Accompaniment: Philippines

Cor Vitae Formators’ Retreat, Philippines, September 8-9. I travelled to Manila for the purpose of facilitating the retreat for the fourteen members of the Chevalier Family undertaking the Cor Vitae Formation Training. The retreat 8-19 September took place at the Jesuit Retreat Centre (S.J. Novitiate) in Novaliches, on the outskirts of Manila. The retreat of ten days was based on a Spirituality of the Heart and offered an experience of deep encounter and intimacy with Jesus for the retreatants.

Participating in this year’s formators program was seven MSC, four OLSH, and three MSC Sisters, three from the Pacific Islands, three from Papua New Guinea, four from Indonesia, one from the Philippines, one from China, and two from India. As usual the Cor Vitae Team provided a wonderful training program and loving support. Congratulations to Sr. Cathy Mwagioidi fdnsc and Sr. Cecilia Kim msc, the director and administrators on team. Fr. Ben Alforque msc also a team member has been participating and supporting the team from the USA, and Fr. Tans Legaspino MSC has been assisting the formators in training with accompaniment and mentoring from his place in the MSC Scholasticate in Manila.

In the few days prior to the retreat, I sat in on the presentations of the participants final papers and joined in offering feedback on their work. This provided an opportunity to observe the quality of participant learning at the end of the Cor Vitae training. The program concluded recently and after building strong friendships they have returned to their provinces and ministries. May God bless all your efforts in the formation of new members of the Chevalier Family.

Chris Chaplin, MSC