Ingredientes de la animación vocacional Sa-Fa 10

Las redes de colaboradores en la Pastoral Vocacional

Como vimos en el ingrediente anterior el trabajo en equipo es muy importante para la animación vocacional. Para ello es necesario contar con colaboradores que aporten ideas y realicen tareas para el proyecto que se lleva a cabo. Sabemos que todo proyecto en “comunión” tiene más fuerza y posibilidades de éxito. Es por eso que los colaboradores son necesarios e importantes para la pastoral vocacional.

La pastoral vocacional no puede ser tarea de solo algunos líderes, sino de la comunidad: "Toda pastoral es vocacional, toda formación es vocacional y toda espiritualidad es vocacional" (Exhortación Apostólica Christus Vivit, 254).

Las actividades de pastoral vocacional, los grandes encuentros, los momentos de sentir y hacer Iglesia son oportunidades que siempre generan y crean nuevas vías de colaboración. De esta manera se despierta el sentido colaborativo e integrador para que las personas se sientan parte de un todo, para descubrir y, sobre todo, para experimentar la diversidad de la Iglesia y comprobar esa frase del santo Cura de Ars: “Los amigos de Dios siempre se conocen”.

El trabajo en colaboración con otras personas permite compartir ideas, motivaciones y preocupaciones buscando un camino común. Es por eso que las redes de colaboradores que se pueden crear, deben venir de las personas que rodean nuestras actividades, como por ejemplo en los colegios, entre los alumnos, ex alumnos, profesores, padres de alumnos, miembros de fraternidades nazarenas, en las misiones, entre los familiares de candidatos, en los equipos de pastoral juvenil, en otras instituciones educativas, catequistas, obispos, sacerdotes, consagrados, con otras casas de formación, con otros equipos vocacionales.

También se puede tener en cuenta personas que comparten otras actividades ya sea en la zona de trabajo, en las parroquias, amigos, familiares, etc.

Contar con colaboradores entonces es fundamental para: programar y elaborar planes de acción vocacional, articulando todos los elementos de forma clara, sintética, atractiva y significativa, con equipos de trabajos conectados dentro y fuera de las instituciones, para que los candidatos tengan variadas y diversas experiencias que ayuden a transformar sus vidas y sus anhelos.     

MÉTODOS Y MEDIOS

Las actividades con los colaboradores requieren de reuniones para organizarlas, pero a su vez se pueden realizar subgrupos de trabajo según áreas o temas a tratar. Las reuniones generalmente se llevan a cabo de manera presencial, sin embargo, en la actualidad también se hace uso de los medios de comunicación o redes sociales.

Hoy en día se cuenta con muchos medios y redes que facilitan los trabajos con los equipos de colaboradores para crear una red entre todos. Las plataformas virtuales tales como WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Zoom son de gran ayuda, por no decir fundamentales, para las actividades entre los grupos de colaboradores. Además, existen cursos donde se puede aprender sobre la comunicación en las redes y nociones de liderazgo.

Como vemos las actividades con las redes de colaboradores son necesarias y en todos los casos, ya sea en los grupos de trabajo de manera presencial o a través de las redes sociales, el trabajo con los colaboradores requiere de estrecha comunicación y buena relación entre todos.

EN LA CONGREGACIÓN

En la actualidad nuestra Congregación cuenta con el proyecto llamado Con-vocación Sa-Fa. Este proyecto consiste en conformar una red que trabaje con creatividad y en línea con la animación vocacional, para hacer conocer y proponer como opción de vida la de Hermano Sa-Fa entre los niños, jóvenes y familias; así como también ofrecer el espacio que brindan las Fraternidades Nazarenas dentro de la Familia SaFa, donde miembros laicos se adhieren al carisma nazareno para vivirlo y difundirlo donde la vida los llame.

En algunos países están en construcción nuevos espacios de animación. Por ejemplo, en Argentina se creó el llamado Equipo de Animación Vocacional, en el cual varias personas entre laicos y Hermanos colaboran no solo para acompañar en lo vocacional para ser Hermano sino en las diferentes figuras carismáticas que contempla el Instituto de la Sa-Fa.

