OCEANIA/ FIJI ISLANDS - INSTITUTES EXPERIMENT WITH SHARED FORMATION: WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A RELIGIOUS IN THE PACIFIC TODAY?

Suva (Fides Service) – Last weekend in Suva Religious men and women of various congregations and institutes started a formation programme in preparation for their perpetual vows: the programme is first of its kind organised in the Pacific region. The 26 participants, 13 men religious and 13 Sisters, come from, Fiji Islands, Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, da Kiribati, Solomon Islands and Rabi. They belong to the following congregations and societies: Salesians (SDB), Marist Fathers (SM), Marist Sisters (SM), Sisters of the Missionary Society of Mary (SMSM), Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (MSC), Sisters of Our Lady of Nazareth (SOLN), Sisters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (FDNSC/OLSH).
The idea was presented by the Conference of Major Superiors of the Pacific Islands and the Salesians were involved in planning this event from the outset. The two-week residential programme of prayer, study, recreation, reflection and sharing will focus on the meaning of commitment in the apostolic religious life today in the world and in the Pacific. Fundamental themes include: the fidelity of God's love; His desire to make a covenant with us; the calling to follow Christ, chaste, poor and obedient; consecration for mission. Speakers include missionaries with experience in the Pacific, and in formation and spiritual direction. The formation programme has been called “Hesed” that is “covenant” in Hebrew. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 10/12/2003 – lines 17, words 244)