A Joint Formation Experience in East Asia
On October 9-12, 2019, a total of Twenty Six (26) participants composed of Eleven (11) Brothers and Fifteen (15) laity participated in the East Asia Joint Formation Experience held at the Marist Asia Spirituality and Mission Center, Lake Sebu, Philippines.
The Joint Formation Experience is an opportunity characterized by a sense of community engaged in a prayerful and creative sharing of faith journey, and openness and sensitivity to the Spirit’s inspirations. Following the Appreciative Inquiry process, the team of facilitators from the Secretariat of Laity spearheaded by Pep Buetas (Barcelona), Carole Wark (Australia) and Br. Elias Iwu (Nigeria) with Ms. Elma Rafil, Marjorie Rañeses and the laity leaders of animation engaged the participants to a process of reflection on key formative themes on discovering distinct and common vocations, dreaming of a future of communion and co-responsibility, and designing provocative proposals that could chart destiny of a revitalized Marist life in East Asia. The process helped the participants recognize their own strengths that capacitated them in building up shared inspiring images for the desired future. Present in the event was Br. Sylvain, link Councilor for the Laity.
Natallee Faith Kwan, a lay participant from Malaysia shared her thoughts about the program: “…the Joint Formation has opened for me many doors of possibilities as a stepping stone to start walking the Marist way of life”. And Br. Arnel Alfanta from Philippines, expressed: “…the whole experience was a thought-provoking one that made me feel wonderfully worried! I feel wonderfully worried because the experience has challenged me to move out of my comfort zones, and to start dreaming big dreams for the future of Lay Partnership in the context of the realities of Marist East Asia Province. This formation program is already a concrete response to one of the six priorities of the 5th Provincial Chapter, and I am just so glad that I am part of it.”