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"God
treated him at this time just as a schoolmaster treats a child
whom he is teaching. Whether this was because of his lack of education
and of brains, or because he had no one to teach him, or because
of the strong desire God himself had given him to serve him, he
believed without doubt and has always believed that God treated
him in this way."
--The
Autobiography of St. Ignatius
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In
the footsteps of St. Ignatius, the founder of the Society of Jesus,
today throughout the world, young men continue to be called by
God and led by grace into lives of service in the Society of Jesus.
The aim of Jesuit Formation is to form a community of passionate,
dedicated servants of God and to provide the tools by which the
vocation to build the kingdom of God can become effective in service.
It is a long and rigorous training of nearly fourteen years. And
here is how we do it.
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Prenovitiate: |
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It
is intended to prepare a candidate to join the novitiate. It aims
at the human and Christian development of the candidates. The
suitability of the candidates for the novitiate is to be assessed
at the end of this period. The duration of this period, though
normally one year, is adapted according to the need of a particular
person and the actual situation of the Province. |
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Novitiate: |
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The
first two years of Jesuit formation is defined by its twofold
purpose: a time of probation and of formation. It offers a series
of experiences and experiments, like, pilgrimages, work among
the poor, etc. which expose a man to Jesuit life. Key to this
time is the 30-day silent retreat, based on the Spiritual Exercises
of St. Ignatius, which lead a novice into an encounter with
God who calls him. After two years a novice applies for his
first-or simple-vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience and
becomes a Jesuit Scholastic or a Jesuit brother.
[A
Scholastic is a Jesuit who is preparing for priesthood, while
a brother is one who is not. Though the majority of Jesuits
are or will be ordained priests, some Jesuits are not called
to sacramental ministry but still wish to serve the Church in
the Society. The Jesuit Brothers are fully members of the Society,
but have some differences in their formation, since they will
not be doing priestly sacramental ministry.]
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Juniorate: |
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Ordinarily
it is a one-year period of training in humanities, the development
of language skills, spoken and written, the study of literate
and an initiation into the human sciences and the scientific culture
of our times. The men are constantly driven to discover and reach
out for excellence in all that they do. There are six common juniorates
in the Assistancy. |
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College
studies: |
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The
young Jesuit if he has not completed his Bachelor's degree, is
sent to a college to pursue his studies for three years. It will
enable him to mingle with educated young people from different
social, cultural and religious background and to broaden their
vision and to profit from the various academic and other programs. |
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Philosophy:
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Philosophy
studies extend over two years and currently take place either
at Jnana Deepa Vidyapeeth, Pune, or in Satya Nilayam, Chennai.
It is a time of serious study and reflection that inculcate objective
analysis, a scientific approach to questions, clarity of concepts
and systematic reflection.
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Regency: |
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During
this phase of formation, following philosophy, the men will be
missioned to a long-term assignment to experience full involvement
in the life and apostolic works of the community and companionship
in mission. This phase, which lasts for two years, gives him experience
and skills for later ministry while he also discerns his own call
to priestly ordination. |
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Theology:
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Coming
of his Regency, the Jesuit Scholastic returns to studies to
prepare directly for
priestly ordination. The four-year theological studies invite
the young man to interpret the reality of the world in the light
of Christian faith so as to commit himself to a transformation
of the world and to the building up of the kingdom. For the
scholastics the completion of theological studies leads to his
ordination to ministerial priesthood. The two theologates are:
Vidya Jyoti, Delhi and Jnana Deepa Vidyapeeth, Pune. Both of
them have extension centres known as Regional Theological Centres.
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Tertianship:
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Three
to five years after ordination (or the equivalent for a Brother),
Jesuits undergo this "third probation." It repeats many
of the experiences of Novitiate, including the 30-day retreat,
but in light of the many years of Jesuit ministry. This "school
of the heart" aims at an in-depth integration of the Jesuit's
past and at helping him to ward a heightened sense of total commitment
to his Jesuit vocation preparing him for the final-or solemn-vows,
in which he will become fully and finally incorporated. |
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Assistancy
Delegate for Formation (ADF) |
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The
ADF is a full time assistant to the Provincial of India in the
area of formation in the whole Assistancy. He is assisted by the
formation Coordinators of each province (PCF). Fr.
K.C. Philip, is at present the ADF. |
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Our men
in formation in South Asian Assistancy: 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005,
2006, 2007
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Year
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Novices
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Juniors
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Collegians(UG&PG)
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Philos.
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Regents
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Theologians
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| 2002 |
264 |
115 |
380 |
164 |
188 |
302 |
| 2003 |
268 |
112 |
359 |
180 |
179 |
250 |
| 2004 |
285 |
104 |
371 |
192 |
178 |
266 |
| 2005 |
293 |
114 |
355 |
200 |
193 |
289 |
| 2006 |
273 |
130 |
367 |
180 |
196 |
264 |
| 2007 |
284 |
145 |
375 |
184 |
174 |
275 |
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Juniorate
Staff Meeting held at Dhyan Ashram, Kolkata
14-19, September 2006
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South
Asian Assistancy Juniorate Staff Meet 2007
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PCF
MEETING 2007 at Dhyan Ashram, Kolkata
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To
Contact the Assistancy Delegate for Formation (ADF)
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