On August 6-9, 2025, the Province of Mary Immaculate in Indonesia conducted a fraternal formation meeting for its young men in initial formation and their formators. Sixty-five participants attended, including the friars from the first and second year of the postulancy program, the members of the novitiate, and the members of the post-novitiate program in their first through sixth year.
The formation meeting was promoted by the Provincial Commission for Vocations and Initial Formation and was held at the San Bonaventura post-novitiate house in the village of Sinaksak, near Pematangsiantar, Indonesia.
The program opened with a psychology course taught by the team from Universitas Katolik Indonesia Atma Jaya. It was initially aimed at friars in their first to fifth year of the post-novitiate program. The participants took part in assessment sessions, filling out questionnaires and having individual interviews with psychologists. In the following days, the course was extended to the postulants, novices, and finally to the sixth-year post-novices.
On Friday, August 8, the Minister Provincial, Friar Maximilianus SEMBIRING, personally met with the young men in formation and allowed them some time for discussion. The psychology course continued until noon. It was followed by a soccer game between the formation students, which was designed to strengthen the bonds of fraternity in the Conventual Franciscan charism. The day ended with a period of fraternal recreation, which closed the formation activities for the day in an atmosphere of joy and sharing.
On Saturday, August 9, an additional meeting was held between the Minister Provincial, the formators, and the formation students, during which mutual hopes and expectations were shared. At the end, the post-novitiate community provided a closing lunch, as a sign of communion and gratitude.
The entire event was a valuable opportunity to renew our commitment to the integral formation of young friars, encouraging them to walk enthusiastically in the footsteps of St. Francis of Assisi, as pilgrims in the “hope that does not disappoint.”
Friar Misko SIMANJUNTAK
