DIFFERENT STAGES OF FORMATION

The aim of the formation is to guide a person to develop his potential to the full and enable him to accept and live the call he has received. In each of the stages, formation will have to be gradual, complete and open (CD, 89).

General Guidelines:

1. Years of Aspirancy and Postulancy precede the Novitiate at the end of which a candidate makes his first religious profession. The specific aim of these stages is to provide candidates who show signs of being called to our Congregation an opportunity to study their call and our Congregation, with a view to arriving at a genuinely free and responsible decision.

2. The role of the parents is important in the formation of aspirants. They have to meet the expenses of medicine, clothing, stationery, etc., till the end of Postulancy. Motivated students who deserve financial help in this regard may be considered.

3. The master should keep in touch with the parents of candidates. It has to be made clear to them that admission to the Aspirancy does not mean that a candidate necessarily has a religious or a priestly vocation.

4. Candidates have to inculcate habits of serious study and reading. They have to develop satisfactory level of intellectual development. Reasonably good performances in all fields, especially in study and examinations, have to be ensured from the candidates.

5. A certain degree of austerity is to be fostered in the life of the candidates. Moderation in seeking comforts, in the use of things, in dress, in recreation, etc., is to be inculcated. It is important to cultivate a work culture among the candidates by engaging them in useful and productive manual work. Pay attention to maintain a balance in this regard so that such activities do not hamper intellectual and spiritual formation.

6. Candidates should enjoy good physical and psychological health. Any serious and lasting difficulty in this area will automatically disqualify a candidate. In order to make sure the good health of the candidate, appropriate medical and psychological tests may be made use of.

7. Through instruction and guidance they have to be helped to understand the meaning and the value of our apostolate and gradually introduce them to different apostolic activities. This is in view of developing in them love for our apostolate and an apostolic spirituality.

8. Through participation in the liturgy candidates are helped to discover Christ's presence and action in them and in the community. Group Masses, meditations – both directed and shared – Holy Hours, examination of conscience, conducted  prayer meetings, etc., are of great help to the candidates (cfr SBF, pp. 38-40).

9. Students who have passed intermediate or its equivalent at the time of joining the Congregation may have only one year of Aspirancy. Others will have two more years of Aspirancy during which they will qualify at the intermediate level. After Aspirancy and before Novitiate all will have a year of Postulancy.

10. Although various socio-cultural factors influence the candidates to prefer Priesthood, the vocation to Brotherhood has to be part of formees’ thought and reflection during different stages of formation.

11. Since our Formation is for Mission, the candidates have to be gradually inserted to the formation and apostolic activities of the Congregation according to their aptitudes and possibilities in the different stages of their formation. The Director of Formation and the Co-ordinator of Vocation Promotion work in collaboration with the Director General of Apostolate and the Local Superior in this regard.

12. Ensure that timely corrections regarding shortcomings, mistakes, drawbacks, limitations, etc., are given to the candidates personally and fraternally.

13.  To encourage and foster creativity academic, cultural and co-curricular activities should be organized.

14. Inculturation in liturgy, dhyana, yoga, etc., could be gradually introduced from Postulancy.