1st Formators – Family Dialogue: “Parents and Priestly Vocation.”

Don Orione our Founder and the Constitution of the Little Work of Divine Providence (Sons of Divine Providence) at its Art. 39. say, “The parents of our religious are considered part of our religious family. Following the example and exhortations of our Founder, we foster lively gratitude towards them, our principal benefactors. We welcome them into our houses with cordiality.” What is said of religious could be said of the parents of our students. They are the first formators and benefactors of their children. They play a very important role in their formation and discernment process.

The experience here in the Philippines gives that on 100 cases of exist from the seminary, almost 70 to 75% are family related issues, that is to say, due to parents’ choices and decisions. The main argument when a boy asks to get out is “I would like to support my family in financial need” or “My mother or my father is sick, I need to find a work and help my brothers and sisters.” Thus, family has always been the well-found argument to leave the seminary.

Looking to this fact, the St. Luigi Orione Seminary, through the Formation Team has organized on this January 11, 2019, the 1^st Formators – Family Dialogue. That is a kind of open forum and exchange with the parents and guardians of the seminarians to reflect on how to collaborate in the formation of young boys willing to embrace religious life and priesthood.

This activity had for theme, “Parents and Priestly Vocation.”

For fact of history, since its official opening in October 1996, or as some say, back in 1994, until today, the Seminary has registered more than 500 young men entering with the dream to be religious or priests. However, very few have persevered till the end. We count today, two Filipino priests, one deacon and some 15 or 20 brothers in process of formation. That somehow alarming figure and statistic moves the formation team and all the Confreres together, to ask some more relevant question. So, it is with joy we welcomed this Formators – Family Dialogue.

Have answered positively to this invitation some 17 biological parents, kin and guardians or step parents of our 23 seminarians. Some came the way long from Bicol and Legazpi, Antique, Northern Samar, Metro Manila and Rizal. It was a beautiful family gathering with started with the mass and the meeting animated by the Superior of the Community and in charge of the Seminary, Fr. Stan Achi, FDP, assisted by Fr. Ramon Rosin, FDP, Vocation Promotor and Assistant Formator and the brothers, Bro. Czar Lawrence, FDP, Bro. Vijay Bereddy, FDP and Bro. Bryan Pacete, FDP.

This gathering ended with the late Christmas and New Year Celebration on January 12, the 2^nd Orionight of the Academic Year 2018-2019.

We hope, this dialogue and open forum will bear the expected fruits, that of genuine collaboration and cooperation between parents and formators in the discernment process of their children.