En Brasil los grupos o redes de colaboradores se insertaron en las acciones pastorales o proyectos pastorales como, por ejemplo: Sa-Fa Child, Sa-Fa Persevere, Sa-Fa Youth, encuentro nacional de jóvenes, misión juvenil… en colaboración directa en las escuelas con acciones comunes. También se están creando redes de colaboradores vocacionales en las obras y éstas se unen a una red de colaboradores vocacionales a nivel de Brasil y de la Provincia de la Esperanza.

Nuevamente vemos que para llevar a cabo los proyectos vocacionales las líneas de colaboradores son necesarias.

Podemos concluir entonces que, entre todos y fundamentalmente en colaboración mutua, tenemos que trabajar y mantener siempre abiertas las áreas de exploración, seguir en la búsqueda, confiar en el espíritu que sopla, y apoyarnos en “común unión”, con fe y esperanza. En la variedad de las ideas está la riqueza de las propuestas y actividades que se realizan, para continuar difundiendo el carisma legado por el Hno. Gabriel y llevando la alegría del Evangelio a todas partes.

Ingredients of Sa-Fa vocation animation 9

Teamwork with other Brothers in the vocation field

Teamwork is a wealth in any activity because each member can contribute with new, different and unique ideas. Therefore in vocational animation we are practically obliged to work as a team, listening to each other, supporting each other and sharing experiences.

Working as a team requires putting at the service of everybody, personal gifts and at the same time being enriched by the contributions of the companions on the way, it is like a synodal work space. It is very important to keep in mind that it requires humility, attentive listening, capacity for dialogue, reflection, respect, openness of mind and heart and also to consider that vocational animation is a cordial and fraternal service between brothers and lay people.

It is also fundamental the synergy created in the teams, one of the things that can impede this synergy is the ego. Sometimes in the pastoral and vocational work feelings of belonging or exclusivity are created that do not promote growth and fruits.

To make possible the vocational promotion results, it is necessary to work in teams of people who support and nourish each other. It is extremely beneficial too to share with the Brothers the spirituality and mission, and to learn how to carry out the tasks of animators.

It is very positive to be a heterogeneous group, made up of different generations, coming from different areas of the Sa-Fa Family, different geographical and cultural realities. It is also important to be in tune with the work group, promoting an effective dialogue between different areas of knowledge.

The topics and proposals should be discussed and planned in the meetings, where the initiatives or activities are proposed, analyzed and approved. Many times creativity is more important than resources. What should never be lacking is the testimony of love, fraternity and respect among all.

The people in charge and those who are going to collaborate or participate are designated with possibilities of growth, periodic evaluations to make sure that everybody is in the same dynamic. The vocation animator is the person who unites everyone to work as a team and to ensure that the mutual communication between each other and the composition of the projects is effective and fruitful.

WHERE…? WHO…? HOW…?

Team work is a methodology that has always been carried out in all the areas of the Sa-Fa Family; such as in schools, directors, pastoral agents, teaching groups, as well as in the case of the Nazarene Fraternities, formation and study teams of the SaFa charism, in groups of solidarity activities, organization of missions, etc…

All of them:

- share activities and programs as a team,

- make plans, prepare work and activity guides,

- always based on the charism, with theological foundation,

- taking into account the reality of each place, with social commitment,

- learning different strategies to carry out the mission,

- sharing in these teams’ ideas, criteria, thoughts,

- respecting the differences to reach agreements and commitments.  

Teamwork in the field of vocational animation always needs the help of other people. The other person is an essential element for the activity and the work is carried out in a cooperative, supportive and positive way.

Brothers and lay people, listening to each other, supporting each other and sharing experiences, with dedication and enthusiasm can work together, united, in communion, to obtain better results and to obtain greater fruits.

Perpetual Vows in Indonesia

 

FINAL VOWS OF TWO BROTHERS IN INDONESIA 

On Saturday, August 13, 2022, the Community of the Brothers of the Holy Family of Nazareth in Indonesia celebrated the final vows of the two Brothers: Melkisedek Musi, FSF and Vikalis Ikun, FSF. The two Brothers with their willingness and commitment promised to be servants of God for all their life in the community of the Brothers of the Holy Family of Nazareth and continue the mission that has been inherited by Brother Gabriel Taborin through education, catechesis, and liturgical animation. Thus now, in Indonesia there are six Brothers who have taken their final vows.

