The recent Formation for Formators programme module turned out to be a time of grace for the participants. Fittingly the theme for this second module was “Spirituality and Formation”.

Module II of the JCAP Formation for Formators programme began with an overview of the Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific to give context to the significance and importance of ensuring that the quality of Jesuit formation remains high.

There followed two contemplative days in silent recollection and prayer, led by Fr Noel Vasquez SJ, Tertian Instructor of the Philippine Province, on “How God Accompanied Ignatius”. Fr Noel opened up for consideration and prayer aspects of Ignatius’ journey to conversion through selected sections of the “Autobiography”. Recurring themes for these two days were Ignatius’ emptying of the selfish self to be filled by Christ and his noting of God’s patience with him, the result of a great, compassionate heart.

On Day 3, Fr Norris Seenivisan SJ, JCAP Delegate for Formation, presented the history behind the document “A Profile of a Formed Jesuit for Asia-Pacific”, and then led the 23 participants in group discussions to identify common strengths and areas for growth in those being formed as well as important qualities and tasks needed in accompaniment.

In the following days, Fr Vic Baltazar SJ, Director of the Philippines Center of Ignatian Spirituality, guided the group in an exploration of the nature of religious experience, based on the works of Bernard Lonergan SJ, Andre Godin and William Barry SJ, as a preamble to an introduction to spiritual direction. They examined case studies in groups as a means of locating religious experience and employing skills to notice core interior facts that help to identify core religious experience. 

The participants were also introduced to a contemplative-evocative-incarnational approach to spiritual direction.  Ms Eva Galvey from the Emmaus Center for Psycho-Spiritual Formation in the Philippines highlighted that religious vocational formation is an engagement and development of the whole person, not simply training in skills to fulfil a role.  Among other things, this formation involves clarifying motivations and desires, and testing and discerning the capacity to live the desired state of life to which one believes one is being called. This capacity does not simply comprise intellectual capability, but also embraces spiritual, moral, physical and psychic healthiness.  The role of spiritual direction in religious vocational formation is pivotal, and Eva stressed that it is important that formators notice not only the desire a person brings into the spiritual direction relationship but also the person’s capacity to be formed and readiness for spiritual direction itself.

The participants also spent two days considering Hubert Hermans’ Dialogical Self Theory, under the guidance of Fr Michael Smith SJ, Dean of the Sentir Graduate College of Spiritual Formation in Australia. Basically, the theory proposes that the self is in fact a society of selves, of voices within us that are in dialogue.

Finally, Fr Bobby Buenconsejo SJ, Assistant Director and Former Director of Philippines Center of Ignatian Spirituality, led them through appreciating important “Helper Skills/Spiritual Direction Skills”, which included practicing with one another the various skills in real spiritual direction settings.

“What we took away from these sessions was a greater appreciation of the art and grace of spiritual direction, the necessity for regular practice, and the re-affirmation of the value of supervision for those giving spiritual direction,” said Fr Brendan Kelly SJ, Novice Director & Delegate for Jesuit Formation for the Australian Province.

Another participant remarked: “Learning the skills of helper/spiritual director was the most helpful topic for me as a formator. Over these days, what we discovered about spiritual direction was put into practice. It was not easy to apply theory to practice, but we did gain a better understanding of what was involved and learn better skills needed for good spiritual direction.”

This second module of the JCAP Formation for Formators Programme was held at the Manresa Retreat House in Quezon City, the Philippines, from August 4 to 15, 2014.