Roger Nshono M., cicm
General Councilor
Many religious communities are confronted with what can be called the "crisis of vocations", the lack of human and material resources. The crisis is one reason that slows down our momentum to undertake new initiatives. In almost all our entities, the number of active confreres is decreasing. During our Provincial Assemblies and various meetings, the question of human and financial resources comes up repeatedly, causing some confreres to have doubts and anxieties about the future of the Congregation. There are several ways out of this crisis – one is the quality of initial formation, which must be based on exemplary authenticity of life with honesty and transparency in managing what we have.
Vocational guidance and initial formation for a changing world
In the almost obsessive search for candidates, we tend to engage in a particular "attraction operation". One young man told me that he had been attracted by the words of a "vocations promoter" who said that the CICM was a safe channel for traveling the world. Theophile Verbist advised against this type of attitude. In letter no. 394 addressed to J. Bax and T. Rutjes on February 24, 1867, he wrote: "I still think that Wilrycx should stay in Scheut for a year to do his novitiate properly and to consider carefully whether he will be able to bear the apostolate in Mongolia, which is hard. I don't want to deceive anyone."
In his June 7, 2023, catechesis, Pope Francis reminds us that "faith is born of attraction" and not of proselytism and/or force. Many of us were attracted by the exemplary lifestyle of the missionaries. Article 57 of our Constitutions reminds us, "We all have a responsibility to help young people discern God's call to them. The witness of a vocation lived in joy and fidelity will help some of them to discover that God is calling them to the religious missionary life. We then invite them to join us." Authenticity and joy are always contagious for those who are searching for meaning in their lives. In a world where everything seems unstable and changing, stable and solid lives, with a good dose of prophecy and daring, have an extraordinary power of attraction and reassurance.
There was a time when it was easy to recruit many young people in the parishes served by the CICM confreres. It was easier for these young people to understand the CICM charisma and spirituality through how the brothers lived and worked. I visited a formation community where more than 80% of the young people came from non-CICM parishes. For these young people, the witness of the formators and student confreres who welcome them for community experiences can compensate, especially during the first years of formation.
The capitulants of the 16th General Chapter emphasize that "the enthusiasm with which one speaks of one's past missionary experiences, the fraternal understanding between the members of the team, a simple life, the sharing of tasks with those in formation, humility and an attitude of closeness while knowing how to maintain a healthy distance, are elements that speak to young people more than theories." (Proceedings of the 16th General Chapter of the CICM, p. 34). The confreres responsible for accompanying the young people must be people who believe in the CICM and its mission. Their task is to help them embrace a CICM culture, a new family called CICM, and a new language, the CICM language. This language is made up of a rich lexicon: internationality, interculturality, universal brotherhood, confreres, Ad extra, Ad intra, Ad gentes, Cor unum et Anima una, Divine providence, Our Lady of Grace, Immaculate Heart of Mary, Incarnate Word, integration, adaptation, endurance, creativity, pioneering, JPIC, French and English, humor, simplicity of life, Chronica, Elenchus ... The young people who arrive know these words but do not know what they mean to us CICM. From the first years of the IF, they must be initiated and evaluated on the basis of the essential components of our life by elders who are convinced and convinced by their lifestyle.
Faced with the crisis of availability
One of the essential steps in guaranteeing the future of our religious family is the selection of formators. The 16th General Chapter insists that "the choice of formators merits a thorough discernment. It will be based on the opinions of the Provincial Superiors and other confrères who can help (the General Government) in this discernment." (Acts, pp. 33-34)
One of the criteria for the selection of formators is what Art. 74 of our Constitutions calls "positive missionary experience." We must admit that humanly speaking, it is not easy to leave behind a positive experience where one feels appreciated by the people of God, the local Ordinary, and the religious superiors. We are often happy to work and live where we feel useful and gratified. Making oneself available to leave this stimulating and exciting ministry is a sacrifice. In this moment of the "test of the vow of obedience," one of the strategies consists of contemplating Jesus inviting Simon and those who were with him to go elsewhere, to leave the place where the crowds needed him because of the miracles he had performed, to go towards the unknown, where he had no guarantee of being accepted. This decision to go elsewhere is preceded by a time of prayer in a deserted place (cf. Mk 1:29-39).
