On January 26, 2024, the International Commission for Formation (CIF) conducted an online meeting. The members of the Commission include the friars who work at the General Secretariat for Formation (SGF), the Secretaries for Formation of each of the Federations, and the Rector of the Seraphicum College in Rome. The Vicar General attends CIF meetings on behalf of the Minister General.
The proceedings of the meeting were chaired by Friar Maximilianus SEMBIRING, Vice-Secretary of the SGF. Translation of the proceedings into different languages was handled by the participants. This online meeting examined the issue of friars departing the Order.
Drawing on experience in their own Jurisdictions, the meeting participants discussed their observations on formation and the crises in religious life. An analyses and assessment of this issue was presented in a video by the Minister General, Friar Carlos TROVARELLI, and the Secretary General, Friar Tomasz SZYMCZAK.
In general, the Order is not going through a collapse in terms of numbers of friars. This is linked to our growth in the missions. Many recent departures are tied to issues that led to previous departures, issues that have only recently begun to be resolved by some Jurisdictions.
It has been shown that vocation discernment during initial formation is a natural process. The Church, the religious community, and the brothers in initial formation all play a role in discerning if our Order is the right place for these men to give their definitive answer about religious life. What is needed at this stage, then, is wise guidance for those entering the Order. We also need to foster conditions that help these men develop their faith and personal maturity.
The participants paid particular attention to the problem of friars departing the Order soon after professing their religious vows or after ordination. It seems that problems with persevering in religious life are often tied to a crisis of faith, the search for greater independence (financial independence and independence from community life) and changes in personal and emotional life (usually falling in love and entering into a civil union).
It was pointed out that we must develop different ways of helping friars who are going through difficulties in their religious life. It was also determined that we should take preventive measures to strengthen friars, even if they are not in crisis. The participants also discussed the importance of studying and implementing different ways of developing our spiritual life during continuing formation. While initial formation is reasonably well organized, continuing formation is a constant challenge for the whole Order.
Friar Piotr STANISŁAWCZYK, Secretary General of the SGF
