The friars of the Province of Mary Immaculate in Indonesia are grateful to Friar Maximilianus Kalef SEMBIRING, Vice-Secretary of the General Secretariat for Formation (SGF) for participating in their fraternal meetings on Franciscan Discipleship, conducted from November 21 to December 2, 2022.
Because Friar Maximilianus was in his home Province, he was able to share a number of experiences with the friars. In particular, he provided insights on Franciscan Discipleship at some of the friaries, in accordance with the request Minister Provincial, Cornelius Tri Chandra FAJARIYANTO and Friar Robert Tarcisius Zonpiter SIHOTANG, a member of the Commission for Initial and Continuing Formation.
Friar Maximilianus visited and met with the friars according to the following schedule:
– On November 21, 2022, he visited the friars of the Santo Lukas Friary in Jakarta (Java) and the St. Petrus Filial House in Sukoharjo (Bandar Lampung).
– On November 24, he visited the friars of the Santo Antonius dari Padua Friary in Kefamenanu (Timor); the Santo Josef Filial House in Tublopo (Timor); and the Santo Yohanes Paulus II Filial House in Passabe (East Timor).
– On November 29 he visited the friars of the post-novitiate and the novices at the Santo Bonaventura Friary in Pematangsiantar (Sumatera).
– On November 30 he visited the friars of the Santo Bonaventura Friary in Pematangsiantar (Sumatera); and the Santo Antonius dari Padua Friary in Tiga Dolok.
– On December 1, he visited the formators of the minor seminary, major seminary, postulancy and novitiate at the Santo Bonaventura Friary in Pematangsiantar (Sumatera).
– On December 2, in the morning, he visited the postulants of the Santo Josef Friary in Delitua, Medan (Sumatera).
– On December 2, in the evening, he visited the friars of the Santo Josef Friary in Delitua, Medan (Sumatera); the Santa Katarina dari Siena Friary in Tiga Juhar; the Santo Fransiskus Assisi Friary in Padang Bulan; the Sang Penebus Friary in Bandar Baru; and the Santo Yohanes Paulus II Filial House in Namo Pecawir-Tuntungan.
During the meetings, Friar Maximilianus said that each friar should experience formation as an important time in his own fraternal life. He recommended this for all the friars throughout their lives, not just the friars in initial formation. The friars should see formation as an opportunity for the growth and development of their vocation. Friar Maximilianus went on to say that the original document of Franciscan Discipleship was adopted ad experimentum in 1983, and served as a guide for Conventual Franciscan formation. After so many years, it was necessary to revise the document and highlight the indispensable role that the Holy Spirit plays in the formation of the friars. Thus, the true formator of the friars, the one who calls them and tells them what direction to go, is God himself.
The meetings took place in an atmosphere of joy and fraternity. At the end, the friars thanked Friar Maximilianus heartily for explaining so much about the revised Franciscan Discipleship.
Friar Fictorium Nathanael GINTING
