The meeting of the Formation Delegates of the Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific (JCAP) was planned with a clear mandate from the JCAP President: to strengthen the formation of both Jesuits and mission partners.
Formation Delegates from Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, Malaysia-Singapore, Timor-Leste, Chinese Province, Korea, Japan, and Australia, together with Fr Riyo Mursanto SJ, JCAP Delegate for Formation, gathered in Bali, Indonesia from 30 April to 5 May to discuss and address this mandate.
The meeting highlighted the formation of our mission partners, with three resource speakers who shared their experiences and expertise on the topic: Fr Nano Setyodarmono SJ, who is responsible for the formation of mission partners in the Indonesian Province, Sr Caroline of the Charles Borromeo sisters, who shared her experience of working with the Jesuits in Indonesia, and Eva Galvey, a lay partner to the Jesuits of the Philippine Province who moved everyone with her personal sharing of her mission.
At the beginning of the meeting, it became evident that the formation delegates, who were mostly new to their roles, were primarily concerned with matters related to the formation of Jesuits and getting acclimated to their office. While the call to formation of mission partners was necessary and needed immediate action, the sharing of experiences, resources, and even job description of a formation delegate became the primary concern of the group.
Throughout the meeting, the delegates were guided by the opening remarks and insights of JCAP President Fr Tony Moreno SJ and Formation Assistant of the Society of Jesus Fr Mark Ravizza SJ. Among the topics discussed were the Ignatian meaning of the word “probar” (trying, testing, tasting), the new international and multi-cultural dimension of formation, inter-culturalisation in formation, formation tracking and follow up, and the use and benefit of the Profile of Formed Jesuits.
The primary grace of the Spirit was to equip the delegates and make us aware of our call to strengthen, improve, and update the formation of Jesuits, and to contribute to the enhancement of the formation of our mission partners through their own formation and the formation of Jesuits.
Filipino Jesuit Fr Joseph Lester C Maramara is the Socius and Formation Delegate of the Jesuit Region of Timor-Leste.