (May 2017). The participants gained deeper insight into family background and various kinds of psychological dynamics of addictions, and shared their provincial experience.

Meanwhile the Vietnam province rectors with Fr. Pier Fausto in a lively dialogue highlighted the dynamics that sustain our religious fidelity, especially through a healthy local and provincial community culture: the obligations of the religious (Canon Law), how rectors can foster religious discipline (personal talk, personal project of life, community day, fraternal correction and prevention of abuse of minors and vulnerable adults. The sincere and fraternal environment of these days helps all participants not only to return home with rich materials but also learn from the dynamics of other provinces.

The beautiful environment of the new provincial house, superb IT equipment and presence of the Majcen TVET (Hotel and Restaurant training center, Director Br. Dominic Nam) during the whole event contributes to this group learning experience.