VIE-personal plan of life 2005
one of the priorities in the provincial plan for ALL confreres, as the tool of spiritual growth, daily conversion and motivation to own the ongoing formation
prepared by the annual retreat 2005, strongly encouraged and motivated by the provincial during this school year
shared with the rector and the provincial during the visitation, in the formation houses also sharing does happened with the smaller groups of spiritual ‘friends’
confreres feel happy with own written expression of the goals and simple resolutions, often finishing it with a personal prayer form as the concrete way how to put in practice daily
used: by many for the daily exam of conscience, weekly for the check in the formation houses, monthly by all during the recollection time, annually or each semester reviewed as whole to adapt it more to the reality of new community or new mission, for the friendly talk with the rector
many confreres end the plan with a personal prayer form (daily use, monthly use)
Some examples of personal plan of life (2005)
Prenovice; 2. Novice, 3. Postnovice, 4. Practical trainee, 5. Student of theology - missionary, 6.Salesian Brother; 7. Newly ordained priest, 8.Salesian Priest; 9. Formator, 10. Rectors
Prenovice
Motto: Work and service as the language of obedience (Lk 1,28)
Life motivation
daily Eucharist and Rosary as the center of my spiritual life
besides the daily community prayers one more Rosary for the missionaries
Personal challenge
pay more attention to my hot temper, disorder in my personal belongings
Human growth
listen and think well about others
accept the other prenovices as they are
make effort to learn and read English texts
Novice
Motto: I have loved you just as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love (John 15,9)
Human growth – care about my character in the playground, never criticize, be humble
Spiritual growth - daily four visits to the Blessed Sacrament, relationship to Mary Help of Christians, faithful to personal Rosary, prayer and sacrifice for the missionaries
Community life – opened& listenful, never complain, ready to serve the others, respect
Salesian spirit – Don Bosco readings, nurture my missionary dream, friendly with all, serve with joy, short prayers often,
Consecration – obedience to the superiors, poverty – permission, chastity – be open about it to my superiors
Postnovice (3rd year – missionary ad gentes candidate)
Motto: You didn’t choose me, by I myself have chosen you! (John 15,16)
Human formation
I’m shy when I present my idea in front of the crowd (youth, brothers). Therefore, I try my best to practice reading in the classroom, volunteer for some public roles
Punctuality, how to use suitable time for work, study, prayers
Awaken in prayer, mediation, classroom
Kindness in communications, relationship
Spiritual formation
Fulfill my duty in adoration: morning, evening; rosary, spiritual reading
Daily exam of conscience, before going to bed
Think over and pray for missionary vocation (three Hail Mary a day)
Intellectual formation
Practice the habit of reading books and self-study
Effort how to present a logical ideas, how to verbalize and express to others
Listen carefully to the teacher in the class
Fulfill my homework
Pastoral-educative formation
Activity and creativity in apostolic works
Friendly with the youth
Ready to go anywhere, reminding myself that I’m sent to… (sense of mission)
Practical trainee (1st year)
Motto: For you I study, for you I work, for you I live, for you I’m ready even to give my life (Don Bosco)
Human growth
Be joyful within the community life, easy to listen and build up the community
Punctual in playing with the youth (daily Oratory in the evening)
Be present with children and youth, every time, everywhere – to be first in the playground, even if nobody there
Spiritual growth
Practice to find out the Word of God through daily events
Answer with enthusiasm during the Eucharistic celebration
Be faithful in prayer of the breviary (Liturgy of hours) even by myself
Pray for the young through daily rosary
Intellectual growth
read more books about Don Bosco or Salesianity (preventive system)
be humble to learn from others’ experience (Mt 11,28)
Apostolic - educative growth
Be aware that I’m any time and educator to the faith (C 34)
Practice to plan in any entrusted apostolic activity (youth groups, hostel, oratory)
Be patient during my teaching to the youth and children
Student of theology – missionary (2nd year)
Motto: “To be a loving and disciplined Salesian”
Growth in relationship (human formation)
God: give full responsibility daily to the prayers with intention, disposition
Myself: follow the personal schedule as much as possible
Brothers: participate in common activities as much as possible
Youth: active presence among the young, expose to them by learning
Friends, family: keep on contacting with my family often
Growth in relationship (Spiritual formation)
God: visit to the Blessed sacrament after very meal and before going to bed
Myself: meet the spiritual director often regularly
Brothers: pray for all community members, try to be one with them
