BIS #2781 GROWING IN UNDERSTANDING OF THE VOCATION GUIDANCE MINISTRY

Banzelao Teixeira sdb

TIRUCHY, FEBRUARY 01, 2012: On January 25, 2012, the Vocation guidance animators and directors of the Salesian South Asian provinces met at Tiruchy for the annual meeting. The day began with the Eucharistic celebration presided over by Fr. Joe Almeida, the Provincial of Guwahati Province and the delegate for vocation guidance at the SPCSA (Salesian Provincial Conference of South Asia). He invited the vocation directors to help young people discover their true selves, and to find their true place in life and in the world.

At the inaugural session, Fr. Doss Kennedy, the vice-provincial of Tiruchy Province, welcomed the participants to the province of Tiruchy and shared about the youth pastoral activities taking place in the province. Fr. Almeida read the letter of the Regional of South Asia (Fr. Maria Arockiam Kanaga) sharing his concerns on the important sector of vocation guidance in the Salesian youth ministry.

Fr. Brian Moras, the coordinator for vocation guidance, welcomed the resource person for the first day, Fr. Joseph Jeyaraj, the director of Don Bosco Psycho-spiritual services in Chennai.  In the first session, Fr. Jeyaraj introduced the gathering to the psychological challenges facing the young people of today. The group then discussed the appropriate responses and interventions required of Salesians of South Asia to address the challenges. The second session of the day focused on understanding the emotional maturity of youngsters. He stressed on the psychological growth taking place in a young person as he/she emerges into a young adult. He finally discussed the importance of psychological balance and affective maturity that is required of those joining priesthood and religious life. In the afternoon session, Fr. Jeyaraj administered a questionnaire to test the psychological well being of the participants over 6 dimensions namely autonomy, environmental mastery, personal growth, positive relationships, purpose in life, and self acceptance. He also showed how this questionnaire could be effectively used for probable candidates and thus usher their growth.  

In the evening session Fr Maria Charles, the youth ministry delegate for South Asia shared the impact of Vocational Guidance in the context of Rethinking of youth ministry.

The group looks forward to other important sessions on the second day of the meeting. This includes a Video conference with Fr. Fabio Attard, the General Councillor for youth pastoral and a session on Effectiveness in the vocation guidance ministry by Fr. Brian Moras.