Formation Ministry

“The primary objective of the formation process is to form a person in her wholeness for the total consecration of herself to God in the following of JESUS CHRIST, at the service of the Church’s Mission and the purpose of our Consecrated Life is to be in conformation with the PERSON OF JESUS CHRIST in his total self-giving love.

Therefore, formation being the engine or the heart of our Institute, efforts have been made in the last seven years to offer opportunities for quality formation of our lives.  Effective renewal and growth of our Religious Institute as Little Sisters of St. Francis depends chiefly on the quality and holistic formation of the Members in all stages, since Formation is a life – long process (from womb to tomb).  

A         INITIAL FORMATION

VOCATION ANIMATION MINISTRY

1. For effective means of Vocation Animation, each Region has Vocations Team and every Country has Vocation Commission who meet annually to evaluate and to vet for the Candidates for 1^st May each year. This process has been useful, helpful and effective.  Some members of the Commission and other Little Sisters participate in the “Come and See” Programs yearly.

(Ref: Formation Policy &Procedure Manual)

• Vocation Animators from the three (3) Countries and in their respective Regions have done their best in Vocations Animation, supported in all areas by the Regional Leadership Teams as directed by Formation Policy and Procedure Manual. 

Recommendations:

1. Encourage all the Sisters in the Regions to animate vocations by word and life witness. 
2. After identifying the Aspirant, the Sisters are to refer or introduce her to the Vocation Animators for constant journeying, home visiting for at least two years before they join.
3. Regions to select and appoint able and strong (physically) Perpetually Professed  Sisters for Vocation Animation – The ministry is demanding and requires frequent travels.

           f)   SUMMARY STATISTICS IN ALL THE FORMATION 2016 – 2022

YEAR	Candidates	Postulants	J. Novices	S. Novices	Professed
2017	21	32	19	19	19 – 1
2018	29	21	24	24	24
2019	34	23	24	24	24
2020	19	34	21	21 – 2	19
2021	28	18	34	21
2022				21 – 3	18
2022	25	23	17	34

FORMATION TEAMS

FORMATION HOUSE	FORMATORS/MEMBERS	WELLFARE SR	CHAPLAIN
ST. JOSEPH’S POSTULATE	2 Formators 1 Nurse 2 Teachers	1	1
ST. ANTHONY NOV. NKOKONJERU	2 Formators	1	1
QUEEN OF ANGELS NOV. BAHATI	4 Formators	1	1
ST. CLARE NOV. BARAKA	2 Formators	1	1

• Training of Formators:

1. Sr. M. Clare Nagawa
2. Sr. M. Sylvia Muthoni
3. Sr. M. Josephine Nakiwala
4. Sr. M. Felistus Wanjira
5. Sr. M. Sr. Dorothy Acen
6. Sr. M. Elizabeth Nannyonga                                          
7. Sr. M. Anastancia Nakato       
8. Sr. Godlive Atubo                                     

B)        SCHOLASTICATE PROGRAM:

• One hundred forty six (180) Temporarily professed Sisters have had Scholasticate period after two years in Community experience in the last eight (8) years.

• We are indeed grateful to all the Regional Superiors and your Teams, all the Little Sisters, our Partners and well-wishers for your generous support and contributions to the formation of our future members for effective and relevant service to the people of God.

D)        ON-GOING FORMATION

• On – going Formation is the ground of Initial Formation.  Each Perpetually Professed Sister is supposed to be a Formator of her own formation, because on-going formation happens every day.

E)  ON-GOING FORMATION TEAM

The Team for On-going Formation consists of one member from each Region. For the first three years the Team used to meet twice every year. The Team had put up some Themes to be followed during the annual Retreats, seminars or workshops, which were suggested by the Perpetually professed Sisters as the need for our on-going formation.