MUMBAI, SEPTEMBER 19, 2011: The Vocation Commission of our Province which comprises of all the vocation promoters of the different regions meets thrice a year for formation, follow-up, fellowship and reporting. This is one of the most active commissions in the Province. The first of these meeting was held at our Aspirantate at Don Bosco Lonavla on September 15.
After a brief prayer and words of welcome by Fr. Brian Moras who heads the commission, we had a brief reporting on the plan of each vocation promoter for the coming year taking into account difficulties and other commitments as also different ways of coordinating with the Salesian Rectors in the region. In spite of the other ministries that they are involved in, the vocation promoters were encouraged to give quality time to the vocation ministry.
Our resource person for the meeting was Fr. Ajoy Fernandes, our Vice-Provincial. Using well prepared power-points, he enlightened the group on combining Career Guidance with Vocation Promotion. The Congregation is very keen on the Vocation Guidance Dimension in our work with the young; that is helping the youngster find meaning and purpose in life by helping him/her discover God’s plan in their lives. We then took a journey into the Confidential Forms which were to be filled in by each Vocation Promoter for their candidates selected for Don Bosco Lonavla. Explaining the form, Fr. Moras enlightened the group about the recommendations by the Congregation and the Province regarding selecting possible candidates and the processes to be followed in this. One of the crucial points here was, ‘Do we know the youngsters whom we are recruiting’. The above two sessions elicited fruitful sharing and clarifications by the vocation promoters, some of whom were newly appointed in the Ministry.
Suggestions for revisions of the Province EPP on Vocation Guidance were taken up briefly. We planned to complete this in our next meeting in December.
We are very grateful to the Rector, Fr. Cletus and the community of Don Bosco Lonavla for the good arrangements made for the meeting. Post meeting, each vocation promoter was gifted with a packet of the legendary Lonavla Chikki by the administrator Bro. Savio D’Mello.