The ministry of formators is similar to that of parents. They have had to stay up all night to see their children grow. Likewise, for formators, it is necessary to get up early, follow the program of the houses of formation, live soberly, accept criticisms from colleagues in the field and from students, adjust one's way of forming to the orientations of the Church and the Congregation, and welcome the canonical visits of Superiors, members of the GG, auditors, and the likes, every year. I believe such an experience is fruitful regarding personal maturation and sanctification on our journey towards the Kingdom.
Although called to lead a life that inspires young people to serve the Lord joyfully, formators will not lose sight of the fact that they must be inspired by the model of the formator par excellence: Christ. They are called upon to develop the diversity of means that Jesus used to attract the disciples he chose to him. They will also familiarize themselves with the way Jesus acted with those he called, such as the dispositions he sought to develop in them. That is why they must be familiar with the Word of God and friends of Christ par excellence. In this way, developing a great deal of flexibility in the hands of God, new attitudes will gradually develop in the young people in formation. They will become familiar with the voice of God, with his mysterious and delicate way of acting with people, and will gradually become docile to divine inspirations. Their affection for Jesus will grow to the point where they will want to follow no one but Jesus and exclaim, like Saint Peter: "To whom shall we go?" (Jn 6: 68)
Hence, it is essential to have spiritual accompaniment and personal meetings with each candidate. Unfortunately, for many young people in formation, there is a lack of enthusiasm for these spiritual exercises. The most deplorable are those who persist in this negligence, even in their country of mission, allowing themselves to be carried away by the solicitations of a world characterized by ambient materialism.
Financial Management for Initial Formation (IF)
Some houses of formation face financial problems in order to function. To prevent this risk, our religious family has developed effective management procedures, which are contained in our General Guidelines for Financial Administration and Appendix VI-6 of Vade-mecum B for Provincial Administration. The policy of funds invested for Initial Formation and congregational solidarity has been set up to help form our candidates effectively. Hence, there is a constant appeal to the generosity of the provinces so that they continue to contribute to congregational solidarity and respect the profits generated by the fund invested for IF, which is not to be used for other purposes.
The financial crisis in our houses of formation is sometimes the expression of insufficient knowledge of the financial policy of the Congregation, both on the part of the formators and of the Provincial Governments. For this reason, during the training of new members of the Provincial Governments, a financial initiation program has been added to help them make more informed decisions regarding financial management. Similarly, all formators, not just the community treasurer, are expected to be familiar with the community's financial situation for which they are responsible and to draw up realistic budgets. They are also responsible for introducing young people to financial management and identifying those with the most outstanding aptitude in this area. There is no doubt that transparent and honest financial management is an effective way of being a witness, especially in a world where money tends to become the master.
A minimum of good conditions is required to ensure that our young people receive a good education. Establishing a luxurious lifestyle in our formation houses is out of the question. Moreover, articles 38 and 39 of our DGFI remind us of this: "Our simple lifestyle expresses our preference for the poor. We help each other to adopt this lifestyle. Our clothing, our food, and our material will be simple. Our houses will be modest and adapted to local situations." We are happy that most of our formation houses have been established among people of simple means. It is an educational strategy that helps our young people to be close to the poor, "privileged recipients of the Kingdom of God." (CICM Constitutions Art. 2)
Finally, aware that Initial Formation remains a priority for our religious family, the GG is organizing this year the 5th edition of the Continuing Education for all CICM formators, under the theme, "Initial Formation in a Changing World”. In this changing world, we need formation emphasizing witness rather than fine words. By observing Jesus' way of doing things, we realize that he was always with his disciples, involving them in his mission of compassion for the crowds, making them witnesses of his prayer life, and seizing the opportunities of everyday life to instruct them. Whether it is a question of the stage of vocational animation, of life in a house of formation, or of the missionary training course, we need authentic witnesses to help us grow on the path to perfection and docile young people to learn and take on the form of Christ and thus become the effective witnesses of His presence.
