THE FORMATIVE VISITATION OF FATHER MAXIMILIANUS SEMBIRING, VICAR OF THE GENERAL SECRETARY OF FORMATION TO VIETNAM
Written by Friar Giu-se Nguyễn Chính Luận, OFM Conv.
From December 16 to 22, the Custody of Saint Francis Anthony Fasani in Vietnam warmly welcomed the formative visitation of father Maximilianus Sembiring, Vicar of General Secretary of Formation. This visitation is a meaningful blessing for the friars since the young Custody is putting one of the most priority plans on formation.
It is based on the Franciscan Discipleship revised in the General Chapter in 2019 that father Maximilianus presented to the friars on each level and stage. In the first part, father Maximilianus gave a speech to 18 Postulants and the Postulancy Formators at the Annunciation Friary. He then made a presentation to 25 student friars and the Seminary Formators and Guardian at Saint Anthony Friary. He also had an online presentation to 8 Novices and the Novitiate Foramators. In the second part, he made presentations to two other groups, the first to the formators and the second to the administrative members of the Custody.
As a good tradition on Christmas, the student friars and the postulants often decorate houses with lights, make cribs and do charitable works.
On December 21, the Postulants and Post-novice friars will organize some visitations to the orphanages and nursing homes near our two friaries. The visitations are full of peace and joy with the Christmas Carol presented by our friars and postulants to the orphans and the elderly as well as with some Christmas gifts given to them. On this special occasion, father Maximilianus accompanied the friars to these places and had good moments with the friars and those people they visited. After the charitable activities, all friars gathered at The Annunciation Friary to have a fraternal night and to express fraternal gratitude to father Maximilianus for the fruitful knowledge and experiences that the friars had received from his profound presentations on formation.
