From November 24 to 28, the General Secretariat for Formation held its meeting at the General House in Rome, in an atmosphere marked by fraternity, dialogue, and committed work. The days were dedicated to a careful review of the current challenges of Redemptorist formation and to discerning concrete responses for the life of the Congregation.
A central focus of the meeting was the revision and updating of the Formation Manual (2009 / Manuale Formatorum). This process is being carried out in light of the Ratio Formationis Generalis (2020) and the Church’s present guidelines. The work involved identifying the elements to be preserved, those needing improvement, and those no longer adequate, as well as detecting areas requiring new content.
An essential outcome of this work is the decision to reorganize the Manual by stages of formation, thereby offering greater coherence to the formative journey. Particular attention was given to the explicit inclusion of ongoing formation and to the formation of Brothers, ensuring a more comprehensive and unified approach across the Congregation.
The meeting also addressed the implementation of several decisions of the XXVI General Chapter. In particular, reference was made to the renewal program for confreres after ten years of full-time ministry, to formation in common, and to other capitular orientations currently in process. These elements were considered within a broader vision of fidelity to the charism and responsiveness to present missionary needs.
Throughout the days, our meetings and discussions reflected the five dimensions of Redemptorist formation: human, spiritual, community, academic, and pastoral. Prayer, the Eucharist, and the celebration of the Jubilee Year were integral to the rhythm of the meeting, nourishing both personal and communal life. Alongside study and planning, time was also devoted to fraternity and to shared life as concrete expressions of formation in community.
The meeting concluded with gratitude for the work accomplished and with renewed commitment to serve the Congregation through accompaniment, discernment, and formative responsibility, in fidelity to the Redemptorist mission and in openness to the signs of the times.
Fr. Remi Hebert, C.Ss.R.
San Antonio, Texas
