CAROLINES PASTORAL INSTITUTE
RATIONALE
Our Diocese of the Caroline Islands is celebrating
its 25 years of its life and mission. We have finished a chapter in
our life as Catholics in the Federated States of Micronesia and the
Republic of Palau. We have all the reasons to give thanks and to celebrate.
To mark this celebration, we are launching the Carolines
Pastoral Institute (CPI). Our Diocese is in need of a "perennial
Pentecost: it needs fine in its heart, words on its lips, and prophecy
in its eyes" (Paul VI). The CPI is our modest attempt to respond
to the challenge to "put out into the deep," to proclaim Jesus
Christ the Savior so that all Micronesians obtain his love and mercy,
reach the Kingdom of God, and Micronesia will find its fullness in Christ
(Novo Millennio Ineuente).
OBJECTIVES
The Carolines Pastoral Institute for pastoal action
in Chuuk is a center for studies and renewal of the many generous pastoral
agents in the Diocese - the laity, religious, and ordained ministers.
Hence, the CPI aims at giving formation programs with a missionary slant
for pastoral action within the Diocese.
Located on Weno in Chuuk, it is a center for the
initial and contextual formation and education fo the young Micronesians
intending to study for the priesthood in preparation for their formal
education and formation at the Pacific Regional Seminary in Suva, Fiji
Islands. Hence, the CPI aims at providing the necessary and applicable
formation programs that will equip them for intercultural communication
and cross-cultural living.
In consideration of the missionary nature of our Diocese,
the CPI is a center of training for missionary activitie ag gentes.
We renew our faith by sharing it outside our Diocese. Hence, in
the near or distant future, the CPI aims at training lay missionaries
who will work across cultures.
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THE PRE-SEMINARY (PRS) PROGRAM
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The CPI aims to prepare the students for formal formation
and education at the Pacific Regional Seminary (PRS) in Suva, Fiji.The
Pre-PRS in particular aims at helping the candidates to be equipped
with the tools and skills to be able to cope with seminary academic
life, community living, and spiritual life. They will be able to speak,
write and read English with a high level of comprehension. They will
learn how to make research, write term papers, reflection papers , book
reports, etc. They will learn something on public speaking and be articulate
in expressing their ideas and opinions in English. In particular, the
program aims:
- To accompany the students in their discernment
of their call and response to follow Christ
- To provide the students opportunities to get themselves
acquainted with the basic teachings of the Church, prayer and worship,
the sacraments, and introduction to theology.
- To provide the students with basic theoretical
and practical skills in English grammar, composition, study skills
and methods of research, international living and intercultural communication,
personality development and human relationship, etc.
SY 2005 Formation Program
The program for SY 2005 covers three terms - Term
I (April-May-June), Term 2 (July-August - September),
Term 3 (October-November-December). In addition to classroom
activities, the students will also have guided parish exposure and apostolates,
monthly recollections, monthly evaluation, etc. A team of formators
is assigned by the Bishop to look after the academic activities of the
students. The programs are spelled out. Objectives and learning outcomes
are specified by the respective teams.
Calendar of Events
Term I
Term 2
Term 3
Requirements for Admission to Pre-Seminary
Program
- The candidates must have finished secondary education
(high school graduate), and a grade average of "B".
- He must have been "accompanied" by a
priest for a period of time during which the candidate has shown positive
signs for the vocation to the priesthood. He must be recommended by
his pastor and two of his teachers who are not his close blood relations.
- The candidate must submit a "Letter of Intent"
whereby he expresses his intention and willingness to undergo the
pre-seminary program.
- The recommendation fo the formation committee of
the Diocese.
- The Bishop's letter of approval.
Candidates at the CPI will go through a process of
screening by the Formation Committee. A candidate will spend one or
two years at the CPI before going on to a regular seminary, particularly
to Fiji, depending on the recommendation of the DFC.
Late vocations can also be considered if they are
still below the retirement age of 65 years.
Vocation Promotion
The Institute requests all the four vicariates adn
all the parishes in the diocese to be active in campaigning for vocations.
All priests in the Diocese are to be active campaigners, in words and
deeds, for vocations to the priesthood.
The first year (2005-06) the candidates will be housed
at the Vicariate Residence in Tunnuk, Weno, Chuuk as they await the
construction of a more permanent residence in Nepukos.
How to Apply
Interested candidates may apply through their pastor
or vicar. They can also write or call the following numbers:
Chuuk: (691) 330.2313
Palau: ( ) 488.2226
Yap: (691) 350.7273
Pohnpei: (691) 320.4661
or write to the Institute:
Carolines Pastoral Institute
PO Box 250
Chuuk, FM 96942
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SCHOOL OF DEACONS
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SY 2005 Formation Program
The program for SY 2005 is part of the on-going formation
of the permanent deacons in the Diocese of the Carolines. For SY 2005,
special focus is on the basic missiological dimension of their formation.
The courses are given in modules. In addition to classroom activities,
pastoral work on weekends will be done in view of or in relation to
what they have learned during the week. Evaluation will be done at the
end of each course, and students are to write their paper, a kind of
synthesis of what the course is all about, what they have learned, and
the transforming effect fo the course on their life and mission as deacons
in the Diocese of the Carolines. This particular program supplements
what has been already offered, and what will be offered in the near
future by the local team of formators.
Calendar of Events
May
23-27 Contemporary Mission Situation
28-29 Pastoral Work
30-31 Contemporary Mission Situation
June
01-03 Contemporary Mission Situation
04-05 Pastoral Work
06-10 Theology of Mission
11-12 Pastoral Work
13-17 Theology of Mission
September
19-23 Mission and Anthropology
24-25 Pastoral Work
26-30 Mission and Anthropology
October
01-02 Pastoral Work
03-07 Mission and Ecumenism
08-09 Pastoral Work
10-14 Mission and Ecumenism
15-16 Pastoral Work
17-21 Mission and Liberation
22-23 Pastoral Work
24-28 Mission and Liberation
29-30 Pastoral Work
31 Synthesis
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