Presentation
Abbreviations
Introduction
Chapter 1: First organisation of formation, 1849-1870
I. STUDENTS IN THE CONGREGATION (1858)
II. ACCEPTANCE OF STUDENTS IN THE CONSTITUTIONS (1862)
III. VOCATIONAL AND FORMATIVE DOCUMENTS
IV. GENERAL CHAPTERS
Chapter 2: Period between the years 1871-1899
I. FR. JOSEPH XIFRÉ (1858-1899)
II. VOCATIONAL AND FORMATIVE DOCUMENTS
III. GENERAL CHAPTERS
IV. GENERAL DISPOSITIONS
Chapter 3: Period between the years 1899-1922
I. FR. CLEMENT SERRAT (1899-1906)
II. FR. MARTIN ALSINA (1906-1922)
III. VOCATIONAL AND FORMATIVE DOCUMENTS
IV. GENERAL CHAPTERS
V. GENERAL DISPOSITIONS
Chapter 4: Period between the years 1922-1966 (1st Part)
I. FR. NICHOLAS GARCIA
II. FR. PHILIP MAROTO (1934-1937)
III. FR. PETER SCHWEIGER (1949-1967)
Chapter 5: Period between the years 1922-1966 (2nd Part)
IV. VOCATIONAL AND FORMATIVE DOCUMENTS
V. GENERAL CHAPTERS
VI. CODEX IURIS ADDITICHO (C.I.A.)
Chapter 6: Formation in the Post-Conciliar Renewal, 1967-1997
I. PERIOD OF 1967-1971
II. PERIOD OF 1973-1979
III. PERIOD OF 1979-1985
IV. PERIOD OF 1985-1991
V. PERIOD OF 1991-1997
Chapter 7: The General Plan of Formation, 1994
I. BACKGROUND
II. XXI GENERAL CHAPTER
III. DRAFTING OF THE GPF
IV. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE GPF PROJECT
V. MEANING OF THE GPF FOR THE CONGREGATION
VI. CONCLUSION
IV.General Chapters
The first three Chapters were presided over by the Fr. Founder.102
1. I General Chapter. Vich 1859
The I General Chapter, so called Junta General [General Assembly] of the Congregation took place in Vich on 28 May 1859 and dealt with the interpretation of some points of the Constitutions ( “congregantes,” stroll, the
prayer “O Virgin and Mother of God,” fasting, etc…)103 No reference was made to formation.
2. II General Chapter. Gracia 1862
The second General Assembly of the Congregation [II General Chapter] was held in Gracia from 7 to 14 July 1862, as prescribed by the Constitutions.104 It was a very important Chapter in many aspects, but especially in the matter of formation. Concretely:
1st. The category of students was established by means of decrees that amended numbers 5 and 13 of the 1857 Constitutions.105 Therefore, the constitutional text of n. 5106 remained in this way: In addition (theCongregation) will be made up of Priests, Students and Adjutant Brothers.
2nd. Decisions were made regarding aspirancy, noviciate, consecration and definitive incorporation into the Congregation.107
3rd. Lastly, it was requested that the students, who voluntarily left the Congregation or who by their own fault were expelled, should indemnify the Congregation for all expenses and losses incurred during their studies.108
3. III General Chapter. Gracia 1864
The III General Chapter was held in Gracia from 3 to 6 July 1864. Among the matters discussed, there is one of utmost importance, because of the authentic interpretation of our missionary spirit and the indirect reference to formation. We are referring to the attention to seminaries, a new activity that can be accepted in the Congregation under two dimensions: the spiritual direction of the seminarians and the professorship in ecclesiastical sciences.109