36TH NATIONAL CONVENTION ASSOCIATION OF WOMEN FORMATORS OF THE PHILIPPINES (AWFP)
The Association of Women Formators of the Philippines (AWFP) held its 36th National Convention last February 12 – 16, 2015 at the Carmelite Missionaries Spirituality Center in Tagaytay.
IThe Association of Women Formators of the Philippines (AWFP) held its 36th National Convention from February 12 to 16, 2015, at the Carmelite Missionaries Spirituality Center in Tagaytay.
The convention was attended by 181 formators representing 76 women religious congregations. The Hijas de Jesus Congregation was represented by Sisters Felisa Molina, Bema Solis, and Rosemarie Gaitan.
The convention took its theme from Pope Francis’ opening message for the Year of Consecrated Life addressed to consecrated men and women: “Grateful Remembering … Living with Passion … Embracing the Future with Hope … An Invitation to Formation.” Its goal was “rekindling the joy of living our Consecrated Life, radiating its beauty as mystics and prophets of our time.”
Four guest speakers were invited to share their wisdom and experiences and to present challenges to the formators. Their presentations focused on the four fidelities spoken of in the Second Vatican Council’s Perfectae Caritatis, the decree on the renewal of religious life:
The convention was formally opened with a keynote address by Cardinal Luis Antonio G. Tagle, D.D. (Chito), delivered through a video presentation, as he was in Rome at the time. He began by presenting three important “Prenotes on Formation”:
First, candidates come to us already shaped and formed by their past experiences. We are therefore invited to recognize and appreciate the opportunities for further formation that are already present in them.
Second, formation addresses the whole person. Thus, all aspects of formation must be interconnected and integrated with one another.
Third, we need to create an atmosphere that enables candidates to take responsibility for their own formation seriously. This requires an atmosphere of openness and trust, in which candidates can allow us to enter into their lives so that we may accompany them as companions on their journey and as co-discerners.
Cardinal Tagle then developed the theme of the convention by reflecting on JOY in Consecrated Life—the importance of forming the heart and recognizing the mysterious work of God in the lives of the poor. He also spoke of radiating BEAUTY as mystics and prophets by striving to live as Jesus lived. (See excerpts from the talk at the end of this article.)
The homilies of the invited priests also centered on the theme of the convention, deepening and complementing the topics presented by the guest speakers. The sharing of different ways of praying, drawn from the various spiritual traditions of the participants, enriched the Morning and Evening Prayer experiences. Some participants even commented that attending the convention felt like experiencing a renewal.
The convention also included business meetings and the election of a new set of officers, contributing to the continuing life and development of the Association. To strengthen the bonds of friendship and maintain a healthy balance between work and recreation, a day of relaxation and fellowship was also organized.
As part of the organizing team—I served as Vice-Chair of the Executive Committee, while Sr. Bema served as editor of the Association’s newsletter—we had the opportunity to work alongside women religious representing different spiritual traditions within the Church. This experience deepened my appreciation of the beauty and importance of collaboration in strengthening the Church’s evangelizing mission.
The experience also allowed me to exercise communal discernment as we worked together for two years in preparing the convention and planning the ongoing formation of formators in the National Capital Region (NCR).
During the convention itself, we felt the presence of the Holy Spirit guiding the entire gathering. There was a remarkable unity in the presentations of the speakers, active participation among the participants, and a willingness to transcend differences and overcome the obstacles encountered by the organizers. Above all, there was a spirit of generosity and self-giving among everyone involved.
The whole experience was deeply humbling, trust-filled, and hopeful. In many ways, we experienced the very goal of the convention: “the rekindling of the joy of living our Consecrated Life, radiating its beauty as mystics and prophets.” We pray that this joy and renewed spirit will continue to grow as we return to the realities of our communities and missions.
All for the greater glory of God!
By Sr. Felisa Molina, F.I.