Jesus said to them, ‘Follow me and I will make you become fishers of men. And immediately they left their nets and followed him’. (Mk 1, 17-18)
Every salesian brother and salesian priest is one who has responded to this call of God to serve Him and His flock in the Salesian Society, following the charism of St. John Bosco. He lives out this call in a loving encounter with God and in a permanent dedicated service to the young. There are 15750 salesians, n. priests and n. brothers working in 129 countries for the well-being of poor and abandoned young people across the globe.
But, one becomes a Salesian whether priest or brother only after having undergone years of formation in holiness of life, study, work and salesian-spirit as prescribed by our constitutions (the rule book). From the moment a boy or young man expresses his desire to join the salesian society he is closely followed, formed, assisted to discern and examined whether fit for the salesian way of life. We call this process ‘formation’.
Formation consists of six stages – aspirantate, pre-novitiate, novitiate, post-novitiate, practical training and theologate – spread out into ten to fourteen years for salesian brothers and priests respectively. These are the six stages of formation – the journey of a salesian candidate.
Aspirantate
Aspirantate is a centre for vocation guidance. This stage introduces students into salesian style of life, spirit of Don Bosco and his concern for poor boys. It would be full of activities, study, prayer and work. Moreover the students will have ‘live-in’ experiences in different community a month or so.
He is then, promoted with his consent, his parents and the report of the superiors to Pre-novitiate.
Pre-novitiate
Pre-novitiate is a time to discern his vocation. Here, he is helped to mature as a human being and as a good Christian. To this end, he is guided into psycho-sexual maturity, physical growth, introduced into prayer life, Eucharist & other sacraments, Marian devotion; and salesian apostolate (youth work). He is encouraged to pick up as many skills as possible like music, dance, drama, singing, writing, communication etc. It lasts for a year.
At the end of the year the candidate, if suitable he is admitted to the Novitiate.
Novitiate
Novitiate is the beginning of salesian religious experience. In this he carefully examines the motives for his choice to be salesian, makes certain of his suitability for this call with the help of his Novice master. More importantly, here he is helped to gradually develop his salesian identity. This stage consists of initiation into interior life by deepening one’s relationship with God through Word of God, Eucharist and personal prayer; experience of fraternal life (community life); assimilation of salesian charism by studying the constitutions (Rule Book), life of St. John Bosco, and his system of education.
Normally, this stage is for 365 days – one full year. At the end of this stage, if he is found suitable, he makes his first commitment to the Lord as a Salesian. He thus becomes a member of the Society with temporary vows.
Post Novitiate
Post-novitiate continues the process of religious maturing which he began in his novitiate. It is a special time for integration of faith, culture and life through his philosophical and secular studies. Besides, it trains him for the phase of Practical training which follows immediately. Philosophical studies addresses questions basic to life like God, religion, death, after-life, meaning of life, good, suffering leading into a formation of mind for right reasoning. Secular studies (bachelors or masters) in other colleges, helps him be introduced into life sciences (biology, chemistry, physics), Mathematics and human sciences (sociology, psychology, economics, commerce). It is an opportunity to understand the society, culture and life through the subjects and their first hand experience.
It lasts 4-6 years. At the end of the stage the candidate becomes a convinced salesian, with mental equanimity and sound reason.
Practical Training
All along the period of formation importance is not only given for study and prayer but also to pastoral activities of our mission. He is trained all through since his aspirantate in theory, and practice how to work with the young. This phase is his first hand experience of being a ‘salesian’ in the field. Here he grows in his salesian vocation and checks his suitability to this way of life – praying, playing, working and always accompanying the young like a guardian angel. It lasts normally for 2 years.
After this stage, the candidate in all maturity, through prayer and discernment opts to commit himself as a salesian either as a priest or brother for all his life. Hereafter the period of specific formation for salesian brother or priest commences respectively.
Theologate
Salesian Brother
A salesian brother is given opportunity to deepen his knowledge of salesian heritage – the tradition and history. Besides, he undergoes theological studies for two years.
Salesian Priest
A salesian priest undergoes a period of theological formation that crowns his preparation to priesthood. Here he is given opportunity to learn and experience in depth, Christ the priest, Word of God, history of the Faith, the Church, Canon law, Salesian spirit etc. He deepens his spirituality to become another Christ to all who meet him. The phase trains him to be a good catholic salesian priest after the heart of St. John Bosco. This lasts for three and half years.
At the end of first year he becomes lector, the second year acolyte, the third year deacon and after six months priest.
Conclusion
The journey does not end here. All life is a Vocation; all life is formation. He then continues to learn all along his life with the evolution and dynamism of life, the world and the young in on going formation.
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