From October 16-26, 2018, the Secretary General for Formation [SGF] made a canonical visitation to the formation houses and friars in initial formation of the Provincial Custody of the Immaculate Conception of the B.V.M. in Indonesia.
The Visitator, Friar Louis PANTHIRUVELIL, went to Indonesia to learn about, and discuss, the current status of the friars’ formation and to evaluate it in view of the Custody soon becoming a Province. The visitation began at the clerical students’ formation house in Pematangsiantar, by meeting with its thirty-five post-novices and four formators. The Visitator then held a meeting on the new vision of Franciscan formation.
He next visited the novitiate in Tiga Dolok, where he spoke with its twelve novices and four friars.
Afterwards he led a discussion on the importance of having humility as Conventual friars and of having a new Franciscan vision of today’s world.
His last visit was made to the Santa Catarina friary and postulancy house in Tiga Juhar, where he interviewed the seven postulants and ten friars of the community.
At the end, he met with the Custos and all the formators and guardians who are members of the Custody’s commission for initial formation and its commission for ongoing formation. Friar Louis discussed some important aspects of the Custody’s formation situation. Moreover, he proposed some urgent things to be reviewed, fine-tuned and changed, in light of the new Constitutions and the growing number of vocations in this part of the world.
During the visitation, the Visitator very much appreciated the hospitality of the confreres and the wonderful historical sites of Indonesia.
Friar Gabriele SINGARIMBUN