Youth: pray for all apostolate activities before weekend
Family & friends: pray for them, benefactors included
Growth in relationship (Intellectual growth)
God: give praise to God, asking God for wisdom in studies, experience God
Myself: integrate what I have learned in theology, be open to learn new things
Brothers: express what I have learned in daily life with community
Youth: contribute whatever I can in dealing with the entrusted youth
Family, friends: be a good example among them
Growth in relationship (Educative – pastoral growth)
God: read the Gospel daily, faithful in prayers, Monthly confession, ask the grace of self-sacrifice, compassion, love and generosity
Myself: practice speaking about God in front of the young, practice to serve during Mass with confidence & meaningfully, develop self-sacrifice, generosity
Brothers: learn from others pastoral activities, ready to help in serving the liturgy, always available for the needs of other confreres
Youth: be with the youth during the common prayers, generous in youth service
Family: including the intentions for family while serving others
Salesian Priest (newly ordained)
Word of God as life-motto: “God’s love last for ever!” (Ps. 135)
Positive points in my life
being fond of action, discovery and creativeness
Being delicate in using what I posses
Frequently putting my thoughts, me behaviours in front of God’s Word
Negative points
Easy to self-satisfy and impatient
Afraid of making someone sad and lacking of resolutions
Being not so good in foreign language, in contact with others
Difficult to get a deeper interior life in contemplation & action
Objective in my salesian growth
human virtues
ready to open my heart to welcome and serve everybody who needs my help
keep orderly, tidy and persevering in my daily work
don't’ speak bad or criticize others. If necessary, give advice with great delicacy
spiritual life
fulfilling the Liturgy of Hours in full, with devotion, paying attention to spiritual reading; preparing homilies carefully especially for Sunday
intellectual growth
Continue to cultivate the ability of approaching the informatics: PC, mag, news
Effort in English – listening and speaking
salesian apostolic life
promoting life and awareness in attending the liturgy by myself, with the lay
attending programs, meetings, community day and provincial occasions
making relationship and sharing the values of pastoral life with diocesan priests
Daily:
accomplish spiritual and pastoral duties
pay attention to my health by temperance and exercise
looking back upon the past day before going to bed
Weekly
making an arrangement orderly and clear in my office and bedroom
family visit of the parishioners
learning English unit
review the fulfillment of my plan
Monthly
confession, recollection, ready to die on holiness
making the personal and parish accounts of income and expense
letting one day to resolve things have not been done in this month
scrutiny about monthly and annual retreat resolutions
Annual:
2005: pastoral visitations; form a structure of catechesis; group of lectors, altar boys, studying English (Course 4)
2006: strengthen the parish structures: pastoral commission and groups, start Parish Youth Association
Salesian Priest (20 years of religious life)
Motto: my model is Christ and Don Bosco – life of service in love
Jesus Christ did sacrifice himself for the love of others
Don Bosco did sacrifice himself for the salvation of poor youth
Motivations of my life
Whatever I have, it is a God’s grace. So, I’m called to give back my life according the example of Christ who was
obedient – humble and ready to abandoned everything
poor – self-giving himself in service and joyful sacrifice
chaste – in order to love the brothers and seek the souls of the youth
Continuous formation
Spiritual life: monthly confession, ready any time when there is a need of sacramental service; Bible reading daily; above all to pray together with the community
Life to be given: orderly in my own room, careful in speaking, attitudes in human relationship, modest and not-wasting life
Intellectual growth: practice of the foreign language, readings of my major (social pedagogy), prepare well my class for the students
Practice the personal plan of life
personal evaluation monthly during the community day
meet monthly with my rector for the personal talk
nurture friendly relationship with all my confreres
don’t accept any personal apostolate without previous talk with the rector
Salesian Priest (30 years of religious life)
Motto of life: Be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect (Mt 5,48)
Motivation: God wants me to be with Him for ever in heaven.
Means – daily: Word of God: read – understand – contemplate and live
Constitutions
Poverty - restrain the money spending, keep carefully clean my garment, personal
belongings in order, not wasting nothing
Obedience – Frankly exchanging ideas, patient in duties
Chastity – Mortification, sacrifice, keeping sense, praying when temptations comes
Fraternity – Peaceful, mild, gentle, joyful in working together
Sacrament of reconciliation – frequent confession, fervent faith, annual general confes.
