On September 9-13, 2024, the friars of the Provincial Custody of St. Bonaventure in France-Belgium held a Custodial formation week at the Saint Antoine friary in Brussels. These formation events take place twice a year and last several days. This meeting included friars in formation.
The theme of the event was fraternal life and its group dynamics. The topic of “abuse” was also covered. It was addressed in keeping with the Order’s document: “Guidelines for Protecting Minors and Vulnerable Persons from Sexual Abuse and Procedures to Be Followed in Case of an Allegation” dated May 17, 2023.
The formation week was led by a psychologist who broadened the reflection on fraternal life to include all the people that we might listen to and guide as religious, as well as those with whom we share pastoral ministry or volunteer work. Thanks to the speaker’s contribution, the friars shall try to strengthen this fraternal bond, which is so precious and delicate.
The formation week was also an opportunity to see each other again after the summer and to share our experiences. We discussed important issues for our future, in particular our ability to maintain our presence at all of the five communities of the Custody. This comes at a time when several friars are feeling a certain fatigue. An ongoing process of reflection will continue for the next few months, in order to arrive at a decision that is in line with our strengths, while preserving a minimum of fraternal life.
At the end of the formation week, two young friars renewed their temporary vows, marking a moment of joy and fraternity. The time we have spent together has already set the stage for our next formation week, which may be a pilgrimage to Rome for the Jubilee.
Friar Jean-François Marie AUCLAIR
