As part of the celebration of the Dehonian Jubilee and the Year of Community Life, the community of Taubaté (Brazil) recently hosted a gathering of more than 90 formators and young men in formation.
Such was the spirit that animated the SINT UNUM, the meeting of formators and confreres in formation of the BSP Province, at the Conventinho in Taubaté, on August 9–10. This initiative was part of the celebrations for the Year of Community Life and the Dehonian Jubilee.
Hospitality — a strong hallmark of the charism of our Congregation — characterized the arrival of more than 90 confreres in formation from all our houses and formation stages. Our gathering began with the Virgin Mary, through the prayer of the Holy Rosary, recalling the importance of the “Ecce Ancilla” in the spirituality of our Congregation. On Saturday evening, we shared a Dehonian evening with the Dehonian youth from our parishes in the Paraíba Valley. It was a beautiful moment, showing that our spiritual identity remains alive and continues to have its attractive power.
On Sunday morning, we reflected on the importance of “SINT UNUM” as one of the charismatic expressions of our Institute. This time was led, on behalf of the Provincial Government, by the councilor Fr. Marcelo Batalioto, who emphasized, among other points, the importance of formation in our province, the need to be formed by those indicated by the Congregation, as well as the work — often discreet but essential — carried out by the formators in the various stages. Afterwards, our confrere from Maranhão, Fr. Arlysson Ernesto, who in his own words “is not a teacher, not a formator,” but whose undeniable love for the Congregation offered us a true lesson in religious life.
Sunday afternoon was marked by joy and fraternity, with a team game among the confreres in formation, culminating in a soccer tournament on the famous Conventinho field — which, for so many years, has welcomed very talented confreres and seminarians… and others a little less so (smile).
We thank the entire Conventinho community — employees, leadership, formators, and especially the brothers and deacons — for their dedication in welcoming us so warmly. We truly felt at home. Thanks also to the formation houses for joining this initiative and organizing themselves to live this moment of provincial unity, as well as to the Provincial Government for its conviction that the mission of forming men according to the Heart of Jesus is essential in order to keep our charism alive in souls and in society.
Long live the Heart of Jesus!
