Flavien U. Bouambe, cicm
“CICM Formation for Mission in a Changing World.” This theme guided the 5th edition of the Ongoing Formation Session for CICM Formators. I had the privilege of attending it from August 3 to 16, 2025, at the Theophile Verbist Center in Mbudi, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. The session was supervised by the CICM General Government.
Formators from Africa, America, Asia, and Europe gathered for nearly three weeks in the formation houses of the Congregation, engaging in prayer, meditation, and reflection on Initial Formation in CICM. Guided by Msgr. Faustin Ambassa, Archbishop of Garoua, they explored Spirituality and Mission, the Foundations of Formation as outlined by Church and Congregation documents, and the role of Psychology. The essential message that emerged is the importance of continual grace, renewal, and adapting Formation to the current context.
Spirituality and Mission: The opening Mass, presided over by the Superior General, the Father Charles Phukuta, and the recollection preached by our confrere Msgr. Edouard Tsimba, Auxiliary Bishop of Kinshasa, on the theme: “Formators, Sheep and Shepherds”, laid the essential foundations for the rest of the proceedings. Inspired by the image of Christ the Good Shepherd, the preacher first reminded us of the formator's mission towards those in formation: to care for them. This mission is first and foremost a mission of presence, for the Lord Jesus says: “I know my sheep.” The knowledge Christ speaks of is a deep knowledge, that is, knowing the joys and sorrows of the young people in formation. All this is possible only if one is among them and lives with them as a brother. Secondly, the formator is also called to be a good shepherd. The sheep listens to the voice of its shepherd. By listening to Jesus, the Good Shepherd, the formator also listens to the young people entrusted to him. Listening is a sign of humility and opens the way to wisdom. Finally, for this mission to be accomplished, the formator must also be a man of prayer, prayer being “the oxygen of our faith and the key that opens the heart of God.”
As the Congregation is missionary, initial formation is oriented towards the Mission. The missiological approach was presented by Professor-Abbot Leonard Santedi, priest of the Archdiocese of Kinshasa. Presenting the current Mission in the context of globalization, its challenges and prospects, he emphasized that the Mission is the very identity and nature of the Church. The Church exists for the mission. The Church's missionary activity takes into account the challenges of today's world because it cannot ignore the concrete situations of the world. Proclaiming the Good News of salvation means providing answers to the questions of the men and women of our time. To this end, a number of challenges have been identified: the relationship between faith and culture, service to humanity or human promotion, and Mission and globalization. With regard to the prospects or areas of missionary engagement, the Church is invited to promote the prophetic mission, which consists in proclaiming, denouncing, and renouncing; then the sapiential mission, which is to listen to the voice of wisdom; and finally, the poetic mission, which is to bring about newness, to create and shape something beautiful from reality. It is a matter of bringing God's newness into the heart of the world. Formators must be attentive to the context in which the Mission is carried out today and open themselves to the love of God that transforms hearts. The missionary dimension of formation also requires living in a dynamic of interculturality. Our confrere, Msgr. Cyprien Mbuka, Bishop Emeritus of Boma, introduced us to this dynamic of interculturality in the Congregation. In light of today's changes, he invites us to build a “cultural identity of our own” that arises from acculturation. From this perspective, interculturality is an effort to build a cultural identity. Formators should help young people in formation grow in their own culture, root themselves in their cultural identity, and open themselves to other cultures. In addition, our confrere Prosper Mbumba introduced us to the “world of young people,” composed of Millennials (Generation Y) and Centennials (Generation Z). For him, the world of young people in these generations is characterized by the development of New Information and Communication Technologies (NICT), which have a remarkable impact on young people's thoughts and actions. Trainers should engage with this dynamic in order to better understand and support young people in training.
Foundations of Formation According to Church Documents and CICM Documents.
Father Georges Njila, priest of the Archdiocese of Kinshasa, gave us a presentation on the Ratio Fundamentalis Institutionis Sacerdotalis of 2016, a document that regulates initial formation in the Church in general. After explaining the different stages of formation as set out in the Ratio Fundamentalis Institutionis Sacerdotalis, he highlighted the main purpose of each stage: to train the candidate for the life of a missionary disciple and to be configured to Christ. As for Initial Formation in CICM, it is part of the Church's formation. Father Roger Nshono, general councilor in charge of initial formation in CICM, gave us a presentation on the General Guidelines for Initial Formation, inviting us to consider them as a guide and a valuable tool for the harmony of formation programs in CICM.
The Role of Psychology in the Initial Formation of CICM.
The importance of psychology in formation was addressed from several angles, namely: psychological evaluation of candidates, counseling, detection of sexual orientation, and psychological well-being of formators. The issue of psychological evaluation was addressed by Sister Professor Florence Mbiya of the Congregation of the Theresean Sisters of Kinshasa. She recalled the reasons for psychological assessment for consecrated persons. First, the theological and ethical context: consecrated persons are human beings like anyone else, with wounds and fragilities that require support. This assessment helps to identify potential psychological issues, promote self-knowledge, and finally, support the person in times of crisis and transition. Father Jean-Claude Kanku, in turn, addressed counseling in its practical and theoretical dimensions, highlighting its importance as part of the broader family of relationships that contribute to the psychological and spiritual growth of the human person.
The session ended with a reflection on the importance of formators' psychological well-being. Drawing on his rich experience in the leadership of the Congregation, the Superior General, Charles Phukuta, emphasized the need to take care of oneself mentally. Because the formator, like any human being, faces many challenges and pressures in his work environment, he must take good care of himself. Neglecting this dimension of our being risks a counterproductive ministry. Hence, the urgency of putting in place a strategy that includes periods of rest and recreation, participation in activities that nourish the body, mind, and soul, and openness to trustworthy people with whom to share one's joys and sorrows.
This session was both a valuable learning experience and a time of reunion, strengthening our fraternal bonds. As formators, we gained tools to fulfill our ministry within the Church and the Congregation. We now better understand our identity, role, and mission. We recognize the many challenges ahead: living as true witnesses and examples, embracing the "Sensus Fidei" by listening to the Holy Spirit through those we accompany, and preparing young people for future missions. This session has filled us with new hope for our congregation. We thank the General Government for organizing this important event in our Congregation’s best interest.
