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The first meeting of the International Formation Commission took place at the General Curia of the Order in Rome from the 18^th to the 22^nd of March 2002. Members present: Carlo Cicconetti, Alexander Vella, Christian Körner, Romualdo Borges, Dionysius Kosasih, Conrad Mutizamhepo, Mario Alfarano. Absent with reason: Emmett Gavin.

At the beginning of the meeting we read the letter that was sent to us by the Prior General (Appendix n. 1).

The Commission worked on the suggestions made by the previous commission to the General Chapter 2001 (Appendix n. 2) and the proposals approved by the Chapter (Appendix n. 3).

The members of the Commission shared their knowledge of what is taking place in the provinces and commissariats regarding the revision of provincial formation programmes in accordance with the new RIVC. These revised programmes have to be sent to the General Councillor for formation by June 2003.

In most provinces there is a formation programme or at least one is being drawn up.
Those who already had a provincial programme are currently revising it in accordance with the RIVC.
In many provinces there is a formation commission in accordance with RIVC 54.

Proposal

In order to encourage the elaboration of provincial formation programmes or their revision we decided:

To send the decree of the General Chapter on formation to the provincials, commissaries and formators (See Appendix nn. 3-4).
To ask the Prior General to remind the provinces of this decree during the celebration of chapters.

Strategies for the implementation of the RIVC in the Provinces

The members of the Commission shared their knowledge of what is taking place in the provinces and commissariats regarding the implementation of the RIVC:

The RIVC was translated also in some of the unofficial languages of the Order (German, Indonesian, Portuguese, etc.)
In some provinces general assemblies and meetings of formators on the RIVC took place.
The RIVC was given to all the friars.
A provincial held a meeting in every community of his province to present the RIVC.

Proposal

In order to promote the study of the RIVC and reflection on it in the communities of the Order, we suggest that:

We draw up guidelines for reading the RIVC that can be also put on the Internet.
We publish the proceeding of the course on the RIVC that was held for formators at Fatima.

A Manual for Carmelite Formation

The previous Commission had suggested that we draw up a manual for Carmelite formation to help formators develop the Programme of Carmelite Studies (RIVC, part three). For the elaboration of this manual we intend to follow the same process used for the elaboration of the RIVC 2000, involving formators as much as possible. This will provide an opportunity of formation for formators and will also promote co-operation among provinces.

Stocktaking (through a questionnaire sent to formators, see Appendix n. 5) of what is already taking place in the provinces: material and methodologies used.
Presentation of the result of the questionnaire at the international meeting that will be held in 2003.
Regional meetings of formators organised by the representatives of the various regions on the International Formation Commission, on the structure and content of the manual.
An international congress for formators in 2006 will be dedicated to the manual.

4. Formation of Formators

The Commission will put implement the proposal approved by the General Chapter of organising two courses for formators. The RIVC already contemplates the organisation of one international meeting every six-year term (n. 61). These courses will not be part of the ongoing formation programme organised for the whole Carmelite Family in Rome. Reviewing past experience, the Commission discussed the length of the courses and decided that they should preferably be of three weeks. This gives us sufficient time to cover the theme of the course efficiently, to come to know each other and the place where the meeting is held.

The first of these meetings will take place in Aylesford, England, from 28^th July to 15 August 2003. The theme will be "Formation for community life". The second one will be held in 2006 and will be dedicated to the manual of Carmelite formation in accordance with the Programme of Carmelite Studies of the RIVC (part three).

In accordance with the proposal of the General Chapter, the Commission believes that it is necessary to reserve a period of time for the specific preparation for solemn profession (cf. RIVC 103). While the whole period of simple profession is a time of preparation for solemn profession, we are aware that in fact academic and pastoral commitments leave little time to the deepening of the candidates’ knowledge and experience of religious and Carmelite life (cf. RIVC 99). We are also aware of the fact that some chose to leave the Order immediately after solemn profession or ordination (cf. Carmel: The Journey continues p. 25). For these reasons we would like to insist on a special time of preparation for solemn profession so that candidates may "be fully aware of the seriousness of this act and of the definitive nature of his consecration to the Lord and incardination into the Order" (RIVC 103).