This celebration was presided over by Rm. Ande sika, Pr, the deputy parish priest. There were also priests, religious, families, and relatives of the Brothers. Rm. Ande in his sermon advised the Brothers that the vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience that have been made, should be lived also in daily life and their mission. Perpetual vows mean a willingness to follow Christ in His way of life.

Their perpetual vows were accepted by Bro. Aurelio Arreba, the delegate of Indonesia-Timor-Leste, in the name of the Superior General. There were also present Br. Andreas, the superior of the formation house at Nita, as well as Br. Firmin from Burkina Faso who has only started working in Indonesia one week ago, Br. Oskar, the superior of Nanga Tayap community, Br. Graciano, the superior of the Balai Berkuak community, along with all the Kupang scholastic Brothers.

Brother Aurelio in his speech read a message from the Superior General. He thanked the Brothers for being willing to join the community for a lifetime through perpetual vows. He also thanked the parents for their willingness to let their sons join the community. At the end of his speech, Br. Firmin introduced himself to the audience as a new Brother working in Indonesia.

Ingredientes de la animacion vocacional Sa-Fa 8

En la animación vocacional: ¿Me cuestiono como animador?

Ante todo, un animador vocacional, como cualquier otro profesional, necesita estar siempre en fase de cuestionamiento y formación. El cuestionamiento es una necesidad que guía nuestras acciones para hacernos crecer.

La primera pregunta que debería hacerse entonces un animador vocacional es: ¿Estoy contento con mi vocación?, ¿Mi confianza en Dios es lo suficientemente fuerte?, ¿Hasta qué punto he sido capaz de verme y evaluarme como un buen medio para que Dios me utilice como animador vocacional?

Cuestionarnos permite también no caer en el inmovilismo, saber adaptar las situaciones a las realidades o necesidades que lo requieran para evitar volvernos obsoletos en la proposición del plan de Dios. A partir de ahí seguirán los cuestionamientos para convertirnos en mediadores creíbles en la animación vocacional e irán surgiendo otras preguntas para poder llevar a cabo este servicio de manera honesta y responsable.

Mientras se lleva a cabo la animación hay un tiempo para reflexionar sobre cómo me preparo antes de la tarea a realizar, qué estrategias debo utilizar para tener éxito y si lo que estamos haciendo es lo que Dios espera de nosotros. 

El cuestionamiento puede ser el motor de la animación vocacional cuando nos damos cuenta que no tenemos las respuestas en nuestras manos, que la vida es dinámica y que cada día exige resoluciones diferentes porque las preguntas también cambian.

Debemos cuestionarnos continuamente para saber si la otra persona nos comprendió. Suele pasar que uno dice o hace algo, pero la otra persona lo decodifica e interpreta distinto.

Cuestionarnos sobre cómo estamos haciendo las cosas, revisar y evaluar ayuda a descubrir nuevas posibilidades y a identificar los problemas para dar lugar a soluciones nuevas, los problemas tienen el poder pedagógico de fomentar la creatividad.

Obviamente que a cada paso nos iremos preguntando cómo podemos mejorar, si podemos atender a las necesidades que se nos plantean en la pastoral, la manera en que podemos hacer llegar el mensaje, si somos creíbles, si sabemos mirar a los candidatos de manera activa, con entusiasmo y alegría, si estamos poniendo todo el esfuerzo.

En el caso de ser un Hermano animador se suman cuestionamientos relacionados a la vida de la Congregación y en comunidad, ya que un Hermano elegido por Dios debe hacer Su voluntad y promover a muchas personas para la Congregación.

Entonces el cuestionamiento sería: ¿Me gusta seguir la misión de Dios y de la Iglesia? ¿Tengo pertenencia a la Congregación? ¿Soy un buen Hermano religioso?  ¿Cómo puedo vivir mejor mi consagración? ¿Estoy colaborando y participando en la misión del Instituto para promover las vocaciones?  ¿Hago mi trabajo en nombre de nuestra Congregación y en el nombre de Jesús?

A partir de ahí y en relación a la actividad de animador vocacional de futuros candidatos, el cuestionamiento primordial es saber cómo en la actualidad la llamada de Dios puede llegar a nuestros adolescentes y jóvenes, si somos fieles a la misión, si tenemos constancia, si nos estamos comunicando claramente con ellos. Si no hay respuestas de parte de los jóvenes al plan de Dios debemos preguntarnos cómo es el testimonio que damos y en qué estamos fallando.

