Mater Unitatis Federation Has On Going Formation for Prioresses and Formators
The Federation Mater Unitatis, of Carmelite monasteries in Spain, has had two courses of formation in 2024. The first course was held at the monastery of the Incarnation in Valencia on June 26-28. The second, a course for formators of the monasteries, took place in the monastery of Our Lady of the Assumption in Huesca.
The program of the prioress’ course called for two themes each day. Each morning session involved two moments: the presentation itself and then some “work” on the topic. The various topics discussed by the prioresses were:
+ Some Priorities in the Service of Authority
+ Presentation and Delivery of the Apostolic Letter of Pope Francis Desiderio Desideravi
+The Spirituality of Communion: A Path of Ongoing Formation from the Constitutions.
+ Presentation and Distribution of the Apostolic Exhortation of Pope Francis C'est la confiance.
+ Loving in Our Consecrated Life: In the Light of the Encyclical of Benedict XVI Deus caritas est
+ Presentation and delivery of the Bull of Convocation of the Ordinary Jubilee 2025 Spes non confundit
The course was directed by Fr. Rafael Belda Serra, CVMD, the superior general of the Cooperatores Veritatis (Co-workers for the Truth), an ecclesial reality of consecrated life erected in the diocese of Valencia (Spain) and at the service of education and evangelization.
The second course, three intense days, took place from May 28-30, 2024. Titled Human-Spiritual Integration in Carmelite Life: Formation and Accompaniment, the group was facilitated by Alfredo Pisana, O. Carm., a member of the Italian Province. He is currently part of the formation team at the international novitiate of our Carmelites in Salamanca.
He holds a degree in Developmental Psychology of Education. The sisters appreciated his wide knowledge of the subject material as well as his ability to speak from his rich experience.
In the introduction, he commented that the life and history of the people entrusted to us by the Lord are sacred. For this reason, they need and deserve accompaniment of the person first in their present time, adequate to the Carmelite charism and to the monastery itself.
The fundamental presupposition is that the human person is a unity, composed of Spirit (soul), Mind (psyche) and Body.
The starting point is that formation demands a change of perspective from content to process, favoring the maturation of the person to produce real change. A new formative perspective cannot be given without a vision of the person; that is to say, an anthropology with theological value, translated into the monastic experience.
Two elements of formation in Monastic Carmel were highlighted: the profound experience of the human heart transformed and renewed by the presence of God and the promotion of the deep identity of the called person and to lead her to the joyful maturity of her vocation which means to be "called to be transformed into the image of Christ" (2 Co 3:18).
The formator is called to accompany the candidates integrally; to transmit the Carmelite charism; to foster a personalized accompaniment; to promote human and spiritual maturation; to create an environment of continuous growth and to be a spiritual mother.
The human-spiritual accompaniment of the person tries to see how the human-person functions in order to integrate it with the spiritual aspect.
Fr. Pisano discussed the general characteristics of accompaniment. He emphasized the care in community life, especially the "attributions of thought in intentions," always giving the benefit of the doubt. He also cautioned with respect to the "projections" that can be made, and the risk in the spiritual life when it comes to judgment. The other aspects he dealt with were the affective-relational skills.
The Federation Mater Unitatis was erected on December 10, 1980. The monasteries belonging to this federation are: Caudete, Fontiveros, Huesca Asunción, Huesca san Miguel, Madrid, Onteniente, Valencia and Zaragoza.
