From 20 – 22 September 2016, the Oblate Scholasticate, Maison Yves Plumey in Yaoundé, held some days of reflection in order to plan the 2016-2017 academic year. The days began with the questions: “Why hold these scholasticate days?” Father Gabriel KINZE, who organized the sessions, explained that in life, at times the questions are more important than the answers. A person who does not ask questions about his own life is doomed to endure it.
Beginning with this “why” question, he proposed three answers:
1. The first answer, he pointed out, is from the Gospel (Luke 14: 28-33). Indeed, it is the Lord Jesus himself who recommends it. He told his disciples to “sit down” before beginning a job. That means to “know how to plan:” “to program or plan what you want” if you really want to succeed; otherwise, you risk becoming an object of the mockery of passers-by if the work begun remains unfinished.
2. The second answer he proposed is “constitutional” (taken from our CCRR). Indeed, our CCRR recommend that each Oblate community meet at the beginning of the year to adopt the rhythm of life and prayer that suits it. That means “together it will adopt the community plan…” (C38)
3. The third and final answer he gave has to do with wisdom. (It points to the wisdom drawn from life experience.) Wisdom tells us that before undertaking a journey, you should know very well from the start where you are going (destination); what road to take; by what means and method; and the reason or reasons for going. Along the way, you must ensure that you are on the right track (quarterly or semi-annual evaluations). And after the journey, it is wise to check if you have arrived at the destination. This exercise is called the “final evaluation”. “Goal, programming or planning, implementation and evaluation” are words that guide and make the world live today.
“Maison Yves Plumey” Oblate Scholasticate in Yaoundé, Cameroon
In a word, the principal goal of these days of reflection at the beginning of the scholasticate year is the programming or planning of the communities formation project. The principal theme that the Maison Yves Plumey chose for this 2016-2017 year is the following: “Religious, Missionary Oblate, Faithful, Free and Responsible.” (P. Gaby CRUGNOLA)