¿SOY un mediador CREÍBLE?

Ser un animador vocacional creíble es todo un desafío ya que corremos el riesgo de predicar algo que no vivimos todo el tiempo. Por eso es tan importante la humildad, que nunca nos creamos más dignos o más cercanos a Dios que los demás.

Somos creíbles cuando presentamos a Jesús y no a nosotros mismos, cuando vivimos el carisma y no una idea, cuando confiamos en la gracia y en la comunidad que nos acompaña y apoya y no en nuestras fuerzas, enfrentando los desafíos, aceptando la realidad, entendiendo el escenario actual y ajustándonos a ello con el equipo de formación.

Para ser mediadores creíbles debemos ser coherentes entre lo que creemos, pensamos, decimos y hacemos, respetando lo acordado y programado, a través del testimonio de vida. Si no fuera así se perdería autoridad moral para evangelizar.

Somos creíbles viviendo primero nuestra propia vocación, mostrándola y expresándola, abriéndonos y proyectando otras formas de vivir la fe, de animar y acompañar.

A su vez somos “fiables” si confiamos en nosotros mismos, por eso es importante trabajar la autoconfianza que surge de la confianza en Dios. Confiar en uno inspira confianza en los demás y hace que el acompañado perciba no una respuesta ya hecha y acabada, sino una respuesta actualizada.

                                    

Por último, es fundamental mostrar con alegría la vocación que elegimos, viviendo la vocación de forma auténtica y feliz. Los candidatos tienen que percibir que somos felices y que nos sentimos realizados con nuestra vocación. De esta manera tendremos argumentos y experiencias para convencer y animar a otras personas a formar parte de este proyecto, teniendo claro que lo que hago no es un trabajo, sino una misión.

New aspirants in Asia.

 

Pray to the Lord of the harvest to send many labourers.

We, the communities of Asia join our hands together to give thanks to God for the fruits of the vocational animation during the school year 2021-2022. Though it had been still hard to explore for vocation promotion in different places and having still restrictions in some countries, Brothers vocational animators made many creative efforts to meet candidates in schools, parishes and pastoral groups. We were able to conduct vocation camps and visited the families of the candidates.

At the end, we have received rewards from the Lord for our hard work in welcoming 61 new candidates to the different formation houses of Asia:

Nita- 21; Lasang-5; Eluru- 25; Madurai- 10.

The animator of the Asian Cluster or Vocational Coordinator extends his gratitude for the work had been done and congratulate the Brothers in charge, Brothers collaborated and Lay partners for your hard work, dedication, commitment and support because without you, this result had not been made possible.

The Vocational Team of the Institute would like to congratulate you too and would like to encourage you for more and better mission in our field of vocation promotion in the near future.

Ingredients of SaFa vocation animation 7

Vocation Animation: WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED?

We had said that vocation is a gift, a personal call for the mission in life and that the work of a vocational animator is to help others to discover that call. At the same time, not all the people feel that they have the capacity to awaken in others a vocation.  So what should we take into account to be vocational animators?

VOCATIONAL ANIMATION:

It is a complex and continuous process that is carried out in different ways and at different times, but always supported by God and his Word.

Vocational animation means entering and participating in the mission or project of Jesus, where candidates are helped and guided to be able to listen and respond to God's call.

It is a mission where few things are controlled, since it is a task in which God is the primary actor and man with his freedom is the determining agent in supporting with his choices and actions the mission of accompanying the processes and the journey of the candidates.

On the other hand, it is a matter of faith, therefore it is necessary to enter into an attitude of trust and abandonment in the hands of God, so that He may give the necessary actions.

Vocational promotion is an art that improves as it is shared with others, it is like an epidemic that is contagious and to transmit it is essential to give testimony of life.

Success is not always associated with fruitfulness, sometimes the processes take other times, and sometimes it is a very hard and "ungrateful" mission because it is not understood or valued by others. 

The promotion of vocations offers a daily, successive and progressive learning, as in drops; it is like learning a trade, it is a process of evolution where nothing can be done all at once. Therefore, it is necessary to understand that vocation promotion, like vocation promoters, is not born or grow with perfection achieved, but that it is learned and grows along the way.

