From May 19-30, in Cartago, Costa Rica, Capuchin Conference of Latin America (CCH) formators gathered for the Schola Fratrum meeting. These brothers engaged in formation attended with the intention of deepening their grasp of our charism and reflecting on their service in the Order.
The Schola Fratrum is a means for reflection on formation, focused toward updating the Ratio Formationis Ordinis in each circumscription and paving the way for implementation of the conferences Ratio Formationis Localis. It is not only a meeting for formators but can extend its reach out to all the brothers in their respective circumscriptions, since formation is not only about the initial stages, but also about ongoing formation.
This was the second meeting and with it concludes the two-year-long first cycle of the Schola Fratrum for formators. During these two weeks there have been personal meetings and psychological training. In addition, there was an opportunity to reflect on the evangelical vows (living without anything of ones own, in obedience and in chastity), with the guidance of psychologist Abraham ……. (Mexico), who participated as an instructor during these two years. In the second week, Fr. Eusebio Hernández Mendoza (CCH formation secretary) led a reflection on the different stages of formation, gathering impressions that can help the CCH formation journey.
The meeting was also a time for prayer and fraternity, as well as an opportunity to reflect deeply on our stages of formation. It was a time of grace, a kairos, in which the friars expressed their desire to renew their commitment to the Order and to continue formation ministry in their regions.
A fairly substantial number of conference circumscriptions participated in this two-year journey (the Custodies of Northern and Southern Mexico, the Custody of the Dominican Republic, the Custody of Puerto Rico, the two Custodies of Central America, the Custody of Venezuela, the Province of Peru, the Province of Argentina, the Custodies of Paraguay, and the Delegation of Bolivia).