Formation
Just as Jesus carefully chose and continually formed his disciples, so the Congregation of Josephites accepts its responsibility for the lifelong formation of its members (cf Vita Consecrata 69.). The future of the Congregation depends on the formation of its members and in a rapidly changing world this formation addresses the needs and personal gifts of each candidate as well as the needs of the Congregation so as to continue its mission to serve the serve the Church through the education and evangelisation of young people. This means there is no one size fits all programme of formation within the Josephites.
The formation offered within the Congregation is based on the best of past traditions while at the same time encompassing the new as indicated by the Holy Spirit, the Church and the signs of the times.
From first contacts, a prudent discernment process is undertaken to help candidates and the Congregation in their decision making process as to the nature of the vocation which God is inviting the candidates to undertake.
After a suitable period a candidate (aspirant) may be invited to become a postulant. During this time he may spend time attached to a community working alongside Josephites in their apostolic work. Others may use this time to continue their studies.
The Novitiate buildings at Ilebo in the West Kasai, DRC.
Usually after a year's postulancy, which may be extended, a candidate is invited to become a novice. The formation programme of the novitiate is centred on the triple vocation of being a Baptised Christian, a Religious and a Josephite.
During their time in the novitiate, novices receive a thorough understanding both of the spirituality of the Founder and his pedagogical principles.
Once again, First Vows do not follow automatically at the end of the canonical year of novitiate. It may be that after a serious discernment has taken place a further period of reflection and preparation is required. When, however, a candidate successfully completes his Novitiate, the newly professed Josephite embarks on further studies during the time known as 'the Scholasticate'. The scholasticate runs through to ordination or to the moment of final profession for those who are not going on for the priesthood.
It is important to remember that temporary vows taken at the end of the Novitiate are a recent innovation in the Church. When Constant van Crombrugghe was alive, vows were taken for life at the end of the novitiate.
All Josephite scholastics, including those who are not destined for the priesthood, complete their religious formation. All Josephites, whether they enter with or without university qualifications are afforded the opportunity to develop their secular studies especially those relating to the education of young people. Scholastics are also given the opportunity, especially during their 'années de stage', to become involved in the practice of their future apostolate by allowing them to engage, through work experience, in the differing apostolates of the Congregation.
The Congregation seeks to form Josephites so that they can contribute to the apostate of the Institute which is still largely education based. While all Josephites need a foundation in philosophy and theology. Those going onto the priesthood need to have followed an appropriate formation programme. There is a need to ensure Josephites have an adequate pedagogical formation including graduate studies an academic discipline. Ideally those designed to teach should have the opportunity to study for a post-graduate degree/licence.
As Josephites are members of an international Congregation, Scholastics will usually have an extended period of time living in another Region of the Congregation. This time might be spent simply developing the foreign language skills started in the Novitiate or following theological or secular (profane) studies.
Final Vows
Formation does not stop at the end of the Scolasticate. The Papal Exhortation, Vita Consecrata", emphasises the importance of ongoing formation: 'Continuing formation, whether in Institutes of apostolic or contemplative life, is an intrinsic requirement of religious consecration……Consequently, it will be very important for every Institute to provide a systematic description of its plan of continuing formation'. Vita Consecrata. 69.
