CONGREGATIONAL CONFERENCE 2023

RONCALLI RETREAT HOUSE

SALATIGA- INDONESIA

Report- June 13, 2023

The day started with a prayer service led by the Chilean provincial superior, Bro. Lucio Torres.

The reflection mainly focused on two articles from our FIC Constitutions. Articles nine (9) and ten (10) on The Spirit of our Founders and Protecting their heritage, respectively.

As brothers FIC, we are encouraged to continue to live the spirit of our founders and to protect their heritage in our time today, in whatever circumstances we live and work. Despite whatever challenges we face, we are called upon to empower others in overcoming their needs by offering formation and helping in self-organization (art.9). We realize this may not be an easy task. Still, for the sake of our vocation as brothers FIC, and for the sake of living the spirit of our founders and at the same time protecting their heritage, we are open and ready to continue this path.

The rest of the day was dedicated to Recollection on Faith-Based Leadership, facilitated by our immediate former general superior, Bro. Martinus Handoko. He ably shared with the participants his personal life experience of leadership in today’s secular world. He drew clear differences between faith-based and secular models of leadership. He also shared his life experiences as once a leader of the congregation. He then emphasized on what faith–based Leadership should be. Faith-based leadership is a calling, and what one does should be in tandem with his or her faith in the one who called and still calls him or her.

The characteristics of faith-based leadership are the hallmark of what we as leaders should strive to be and do, despite the many challenges and limitations that sometimes characterize our days and lives as a leader. The challenges that come our way as we strive to be what we were meant to be is what we ask God to help us with.

The afternoon was for personal recollection and group sharing on leadership experiences and how one wants to forge ahead. We closed the day with the celebration of mass at 18:30 PM by Fr. Robert, SVD.

By Lawrence Sitima