Fernold Denna, cicm
Missionary in the Philippines
The following reflections present the nature and challenge of CICM initial formation. It takes as its point of reference the goal of inculcating in the formandi or student confreres the imperative for a genuinely intimate relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ and their generous cooperation in the work of seminary formation as a joint process of walking together as pilgrims of hope with their formators.
Pope Francis, in his message to seminary rectors (January 25, 2025), highlights the "decisive orientation to the priestly vocation to mission," affirming further that -
The priest is always for the mission. Although being a priest entails personal fulfillment, one does not become one for oneself but for the People of God to enable them to know and love Christ. The starting point of this dynamic can only be found in an ever-deeper and impassioned love for Jesus, nurtured by a profound formation in the interior life and the study of the Word of God.
As Pope Francis pointed out, this key element in seminary formation finds a distinct recognition in the CICM initial formation, which, as enshrined in Art. 59 of the CICM Constitutions and reiterated by the 16th CICM General Chapter, "Initial formation is entirely geared to the religious missionary life as lived in our Institute. The various dimensions of our life must be present in each stage of initial formation and be integrated into its programs."
Moreover, the CICM General Guidelines for Initial Formation state, "Initial Formation shall stress the unity of the different dimensions of the missionary life we have chosen. A proper balance will be sought between studies, missionary-pastoral training, community life, and spiritual life," without forgetting the human development of each student confrere.
Formation must touch all dimensions of the person and orient them toward mission. The integral human and spiritual formation in CICM seminaries, which provides the formandi the holistic education of the mind, heart, and hands, aims at a selfless life of service, primarily to the poor, as shown by our Lord Jesus Christ. Hence, "it is important that in all stages, the program will lead the formandi to live ever more fully the CICM call and common vision". [GGIF #13]
In initial formation, God's call to every candidate is nourished in seminary life filled with discernment, dialogue, and openness to God's invitation. In other words, initial formation, which begins and is sustained by God's grace, requires the cooperation between formators and formandi to work together in humbly recognizing the fulfillment of God's call, especially for the student confreres concerned. Formators given the sensitive task are called upon to assume their equally vital role of accompanying the formandi. Yes, accompaniment is central to the work of seminary formation. Our Constitution says it clearly: "Each confrere in initial formation carries the primary responsibility for his own formation. With the help of the Lord and the accompaniment of the formation team, he tries to grow in his vocation." [Constitutions Art.73] In the first place, it is the student confrere himself who is responsible for his own formation. Initial formation always presupposes that every student is an adult who understands and can commit to a lifetime. On several occasions, Pope Francis said that formation is a work of Art, not a police action. Hence, the role of the formator is to mediate between the formandi and the main formator, God. The formator facilitates the dialogue between the formandi and God, thereby allowing God, the initiator of the call to formation, to take charge in the life of the formandi.
The formators' work of accompaniment includes the generosity to listen, understand, encourage, and challenge the formandi to go through the course of seminary life, give them a sense of purpose, and the heartfelt joy of being CICM. In his message to participants of a course for seminary rectors and formators of Latin America on November 10, 2022, Pope Francis said it very eloquently: "One of the indicators of human and spiritual maturity is the development and consolidation of the ability to listen and the Art of dialogue, which are naturally anchored in a life of prayer, where the formator enters into daily dialogue with the Lord, even in moments of aridity or confusion. For the service that a formator renders to his sisters and brothers, and in particular, for the work of a formator, the willingness to listen and to empathize with others, more than an instrument of evangelization, is precisely the environment where evangelization germinates, blossoms and bears fruit."
A good formator is an active listener, paying attention to the life stories, experiences, thoughts, and needs of those in formation. The willingness and openness of the formandi are crucial in this process. Formandi should reflect on their life history and be ready to share with their formators, as effective support depends on mutual openness [RF #94].
Collaboration requires transparency and honesty. While an animator needs vital spiritual stamina to be effective, our receptiveness to the Holy Spirit transforms the formation process. This leads to reciprocal learning between formandi and formators. Thus, mastering the art of listening demands skill, humility, and patience from the formator.
