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Origin of the Project:
As the General Administrations of the Society of Mary and the Daughters of
Mary Immaculate visited their Units over the recent years, they
recognized both the valuable efforts put forth by Units regarding
the preparation of candidates for perpetual vows and the
difficulties they faced.
The Administrations asked the International Center for Marianist Formation
(ICMF) to take initiative to survey the Units regarding their policies, practices,
and desires for enhancing their current efforts.
Development and Overview of the Project:
After several surveys and consultations within the SM and the FMI, the
ICMF gathered an international team of Marianist sisters and
brothers who developed two programs that seek to respond to the
needs expressed. Each program is adaptable to local contexts and
cultures.
The ICMF also believes that the materials are adaptable for use by other
branches in the Marianist Family and they are welcome to draw upon
these resources.
Stella Maris is a systematic series of Marianist
topics to enhance the preparation of temporary professed in the two, three
or more years prior to the petition for perpetual vows. A method of
readings, personal reflection, shared prayer and sharing with a formator and
candidates is provided.Click here
to access all of the materials in French, Spanish and English and
the information letters that accompany them.
The Spirit of Saragossa responds to the need expressed
by many for a more intense preparation of the candidate once they have been
approved for perpetual vows and before the actual ceremony of profession. A
significant number of responses to the consultations from all groups
asked for a type of retreat that was grounded in Marianist content
and method. Such a retreat has been developed and the first group
of formators was trained during a Seminar in March 2007 for Units
who wished to send formators to learn how to use and adapt the
retreat for their own context.Click here
to access the materials.
This initiative continues to grow. There is a Steering Committee which
is guiding the development: Teresa de Jesús Castro, FMI, (Chile);
Ignace Pagnan, SM (TO); Martin Solma, SM (EA).
Click here
to access a calendar showing the instances of the Spirit of Saragossa
Retreat and resource documents for conducting the retreat.
For more information on this project, contact the ICMF office:
icmf@notes.udayton.edu |
