Taunggy, ongoing formation for 150 priests from the dioceses founded by PIME
The initiative takes place every four years. Over the six lessons the missionary Fr. Gianni Criveller developed the theme of life, of the difficulties and expectations of clergy today. During the three days, moments of sharing and debate, prayer, socialization and fraternity. The participants recall Fr. Alfredo Cremonesi, martyr of the Institute and close to beatification.
Taunggyi (AsiaNews) - The ongoing formation course for priests of the five dioceses founded by PIME missionaries in the Asian country - Taunggyi, Loikaw, Pekhon, Kengtung and Taungngu - ended in Taunggyi (State of Shan).
Held from March 25th to 28th 2019, more than 150 presbyters, accompanied by their bishops, ordinary and emeritus, actively participated in the training event.
The initiative takes place every four years, and is an important moment not only for formation, but also for shared knowledge and mutual encouragement between the priests of the five dioceses. Many of them are working in isolated villages in mountainous areas, with little contact with their brothers and bishops.
For the PIME missionaries this initiative has a particular meaning: the five dioceses, and their bishops, gratefully acknowledge their origin in the evangelization of the PIME missionaries, and common moments are given in this this heritage is fully exploited.
And it is a PIME missionary, Gianni Criveller, who was invited as a formator, entrusting him with the theme of life, of the difficulties and expectations of presbyters today. In the three training days, Criveller developed the topic in six lessons. Mel the first day he outlined the figure of the priest according to the teaching of Pope Francis (declined in ten "clarifications").
On the second day, dedicated to the theology of the presbyter, the speaker described the season of the 'glorious priesthood' lived by the Church since the Council of Trent and then illustrated the idea of a presbyter minister of God's people, as emerges from the Vatican Council II.
On the last day it was dedicated to a frank description of the problems facing priests today: clericalism, solitude and its compensations, the dignity and participation of women and religious as collaborators of priests; situations of dependencies and cases of abuse.
It is friendship with Jesus and with the men and women who accompany the priest's ministry that allows him to live a fully human, beautiful and joyful life. There were numerous moments of sharing and debate, of prayer and then again of socialization and fraternity. The result seems more than satisfactory: it was an opportunity for further study, where no thorny subject has been avoided, but without discouragement and pessimism.
It was providential to recall, in these days, the beautiful figure of the martyr missionary Alfredo Cremonesi, of the diocese of Taungngu, who will soon be beatified in Crema, his diocese of origin. Father Cremonesi, Criveller recalled, was a good pastor, an exemplary model of priest and missionary. Faced with the violent advance of the military, he did not save himself: remaining in his village he gave his life for the people, along with the people, who paid him with blood the price of fidelity to Jesus.
The legacy of the PIME missionaries is felt with gratitude. Many priests, especially those a little older, had personal stories, beautiful and moving to share, of the good done to them by this or that missionary, including the next Blessed Alfredo Cremonesi. The course had its liturgical heart in the beautiful cathedral of Taunggyi, where the bishop of PIME Giovanni Battista Gobbato is buried, remembered by all as a good and holy pastor.
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