Training program in Avila for Carmelite Formators from Europe, Lebanon and Egypt

( www.carmelitaniscalzi.com ) From 25th January to the following Friday the 29th, around forty formators from Italy, Portugal, France, Hungary, Poland, Croatia, Austria, Belgium, Malta, Spain, Lebanon and Egypt took part in the European Meeting for training Formators which was held at the St Teresa-St John of the Cross International Centre in Avila.

Fr Pascual Gil, President of the European Conference of Provincials and the Provincial of Aragon and Valencia, welcomed the participants on the evening of the first day. He took the opportunity during his address to place in context these European meetings for formators, which began in Wadowice (Poland) in 2006.

In his talk, he pointed out the special features of this meeting, organized by the Iberian Conference of Provincials, who had invited all those in charge of formation and vocational discernment for candidates to the Teresian Carmel throughout Europe, Lebanon and Egypt.

“Discerning the call. Evaluating vocations” was the topic of this meeting directed by the Jesuit, Luis María García. The formators reflected on important aspects such as “The vocational interview” and “Evaluating vocations” which included topics such as discerning vocations, how to guide someone with a vocation, as well as different questions concerning human maturity.

On the last day, Fr Franciso Brändle, the prior of the monastery in the house where St Teresa was born, gave a conference on “Saint Teresa the formator”. Afterwards, the formators had the opportunity to acquaint themselves with the Carmelite monastery and church.

Published: 26.12.2010