Questionnaire SDB Priests upto 5 Years of Ordination

DIREZIONE GENERALE OPERE DON BOSCO Via della Pisana, 1111 P. 18333-00163 ROMA - Tel. 06.656.121 Fax: 06.65612556 http://www.sdb.org DEPARTMENTS FOR FORMATION AND YOUTH MINISTRY General Councillor for Formation, Fr. Ivo Coelho, SDB icoelho@sdb.org General Councillor for youth Ministry, Fr. Fabio Attard, SDB fattard@sdb.org Questionnaire SDB Priests upto 5 Years of Ordination Dear Confreres, The Formation and the Youth Ministry Departments together are conducting an international survey in order to strengthen the personal accompaniment of the Salesians in the initial stages of the formation: from Pre- Novitiate to the first five years of the Priestly Ordination. The specific formation for the Salesian Brothers after their Perpetual Profession is also taken into account. This research is a first of its kind, which is focused especially on the personal accompaniment and the spiritual growth of confreres. We ask you sincerely to collaborate in this research, which is in continuity with the process started with formation houses at international level. Please go through carefully the questionnaire given below, and fill up with sincerity and accuracy. Your contribution will be of great help to respond to a line of action proposed by the 27th General Chapter. The individual privacy is respected and guaranteed. The filled-in questionnaire is to be handed over unsigned in a sealed envelope to the person in charge of the survey. The answers will be analyzed and elaborated only in the statistical format by our Salesian University in Rome. In the name of Don Bosco we greet you and thank you for your availability, Ivo Coelho, SDB Fabio Attard, SDB

In the context of a society characterized by pluralism and rapid changes, the evolving nature of each individual and the quality and fruitfulness of our apostolic religious life call for a continuation of our formation after the initial phases. We try to grow in our human qualities, to conform ourselves more closely to Christ, and to renew our fidelity to Don Bosco, so that we can respond to the ever new demands arising from the situation of the young and the poor. Through personal and community initiatives we nurture our salesian spiritual life, ensure our theological and pastoral updating, and develop our professional competence and our apostolic inventiveness (C 118). Living in the midst of the young and in constant contact with working-class surroundings, the salesian tries to discern the voice of the Spirit in the events of each day, and so acquires the ability to learn from life s experiences. He sees his ordinary activities as effective means of formation, and he also makes use of any other means of formation that may be offered him. Even when he is fully occupied he finds opportunities for renewing the religious and pastoral meaning of his life and of learning to carry out his work with greater competence. He also feels it make the best formative use of any situation, and to see it as a favorable opportunity for growing in his vocation (C 119). The local community is the natural environment for vocational growth (FSDB 220), where the confrere places himself with trust and collaborates responsibly. The very life of the community, united in Christ and open to the needs of the times, is itself formative. Driven by charity, everyone becomes the necessary and indispensable protagonist of his formation that is always a self-formation. In fact non one can substitute the person in his freedom and responsibility (FSDB 216). The Salesian takes on this task, taking the rule of life as his reference and involving himself in the daily experience and the formative journey of the community. He acquires an ever-deeper knowledge of himself, cultivates the different aspects of his person and undertakes to be a docile tool in the hands of the Lord for the completion of the mission. He accepts asceticism and tackles the struggles involved in fidelity to his vocation. One of the concrete ways to express his own responsibility in formation is to have the personal project of life. In it, each confrere outlines the type of Salesian he feels he is called to be and the path he must follow in becoming that, always in tune with Salesian values. He checks periodically in dialogue with his Rector his progress in achieving his goal. 1. Starting from the personal and community experience you are living today in the work/house you are assigned to after having concluded your studies in the houses of formation, indicate what according to you have been and are even today the positive and qualifying strengths that have helped you to grow (1). in the ability to live day by day with the confreres of the community [please write in capital letters] (2). in the ability to live day by day with your lay collaborators [please write in capital letters] SDB QUESTIONNAIRE: PRIESTS UPTO 5 YEARS OF ORDINATION - 2 OF 18