THE VOCATIONAL ANIMATOR:

First of all, he must recognize the call to be an animator, understand that he is only a mediator between the young person and God. He must perceive the vocation to animate as a gift from God and he must be the main reason for responding to that call, not for personal interests, the interests of the Congregation, or of the pastoral ministry or of the mission. 

He must be attentive, so silence and prayer are necessary in order to be aware of God's will and to know how to leave everything in his hands.

A vocational animator is not born, he is made. At the beginning, he does not know how to begin, but by looking at others, he learns this art little by little.

Sometimes everyone is directly involved and sometimes he is the one in charge, talking about it in community meetings and sharing experiences to coordinate and organize efforts with simple and practical plans, with teamwork and collaboration. In this way, even if the activity is demanding and challenging, the person in charge of vocational activities feels supported and the result is more fruitful.

The process is like an “osmosis” of conscience, which is achieved with accompaniment, with the simple fact of being, listening, with constancy and dedication, without haste, with creativity, empathy, effort.

An animator must feel a "motivation to infect", have patience, be very careful when entering into the heart of the candidate and be open to listen without judging, accepting him as he is. The vocational animator must try to connect with the person being accompanied so that he may have faith in God, he must be responsible and look for different instances of formation and planning.

In short, his accompaniment requires a lot of persistence, faith, commitment and organization.

SOME TIPS FOR VOCATIONAL ANIMATION:

 The most important ingredients for vocational animation are:

# To trust in God, who is the Master of the mission and of the harvest.

# To be responsible so that the work may be fruitful.

# To have richness and charismatic strength by being connected to the Spirit of God.

# To work as a team with other Brothers.

# To be attentive to the candidate's feelings and sensitivities.

# To go out of the comfort zone and seek the paths that are necessary.

# To recognize the need for self-confidence in order to be more credible and reliable.

# To bear witness of life by being consistent between what it is said and what it is practiced.

# To be creative and know how to adapt to the requirements of each candidate.

# To take into account cultural and family contexts.

# To respect the processes and times of each one.

# To pray with great faith.

As Christians we have the mission of Jesus who sends us to evangelize, in the places and with the people we meet along the way. Likewise, the Shared Mission, together with the Brothers of the Holy Family, impels and inspires us to try to be faithful to the foundational legacy of Brother Gabriel.

Christ loves us with all that we are; there is always ways for improvement with Jesus of Nazareth as our image, the Holy Family as our model and Brother Gabriel as our example.

We should give testimony of our own process, of when I felt the call and how I decided to follow Christ; of the falls and the ups and downs, of how we continue walking and learning in community.

Finally, we must keep in mind that vocational animation is of great importance for the continuity of the Institute and gives us the opportunity to become salt and light for the life of others and to bring more workers to the harvest of the Congregation.

Vocation camp and First Professions in Burkina

Vocation camp.

The vocation-formation commission organised a formation session for the candidates of the Holy Family Brothers from 18 to 27 July 2022 at the Gabriel TABORIN school.  This annual session brought together 58 young people, including one from Benin (Tanguieta). It was led by Brothers Nazaire BAKOUAN, Marcel ZOUBGA, Georges SYAN and Pascal RAYAISSE. Brothers Romaric BAKY and Eloi NANA were present and supervised during the ten days.

First Professions

Saint Andrew Parish of Saaba was very full this 26th July 2022 as the other years. Saint Anne Province of the Brothers of the Holy Family had invited its members, friends, collaborators and sympathisers to join and celebrate the Patronal feast of the Province.

At 9:00AM, the entrance song was given and we could see many priests in the procession. Two Catholic Bishops: Most Reverend Pierre Claver Malgo, Bishop of the Catholic diocese of Fads in the East, and Most Reverend Alexandre Y. Bazie, Auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Koudougou; were in the queue. Many Religious men and women have also turned out, as usual, with an incalculable crowd of lay people.

Three Brothers were taking their vows on this occasion; while one was thanking God for 25 years of vows. Brother Camille Guirou and Brother Noel Yantekoua made their First Profession and Brother Robert Nabi was taking his perpetual vows. The jubilarian was Brother Toussaint Zoma.

We give thanks to God for their commitment and we the Holy Family to enlighten, to protect and to help them in their vocational journey.