Some Considerations in Doing Formation Work in Multicultural Communities

In recent years, we have witnessed a significant increase in multicultural formation communities in the Philippines. This article will list important considerations in doing initial religious formation in these communities.

• The Nature of the Religious Congregation.

  The formation of candidates for international or missionary life has to happen in a multicultural setting. With diminishing vocations and limited resources, religious congregations are also establishing multicultural communities to ensure that formation continues to occur in a communitarian context, with formators providing the necessary formative modeling and interventions. Thus, many congregations set up regional formation centers, as in the Philippines.

• Formation: At the Service of the Congregation’s Charism, Not of the Culture of the Place of Formation.

  While formation of personal and religious identity ideally takes place in the home country, the initial formation of candidates can happen outside their culture. Even if religious formation occurs in a foreign country, it must remain dedicated to the formation of the candidates’ religious identity. The candidates are inculturated into the congregational charism in initial formation; for example, the Salesian charism is inculcated in their candidates, notwithstanding the country and cultural context in which they undergo formation.

• Preparing the Formator for the Multicultural Community.

  A solid religious identity and experience are essential for a formator. In addition: Does the formator know what it is like to reside in a foreign country and/or live in an international community? Is the formator familiar with multicultural dynamics? Does the formator have the dispositions necessary for such a task, i.e. patience, sensitivity to varying cultural mentalities and expressions, and acceptance of personal limitations? If the formator is not native-born, have enough time and support been devoted to becoming oriented to the culture of the country where formation is being done?

• Preparing the Candidates for the Multicultural Community.

  Candidates need to learn the language used in communicating the processes of formation. In the Philippines, they need to have some mastery of the English language. They need to be reverently oriented to the country so they can find their way around while undergoing formation. They need support towards growing in greater openness to a new culture, to new ways of thinking and doing.

• Having Formators from the Candidates’ Countries of Origin.

  The regional formation center can make this request of the sending provinces. In this way, candidates can be accompanied by formators who speak their language and understand their culture. If this is not possible, exposure to the culture of the candidates’ country of origin is necessary. A formator might be helped by visiting a candidate’s family to have deeper knowledge and appreciation of the candidate’s cultural background and familial story.

Francisca Gloria Bustamante is a senior center associate, counselor, and spiritual director of Emmaus Center.

Brother Raymond Callo, SDB is a program associate.

This article was first published in “Formation in a Complex World” (Vol. 3. No. 2, Nov. 2012 - Feb. 2013). Formation in a Complex Word was a series of brief articles featuring various perspectives on formation and psycho-spiritual integration by Emmaus Center.