(3). in discovering the depth of spiritual life [please write in capital letters] (4). in the life of serving others, especially the youth [please write in capital letters] (5). in basically feeling well [please write in capital letters] (6). If there are other things that have helped you to grow you can add them freely here below: [please write in capital letters] 2. Among the opportunities for growth you have been presented with during these years after your initial formation, which do you think you have really made use of? [please write in capital letters] 3. What have you really felt as an obstacle or block that has made your journey of these years more difficult? [please write in capital letters] SDB QUESTIONNAIRE: PRIESTS UPTO 5 YEARS OF ORDINATION - 3 OF 18

4. Compared to the regular rhythm of life in formation houses, where there is an effort to guarantee time and quality for community life and prayer though with the limits of each community, which is never perfect probably it is possible that there is not the same environment in your present community of active life. First of all you may be the only young confrere with others much older to you and you may have to follow a routine with a lot of pastoral and educational activity that engage you. In short, the situation has now changed. Can you try to indicate how you evaluate yourself today as a salesian in your spiritual journey and growth on the following common elements of our dialogue with the Lord: [choose only one response per line] (1) Fidelity to daily personal prayer. (2) The importance of meeting with a spiritual guide. (3) Active and conscious participation in the daily celebration of the Eucharist. (4) Regular celebration of the sacrament of reconciliation / confession (as a penitent besides being a confessor if I am a priest). (5) Active and attentive participation in the Liturgy of the Hours. (6) Meditation lived as an intense moment of prayer, listening and spiritual nourishment. (7) The practice of praying the Liturgy of the Hours also personally (taken up as a public responsibility before the Church in the diaconate). I have not maintained the same conviction I had and I feel little motivated to grow in this direction I feel that I am making good progress in this direction It is becoming an essential element of my style of life and I am faithful SDB QUESTIONNAIRE: PRIESTS UPTO 5 YEARS OF ORDINATION - 4 OF 18

5. What practices lived during the stages of your initial formation continue to help you more to reach the specific objectives of formation which is now continuous and on going? [cross the square, it is possible to mark more than one response] (1) Daily Eucharist. (2) Periodical recollections (monthly and trimonthly). (3) Members of the community. (4) Formative provincial meetings for SDB in the first 5 years of ordination. (5) Study of Don Bosco and of his charism. (6) Openness to others, to other cultures. (7) Atmosphere of listening, acceptance and sharing in the religious community. (8) Spiritual direction / accompaniment. (9) Community meetings for planning and evaluation of pastoral activities. (10) The structure itself at my disposal (house, ambient ). (11) Community life. (12) The Word of God. (13) Community prayer. (14) Personal prayer. (15) Fidelity to the sacrament of reconciliation. (16) Fidelity to meditation. (17) The annual retreat. (18) Fraternal correction. (19) Manual work. (20) Silence. (21) Interiorization of proposed values. (22) Ministry or apostolate with the young and children. (23) Personal meeting and friendly chat with the rector of the house. (24) My efforts to be a contemplative in action. (25) Sharing with other salesian communities (province level meetings). (26) Search for the typical salesian synthesis of activity and prayer, education and spirituality. (27) Readings, reflections and personal studies on salesian pedagogy, the preventive system and on spiritual themes and authors. (28) A serene and good atmosphere, the favorable climate for an educational environment. (29) A serene and good atmosphere, the favorable climate for a salesian religious community. (30) Active participation in the process of reflection and planning of the community. (31) Friendship and the exchange of experiences with young confreres who are also in the first 5 years of ordination or are close to you in age. 6. Choose only 3 principal aspects from among those listed above and put them in the order of importance. [You may indicate only the number in brackets or write in full in capital letters] 1. 2. 3. SDB QUESTIONNAIRE: PRIESTS UPTO 5 YEARS OF ORDINATION - 5 OF 18

