PANAJI:
Around 50 seminary educators, provincials and members of the Society of Pilar came together for their annual deliberations regarding the training of young men to the priesthood at a two-day conference for seminary educators at the Pilar Pilgrim Centre, Pilar, on May 26-27.
The seminary educators are based in different parts of India and are involved in nurturing vocation to the priesthood of young people coming from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds.
The resource person, Rev. Dr. Konrad Noronha, a member of the Society of Jesus, dealt extensively on the topic ‘Safeguarding vis-à-vis Formation, Formees and Formators’.
He said the clergy are public persons therefore they need to be educated on the various aspects of safeguarding. He further said that religious leaders need to understand the dynamics of professional relationships and ministry to serve effectively and ethically.
At the beginning Fr Steevan D’Souza, sfx, chairperson of the Central Formation Commission (CFC) of the Society of Pilar, welcomed the gathering which was followed by the keynote address by Fr Nazareth Fernandes, sfx, Superior General of the Society of Pilar.
The sessions were moderated by Fr Norman Almeida, sfx, Rector of the Mission Seminary, Pilar. The two-day conference concluded with the vote of thanks by Fr Richard Couto, sfx, secretary to the CFC.
