Bengaluru: Vinayasadhana, an Academic Institute of Formative Spirituality and Counseling aggregated to Christ University marked the milestone of 25 years on December 16. Vinayasadhana is a center for priests and nuns and anyone who is interested in forming oneself in Spirituality and Counselling. To mark the 25 years of its inception, a three day National Conference was organized in Dhramaram Campus, Diary Circle, Bengaluru from 16th to 18th December, 2016 on “Paradigms in Formation.”
Well known speakers from different institutions of theology and counseling presented their paper work on ‘Pope Francis and Paradigms in Formation’, ‘Cyber Ethics and Formative Guidelines’, ‘Gender Sensitivity in Formation’, ‘Biblical Foundation of Formation’, ‘Expectations of Laity from Priests and Religious’, and ‘The Need for Pastoral Dimension in Formation’.
“In life questions are complicated but answers are simple. Why do we need changes? There have been tremendous changes in development of people in different ways: human development through sciences of sociology, psychology, anthropology, and other disciplines. All these have contributed immensely in human development and it has lot of impact in the formation of priests and religious” said Rev. Dr. Paul Achandy, CMI, Prior General, in his inaugural address.
Rev. Dr. Joe Mathias, SJ, Rector at St Peter’s Seminary, Bengaluru delivered the Keynote address. “There is an urgent need for Paradigm shifts for radical changes in the approaches to the training of candidates to priesthood and consecrated life. Emphasis needs to be placed on the process of self- transformation, and ongoing accompaniment is an absolute requirement to process the self-transformation. He also said that dialogue is the key to success of good community life and one of the outstanding qualities required and expected of modern leaders.”
Rev. Dr. Paulachan Kochapilly, CMI, President Dharmaram Vidya Kshethram (DVK) presided over the function. Rev. Dr. Thomas Aykara, CMI, Rector, Dharmaram College felicitated the event.
The two day Panel Discussions on “Formation for Mission” imparted their opinions on what are the challenges faced by the institutions and what remedy can be sought to solve the problems and challenges faced by the formators at all levels. The topics discussed were ‘Samanvayic Priestly and Religious Formation for Mission, ‘Religious and Priestly Formation for Social Commitment’, and ‘The Emerging Trends of Priestly and Religious Formation.
Participants from different states added color to the event by their presence. The event was successfully completed by the gathering and sharing of alumni’s from different batches under the guidance of Rev.Dr. Francis Thonippara CMI, Director, Vinayasadhana.