7. The spiritual accompaniment has been a fundamental source and strength for the growth in the life of St. John Bosco (Example: Don Calosso, when John was an adolescent, Don Cafasso when he arrived in Turin) and it is an essential element of the Salesian system (example: St. John Bosco guided Dominic Savio and Michele Magone). Try to evaluate your experience of personal spiritual accompaniment. [only one response for each] (1) I have had the opportunity to be accompanied by a spiritual friend (as Don Bosco used to say) already during my adolescence. (2) Spiritual accompaniment is a help towards personal growth that I discovered during the phases of my initial formation. (3) The rector of the community is my spiritual companion / guide. (4) During the first months of my insertion into the community I have looked for a person who would be of help to me as a spiritual guide. (5) The last time I met the spiritual guide was about a month ago (or less). (6) The last time I met the spiritual guide was about three months ago (or once in the last three months). (7) I have met the spiritual guide a few times but without a regular interval between one meeting and another. (8) My encounter with the priest in the sacrament of reconciliation and spiritual accompaniment take place together: the confessor is also my spiritual guide. (9) The sacrament of reconciliation and spiritual accompaniment are two distinct things for me and I have recourse to different persons for these two moments. (10) I continue to hold that spiritual accompaniment is important for my life and growth, now that I have finished my initial formation. (11) I have someone I meet with whom I can evaluate the pastoral, educative experiences I go through. (12) I have a regular friendly chat with the rector of the community. Not true at all Slightly true Mainly true Very True SDB QUESTIONNAIRE: PRIESTS UPTO 5 YEARS OF ORDINATION - 6 OF 18

8. In order to understand how spiritual accompaniment is being carried forward today among the Salesians of Don Bosco, it is important to draw our attention to what is being shared during such encounters. Indicate as to what is true in the following statements that describe personal spiritual guidance. [one response per line] (1) It is a moment in which I can narrate freely all that has happened to me, expressing my sentiments, doubts, joys and difficulties My daily experience of life is what emerges principally in the dialogue. (2) Attention goes above all to my life of prayer and the way of living my rapport with God, the commitments of spiritual life etc. (3) The one who accompanies me has a word or a counsel to offer me for everything I say to him. (4) I feel at ease and have no fear to open my heart even about very personal things which I normally do not tell anyone else. (5) About myself, I speak only that which I consider necessary to tell at that moment. (6) I have good esteem the one who accompanies me but I do not have complete confidence yet and I am not ready to tell him all my secrets. (7) The one who accompanies me spends a major part of the meeting time to listen to me attentively. (8) I have recommended and will recommend to other friends to look for a guide to accompany them in their spiritual life, having seen the good it has done to me. (9) I have never recommended and would never recommend to friends to look for personal spiritual accompaniment: it may be useful but not that important or indispensable. (10) The Word of God is often part of the dialogue that takes place during the spiritual accompaniment that I am having. Not true at all Slightly true Mainly true Very True Other aspects that characterize my meetings of spiritual accompaniment which have not emerged in the preceding points and on which I wish to express my opinion are the following: [please write in capital letters] SDB QUESTIONNAIRE: PRIESTS UPTO 5 YEARS OF ORDINATION - 7 OF 18

9. Expressing yourself very freely and responding to the formative experience you have lived or are living now, what would you suggest to change or add regarding [write in capital letters] (1). fraternal life in community (2). the religious identity related to a life of prayer and practice of the evangelical counsels (3). the activities carried out in the mission to the young and the pastoral and educational commitments through the year (4). Any other (specify) 10. According to the Salesian tradition found in the experience of Don Bosco and in the Constitutions the Rector of the house has the duty to assist the confrere to realize his personal vocation. He recognizes the friendly talk as his first and most important commitment in the community. He manifests his availability for the friendly talk, receives the confrere with affection and listens to him willingly showing his concern. Being aware how precious familiarity and trust are for the success of the friendly talk, the Rector commits himself to earn them day after day. In addition, Don Bosco learned the art of spiritual guidance from the practice of his life, from allowing himself to be guided. The experience he had of entrusting himself to the guidance of friends of the soul, especially Fr. Cafasso, has left an unmistakable mark on his style of spiritually accompanying youngsters and confreres. According to the Salesian tradition, the Rector of the formation community, master and spiritual guide, leader of the community and master of the spirit, is the spiritual director proposed to the confreres (R 78), though they have the freedom to choose another spiritual director (Ratio 262). SDB QUESTIONNAIRE: PRIESTS UPTO 5 YEARS OF ORDINATION - 8 OF 18

