The authority at the service of vocation animation in Asia

 

Brother Nestor, Vice-Provincial for the new vice-province of Indonesia, Timor Leste and the Philippines, visited in December the formation house of Nita (Indonesia). Before being elected as Vice-Provincial, he was a member of the formators team in the community of Bucolli (Timor Leste).

He listened to every story and life experiences of the Brothers and formees in the formation house. In the meeting with the Postulants and Novices the theme of conversation was: "Bro. Gabriel, our founder and father". In an internal meeting with the formators they shared their experiences. The short lectures with the aspirants excited their interest about our Founder.

Ingredientes de la animación vocacional Sa-Fa 22

Un religioso fructífero y un Hermano auténtico como animador vocacional

Todos queremos ser fructíferos en las actividades que desempeñamos. En el caso de un animador vocacional esto tiene un doble desafío porque el resultado va a promover más candidatos que se sumarán a sembrar el evangelio y a “llevar más obreros a la mies” del Señor.

Para un religioso o consagrado es una responsabilidad ser fructífero en su misión. La autenticidad de su vida se verá reflejada en las acciones congruentes con sus creencias y deseos.

Un religioso fructífero necesita manifestar la alegría de tener un contacto estrecho con Dios, de compartir la fraternidad como don, como lo hacían los primeros cristianos cuando se destacaba el “Miren cómo se aman”, anunciando la palabra de Dios, contribuyendo a la edificación de la Iglesia, y siendo fieles a las enseñanzas del Evangelio.

Un Hermano auténtico en su misión de animador vocacional debe dar testimonio del verdadero espíritu de familia, con naturalidad, simplicidad y humildad, siendo “sencillamente Hermanos”, siendo memoria viva del Fundador: "Hermano que hablas por tu vida, reza por lo que eres", nos recuerda el prólogo de las Constituciones.

El Hermano debe:

- vivir de manera coherente, dando testimonio del carisma en su propia vida entre lo que anuncia y lo que vive, con su mente, su corazón y sus acciones;

- ser fiel a la creencia que profesa, a las enseñanzas del Evangelio, al compromiso de sus votos;

- mostrar más de cerca el ejemplo que legara el Hermano Gabriel, su modo de vida, su proyecto, su pasión, su celo ardoroso;

- ejercer el rol de bautizado;

- defender la vida y la misión del Instituto, una vida de amor, oración y trabajo como la de la Sagrada Familia.

En este contexto desafiante de la actualidad, es fundamental que el Hermano esté conectado al mundo sin ser del mundo, sino atento a la voz del Espíritu para actuar según las necesidades que se descubran. Tiene que ser generoso con la entrega a los demás, perseverante en la oración, proponiendo con la propia vida cómo se puede ser plenamente feliz dedicándose al servicio de los más necesitados, comprometido en las realidades humanas y el cuidado y la defensa de la vida y de la creación. 

Dentro de las Comunidades Educativas Sa-Fa un Hermano debe generar espacios donde:

- la vida consagrada sea reconocida, valorada y preste servicio;

- el Espíritu de familia se respire y vivencie, ayudando a la difusión del carisma, acercando a los niños y jóvenes de las obras educativas;

- se capacite a los docentes para que sean agentes transmisores y testigos del carisma Sa-Fa;

- se dialogue con las familias para que consideren los valores de la Sagrada Familia y el legado del Hno. Gabriel como un modelo de vida a seguir.

Es importante que invite y convoque a otros a descubrir, conocer y vivir este Carisma, de manera fraterna, afectiva, con entusiasmo y hospitalidad a través de gestos sencillos de generosidad, paciencia y respeto, para que ellos puedan descubrir su propia vocación.

Otro aspecto a destacar de un Hermano fructífero y auténtico es la generosidad de compartir el carisma con los laicos, lo que llamamos la misión compartida. El trabajo conjunto, entre Hermanos y laicos se hace necesario para acompañar la vida de la gente. Tanto en las Fraternidades Nazarenas, la Pastoral Familiar y la Pastoral Educativa, el actuar auténtico y testimonial de un Hermano enseña a vivir de manera más cercana a Dios y al prójimo: siendo luz para los demás, como signo de la presencia de Dios viviendo en comunidad fraterna, compartiendo el carisma Taboriniano y el de la Sagrada Familia y siendo profeta que acoge, atiende y defiende la vida, dando sentido y valor a la vida de cada uno.

En la animación vocacional para laicos tienen que tener en cuenta métodos y formas distintos de convocatoria para vocaciones de laicos comprometidos. En estos casos los espacios de invitación, procedimientos de acompañamiento y métodos de formación son diferentes.

Un Hermano fructífero y auténtico nunca debe perder el objetivo principal del Instituto que es evangelizar desde el carisma nazareno-taboriniano, educar a los niños y jóvenes, promover una vida de oración y celebración y mostrar como opción de vida la consagración, que constituye una llamada a la fraternidad universal, tanto para la Iglesia como para el mundo.

Actualmente el Instituto de los Hermanos Sa-Fa está trabajando para la difusión de la vida consagrada, por medio de una actualización y revitalización del carisma Sa-Fa mediante un proceso en el que los laicos también están colaborando. Como parte de esta gran Familia Sa-Fa se debe tener presente lo que decía el Hno. Gabriel: “Lleváis el dulce nombre de Hermanos, no permitáis que os llamen de otra manera. Los nombres de las dignidades inspiran e imponen respeto; éste por el contrario, sólo sugiere sencillez, bondad y caridad” (H. Gabriel.  Guía Art. 112).

Sa-Fa Vocational Promotion in East Timor

 

In July we sent the Brothers and aspirants to the schools that allowed us to do vocation promotion. So this year we have got 125 candidates from different municipalities. The diocesan priests, our friends and some families collaborated with us in this task. This year we went to new places like: Same and Ainaro.

