Personal plan of life: East Asia – Oceania region

1. Don Bosco

Souvenir of the spiritual retreat, prior to the celebration of my first Mass. The priest does not go to heaven or to hell alone. If he does God’s work he will go to heaven with the souls he has saved by his good example. If he has been a cause of scandal, he will go to perdition along with the souls that were damned through his scandal. Therefore I pledge myself to keep the following resolutions:

1. Never go for a stroll unless for grave reasons like visiting the sick etc.

2. To be very rigorous in the use of my time

3. To suffer, work, humble myself in all things whenever it is a question of saving souls

4. The charity and gentleness of Saint Francis de Sales are to be my guide

5. I will always be satisfied with whatever food is presented to me, if not harmful to my health.

6. I shall drink my wine always mixed with water, and then only to the extent that it will benefit my health

7. Work is a powerful weapon against the enemies of the soul. Hence I shall no take more than five of six hours of sleep. I shall take no rest during the day, particularly after lunch. On in case of illness shall I make an exception to this rule.

8. I shall set aside some time every day for meditation and spiritual reading. During the day I shall pay a brief visit to the Blessed Sacrament, or at least raise my heart in prayer. I shall spend at lest a quarter of an hour in preparation for Mass and another quarter of an hour in thanksgiving.

9. I shall never indulge in conversations with women, except to hear their confession or when it is necessary for their spiritual welfare.

(BM I,385: Memoirs of the Oratory, English version; 1989 - p.171-172)

2. Dominic Savio

“Promises made by me, Dominic Savio, when I made my First Communion at the age of seven years:

1. I will go often to Confession and I will go to Holy Communion as often as I am allowed.

2. I will try to give the Sundays and Feast-days completely to God.

3. My best friends will be Jesus and Mary

4. Death, but not sin”.

These promises were the guiding light of his life until he died.

(Life of Dominic Savio, by Fr. John Bosco; 1857 – Chapter 3)

3. HOW TO USE THE PERSONAL PROJECT OF LIFE?

• A tool of personal spiritual direction, to guarantee the continuity of growth

• A tool of ongoing conversion: daily examination of conscience - confession – recollection – spiritual retreat) – to use it as an evaluation/assessment tool

• Put it in my breviary, in my Bible ; friendly talk to the Rector (esp. Formandi)

• Community building – sharing of my personal plan with my fellow confreres

4. Australia (AUL) – example of personal project of life

1. Human Formation

Personal:

(*) Develop a healthy self-image, acknowledge personal gifts and accomplishments

(*) Develop communication and relational skills

Community

(*) Create an environment that encourages openness to receive others, to hear and listen to one another

(*) Encourage a greater appreciation for personal and cultural diversity with gentleness, patience and firmness.

(*) Acknowledge and affirm the gifts and good qualities of others

2. Spiritual Formation

Personal

(*) Make sure there are quiet moments for personal reflection and reading each day

(*) See Spiritual Director and Counsellor regularly

(*) Rediscover our Salesian Spirituality

Community

(*) Be at community prayer even if at times others are unable to be there

(*) Prepare well for opportunities to share reflections at the Community Eucharist and Days of Recollection

3. Intellectual Formation

Personal

(*) Make time to keep up to date in areas of interest (Scripture, Theology, Liturgy…)

(*) Prepare well and update classes and communications for staff especially the RE teachers

Community

(*) Make others aware of workshops, seminars, literature for personal /professional updating

(*) Initiate conversations that encourage mutual sharing of social, political, theological issues

4. Pastoral-Educative Formation

Personal

(*) Visit others (especially the sick and elderly)

(*) Make time to be with young people and the staff

Community

(*) Faithfully keep the days for Community Eucharist and Days of Recollection as opportunities to help keep our ministries in perspective

(*) Take special interest and care in confreres in formation and in the missions

PLANS and GOALS

(*) Begin and end each day in prayer and meditation

(*) Review and fulfil the plan and commitments of the day

(*) Seek and acknowledge something positive in others and in myself

(*) Clean my desk before retiring

(*) Make time for exercise and relaxation