Among the various aspects of the role of the Rector of the house (if he has to carry out different duties and functions simultaneously in the community) what importance would you give to the following? [only one response for each] (1) Animation and guidance of all and each one for growth in Salesian life in the community and in the individual confreres. (2) Guidance and spiritual accompaniment. (3) The periodic friendly talk with the confreres. (4) Animation and care of the fraternal relationship among all the members of the community. (5) The exercise of fatherliness that opens hearts and generates confidence and esteem. (6) The service of authority, taking necessary decisions to give a common direction to the life and mission of the community. (7) Fraternal correction when necessary (to the community and to individuals). (8) The care for unity and coordination among persons (salesian family, confreres, collaborators, the young ) and the sectors in which the community carries out its mission. (9) Taking care of the personal necessities and situations of the confreres. (10) Animation of the laity involved in the educative and pastoral community. (11) Care for the quality of prayer. (12) Community spiritual animation. Not important at all Less important Important Very important 11. Among the various aspects listed above choose the most important one that the Rector must never neglect and write it below [you may write only the number in brackets or in full] SDB QUESTIONNAIRE: PRIESTS UPTO 5 YEARS OF ORDINATION - 9 OF 18

12. In what measure do you sincerely appreciate the following characteristics of the figure of the Rector of the house in which you are? [only one response for each] (1) He is very human, rich in spiritual and salesian experience. (2) Goodness that inspires trust. (3) Help to deepen the motivations for one s own choice. (4) Accompaniment for personal spiritual growth. (5) Capacity to encourage and correct. (6) Knowing to counsel and support when personal discernment is tough. (7) Prudence. (8) Capacity for dialogue. (9) Patience and listening. (10) Attention to confreres. (11) Organization of apostolic or pastoral activities. (12) Fraternal correction. (13) Capacity to unite and carry forward together. (14) Propensity to be non-judgemental. (15) The great sense of human contacts. (16) Interest in my health and personal requirements. (17) He is always with the young: an example of assistance. (18) Priestly and religious witness. Not at all Very Little Fairly enough Very much 13. Are there instead some things that you do not appreciate? [only one response for each line] (1) The many things he has to do leave him with no time to follow me well spiritually. (2) The little availability for listening and dialogue with persons. (3) The little time for friendly chat and for one to one attention to confreres. (4) He dedicates his time primarily for organizational/managerial aspects. (5) He is never found in the community. (6) He does not respect confidentiality with regard to what is shared in friendly chats. (7) Poor of human relationships (he is more concerned and preoccupied with his role than being attentive to maintain good relationships). Not true at all Slightly true Mainly true Very True SDB QUESTIONNAIRE: PRIESTS UPTO 5 YEARS OF ORDINATION - 10 OF 18

