4842(IV)_Formation is a matter of heart!

Synergy of two Regions - South Asia and EAO region

September 6, 2018

By Our Own Correspondent

Hua Hin, Thailand, 5 September 2018 -- Last day of the EAO and South Asia inter-regional seminar – workshop on Postnovitiate formation in Hua Hin, Thailand (September 1-4) was a time for putting together the pieces of wisdom and rich sharing exchanged in the assembly and intense group sharing of the philosophy study center deans and postnovitiate formators.

Under the agile animation of joint ‘central’ team guided by Fr. Ivo Coelho, General Councilor for formation and his assistant Fr. Silvio Roggia together with two regional coordinators, Br. Raymond Callo (EAO) and Fr. Jose Kuttianimathatil (South Asia) all formators appreciated this opportunity as self-formation experience and growth.

During the last 14th working session the participants share their deeper impressions and fruits:

• I keep in my heart the incredible Thai hospitality, we really felt at thome!
• Accompaniment and presence sums up our deep experience through the Thai confreres
• Salesian hospitality need to be learnt and I would like to practice at home
• Thanks to the organizers we cherish the self-formation process with contributions of all
• Appreciate especially the fraternal experience among the formators of two regions
• We young formators - millennials (!) are very grateful and appreciate the models..
• It was a great moment of personal renewal
• Tremendous hospitality and care strengthen me in my formation ministry
• Thanks and congratulations – every detail organized and stimulated
• Encouraged by strong solidarity and fellowship felt amongst us
• Kim 2.0 (sharing of Fr. Armand Robleza) teaches me to see from the millennials side
• Felt a deeper need to change myself as formator when come back to my postnovitiate
• I was enriched my Salesian life through sharing and smiles
• It challenged me to become a better formator, more sacrificing and available to young confreres, I will try to be just Kim 1.0
• We either invest in the formation of young confreres or there is a no future
• Formation is a matter of heart and God holds our hearts. God as first formator, I try to keep myself close to His heart!

It's also remarkable that the whole seminar was almost entirely 'paper-less' - 'green' with an effective use of the Google drive for sharing of all contributions: formation plans, study plan and curriculum, sharing in groups, inputs by all resource Salesians: Fr. Armand Robleza, Fr. Julien Jackers, Fr. Ivo, Fr. Silvio, Br. Mon and all others.

It was already the third South Asia and EAO inter-regional formation event during past one year, after the Initial proclamation of Jesus (Sampran, August 2017 with SDB and FMA from both regions) and Formation of prenovice masters (Cebu, November 2017). We wish that the fruitful exchange in many other sectors (as suggested for the Missions - formation course in Shillong, India of for the closer collaborations in Economy sector, as suggested by the Economer General in Seoul, March 2018) will continue year by year.