Some guidelines for formation to communication Donato Lacedonio, SDB
He was born in Andria near Barletta, Italy. For several years, he was Delegate for Social Communications in his province. He was incharge of ANS from 2005-2013 and currently in UPS.
Introduction Formation of Salesians is one of the hot topics in the Congregation. Proposed once again by the Rector Major as “an absolutely vital priority”315, formation challenges us to reflection and action on more than one front. This contribution aims at being an aid to understanding how attention paid to communication, and social communication in particular, cannot be ignored in Salesian religious formation, either in initial or ongoing formation. Focused mainly as it does on the authenticity of Salesian religious identity and vocational fidelity, formation has to take account of intrinsically dynamic situations and circumstances. On the one hand there is the young Salesian and the formator, and on the other, the socio-cultural (and pastoral) context they both find themselves in, plus elements of Church and Salesian tradition brought to life by the developing understanding we have of them. In the pages to follow we will give particular attention to two roles: formators, called on to offer a model of Salesian life (consecrated and apostolic) and guide the formation curriculum; confreres in the first stages of formation, who are children of their times and play an active part in their own formation. As already indicated, however, these pages are written for all Salesians, responsible for their own formation, so what we say here is not limited to certain initial stages of formation and just requiring qualities on the part of others. Each Salesian needs to be involved in a dynamic interplay between his consecration and the mission and living out, day by day, the dedication that Don Bosco showed for his boys: “For you I study, for you I work, for you I live and for you I am also ready to give my life”. The issue is certainly a broad and complex one, and this is why it is good to note that the arguments presented are but some of the ones that explore the issue as a whole; they are also just brief hints.
FR PASCUAL CHÁVEZ, Vocation and formation: gift and task, AGC 416.
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