Eucharist – read, meditate Word of God for coming day, concentration during the Mass, receive the Body of Christ whole heartedly, adore with zeal Jesus dwelling in my heart after receiving Holy Communion
Human aspect – joy, gentleness with all, ready to help – especially superiors & youth
Community prayer – faithful to the timetable, especially to the common prayers
Salesian spirit – understand Don Bosco and his spirit more deeply; read and understand the letters of Rector Major, documents of the General Council
Salesian Brother (40 years of religious life)
Motto: Be perfect like your heavenly Father (Mt 7,44)
Basic conviction: God wants me to be with Him for ever in heaven!
Means: The Word of God – to read, to understand, to contemplate and live it daily!
To growth day by day according the Salesian Constitutions
Poverty: no waste money, keeping carefully the garment clean, personal belongings in order, not wasting nothing
Obedience: Frankly changing ideas, patient in duty
Chastity: Keeping my sense alert, mortification, sacrifice, praying in temptations
Fraternity: Peaceful, affable, gentle, joyful in working together
Confession: frequent confession with fervent faith; general confession – retreat
Eucharist: read the Word of God previous evening, concentration during the Mass, preparing with heart for the Holy Communion, Adoration with zeal of Eucharistic Jesus after the Eucharistic celebrations, in my heart – soul
Human growth: joy, gentleness with everybody, ready to help – especially my superiors and the youth
Prayer: be faithful to the community timetable
Salesian spirit: more and more understand Don Bosco, his spirituality – read and understand the letter of Rector Major, documents from the General council
Salesian Rector (30 years of religious life)
Motto of life: Joyfully fulfill my duty
Growth in Salesian life and spirit
My conviction: Salesian mission is to accomplish my vocation
Looking at Don Bosco and imitating his actions and thoughts
Putting into practice the preventive system
Praying for the Salesian Congregation, especially for our Provincial community
Growth in human maturity
Patience, courage, confidence
Optimism and kindness to all parishioners
Humbly listening to others
Growth in spiritual life
Celebrating daily Eucharist with zeal
Preparing well the homilies
Be faithful to community prayers and monthly confession
Growth in intellectual life
reading the Salesian documents, acts, news, letters
reading the diocesan documents
update reading of books, magazines for my priestly ministry
Growing as educator and pastor
Helping poor families, especially their children to go to school
Opening widely the daily Oratory to the town youth
Be ready to celebrate the sacraments to the parishioners
Promoting and looking for vocations
Animating the EPC according the SEPP in the parish
Salesian Rector (25 years of religious life)
To attain the holiness by fulfilling the duty as a Salesian Rector. For me, rector is a confrere among the others, to serve and animate the community:
in consecrated life
in mission and pastoral life
in fraternal and community life
In order to realize those aims
I must be exemplary in practice of evangelical counsels, daily prayer
I will plan monthly meetings of the community and friendly talk with confreres
I will listen to the confreres’ suggestions, visit their families
Formator
Motto of life: Da mihi animas (Don Bosco)
Relationship to God (Ps 62, 1 – You are my God, I pine for you)
relate to God through the formation work with the young Salesians
meditation with the community
Eucharist with devotion, zealous heart
Visit to the Blessed sacrament
Short prayers to Mary, St. Joseph, Holy Rosary with open heart
Pray often to Don Bosco, to be my guide in formation work
Monthly confession
Daily writing of spiritual diary
Relationship to my brothers (2 Cor 5,14 – We consider in one man died for all…)
Formandi:
Formators: mutual respect, often sharing of life and formation experience
All confreres: Listenful life, delicacy in speaking – not only diplomacy, open to the youth in any situation
Relationship in my personal life (Phil 4,8: Let your minds be filled with everything that is true, that is honorable, upright and pure)
optimistic, smile, not speaking about myself – but open to other’s need
live with reflective mind, control my senses
work with a project mentality, with a process
health care: be careful about eating and drinking, moving enough
Special final of many personal projects of life in Viet Nam – example of PRAYERS:
God’s love lasts forever. O God, I would like to praise you all my life. Your love has led me without cease and has been the strength that lifting me from a monotonous mood, has called me to go ahead to the mountain of happiness. I would like to give you this plan of life as a response to your Love. May God bless and help me working out the plan. I offer it to God through the intercession of Mary, Help of Christians, St. John Bosco and the Salesian Family Saints. Amen
God, teach me to learn diligently, train my personality and enrich my heart with good character, so that I may do good to myself, my family and my country.
I pray for my missionary vocation. I believe that I need to cultivate my character that benefit for this call. Lord, help me to
be faithful to my personal prayers
growth in love for any kind of missionary works
be ready and willing for ‘cultural shock’
be open, humble, patient, generous and kind to all
acknowledge that salesian identity is a ‘key for me to solve every problem’
be a loving and disciplined Salesian