14. The sacrament of Reconciliation is a great gift for spiritual growth. Consider the following statements and try to express what you think and live and in what way the sacrament is of help to you. [Only one response for each line] (1) It has been many years from before beginning the journey of salesian formation that I approach the sacrament of reconciliation with a certain regularity: about once a month or once in two months. (2) I was used to making my confession to the same confessor already from before the novitiate (permanent confessor). (3) The sacrament of confession s becoming more important for me now that I have completed the initial stages of formation. (4) Normally I go for confession to the same confessor. (5) I am of the opinion that confession and spiritual accompaniment are almost the same. (6) I am of the opinion that confession and spiritual accompaniment are different and distinct even though both help in spiritual growth. (7) I have great trust and confidence in the confessor and it is not very difficult for me to tell him all that weighs on my conscience without fear and shame. (8) I find it difficult and it costs me a lot to be truly sincere in confession. (9) I have had negative experiences in the past with some priests and this is for me an obstacle that prevents me from trusting and opening my conscience with full sincerity in confession. Not true at all Slightly true Mainly true Very True Other aspects regarding confession which have not emerged in the above points and on which I would like to express my opinion are the following: [please write in capital letters] 15. The identity of the salesian priest is given by the fusion of the two elements that make it up (religious consecration and priestly consecration) in a single and original experience. At this point, if you evaluate the journey you have made with the help of the one who has accompanied you till now what aspects of discipleship and mission do you feel and live within you as authentic, and what instead do you perceive as external only, like a dress that is put on? [write in capital letters] SDB QUESTIONNAIRE: PRIESTS UPTO 5 YEARS OF ORDINATION - 11 OF 18

16. In the rhythm of life you have assumed after initial formation, your vital and intense involvement in salesian action in your pastoral educational experience makes you spend much time in contact with lay collaborators and recipients of your mission (children, teenagers and youngsters) and that could limit the time spent with confreres of the community. With what frequency do you experience the following relationships? [only one response for each line] (1). Informal conversations with confreres of the religious community every day many times a week once a week two-three times a month once a month few times a year (2). Informal conversations with the laity with whom you work in the pastoral educative community many times a week once a week two-three times a month once a month few times a year (3). Personal meeting with the spiritual director / guide ogni giorno più volte la settimana once a week two-three times a month once a month few times a year (4). Meeting with the priest you have personally chosen in the sacrament of reconciliation ogni giorno più volte la settimana una volta la settimana più two-three times a month once a month few times a year (5). Friendly talk with the rector of the community ogni giorno più volte la settimana once a week two-three times a month once a month few times a year SDB QUESTIONNAIRE: PRIESTS UPTO 5 YEARS OF ORDINATION - 12 OF 18

17. Usually during other stages of initial formation (novitiate, postnovitiate, practical training) various methods, techniques and models are presented and used to know, deepen and grow in the spiritual life. Which of these tools do you continue to use? [only one response for each line] (1) Autobiography. (2) Exercises of individual analysis and personal evaluation. (3) Personal project of life. (4) Daily Diary. Not true at all Slightly true Mainly true Very True 18. From a general point of view, try to express for what reasons and how much salesian spiritual accompaniment is helping you now after your initial formation: [only one response for each line] (1) The freedom to choose the spiritual guide. (2) Openness towards the guide and putting trust in him. (3) Openness and trust of the guide towards me. (4) The fatherliness with which I was received. (5) Initiative from my part to have the meeting without waiting to be called by the guide. (6) The transparency and sincerity that I have with the guide. (7) The guidelines given to me during the meetings of spiritual accompaniment. (8) The guide is sharing of his personal experience during the meeting. (9) The positive attitude and the great respect of the guide towards me. (10) It protects me from exaggerated activism. (11) It gives me purposeful time to put order into my life. (12) An atmosphere of freedom. Not at all Very Little Fairly enough Very much SDB QUESTIONNAIRE: PRIESTS UPTO 5 YEARS OF ORDINATION - 13 OF 18

19. Now try to express what has created problems and difficulties in your personal experience of salesian spiritual accompaniment until now. [only one response for each line] (1) Meetings that are not so frequent. (2) The guide wants to hear what he likes and not what I want to say. (3) The guide does not pay attention and does not listen patiently to what I have to say, giving preference to his advice or directions to teach me. (4) The guide appears not to be convinced of what I say and gives signs of lack of confidence during the meeting. (5) Often I am misunderstood. (6) The fear of opening myself. (7) Too much attention to questions of character, of psychology, of external behaviors. (8) Little attention to questions of faith, prayer and spiritual journey. Not at all Very Little Fairly enough Very much 20. What could go better from your part and/or from the part of the guide? [write in capital letters] 21. For those who will be beginning the quinquennium in the years to come, what would you suggest to change to make spiritual accompaniment more useful? [write in capital letters] SDB QUESTIONNAIRE: PRIESTS UPTO 5 YEARS OF ORDINATION - 14 OF 18

