For four days, coinciding with the winter break in the schools, two meetings were held at the retreat centre in Mendiolaza to return to the sources of our vocation.
On 14 July, a fraternal and close meeting was held for all those in formation in the region (pre-novices, novices and juniors), in which the connection and integration between the spiritual and intellectual life was discussed. As a witness to this integration, Fr Andrés Rodríguez de Cristo was able to present his theological dissertation, which he had recently accepted and defended.
Then, from the 15th to the 17th, the formation meeting for all Piarists took place, which fortunately began with the celebration of our dear brother Saint Pompilio María Pirrotti. In an atmosphere of deep prayer and study, a reflection on the ideal of Greek paideia was led by Dr Ramón Cornavaca. Using texts by Plato and some of the Fathers of the Church, the pedagogy handed down by tradition was studied in depth.
The formation also offered time for reflection in order to connect everything that was worked on and learnt with the Piarist religious life; a work that bore abundant fruit when it was shared fraternally in small groups and when it became concrete in indicators conceived by the religious for the elaboration of the Statute of Ongoing Formation of the Province. The meeting culminated in a joyful day of thanksgiving and a walk with a Mass presided over by the Provincial and a final lunch.