Contact by mobile phone is the way that we are using right now to keep contact with the families of the candidates. The responsible of vocational promotion had interviews with the candidates. They are also having health tests before coming to our community next year.

Our candidates are going to have in January their vocational experience in our community for five days. Afterwards they will become aspirants in our formation house.

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 How to apply the richness of our charism

to vocational animation?

 

Our charism stands out for many qualities that make it very rich while remaining simple and humble. Nazarene spirituality is characterized above all by the family spirit, the Nazarene virtues and the missionary spirit that our founder Brother Gabriel Taborin left us.

The family spirit is what most summons and attracts many people, that is: to feel integrated, to feel included, to be part of the same spirit of love. It is a very practical charism, very easy to understand and most people have experienced this feeling in their own families. If we can extrapolate this family feeling to a broader level and see the other person as a true brother, the charism illuminates, expands and is taken to other areas.

Taking the Holy Family and the motto “in love, work and charity, peace” as examples, the candidate can discover in a natural and simple way that the Brother vocation is not rare, and on the other hand, he is called to an extended family, at the service of others.

 HOW TO APPLY THE RICHNESS OF THE CHARISM?

The first step is to deepen personally and as a community in the legacy of the Founder, to be ever more faithful to his teachings and to live the Nazarene virtues in the communities when educating and evangelizing. The missionary spirit must always remain firm and available to the call of the Church, announcing the Gospel with joy.

Among the riches of our charism, the dedication to human formation, the christian education and prayer in an atmosphere of freedom and evangelical charity, are the aspects that attract and encourage to be lived in daily life and should be applied always and everywhere, being attentive to the signs of the times and updating knowledge. It is necessary to transmit it in the present, understanding the local needs and the present moment, teaching it in a way that captivates so that those who are called can look at themselves, their life stories, the present and the future.

Moreover, no one can encourage another person if he does not have strong and sufficient reasons that motivate and sustain his own vocation. The charism of each one must be lived as a grace of God to make his own life and that of others more fruitful. If the agents of proclamation are credible, the whole charism has more strength to attract new candidates to the consecrated religious life or lay people committed to the charism. That is why it is fundamental the testimony of each one, the coherence of life, the joy of living the Gospel, since it encourages spirituality with one's own experience.

In vocational animation we should apply the richness of the charism, welcoming others as they are, accompanying them in the processes they need, teaching them the Nazarene virtues that characterize them: humility, simplicity, union, obedience, surrender. Having open positions, building good relationships, maintaining active communication and a close accompaniment helps young people to listen and accept the proposals in their social groups and then they can consider a different lifestyle. The family spirit is manifested and lived with people in need, giving help, listening, encouraging according to each place, each activity and each person.

Living under the roof of Nazareth, where human and christian virtues help to discover new horizons and have a force of attraction that make us think and rethink different ways of life, open the doors for the candidates to consider the possibility of belonging to the Sa-Fa Family or to assume the vocation of Brother.

WHERE TO TRANSMIT IT?

The virtues of the charism should be known in daily life, at work, in the families, encouraging participation in the different proposals that arise from the different teams, making the invitation to be part of the Sa-Fa Family to everyone. Our way of life should be a living testimony of the love of Nazareth, both in the performance of our functions and as vocational animator, by working and reflecting the fraternal spirit in all the instances of participation that our works and communities have. 

Lay people think that the Sa-Fa charism and the Nazarene spirituality is so rich and attractive that it will not die, even without the presence of the Brothers. The laity, imbued with this charism, is also called to sustain it, reinvent it, spread it and work for its growth, especially because the Nazarene charism lives through the breath of the Spirit and it is the work of God and a gift for the Church.

Undoubtedly, the richness of the charism in vocational animation allows it to remain alive and attractive when it is shown. Besides it has to be remembered that each charism should be at the service of other charisms since we are part of the mystical body of Christ, which is the Church. We must be aware that it is a challenge to achieve a harmonious coexistence among all of them when we have to work cooperatively or as a team.

We experience the same thing among the laity and consecrated people when we have to work in a synodal way, by sharing the charism with other lay people, being a living memory of the Founder and contributing to the edification of the Church, attending to the good of mankind and facing the needs of the world.

Considering the Founder and Jesus, Mary and Joseph as our icons, our motto as a proposal of life, the family spirit as a way of life, and the fraternity and Nazarene spirituality as distinctive and novel ideals to be achieved; the Nazarene Taborinian charism can always be applied: it is a way of living the Gospel within the whole Church.

Vocation promotion in Meghalaya and Jharkhand

VOCATION PROMOTION IN MEGHALAYA AND JHARKHAND (INDIA)

The months of October and November have been months for vocation promotion in two tribal states of India: Meghalaya and Jharkhand.

In the month of October Brother Selvan, vocation coordinator, along with the Brothers of Jowai community have done vocation promotion in three dioceses of Meghalaya state: Jowai, Nongstoin and Tura. Since it was the time for the selection texts, they could not address much the students in the schools. Instead of that they concentrated in visiting the families of the aspirants who are in our formation house of Eluru and the candidates who were already in contact with us. Finally, 10 schools were visited and 121 boys want to know about us.

During the month of November Brother Selvan visited four dioceses in Jharkhand state. The interesting factor was that a new diocese had been visited: Dumka. It is located near to West Bengal state. The tribal santals were evangelized by the Society of Jesus. The Jesuits helped a lot in the vocation promotion. Totally 14 schools were visited. Together with the other 3 more dioceses 30 schools were visited in Jharkhand and 250 boys responded positively. Let us pray the seeds that have been planted bear abundant fruits in due time.