Cistercian Formation

As we approach the meeting time for the Regional Secretaries of Formation, I have distribute a draft version of the Formation Dossier commission by MGM 2005. This draft includes the excerpts related to formation from the documents of MGM 2002 & MGM 2005.  An introduction will be ready when we meet.

Here is a letter just sent to all the secretaries:

[French and Spanish translations will come soon.]

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

We sing in one Lenten Antiphon “The time of preparation is here…” and as we journey towards Easter with all the spiritual joy, let us also journey towards Tre Fontane and our meeting on formation.

Please accept this as the definitive invitation to participate in a meeting of the Regional Secretaries of Formation for our Order.

The dates are: June 10 (arrival) to June 19 (departure). There will be seven working days and one day to see parts of Rome. Travel plan may be sent to the Generalate. Plan to travel directly to and from your monastery, and this travel expense will be reimbursed through the kindness of a benefactor known to Dom Bernardo.

Formation has been a topic at the Regional Meetings last year. Please review the relevant minutes of the various Regions. In addition continue your study of the Guidelines on Formation (Ratio Institutionis of 1990). Other references could include:

• Vita consecrata (available in several languages at the Vatican website: http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccscrlife/index.htm)
• Fraternal life in Community (same website)
• Starting afresh from Christ: A Renewed Commitment to Consecrated Life in the Third Millenium (same website)
• Dossier on formation texts (coming)

In 2006 I sent the Regional Presidents and the Regional Secretaries some questions to consider in advance of our meeting. Regions have used these questions in various ways. Please, would each Secretary be prepared to present a synthesis of answers to these questions for his or her Region at our meeting. I attach the questions again.

I will now be in communication on a regular basis.

Let us join each other in our prayers for the brothers and sisters in initial formation asking the Holy Spirit to guide us as we work on their behalf and that of all our communities.

United in Christ,
Sr. Pamela

The Regional Secretaries of Formation, one secretary per Region, will meet with Dom Bernardo and the Central Secretary of Formation to review the Ratio in 2008 prior to the General Chapter. The dates are now definite: June 10 (arrival) to June 19 (departure). There will be seven working days and one day to see parts of Rome. Please mark calendars. Later this week more particulars will be sent to the Secretaries and the Regional Presidents.