austraLasia #1824

'My Family, My Home' FMA Family CAmp in Philippines

MANILA: 21st April 2007 -- In response to an earlier call by the Rector Major, Fr Pascual Chávez, in his 2006 Strenna - and knowing that this and the current one (and, presumably, the one for 2008 as well) are all linked, the Salesian Sisters from the Philippines province (they have one FIL province which also includes presences in PNG), have just held their 2007 Educating Community Family Camp, from 12-15 April.
    The four day gathering was a celebration and concrete expression of commitment to the call to give 'special attention to the family, cradle of life and love'.  The camp was organised by the Provincial Educating Community Core Group in collaboration with the provincial team and the twelve participating FMA communities from all over the Philippines.  In fact the gathering was a milestone for the province since it was the first family camp of its kind.  It involved more than 170 delegates, 24 families from various communities and ranged in age from a five month old infant to an 86 year old FMA!
    Delegates at the camp were given a comprehensive formation on the centrality and integrity of the family as a core event in society, a school of formation for young people, and a system and vehicle for proclaiming Christ's message of love and servant-leadership in the Church.  The 2006 Strenna and the Charter of Rights of the Family were taken as documents upon which key issues and discussion were based. Sr. Alicia S. Fulgencia FMA, provincial superior, formally opened the event and her heartfelt insights and sharing of personal experience in her own family touched the hearts of delegates.  It has been the faith of her ailing mother which has very much nurtured her own faith and continually inspired and strengthened her fidelity to her vows, she said.
    Working in identifiable groups based on age range to begin with, delegates looked at the Strenna's various levels and perspectives.  This was then followed by a session facilitated for all by four experts in family counselling from CEFAM (Centre for Family Ministries) from the Ateneo de Manila (University). Through fun and games, they explained the family system and expounded on parenting skills.  The CEFAM team also guided delegates in meditation, family prayer experiences and processing feelings, insights and sample applications of learning.  Among these activities, the Structured Learning Experiences (SLE) and family prayers were identified as most significant and meaningful for the families.  Naturally there was an evening concert in Salesian family style.
    The highlight of the family camp was the assembly of delegates by community.  The Sister animator for each community facilitated the drafting of the vision-mission for the EC Family Ministry. This final activity proved to be the most crucial because it will eventually determine the direction of the EC as far as transmitting the camp experience and learning to other families is concerned. The vision-mission statements synthesised and explicitly established the desire of the Educating Community in the Philippines to serve actively through the family ministry and to lead the cause of defending life and integrity of the family.
    The next phase: local family camps and realisation of the family vision-mission statements.
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