With the theme, “Formators to the peripheries,” the recently concluded 7th Formators’ Colloquium centered on the preparations of Jesuit schools for the formation path of Senior High School students beginning next school year.
More than 50 formators from six Jesuit schools in the Philippines participated in the event held on June 29 to July 2, namely, Xavier University - Ateneo de Cagayan, Ateneo de Manila, Ateneo de Naga, Ateneo de Davao, Loyola College of Culion and this year’s host, Ateneo de Zamboanga.
“The colloquium was an opportunity for the formators to prepare and collaborate on how to appropriate formation programs for SHS students and for us to share our lessons, modules and best practices in the profession,” said XU vice-president for Mission and Ministry Irene Guitarte.
XU is currently reshaping its formation subjects and student activities, namely the Freshman Formation Program (FFP), Collaborative Service Learning Program (CSLP) and leadership development engagements, among others, to suit the needs of incoming SHS students and redefining its relevance in the cultivation of faith and mission in the midst of globalization.
“Formation of the heart is very important for a Jesuit university like XU and it has to be in line with XU’s new vision and mission,” Guitarte continued.
"At the same time, as a university, we need to take part in the Mindanao Agenda on peace and environment. Peace process is everyone’s concern.”
The new vision of XU reads, “A leading ASEAN university forming leaders of character by 2033” to inspire the XU community forward as it turns 100 years old in 2033. The mission was also summarized as: “Xavier University is a Filipino, Catholic and Jesuit university forming leaders of competence, conscience and commitment serving the Church, the global community and the Filipino people.”
Over the years, XU’s formation cluster has established creative ways of molding the youth to become “men and women for others” using the new media as a potent resource for evangelization.
Initiated by the Jesuit Higher Education Council (JHEC) in 2008, the colloquium is an offshoot of the directive coming from the late Jesuit Superior General Fr Pedro Arrupe SJ reorienting the primary apostolic focus of Jesuit institutions around the world to form young people in the service of the faith and the promotion of justice.
The formators were divided into six clusters — student affairs, campus ministry, social involvement, guidance and counseling, athletics and sports, institutional formation heads — to align their discussions and reflections respectively.
Representing XU were VP for Mission and Ministry Irene Guitarte, Campus Ministries Office director Fr Richard Ella SJ, Office of Student Affairs director Ivanell Subrabas, Kristohanong Katilingban sa Pagpakabana - Social Involvement Office director Nestor Banuag, Guidance and Counseling Office director Dr Charito Ferrer and University Athletics Office director Vincent Padilla.
AdMU will host the eighth installment of the formators’ colloquium on the last week of June 2016.