On October 28-29, 2013 the Meeting of the Formation Teams of the Philippine Quasi Province was held at Fr. Di Francia Center of Studies. This meeting was organized by the Committee on religious life and formation in line with the desire of the General Assembly of 2012 and the changing environment as well as the conditions of the present time. The meeting had an overall theme “Religious and priestly Formation: Current Issues and Perspectives”. This had been participated by the rectors, prefect of disciples, prefect of studies, vocation promoters, spiritual directors, and the 4th year theology students of the Fr. Di Francia Center of Studies.
Fr. Herman Abcede, provincial Superior, stressed the following objectives of the meeting as specified by the committee namely: (1) to provide the Rogationist Formators some updates on current formation issues and offer to them some perspectives on how to respond to these issues effectively; (2) to understand and to consider the impact of the K to 12 Curriculum in the Seminaries in view of making the necessary adjustments for a better Rogationist formation program; and (3) to review and update the Directory of Formation.
Fr. Rodolfo Patiag Jr., served as the host of the meeting and elaborated the rationale behind this meeting and the schedule of activities.
On the first day Fr. Jose Quilongquilong SJ (President of the Loyola School of Theology) shared something on the present perspectives of formation. Fr. Ariel Tecson, director of the Postulancy and chairman of the committee on Permanent Formation, presented the possible program of permanent formation tagged as GAMOT for the various level of priestly life. Ms. Eva Galvey of the Emmaus Centre shared something on the Spiritual Direction and the basic requirements for the ministry of spiritual direction. After every conference some sort of open forum was organized to clarify some concepts and to share some related experiences.
On the second day Fr. Francis Escano and Fr. Viktor Aurellana (both dean of studies in our Seminaries) presented their study on the impact of the K to 12 curriculum, designed by the government, in our seminaries. Fr. Cesare Bettoni (Novice Master) on the other hand shared on the Directory of Formation and its concerns and perspectives. In the afternoon there was a sharing of experiences and concerns on the part of the formators. The meeting concluded with the message of the provincial superior and the Marian songs and prayer.
