Commission on Formation Conducts Meeting and Formators' Formation Course

July 15, 202692 Views

The Commission on Formation, headed by Fra Alfonsus Panaligan, OFMConv., gathered from July 13–15, 2026, at St. Joseph Friary in Tagaytay City for its meeting and ongoing formation course for formators.

Fra Dennis Vargas, OFMConv., together with the Guardian of St. Joseph Friary, joined the meeting with the formators and assistant formators.

On the first day, the commission focused on the revision of the Custodial Directory of Formation and the calendar of activities.

During the following two days, Fra Dennis led the ongoing formation sessions, reflecting on the role of the formator in light of the Constitutions, Franciscan discipleship, and the Custodial Statutes. He highlighted nine key principles:

The formator.
The ministry of formation must be understood within the life and mission of the Custody.
The relationship among the formator, the guardian, the assistants, and the fraternity must be properly understood.
The formation house must always remain an integral part of the life of the friary and of the Custody.
Good governance in formation requires clarity regarding authority, responsibility, and accountability.
Formands are entrusted to the Custody (the Order), not exclusively to individual formators.
The ministry of the formator requires a proper balance between personal apostolates and formative responsibilities.
Fidelity to the common life of the Custody requires unity in liturgical and formative practice.
Renewing the Formation Directory begins by renewing our understanding of formation itself.