We propose the following three modes – in order of preference – for the period of immediate preparation for solemn profession:

1. That it takes place preferably on the international level in accordance with the programme outlined in Appendix 6, for a period between 3 and 1 months, possibly in the Holy Land or another significant place for the Order.
or
2. That it takes place on a regional level, for the same period of time as above, in a place to be chosen by the region.
or
3. That it takes place on a provincial level, adapting the above to the provincial situation.

When the General Council decides which of these three proposals is to be implemented, the Commission will draw up a detailed programme.

Alexander Vella was appointed by the General Council as responsible for the ongoing formation courses to be held for the whole Carmelite family. The Commission chose among its members Christian Körner and Mario Alfarano to form together with him the sub-commission for ongoing formation.

The Commission decided to send a questionnaire to the provincials to gather information on what is being done in the provinces with regard to ongoing formation. This will aid the Commission in drawing up the section of the manual of Carmelite formation that deals with ongoing formation.

As regard the ongoing formation courses we decided to dedicate the first one to the role of priors in accordance with a request that was reiterated during the last General Chapter. Other courses could have as theme: co-operation with Carmelite laity; St Mary Magdalene de’ Pazzi; the Rule. The reason for the choice of the last two is their centenary in 2007.

The first ongoing formation course is reserved for priors of Carmelite communities. It will take place at the Domus Carmelitana, Rome, between 29^th January (arrivals) and 14^th February (departures) 2003. The theme will be: The role of the prior in a Carmelite community.

In order to promote communication and facilitate the work of the International Formation Commission, we propose that periodically (for example on the occasion of each provincial/commissarial chapter), provinces and commissariats send a report on the state of formation to the General Councillor for Formation.

The result of the evaluation of this first meeting done by the members at the end was positive. For the next meetings the use of the English language is recommended in order to facilitate the participation of all members and reduce the need of translation. We decided to hold our next meeting from the 7^th to the 12^th of April 2003.

Con el propósito de animar la elaboración de programas provinciales de formación en su revisión hemos decidido:
§ Enviar el decreto del Capítulo General sobre la formación a los provinciales, comisarios y formadores.
§ Pedir al Prior General que recuerde este decreto a las Provincias, durante la celebración de los Capítulos.

Los miembros de las Comisiones han compartido su conocimiento sobre lo que se está pasando en sus provincias y comisariatos en lo que respecta al cumplimiento de la RIVC.
§ La RIVC se ha traducido incluso en algunos idiomas no oficiales de la Orden (Alemán, Indonesiano, Portugués, etc.)
§ En algunas provincias se han realizado asambleas generales y encuentros de formadores sobre la RIVC.
§ Se ha entregado la RIVC a todos los frailes
§ Ha habido un provincial que ha tenido encuentros con todas las comunidades de su provincia para presentar la RIVC.

Para promover el estudio y la reflexión sobre la RIVC en las comunidades de la Orden, sugerimos:
§ Que se tracen directivas para la lectura de la RIVC que puedan, incluso, inserirse en Internet.
§ Que se publique lo que se ha desarrollado en los cursos sobre habidos para los formadores, en Fátima, sobre la RIVC.

La elaboración del directorio tendrá que seguir estos pasos:
§ Inventario, a través de una encuesta enviada a los formadores, sobre lo que se está haciendo en las provincias, los materiales y las metodologías usadas.
§ Presentación de los resultados de la encuesta en el encuentro internacional que tendremos en el 2003.
§ Encuentros regionales para formadores, organizados por los representantes de las diversas regiones de la Comisión Internacional de Formación sobre la estructura e el contenido del directorio.
§ Un congreso internacional para formadores, en el 2006, dedicado al directorio.

El primero de los dos cursos pedidos por el Capítulo General del 2001 será celebrado en Aylesford, Inglaterra, del 28 de Julio a 15 de Agosto del 2003. El tema será "la Formación para la Vida Comunitária". El segundo curso se celebrará en el 2006 y será dedicado al manual de Formación Carmelitana, de acuerdo con el Programa de los Estudios Carmelitas, la tercera parte de la RIVC.

Proponemos estos tres modos - en orden de preferencia - para el periodo de preparación inmediata para la profesión solemne:
§ Que se desarrolle preferiblemente al nivel internacional, por un periodo de uno a tres meses, posiblemente en Tierra Santa, o otro lugar significante para la Orden, o
§ Que se desarrolle al nivel regional, por igual periodo de tiempo, cómo arriba, en un lugar escogido por la región, o
§ Que se realice al nivel provincial, adaptando, cómo arriba, la situación de la provincia.
Que no sea sólo el Consejo General a decidir cuál de éstas tres propuestas debe realizarse; la Comisión trazará un programa detallado.

