By Sr Kanickaraj Mary Tamizharasi –
The week-long online formators’ meet of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, Figlie di Maria Ausiliatrice (FMA) fondly known as Salesian Sisters of Don Bosco, dwelled on psychology of relationships and also learning more about contextualized formation, and accompaniment of the formees. The online meet was held during August 24-28 2020.
In the week-long on-line meeting, nearly 100 Sisters including FMA India provincials, formators and animators across the country discussed the following objectives:
- Formation of formators: Meeting together to update themselves and to reflect and share about the contextualized formation, and accompaniment of the formees
- Share about the Itinerary for ongoing Formation
- Formulate the itinerary for the community to accompany the Junior Sisters
- In depth study of the Guidelines for the Formation Period of Temporary Vows and inculturation of the same.
For the first three days, all the participants had the enriching experience of listening to the webinar on Psychology of Relationships based on the transactional analysis of Dr Eric Berne by Sr Kanickaraj Mary Tamizharasi, the national coordinator for formation and the provincial secretary INM. The participants of FMA India were enabled to self-introspect, reflect and analyze the quality of relationship and interaction with each other in order to improve community communion. They were appreciative of the sessions and described it as resourceful programme that tickled the core of self-formation and the days as truly amazing and worth giving time.
The keynote address was delivered by Sr Amalanathan Mary Margaret, PCI President on the spirituality of encounter with Jesus and others. Sr Tamizharasi gave the input session on the importance of quality and authentic relationships, introduction to the transactional analysis and the clear explanation about 3 ego states and types of transactions with practical examples.
On Day two, Sr Tamizharasi dealt with the topics of modern transactional Analysis – descriptive model and Strokes encouraging the Sisters to enhance 4 effective modes and use in their daily transactions more strokes saying “any stroke is better than no strokes”.
The following day, Sr Cruz Michael, novice formator INT Province shared from her experience some of the practical ways to accompany the young sisters who pass from ‘the more sheltered stage’ to communities, ‘the less sheltered stage’. She organized her points categorizing under Prayer life, Accompaniment of young Sisters by the animator and the challenges faced by the young sisters. Sr. De Souza Philomena, INB Province shared about inculturating the document “Guidelines for the formation period of temporary vows”. She presented very clearly the need for inculturating the document to our Indian context highlighting the resources, weaknesses and challenges present in Indian/Asian culture. Then the Coordinators of initial formation from the 7 Indian provinces shared the experience of interiorization of the document in their respective provinces. The sharing was moderated by Sr George Elizabeth, the Provincial INS who concluded the meeting saying that we need to welcome the new wine of young Sisters with the new wineskins.
On the last day, Sr Ozhukayil Lucy Rose, the General Visiting Councillor, Rome gave an introductory talk. She appreciated the FMA India for all that they are and what they do, and recommended the participants to grow in authenticity of life, service to the poor, connected to the divine potter assuming the qualities of Christ the good shepherd. She invited them to dream to be more and to do more reaching out to the young formees, middle age and advanced age Sisters.
Then Sr Thomas Rita Dora, the INB Provincial presented very clearly the overview of the itinerary of ongoing formation referring from plan of formation and FMA India formation programme including all the salient features of formation in today’s context with its internal and external challenges including the COVID-19 pandemic. She concluded saying that ongoing formation means being and becoming new wineskins.
The ongoing formation coordinators of all the Provinces shared their journey of formation and some suggestions regarding ongoing formation followed by the brief presentation about the preparation of the Centenary celebration of FMA presence in India by Sr Joseph Teresa INB, the general coordinator for centenary commissions. The session was efficiently coordinated by Sr Lazar Nirmala, the INM provincial who gave the concluding message that we need to care for the quality of our ongoing formation by our personal accompaniment especially the middle age Sisters and by deepening the mystical dimension of our vocation. The national coordinator for formation suggested that we need to give continuity to this process by coming together of Formation coordinators of each of the provinces in the near future.
Sr Amalanathan Margaret, the PCI president thanked everyone who contributed to the fruitfulness of the meet especially Sr Tamizharasi for her efficient organization of the on-line meet. She gave the concluding message “Live well giving quality to life”. Sr Augustine Theresa, INK province proposed the vote of thanks on behalf of FMA PCI and the concluding prayer service was conducted by Sr Fernando Mary Ann, the animator of Colombo, Sri Lanka.