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Session on Ongoing Formation - P 7 |
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Written by Fr. Augusto Rojas Valdivia, A.A.
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Friday, 19 September 2008 |
Rome, August 18 to September 6, 2008
In the footsteps of Father d’Alzon, belonging and charism
As foreseen in the schedule, on Monday September 1, we began the third and final week of the session. The theme: In the footsteps of Father d’Alzon, belonging and charism.
During the entire forenoon on Monday, guided by Fr. Jean-Paul Périer-Muzet, we made the rounds in Rome of the most significant places in the life of our Venerable Founder, places where he either lived or did certain things.
After that, we tried to answer the following two questions, first
personally, then in small groups: (a) suppose that Fr. d’Alzon were to
ask you, who am I? (b) among all of Fr. d’Alzon’s writings, which one
touched me the most? and why?
Monday the 2nd, Fr. Jean-Paul presented the theme: How to learn about
the Founder? For that, he gave an excellent talk, giving us some clues
as to how to read the Founder and a classification of his writings. In
work groups, we exchanged ideas on our belonging to the Assumptionists
at the level of the local community, of the province, and of the
congregation.
Wednesday the 3rd, we were asked to come up with an answer to the
question: Is it possible to interpret a text of Fr. d’Alzon in a way
that is inspirational for our time? We took as an example the second
Letter to the Masters of Novices. Jean-Paul analyzed the text, and we
all agreed that this letter retains all of its relevance for us today.
In the afternoon, as we pursued the theme of belonging to the
Assumptionists, Fr. Daniel Gillier, a missionary in Plovdiv (Bulgaria),
shared his experience with us and then helped us discover the richness
of the Byzantine Rite. The Eucharist on that day was therefore
celebrated in this rite.
Thursday the 4th, Fr. Jean-Paul gave us a critical evaluation of the
bibliographies on Fr. Emmanuel d’Alzon, insisting especially on the
resources that are available to us for making our Founder known. In
the afternoon, some of the participants who are or who have been
missionaries in countries other than their own shared with us their
sense of belonging to the Assumption.
Fr. Augusto Rojas Valdivia, A.A.
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 25 September 2008 )
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