22. Other salesians from outside the salesian religious community have been in touch with me during the phase of my initial formation. Now, with what frequency do the following persons show interest in me and in my growth? [only one response for each line] (1) The Provincial ---------------------------------- once a month few times a year almost never (2) The vice provincial ---------------------------- once a month few times a year almost never (3) The delegate for formation ------------------- once a month few times a year almost never (4) The delegate for youth ministry ------------- once a month few times a year almost never Others, specify [write in capital letters] 23. What are the principal pastoral and educational activities carried out by your community? I am in a house that carries out activities [cross the square, you may indicate more than one response] (1) in oratory and/or youth center and (2) in the school (primary, secondary ) and (3) in agricultural school and/or technical school and (4) in an institute of higher learning (university ) and (5) in the boarding school (with resident inmates) and (6) in the hostel (for youngsters) and (7) of vocational orientation (e.g., aspirantate) and (8) with aspirants and youngsters in formation and (9) in the parish and (10) of assistance for marginalized youngsters and of social promotion and (11) in missionary situations and (12) of rescue and support for young at risk and (13) of provincial service (communication, youth ministry, radio ) and SDB QUESTIONNAIRE: PRIESTS UPTO 5 YEARS OF ORDINATION - 15 OF 18

24. At this stage of your salesian life in what measure do you come across young people who approach you to confide important things about their life? never almost never sometimes often very often 25. What are the contents that are usually proposed to your attention from those who come to talk to you? [write in capital letters] 26. Can you indicate in what measure you perceive the presence of these aspects of salesian sensibility in the community where you work? [only one response for each] (1) To go beyond working for large groups to accompanying each one personally. (2) To invest generously time and energy in spiritual accompaniment as an exercise in spiritual fatherhood. (3) To have the courage of proposing to youngsters also the more demanding vocations. (4) To find the right time and moment to enhance leaps in quality. (5) To show through the community the something more that attracts, a deep experience that fascinates. (6) The community has the courage to share the joyful experience of the gift received because it lives it in fact. (7) Tiredness and delusions have taken away the enthusiasm to propose our life to others in a convincing manner. (8) Altogether young people and collaborators recognize that our life is inspired by a great love for Christ. Not present at all Slightly present Mainly present Very much present SDB QUESTIONNAIRE: PRIESTS UPTO 5 YEARS OF ORDINATION - 16 OF 18

Some very simple data to conclude: 27. Your age [indicate the number of years] 28. Academic Qualification [write in capital letters] 29. The date of your first profession [indicate the year] 30. The date of ordination [indicate the year] 31. Do you have brothers and sisters in the family? (1) No, I am the only child. (2) Yes, I have brothers [indicate the number]; (3) Yes, I have sisters [indicate the number]; 30. If you have answered yes to the previous question, please indicate your birth position among your brothers and sisters: [indicate the number in order, eg. 2 ] 31. What year of quinquennium are you at present? [indicate the year in which you find yourself (e.g., first or third etc.)] 32. Before entering into the novitiate, what were you doing? [one response per line] (1) University studies (2) Work / Job (3) Searching for work / Job (4) Studying to find a job / non formal courses / professional training course (5) Full time in voluntary service (6) I was not working, I was not studying Anything you wish to add [Write in capital letters] YES NO SDB QUESTIONNAIRE: PRIESTS UPTO 5 YEARS OF ORDINATION - 17 OF 18

34. If there are other things - thoughts, reflections, experiences, etc. - that are important for you and you what to share them, feel free to do so [please write in capital letters] The questionnaire is completed. Thank you! SDB QUESTIONNAIRE: PRIESTS UPTO 5 YEARS OF ORDINATION - 18 OF 18