El primer curso de formación permanente está destinado a los Priores de las Comunidades Carmelitanas. Será celebrado en la Domus Carmelitana, en Roma, del 29 de Enero (día de llegada) al 14 de Febrero (día de Partida) del 2003. El tema será "El papel del Prior en una comunidad carmelitana".

Para promover la comunicación y facilitar el trabajo de la Comisión Internacional para la Formación, proponemos que periódicamente (por ejemplo, por ocasión de cada Capítulo Provincial o Comissarial), se envíe al Consejo General un informe sobre las condiciones de formación en la Provincia o Comisariato.

Allo scopo di incoraggiare l’elaborazione di programmi provinciali di formazione nella loro revisione abbiamo deciso:
- D’inviare il decreto del Capitolo Generale sulla formazione ai provinciali, commissari e formatori.
- Di chiedere al Priore Generale di ricordare alle province questo decreto durante la celebrazione dei Capitoli.

I membri della Commissione hanno condiviso la loro consapevolezza su ciò che sta avvenendo nelle loro province e commissariati riguardo l’adempimento della RIVC.
- La RIVC è stata tradotta anche in alcune lingue non ufficiali dell’Ordine (Tedesco, Indonesiano, Portoghese, ecc.)
- In alcune province, hanno avuto luogo assemblee generali ed incontri dei formatori della RIVC .
- LA RIVC è stata consegnata a tutti i frati.
- Un provinciale ha tenuto incontri in ogni comunità della sua provincia per presentare la RIVC.

Al fine di promuovere lo studio e la riflessione sulla RIVC nelle comunità dell’Ordine, suggeriamo di :
- Tracciare direttive per la lettura della RIVC che possono anche essere inserite su Internet.
- Pubblicare i procedimenti dei corsi sulla RIVC tenuti per i formatori a Fatima.

L’elaborazione del manuale dovrà seguire questi passi.
- Inventario, tramite un questionario inviato ai formatori, su ciò che sta ancora avvenendo nelle province, i materiali e le metodologie usate.
- Presentazione dei risultati del questionario all’incontro internazionale che si terrà nel 2003.
- Incontri regionali per formatori, organizzati dai rappresentanti delle diverse regioni sulla Commissione Internazionale di Formazione, sulla struttura e sul contenuto del manuale.
- Un congresso internazionale per formatori nel 2006 sarà dedicato al manuale.

Il primo dei due corsi richiesti dal Capitolo Generale del 2001 si terrà in Aylesford, Inghilterra, dal 28 luglio al 15 agosto 2003. Il tema sarà "Formazione per la Vita Comunitaria". Il secondo corso si terrà nel 2006 e sarà dedicato al manuale di Formazione Carmelitana d’accordo con il Programma degli Studi Carmelitani, la terza parte della RIVC.

Proponiamo questi seguenti tre modi- in ordine di preferenza- per il periodo di immediata preparazione alla professione solenne:
- Che si svolga preferibilmente a livello internazionale per un periodo da uno a tre mesi, possibilmente in Terra Santa, o un altro luogo significativo per l’Ordine, oppure
- Che si svolga a livello regionale, per lo stesso periodo di tempo, come sopra, in un luogo scelto dalla regione, oppure
- Che abbia luogo a livello provinciale, adattando come sopra, la situazione della provincia.
Non appena il Consiglio Generale decida quali di queste tre proposte debbano essere effettuate, la Commissione traccerà un programma dettagliato.

Il primo corso di formazione permanente è riservato ai Priori delle Comunità Carmelitane. Si terrà alla Domus Carmelitana in Roma tra il 29 gennaio 2003 (giorno di arrivo) e il 14 febbraio 2003 (giorno della partenza).
Il tema sarà "Il ruolo del Priore in una comunità carmelitana".

Al fine di promuovere la comunicazione e facilitare il lavoro della Commissione Internazionale per la Formazione, proponiamo che periodicamente (ad esempio, in occasione di ogni Capitolo Provinciale o Commissariale), sia inviato un rapporto al Consiglio Generale per la Formazione sulle condizioni di formazione nella provincia o commissariato.