Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - “Formation and spiritual direction for seminarians, in a nation and environment of Muslim majority, as is Indonesia, is a delicate task. However, we try to live in harmony with the society around us.” This was what Agenzia Fides was told by Fr. Hubertus Leteng, Vice-Rector and Spiritual Director of the Interdiocesan Seminary of Maumere, Flores Island (Indonesia). Fr. Hubertus participated in the Course for Spiritual Directors recently held in the Vatican, organized by CIAM (International Center for Missionary Animation), which was attended by 20 priests from missionary countries who came together to reflect on the issues and problems of spiritual direction and formation for seminarians.
The Interdiocesan Seminary of Maumere includes seminarians from 5 dioceses and is one of the largest in Indonesia. There are over 2,000 seminarians taking courses in theology, philosophy, spirituality, and pastoral ministry. “We follow their human and spiritual development closely, providing them with intellectual, spiritual, and pastoral formation in preparation for the priesthood,” Fr. Hubert told Fides.
“Among the difficulties that we find are the widespread mentalities of hedonism and consumerism among the youth, the influence (which can be negative) of the new technologies, the pretext of wanting 'everything fast,' the lack of a spirit of sacrifice, and lack of discipline. We know that the work of spiritual direction is very important and delicate, as we have seen in this Course organized by CIAM. It has been a useful experience in improving our formation programs, and I have gotten a lot of new ideas from it.”
On the relations with the Muslim environment in which they live, Fr. Hubert says that “we have no difficulties or conflicts. If there are problems, they are rare and isolated cases. We live in harmony with the land and the people of other religions. In terms of the leaders, we have interreligious dialogue...we live in close harmony, in a dialogue of life.”
The missionary animation of the seminarians takes place in the formation course, but also on a pastoral level, especially in the World Mission Sundays, when the seminarians are called to “offer their testimony of life.”
An important obstacle is that of communications: “Our work could be improved if we had a telephone line: that is why we are asking the Church to help us,” the Indonesian priest concluded.
Similar life experiences of living among a Muslim majority was seen in the Major Seminary in Dacca (capital of Bangladesh), which has 64 diocesan seminarians and nearly 200 students. Fr. Gabriel Corraya, who is both Rector and Spiritual Director, tells Fides: “Sometimes, we find difficulties in being a small minority of believers in Christ in an Islamic nation, but not always. We have positive experience of dialogue with the Muslims, as well.”
Commenting on the recent days of the CIAM Course, Fr. Gabriel noted that “this Course has been very important for our formation, for clearing up our doubts and expressing our difficulties, especially in sharing experiences in group.”
As for the situation in Bangladesh, “there is a need for more and better trained formators in the Church. It is very important to spend time with the seminarians, guide them in every moment.” “One of the main challenges for us is that of education,” he said. “The majority of the youth and children are illiterate. Thus, we insist on our seminarians' effort in studies, in dialogue with the Muslims, and in charity. There are also evangelization programs in new tribal areas, with non-Muslims. Now 50% of our seminarians are from tribal areas.” (PA) (Agenzia Fides 2/12/2008)
