From the 27th to 29 May 2008, the first meeting of the International Commission for Formation took place at the General Curia in Rome. Present were: John Keating, General Councillor, Mario Alfarano, Secretary, Quinn Conners (PCM), Günter Benker (GerS), Desiderio García Martínez (Arag), Giampiero Molinari (Ita), Dionisius Kosasih (Indo), Vitalis Benza (Hib-Zimb) and Romualdo Borges de Macedo (GerS-Par). Present also was Kevin Alban (Bursar General) for helping with the translation.
The Commission was welcomed by the Prior General, Fernando Millán Romerál and the Vice General, Christian Körner. The members of the commission began their work with a reflection on the key issues facing formation in different parts of the world. It then examined the proposals and recommendations emanating from the General Chapter, the future programmes for initial and on-going formation, the question of vocations to the Order, revision of the RIVC in conformity with CON 129, the necessity of a pre-novitiate programme in the provinces and some specific issues. The commission met with Christian Körner (Communications Commission) regarding formation and the use of the Order’s website, and with Mark Attard (Delegate for Studies) regarding the meeting in Malta of the Carmelite Libraries Association. Three sub-committees were set up – one to prepare future meetings, another to plan for a gathering of those in initial formation on Mount Carmel, and the third to research a methodology for all future formation courses run by the Formation Commission. A special meeting of the new commission will take place in November to deal specifically with this topic.