By Herald Malaysia
PLENTONG, Johor – The Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei Seminary Conference hosted a Seminary Formators Workshop at the MAJODI Centre from Jan 6-10. The workshop brought together 21 seminary formators and spiritual directors from the region, aimed at bridging the generational divide and better understanding of the needs of the new generation in seminary formation.
The workshop’s theme, Assessment and Sexual Orientation, aimed to explore these critical aspects within the context of seminary formation. The key resource person was Fr Jaime Noel Deslate, a prominent figure in the field of priestly formation from the Philippines. Currently serving as Vice-rector of the Minor Seminary in the Archdiocese of Capiz, Philippines, and possesses extensive experience in accompanying priests facing challenges. He previously directed the Galilee Centre in Tagaytay, a centre dedicated to ongoing priestly formation, and is now the founder and key resource person for the Tagbadbad Foundation, a group providing intervention programmes for seminarians and clergy.
This workshop served as a platform for dialogue and learning, addressing the evolving needs of the new generation of seminarians. By focusing on assessment and sexual orientation, the workshop aimed to equip formators with the necessary tools and perspectives to guide and support future priests in a meaningful and relevant way. The workshop’s focus on understanding the needs of the new generation signifies a proactive approach to ensuring the continued relevance and effectiveness of seminary formation in this time.
Over a span of nine sessions, Fr Deslate covered topics such as Generational Spectrum where he brought to realisation that seminarians are coming into priestly formation from entirely different backgrounds of developmental growth as compared to those of the formators themselves and understanding this crucial position enables formators and spiritual directors to better recognise the behavioural patterns of seminarians. He also spoke extensively on the LGBTQ orientations and sexual addictions that could be present in persons desiring priestly formation and how to help address these issues. Role-play sketches in which Fr Deslate played the role of counsellor helped bring to surface how formators and spiritual directors could, with compassion and hospitality, accompany seminarians in dealing with such issues.
Over all, these days of formation gave seminary formators and spiritual directors the insight that was needed, some tools and the awareness of the compassion and hospitality that is needed for addressing and accompanying seminarians in priestly formation in our region. – Herald Malaysia
