Title: FRAMEWORK OF FORMATION FOR YOUNG PROFESSIONALS

Situation:
Many of our young people stop going to the youth centers after they graduate in
college. The following are possible reasons of this phenomenon:

 The youth center or oratory does not anymore cater for their needs.
 Aside from being an animator of a group, there is nothing for them to do in the
youth center.

Rationale:

“The true subject of the various Catholic organizations that carry out a ministry of
charity is the Church herself – at all levels, from the parishes, through the particular churches,
to the universal Church.”1 As religious, the group feels that as part of the universal church, it
is also their responsibility to involve other people in the ministry of the church in providing
them opportunities for them to exercise their charity towards their neighbour. “The love of
Christ urges us on!”2

“The Church was founded to spread the kingdom of Christ over all the earth for the
glory of God the Father, to make all men partakers in redemption and salvation, and through
them to establish the right relationship of the entire world to Christ. Every activity of the
Mystical Body with this in view goes by the name of “apostolate”; the Church exercises it
through all its members, though in various ways.” 3 The group will provide for them
“apostolate” to which Salesian house is near to them. Their apostolate would vary
depending on their talents and the Salesian House’s need.

Conceptual Framework:

This program is especially designed for young professionals who grew up in our
oratories, and youth centers. It is the desire of the group to provide them opportunities to
contribute their talents and resources to help the church. The group is also open to the
possibility to include our alumni, who are now young professionals. The framework that
the group prepared is based on the spirituality of lay people based on the document of
Vatican II, Apostolicam Actuositatem.

Program Description:
1
Deus Caritas Est
2
2 Cor 5:14
3
Apostolicam actuositatem
 P a g e |2
Framework of Formation for Young Professionals

The program is made to encourage the young professionals who grew up with the
Salesians to continue to give or share their talents in the youth centers or in any different
Salesian setting that they grew up to. These are the four main topics of the program:

1. Christ, source of the Church’s Apostolate

2. Lay Spirituality
3. Perfect model of this apostolic spiritual life is the Blessed Virgin Mary
4. With a Salesian touch

The first three topics are based on the lay spirituality according to the document of Vatican
II, Apostolicam Actuositatem.

Module (for the initiate):

1. Christ, source of the Church’s Apostolate

a. Christ sent by the Father and the source of the Church’s whole apostolate
b. Seeing Christ in all men, to discern the true meaning and value of temporal
realities both in them and in relation to man’s end.
c. With the Love of the Father that prompts us, we love Christ in them, in this
way attracting men to Christ.

2. Lay Spirituality
a. Lay spirituality has different forms depending on one’s state in life: married
and family life, celibacy and widowhood.
b. Holding high esteem and professional competence
c. Virtues related to social behaviour: honesty, sense of justice, sincerity,
courtesy and moral courage, thus, one lives a true Christian life.

3. Mary, perfect model in apostolic spiritual life:

a. She is like others, filled with labours and the cares of the home.
b. Yet she remained intimately united to her son and cooperated in an entirely
unique way in the Savior’s work.
c. Her motherly love keeps her attentive to her Son’s brothers.

4. With a Salesian Touch

a. Reason
b. Religion
c. Loving-Kindness

Module (for follow-up):

 P a g e |3
Framework of Formation for Young Professionals

Topics are based on the Strenna of the Rector Major and discussed in the following
aspects:
1. Eucharistic aspect
2. Lay spirituality aspect
3. Marian aspect
4. Salesian aspect

Implementation:
Every week the young professionals are to go to their different Salesian settings to
have their apostolate. Every 4th Sunday of the month there will be a gathering for this
group for formation and celebration. The schedule is as follows:
4:00 P. M. – Solemn Mass
5:00 P. M. – Talk
6:30 P. M. – Sharing
7:30 P. M. – Dinner
8:30 P. M. – Home

Evaluation:
1. Does the program encourage the young to be more Christ-like towards their
neighbour?
2. Does it challenge them to be true Christian in their home? Workplace?
Community?
3. Does it increase their devotion to our Blessed Virgin?
4. Does it enable them to imbibe into themselves the Salesian Spirit in their
apostolate? Home? Workplace? Community?

Bibliography

New American Bible

Apostolicam actuositatem

Benedict XVI. Deus Caritas Est. Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2005.

~~~