Religious orders and movements have powerful and comprehensive formation programs and as a result, have many skilled formators and spiritual directors in their midst. Often formators need training in speaking about faith and the kerygma, or how to guide disciples into social outreach, so they can provide holistic support and avoid being people of only social outreach or only proclamation. Rather than remaining within their centres, Religious orders and movements can become a rich resource and support if they are able to offer this formation widely and onsite to parishes, schools and other ministries. Pope Francis points out through his long dissertation (EG 135-159) that it is essential for priests to be trained, appraised regularly and assisted in their homilies. Ongoing professional development and formation throughout the priesthood can help us to nurture confident, competent priests who can lead hope-filled communities which form and support genuine missionary disciples.
care. It is essential they provide a small surplus to fund missionary discipleship, or it will be impossible to continue a Catholic faith presence in these organisations and to initiate missionary outreach in the future. Our Australian Church has great potential to respond to Pope Francis’ first Apostolic Exhortation in many ways. If we are able to support an additional 1% of Catholics, which is 50,000 people, to access and experience quality formation, then we can nurture genuine missionary disciples who can help to transform our Church and who will live and work in Christs’ image and transform Australian society. As Church leaders, let us commit to letting God significantly change us and the Church so as to let the Spirit flow.
1http://www.sedosmission.org/web/en/component/ docman/doc_view/1825-the-continental-missionin-the-light-of-aparecida
Funding the formation of many missionary disciples will take a significant annual financial commitment. We can collect these financial contributions from Catholics schools, hospitals and aged
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THE FRANCIS EFFECT – LIVING THE JOY OF THE GOSPEL