Since I started my work as a formator at Asia International Formation Community (AIFC), I would say that from my experience, a large part of accompanying our student confreres is devoted to listening to them, especially when they come for individual conferences or sharing. During these encounters, they do more of the speaking, and I do the listening. I have learned that part of listening to the student confreres is the Art of reiteration, affirming them and allowing them to speak from the heart, helping them identify and own their feelings and emotions. More importantly, it leads them to recognize God's grace and presence in their daily experiences and journeys. Again, it is not an easy task. It demands a lot of patience and humility. It is a challenging yet fulfilling ministry.
Seminary formation is crucial in nurturing a student's relationship with God through liturgy, prayer, and spiritual exercises. Prayer is foundational for our growth as missionaries, as emphasized in our Constitution (Art. 34). Pope Francis notes, "Missionaries of hope are men and women of prayer," highlighting that prayer is both a primary missionary activity and a source of hope. Additionally, the guidance of formators and shared journeys among formandi provide essential support in this process. In his address to seminary rectors, Pope Francis likens initial formation to a pilgrimage:
As pilgrims, we hear a call to step outside ourselves, embarking on a journey through various moments and stages until we reach our destination. Similarly, in priesthood formation, the goal is to become humble and merciful shepherds of the People of God, reflecting the Heart of Christ. Remember, you are not alone—do not hesitate to open your heart to the Lord and allow Him to guide and shape your life.
Student confreres from various national and cultural backgrounds come together for initial formation in our seminaries: CICM-ASIA International Formation Community (CICM-AIFC) in Quezon City, The Theophile Verbist Novitiate in Taytay, and Maryhurst Seminary in Baguio City, Philippines. CICM-AIFC features 13 nationalities from among its 36 confreres this school year. It is essential for these students to learn the values of community life, including mutual respect, dialogue, and conviviality.
As the 16th General Chapter recommended that interculturality be promoted in Initial Formation Communities, the Orientation Days at the beginning of the academic year 2024-2025 were focused on the theme, "Living in Intercultural Community at AIFC." We invited confrere-speakers to give sessions and share their lived experiences on the topic. It is noteworthy to mention that Maryhill School of Theology (MST) has also heeded the recommendation to include interculturality in its curricula. Moreover, the regular contact with different confreres in the field and with confreres on vacation or visit to the Philippines is an animating experience as it gives a concrete shape and a touch of realism to the missionary aspiration of our formandi.
While recognizing the efforts already made in the field of interculturality and internationality at AIFC, the formators must continue raising awareness and bearing witness to these essential aspects of our CICM Identity. The formators are called upon to make the student-confreres aware of the importance of this living in their training. This is crucial since how we organize ourselves as an international and multicultural community will affect how we deal with conflict. Our structures (committees, apostolate teams, room assignments, etc.) reflect how we deal with conflict. Animated by the spirit of charity, resolving conflicts in the community will result in mutual respect and acceptance. That is why internationality, interculturality, competence, and learning have to be highly considered as necessary conditions for allowing the gift of diversity to flourish through fraternal life.
Time and again, we remind ourselves that fraternal life in community is where one learns to accept others as gifts from God, accepting their positive traits along with their differences and limitations. It is through fraternal life that one learns to share the gifts received for the building up of all. It is through fraternal life that one learns the missionary dimension of consecration.
Consequently, for one's continual growth in the process of discernment and decision-making, a formandi is called to put trust in the wisdom of the spiritual director as a channel of God's word. Art. 60 states: "The accompaniment of a spiritual director is indispensable during the initial formation years." This Constitutional provision on spiritual accompaniment in initial formation is the basis of a healthy seminary life to which formandi subject themselves in goodwill and humility. Its indispensable character comes from deepening one's relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ, to whose invitation "Come, follow me" our formandi are summoned to consecrate themselves with courage, enthusiasm, and joy.
In this 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope, initial formation, which CICM RP-Province modestly hosts in union with the CICM General Government, constantly strives to seek new horizons, respond creatively, and effectively fulfill the mandates to help prepare future CICM missionaries. They are sent to the world to become agents of hope and proclaim to people the liberating reign of God, which is the source of all hope in meeting the challenges and opportunities of Initial Formation.
