The Salesian Pontifical University, through the Institute of Vocational Pedagogy of the Faculty of Educational Sciences and the Department of Formation of the Salesian Congregation, promotes an annual continuing education course for vocational formators for the consecrated life and the diocesan clergy, as well as for animators of religious communities.
The course stems from the need to address the requirement for the professional development of formators serving in consecrated life and the diocesan clergy. Its aim is to provide comprehensive—spiritual and pedagogical—training to those engaged in this field. The primary focus is on reviewing the methodological approach to initial and seminary formation, aligning it with the directives of the apostolic exhortation Vita Consecrata e Pastores Dabo Vobis and recent Documents and Guidelines.
The program explores spiritual, biblical-theological, anthropological, ecclesial-charismatic, and pedagogical-experiential dimensions within an interdisciplinary framework that examines spiritual, theological, and anthropological aspects in light of the unfolding of one's vocation.
Objectives
- Pedagogically re-qualify formators for consecrated and diocesan life
- Reflecting on accompanying vocations
- Knowing oneself for authentic spiritual and pedagogical renewal
- Review the initial and seminary formation process in light of the new documents
- Develop a continuous training and pedagogical qualification pathway for existing trainers who wish to update their professional skills
Target audience
- Those responsible for the initial formation of consecrated vocations and for diocesan seminaries
- Heads of continuing education courses
- Community facilitators
- Members of provincial, diocesan, or international teams for the promotion of vocations
Themes and topics
- Spiritual dimension: experiencing life in the Spirit to initiate inner growth; development of prayer, sacramental, and liturgical life; training in spiritual accompaniment, discernment, and the study of spiritual texts; and the study of spiritualities and the development of spiritual life throughout the history of the Church
- Biblical-theological dimension: the Magisterium and consecrated life, priestly life, the study of vocation and its discernment, reflection on the ministry of consecrated life and priestly life within the Church
- Anthropological dimension: contemporary cultural challenges to vocation, sociological understanding of the youth world, psychological and sociological approaches to vocation, psychology of formation, issues surrounding crisis situations and the associated accompaniment
- Ecclesial/charismatic dimension: Christian states of life, charisms and ecclesial communion, relational life and the experience of fraternal and community life, priestly life, consecrated life and the local church, the Church's mission and inculturation, integrating one's life into comprehensive pastoral care and the local territory
- Pedagogical/experiential dimension: work on reviewing and navigating one’s own life, lectures, group work, research and seminars, training methods and tools, the trainer and the training team, ratio formationis at various levels, personal guidance and formative interviews, and phased training pathways.
Methodology
The plan includes:
- The unified and continuous linking of content, the openness to interdisciplinarity, and the attention paid to the pedagogical and methodological aspects of vocational formation—connected with the theological, spiritual, anthropological, and pedagogical dimensions of vocational identity and vocational unfolding
- Systematic lectures, seminars, round tables, study and research groups
- Visits to institutions, communities and centers of interest relevant to the Course, as well as significant experiences
- Time set aside for personal, spiritual and psychological renewal, and for community prayer
- Residential living week
Participation fees
The registration fee, including teaching materials and various laboratory activities, cohabitations and trips, is equal to € 1.800,00.